Senior Director, Development

Emerson College•Boston, MA

2d•$131,900 - $168,200•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Director, Development is a senior-level fundraising professional responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding the College’s high-capacity prospects. Reporting to the Vice President (VP) of Institutional Advancement, the Senior Director focuses on securing transformational commitments at the $500,000+ level. The Senior Director serves as a strategic partner to the President, the Vice President of Institutional Advancement, and the College’s academic and auxiliary leadership, aligning donor interests with the College’s highest strategic priorities and campaign initiatives. In addition to managing a personal portfolio of principal gift prospects, the Senior Director provides mentorship to other development team members and leadership in developing complex gift strategies that involve multiple institutional partners.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Nonprofit Management, Arts Administration, Business, or a related field or equivalent experience required
Minimum 8-10 years of progressively responsible fundraising experience in higher education or a complex non-profit environment required.
Proven success in personally closing seven-figure ($1M+) gifts and managing a pipeline of high six- and seven-figure prospects required.
Driver's license required.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or higher preferred.
Professional experience working and/or fundraising in communication, arts, media, or equivalent fields preferred.
Previous experience working within a multi-year comprehensive campaign is preferred.
Strong understanding and experience on the application of AI tools for fundraising and relationship management preferred.

Responsibilities

Manage a selective portfolio of approximately 75 major and principal gift prospects with the capacity to make transformational investments in the College, primarily located up and down the East Coast.
Lead the design and execution of bespoke cultivation and solicitation strategies for high six- and seven-figure gifts, including blended gifts (outright and planned giving).
Partner with the President and VP of Institutional Advancement to prepare for high-level donor interactions, providing comprehensive briefings, talking points, and strategic follow-up plans.
Write and oversee the creation of highly personalized, complex gift proposals and case statements that articulate the impact of transformational philanthropy.
Maintain regular engagement with the academic Deans and Chairs, translating their funding needs into philanthropic opportunities.
Ensure fundraising objectives align with the strategic plan and campaign priorities.
Maintain a consistent schedule of debriefs with the VP and President following all significant donor interactions; ensure all field activity is documented immediately in the CRM database to provide leadership with a real-time view of the principal gift pipeline.
Work in close coordination with the VP to ensure principal gift activity is fully integrated into the broader campaign timeline and goal-setting.
Serve as a mentor for development team members, providing guidance on "moves management" for donors with high growth potential.
In close coordination with the President and VP, strategically engage and support high-level volunteers and Trustees in the identification and solicitation of major and principal gift prospects.
Develop and implement high-touch, individualized stewardship plans for principal gift donors to ensure continued engagement and future investment.
Maintain meticulous records of donor interactions, strategies, and solicitations in the advancement database to ensure accurate reporting and pipeline tracking.
Stay abreast of trends in wealth management, tax law, and philanthropic vehicles to advise donors on the most effective ways to structure significant gifts.
Perform other duties as assigned.