Senior Director of Development, UCI MIND

University of California, Irvine•Irvine, CA

14d•$150,000 - $165,000

About The Position

Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide. To learn more about UC Irvine, visit www.uci.edu. The UC Irvine Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (UCI MIND) is internationally recognized for its research accomplishments in age-related brain disorders. UCI MIND is the University's center for aging and dementia research, with our faculty seeking to understand the causes leading to neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementia, and Huntington's disease. For more than 40 years, UCI MIND has been at the forefront of Alzheimer's disease research. It is home to one of 35 Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers (ADRC) funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), a branch of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and one of 10 California Alzheimer's Disease Centers funded by the California Department of Public Health. UCI MIND is Orange County's only state and federally funded Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. The Institute is composed of faculty and staff from multiple Departments and Schools, ranging from basic laboratory scientists to physician investigators, with a common goal of research discovery to improve the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and cure of age-related brain diseases, especially Alzheimer's disease. Your Role on the Team The Senior Director of Development (SDOD) for the Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (UCI MIND) is a mid-level development professional who works collaboratively with the Director of UCI MIND and University Advancement (UA) to contribute to the development program of UCI MIND and secure significant philanthropic investments to support it. The Senior Director will maintain a portfolio of donor prospects that includes the most influential, complex or highest rated donors. The primary activity of the SDOD is externally focused to cultivate and secure private philanthropic support; the SDOD’s effectiveness will be evaluated on the ability to achieve financial goals and meet metrics. The SDOD reports directly to University Advancement, with a dotted line to the UCI MIND Director. The SDOD will serve as a member of the UCI MIND leadership team and will also be a highly collaborative colleague with other development officers across the campus. In 2025, UCI MIND received the largest donation in its history, a family gift of more than $50M. This gift launched campaign to construct a new physical home for UCI MIND on campus and established new opportunities to enhance philanthropic support. The SDOD will be the point person for UCI MIND and University Advancement in this exciting new phase.

Requirements

Expert knowledge of all aspects of individual, foundation, corporate, and government fundraising, donor relations, and public relations concepts, principles, procedures, and techniques.
Expert written, oral and interpersonal communication skills, including political acumen, to establish and maintain good working relationships throughout the organization and with outside constituencies. Expert skills in making persuasive and compelling presentations of goals and objectives for a location in order to secure gifts.
Expert organizational, analytical and critical thinking skills. Expert project / program management skills, including skills in setting and meeting program / project goals and objectives within budget and time constraints.
Expert level skills in maintaining confidentiality.
Extensive experience in the completion of complex and detailed proposals and related materials.
Extensive experience in working independently with both Institute and institutional goals in mind.
Highly organized and able to handle multiple projects.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and Salesforce or a comparable donor/prospect database system.
Extensive demonstrable experience in stewardship plans leading to additional investments.
Clarity of focus while juggling complex projects and/or deadlines. Ability to meet demanding work schedule expectations.
Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training
5-10 yearsFive to seven years' successful professional development and/or fundraising-related experience, preferably in higher education, OR, any equivalent combinations of education and/or experience from which comparable knowledge, skill and abilities have been achieved.

Nice To Haves

Expert working knowledge of all aspects of the location, including current issues of concern for both the campus and / or throughout higher education / healthcare generally. Expert knowledge of the location, its vision, mission, goals, objectives, achievements and infrastructure.
Expert knowledge of applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, etc.
CFRE is welcomed, but not required.