Lead Development Officer

University of Southern California • Los Angeles, CA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Stewardship and Donor Relations provides strategic leadership and oversight for stewardship, donor engagement, and impact communications in support of the philanthropic priorities of USC Marshall and USC Leventhal. The director oversees the schools’ scholarship stewardship efforts, ensuring alignment with school priorities, donor intent, and University policies, while clearly and thoughtfully communicating the impact of giving. The role leads the development and execution of stewardship strategies, communications, and meaningful engagement opportunities that strengthen donor relationships and support fundraising objectives. Working collaboratively with school leadership, program administrators, and University Advancement colleagues, the director plays an integral role in advancing initiatives that inspire sustained and increased philanthropic support for the Marshall and Leventhal community.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree
• 5 years experience in major campaign, fundraising, public relations and/or volunteer management experience

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in business administration, nonprofit management, philanthropy, or a related field.
• Minimum of three years of progressive experience in fundraising, donor stewardship, or advancement within higher education, healthcare, or a comparable complex institution.
• Demonstrated success supporting major gift and annual giving efforts, preferably in a higher‑education environment.
• At least one year of leadership experience, including supervision of staff, volunteers, or donor services functions.
• Working knowledge of federal, state, and institutional financial aid and scholarship administration, including support for military‑ and veteran‑affiliated students.
• Proven experience planning and executing large‑ and small‑scale donor events, including logistics and cross‑functional coordination.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate professionally, persuasively, and with sensitivity to donor and stakeholder concerns.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship‑building skills, with demonstrated success collaborating across departments and with external partners.
• Ability to engage and motivate diverse audiences, including donors, faculty, staff, students, and volunteers.
• Collegial, diplomatic, and service‑oriented approach, with adaptability and responsiveness in a fast‑paced environment.
• Outstanding organizational skills, attention to detail, and consistent follow‑through; ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Demonstrated initiative and ability to work independently while involving supervisors and key stakeholders appropriately.
• Comfort working with large data sets, including experience with data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Experience using advancement‑related technologies, such as constituent databases (e.g., Salesforce), scholarship management platforms (e.g., Scholarship Universe), publishing and design tools (e.g., Adobe InDesign, Canva), survey tools (e.g., Qualtrics), email and digital engagement tools (e.g., Marketing Cloud, ThankView), and event management platforms (e.g., ESVP).
• Creative and strategic mindset, with experience in storytelling, multimedia, design, or video content to support donor engagement.
• Demonstrated interest in and commitment to higher education, with enthusiasm for business school and student‑centered environments.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a leader and ambassador for stewardship and donor relations across Marshall and Leventhal.
• Lead, administer, and provide strategic direction and oversight for the Marshall and Leventhal scholarship programs, including:
• Ensuring donor funded scholarships are administered in alignment with donor intent, University policies, and school priorities.
• Partnering with finance and campus colleagues to ensure accurate allocation, use, and reporting of scholarship funds.
• Overseeing compliance, data integrity, documentation, and communications related to scholarship awards.
• Strengthening connections between donors or donor representatives and scholarship beneficiaries.
• Advancing strategies to increase the impact and sustainability of donor funded scholarships.
• Manage a portfolio of key donors and develop high level engagement strategies that strengthen relationships across all giving levels.
• Lead the development of personalized donor and stewardship strategies in partnership with development officers, including comprehensive stewardship plans, tailored communications, and meaningful engagement opportunities.
• Oversee stewardship systems, reporting, and data practices; analyze outcomes and provide recommendations to improve donor retention, measure impact, and enhance the donor experience.
• Direct the creation and execution of donor events and experiences, providing strategic oversight of planning, budgeting, logistics, and vendor coordination.
• Oversee stewardship related gift agreements, scholarships, endowed funds, chairs, professorships, awards, and donor acknowledgments in accordance with University, school, and departmental policies.
• Provide strategic support for the Scholarship Ambassador Program, including guidance and coordination of the recruitment, selection, training, and engagement of students.
• Collaborate with University Advancement, Major Gifts, the Marshall Fund, corporate and foundation relations, administrators, faculty, and other partners to ensure cohesive and effective stewardship of donor relationships and funds.
• Serve as a subject matter expert and advisor on stewardship best practices, donor relations, and scholarship administration.
• Supervise the Assistant Director of Stewardship and Donor Relations, provide leadership, guidance, and performance oversight.
• Represent the Stewardship and Donor Relations function at meetings, events, and conferences, contributing to continuous improvement across Marshall and Leventhal.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the school’s strategic and philanthropic priorities.

Benefits

• health benefits for staff and their family with access to the renowned university medical network
• eligibility for retirement plans with employer contributions
• tuition benefits for staff and their family
• free Professional Development classes
• discounts to sporting and other campus events

What This Job Offers

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