Director, Audience Growth

University of South Florida•Tampa, FL

About The Position

The Director, Audience Growth leads USF Advancement’s audience growth efforts by combining marketing, data, technology, and storytelling to attract new supporters and increase philanthropic participation. Reporting directly to the Vice President for Central Development, the Director uses audience insights, storytelling, digital engagement, direct marketing, and emerging technologies to expand donor participation, strengthen retention, and create a more personalized and measurable approach to philanthropy. The Director works collaboratively with fundraisers across colleges and units, Advancement Communications and Marketing, Technology, Innovation and Strategic Solutions, Donor Relations, and the Alumni Association to align audience strategy, campaign execution, and fundraising outcomes. The role provides leadership for the Digital Engagement Center and its nearly 100 student ambassadors, guiding the center’s development as a strategic channel for donor listening, storytelling, qualification, stewardship, reactivation, and pipeline growth. Day-to-day operations are managed by a dedicated leadership team. The position offers the opportunity to build a new approach to audience growth at an AAU member institution, supported by executive leadership and developing donor intelligence, data, technology, and AI capabilities. Traditional annual giving and higher education experience are welcomed but not required. The role requires a bachelor’s degree and five years of experience related to development, or four years of direct experience in place of the degree under the stated equivalency clause. Regular travel and occasional night and weekend work are required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and five years of experience related to development; four years of direct experience may substitute for the bachelor’s degree under the degree equivalency clause.
Regular travel and occasional night and weekend work are required.
Applicants must meet all applicable employment eligibility requirements in the United States.

Nice To Haves

Experience in direct mail campaigns.
Experience in email retargeting.
Experience in paid social and paid search.
Traditional annual giving experience is welcomed but not required.
Higher education experience is welcomed but not required.
Demonstrated success growing audiences, increasing customer or donor acquisition, improving conversion, and building trusted partnerships across complex organizations.

Responsibilities

Lead USF Advancement’s audience growth strategy, driving acquisition, retention, reactivation, and long-term supporter value across the donor lifecycle.
Create and implement short- and long-term strategies for growing the university’s annual giving program, targeting alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and other potential donors.
Develop and enhance integrated fundraising and marketing campaigns across channels to drive engagement, donor participation, and philanthropic revenue growth.
Serve as a strategic partner to colleges, units, and programs, translating philanthropic priorities into compelling donor engagement opportunities.
Leverage donor intelligence, audience insights, behavioral data, and emerging technologies to inform strategy, optimize campaigns, and improve audience targeting.
Identify and evaluate new channels, technologies, and engagement approaches to expand reach and accelerate philanthropic growth.
Develop and inspire a high-performing team of approximately five full-time employees committed to innovation, accountability, and ambitious growth goals.
Provide leadership and direction for the Digital Engagement Center, advancing its role in audience engagement, qualification, stewardship, reactivation, and pipeline growth.
Serve as lead for all annual giving campaigns, including crowdfunding initiatives and Giving Week.
Establish and monitor campaign performance measures, including donor acquisition, retention, and reactivation; email open, clickthrough, and conversion rates; fundraising return on investment; and progression into fundraising pipelines.