School of Arts and Sciences Associate Director

University of Rochester

10d • $70,600 - $105,800 • Onsite

About The Position

The School of Arts and Sciences Associate Director, Advancement, serves as a key fundraising partner advancing philanthropic support for the University of Rochester's School of Arts & Sciences, strengthening programs that support academic excellence, faculty research, and the intellectual life of the institution. Working closely with the SAS Dean's Office and leadership across assigned departments and centers, the Associate Director helps translate institutional priorities into compelling opportunities for donor engagement and investment that advance scholarship, discovery, and the transformational impact of a liberal arts and sciences education. Managing a portfolio of approximately ~125 prospects, the Associate Director is a 70% gift officer, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors in support of initiatives that advance the University's mission and aspiration to make the world ever better. Through strategic collaboration with advancement colleagues, faculty, and institutional leadership, the Associate Director plays an important role in expanding Rochester's philanthropic pipeline and advancing campaign priorities. Operating within a matrixed Advancement model, the Associate Director collaborates across central and unit-based teams to align prospect strategy, coordinate moves management across shared portfolios, and maximize philanthropic outcomes for the School of Arts & Sciences. This position may require travel on behalf of the university.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree and 3 years of fundraising/development experience including experience soliciting gifts or closely related experience and clear evidence of a thoughtful decision to move into development work required Or equivalent combination of education and experience

Nice To Haves

• Evidence of ability to work effectively with faculty and distinguished major prospects preferred.
• Excellent skills in written and oral communication preferred.
• Strong collaborative skills preferred.
• Sufficiently well-organized to deal effectively with donor stewardship issues and “moves” to advance donors according to a plan preferred.

Responsibilities

• Major Gift Portfolio Management: Maintain a portfolio of ~125 high level major gift prospects, closing major gifts exceeding $100,000.
• Develop and execute long-term cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies aligned with university and campaign priorities.
• Advance prospects through a disciplined moves management framework, ensuring coordinated strategy across shared prospects and portfolios.
• Identify, qualify, and shape new opportunities in collaboration with Advancement partners to optimize portfolio composition and institutional impact.
• Achieve performance metrics with emphasis on qualifications, pipeline growth, proposal volume, and stage progression. Specific metrics are set by the Executive Director of Advancement – School of Arts & Sciences.
• Campaign & Pipeline Management: Partner with the Executive Director and Director of Advancement to identify, engage, and advance $1–5M prospects, support pipeline development and management for capital projects and key fundraising initiatives, coordinating across regional, unit, and central Advancement teams to drive major gift commitments.
• Translate institutional and academic priorities into compelling, mission-driven cases for support that resonate with prospects and align with campaign priorities.
• Develop and maintain deep knowledge of assigned SAS departments and programs, advancing fundraising priorities across their associated prospect pools and supporting the growth of high-capacity prospects.
• Collaborate across central and unit-based Advancement teams to align prospect strategy, coordinate moves management, and advance shared prospects through integrated engagement, cultivation, and stewardship.
• Strategic Partnerships & Academic Liaison Engagement: Engage regularly with the SAS Dean's Office, Associate Deans, and department chairs to align fundraising strategies with academic priorities and represent advancement in leadership meetings as needed.
• Serve as a primary liaison to assigned departments, developing deep knowledge of academic priorities, faculty research, and funding needs to identify and shape philanthropic opportunities aligned with campaign goals.
• Advise the Executive Director, Dean and assigned Department Chairs/Program Directors on donor engagement strategy, portfolio positioning, and campaign priorities.
• Strategic Initiatives, Programs & Volunteer Engagement: Develop and execute fundraising strategies for priority programs, initiatives, and strategic projects within SAS.
• Assist in identifying, recruiting, and engaging high-capacity SAS prospects for volunteer leadership roles, ensuring appropriate SAS representation on Advancement managed committees, within advancement award structures, and through campus partnerships.
• Support donor engagement through targeted initiatives, events, and stewardship opportunities.
• Collaborate with teams across the organization to engage SAS faculty and leadership in broader event and engagement opportunities to highlight SAS priorities.
• Advancement Execution and Operations: Translate prospect strategies into coordinated execution plans, ensuring timely and aligned follow-through across Advancement partner.
• Partner across Advancement functions (events, communications, donor relations, regional teams) to deliver integrated donor engagement experiences.
• Ensure accurate and strategic use of CRM systems (Ascend, Oasis) to document moves, track progress, and maintain visibility across shared portfolios.
• Coordinate execution of key donor engagements, including briefings, proposals, and stewardship follow-up, in partnership with leadership.
• Contribute to a collaborative, high-performing Advancement culture aligned with campaign goals.
• Other duties as assigned

Benefits

• The University of Rochester is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving an inclusive and welcoming culture to advance the University’s Mission to Learn, Discover, Heal, Create – and Make the World Ever Better. In support of our values and those of our society, the University is committed to not discriminating on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, military/veteran status, national origin, race, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law (Protected Characteristics). This commitment extends to non-discrimination in the administration of our policies, admissions, employment, access, and recruitment of candidates, for all persons consistent with our values and based on applicable law.

What This Job Offers

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