Senior Director of Development, California and Hawaii Region
About The Position
As the Senior Director of Regional Philanthropy for California and Hawai’i, you will lead one of the University of Oregon’s most important and opportunity-rich fundraising markets. In this role, you will oversee and execute a comprehensive regional fundraising strategy, managing a portfolio of major gift prospects while guiding a team of development professionals. You will focus on securing gifts ranging from $100K to multi-million-dollar commitments, partnering closely with University Advancement and academic leadership to align donor interests with institutional priorities. You will serve as a key connector across the university, collaborating with central development, schools and colleges, and principal gifts to coordinate strategies and maximize impact. As a leader of people and performance, you will coach and mentor team members, build pipeline strategy, and ensure prospects are moving effectively through the donor lifecycle. This role is highly external-facing and requires regular travel throughout California and Hawai’i. You will bring a strong understanding of regional philanthropic culture and use that insight to expand engagement, strengthen the donor base, and build a pipeline of future philanthropic leaders. This is an ideal opportunity for a strategic, relationship-driven advancement leader who thrives at the intersection of leadership, fundraising, and regional strategy.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Five years of progressively responsible major gift experience.
- Three years of management experience, including direct supervision or leadership of advancement efforts
- Demonstrated success securing major gifts, including six-figure and above commitments
- Strong leadership and coaching skills, with the ability to develop and mentor fundraising professionals
- Exceptional relationship-building and communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders
- Strategic thinker with experience developing and executing multi-year fundraising plans
- Ability to navigate complex organizations and collaborate across teams
- Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Willingness and ability to travel up to ~50%
Nice To Haves
- Advanced degree
- Ten years of development experience
- Five years of major gift fundraising experience
- Five years of progressive management experience
- Significant experience in higher education fundraising
Benefits
- health insurance
- retirement plans
- paid time off
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
Number of Employees
1,001-5,000 employees
