Associate Athletic Director for Development

University of the Pacific • Stockton, CA

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Athletic Director for Development leads Athletics fundraising with a primary focus on securing major gifts. As a member of University Development and Athletics leadership, this position manages a portfolio of high-capacity prospects, develops donor strategies, advances campaign priorities, and works with university and athletics leaders to increase philanthropic support for Pacific Athletics. This is an in-person role, and the successful candidate must be willing to relocate within California, preferably within 25 miles of the Stockton Pacific campus. Pacific offers full-time employees a unique opportunity to live on our beautiful campus at below-market rental rates—helping you save time and money on your commute.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent; (Two (2) years of full time experience in the same/similar position is equal to one (1) year of completed post high school education coursework).
• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, preferably in higher education or athletics, with demonstrated success securing major gifts of $100,000 or more.
• Experience managing donor portfolios, leading campaign strategy, supervising development professionals, and working with senior leaders, volunteers, and donors is required.
• An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may be considered.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s Degree preferred.
• Proven success identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gift prospects and donors
• Ability to manage a high-capacity prospect portfolio and move donors through the fundraising cycle
• Experience developing campaign strategies, fundraising plans, proposals, and donor briefings
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to manage, motivate, and hold staff accountable for fundraising results
• Demonstrated experience leading the development and execution of annual giving fundraising strategies.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, negotiation, and relationship-building skills
• Ability to collaborate effectively with university leaders, athletics staff, coaches, volunteers, alumni, parents, and donors
• Strong organizational, budget management, and strategic planning skills
• Commitment to working successfully with diverse populations and advancing an inclusive fundraising culture
• Experience and sensitivity in working with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Demonstrated experience in advancing social justice, equity, and inclusion in a university setting.
• Ability to engage and integrate culturally responsive practices and knowledge in their work.

Responsibilities

• Lead Athletics fundraising strategy, with emphasis on major gifts, campaign priorities, annual fundraising goals, and donor engagement.
• Manage a personal portfolio of high-capacity prospects and donors; identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift opportunities.
• Develop individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies in partnership with Athletics, University Development, campus leaders, coaches, and volunteers.
• Establishes strong collaborative partnerships with frontline officers across the schools and colleges to co-manage shared prospects and donors, ensuring coordinated strategies that maximize philanthropic outcomes.
• Provide leadership and supervision for Athletics development staff, setting clear performance expectations, metrics, and accountability for fundraising results.
• Ensures the Athletics development staff builds and maintains a strong strategic partnership with University Development’s Annual Giving team to align Athletics fundraising priorities with broader annual giving strategies (including crowdfunding and the university’s annual Giving Day), creating a coordinated donor pipeline and consistent messaging across all communication channels.
• Prepare proposals, briefings, donor correspondence, and other materials that advance major gift conversations and philanthropic commitments.
• Integrate Athletics fundraising priorities into University Development’s strategic and campaign planning efforts.
• Build and sustain relationships with alumni, parents, friends, community leaders, corporations, foundations, and volunteers whose interests align with Pacific Athletics.
• Oversee Athletics development operations, including budget planning, program effectiveness, donor events, and collaboration with annual giving and advancement services.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations.

Benefits

• Pacific offers full-time employees a unique opportunity to live on our beautiful campus at below-market rental rates—helping you save time and money on your commute.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior