Executive Director, Development

New Jersey Institute of Technology • Newark, NJ

74d • $125,000 - $140,000

About The Position

The mission of NJIT's Office of University Advancement is to cultivate understanding, engagement, and philanthropic support from the university's key constituencies to secure the resources necessary to fulfill NJIT's educational mission. Reporting to the Senior Vice President of University Advancement, the Executive Director of Development (EDOD) serves as a senior frontline fundraiser responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding gifts of $25,000+ in support of institutional priorities. The EDOD will manage a portfolio of high-value prospects and donors, including alumni, corporate leaders, foundations, and friends of the university, with the goal of securing six- and seven-figure commitments that advance NJIT's mission and strategic priorities. The EDOD will partner closely with academic deans, university leadership, faculty, and colleagues across Advancement to provide strategic direction for fundraising in the assigned college, school, or unit, while also contributing to the overall success of NJIT's comprehensive fundraising efforts.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, preferably in higher education, with a record of closing six- and seven-figure gifts.
• Commitment to the mission, vision, and goals of a leading public polytechnic university.
• Exceptional written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong knowledge of advancement and major gift strategies.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, meet deadlines, and work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Familiarity with the philanthropic landscape of northern New Jersey and the New York City metropolitan area preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and experience with Raiser's Edge NXT or similar CRM system.
• Willingness to travel and work evenings/weekends as required.
• At the university's discretion, the education and experience prerequisites may be exempted where the candidate can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the university, an equivalent combination of education and experience specifically preparing the candidate for success in the position.

Responsibilities

• Independently manage a portfolio of ~125 major and principal gift prospects through all phases of the donor cycle.
• Conduct at least 144 prospect and donor meetings annually (12 per month) to qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward prospects.
• Complete a minimum of 30 major and principal gift-level solicitations or proposals annually, resulting in at least $1 million in new commitments per year.
• Draft compelling proposals and related donor communications that clearly articulate the case for support.
• Prepare strategic donor briefings for the President, Provost, deans, and senior leadership, as appropriate.
• Build and sustain long-term, mutually beneficial relationships between donors and NJIT.
• Partner with deans and unit leadership to align fundraising with academic priorities, including advisory board engagement and related advancement activities.
• Recommend appropriate gift opportunities and vehicles to prospective donors.
• Collaborate with Advancement colleagues across campus to identify opportunities, coordinate strategies, and share best practices.
• Serve as the primary Advancement liaison to the assigned college/unit.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of NJIT's mission, programs, and strategic fundraising priorities.
• Perform additional duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package as detailed on the NJIT benefits page.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Industry: Educational Services
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree