Senior Director of Development, Cancer Programs

UCSF•San Francisco, CA

5d•$220,000 - $240,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Director of Development serves as the primary development partner for the Division of Hematology Oncology at UCSF, working with Division Chief Dr. Krishna Komanduri and reporting to the Executive Director of Development, Cancer Plus, within the Office of University Development and Alumni Relations (UDAR). The role shapes and drives the division’s philanthropic strategy, manages a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects, and directly supervises frontline fundraising professionals. The position leads donor cultivation, stewardship, and solicitations for commitments typically ranging from $250,000 to $1 million or more. It partners with faculty, clinical leaders, department heads, institute directors, and other institutional stakeholders to translate research, clinical, and academic priorities into compelling donor opportunities. The role also develops team performance, faculty engagement, prospect pipelines, fundraising strategies, and tailored proposals, while supporting broader campaigns and institutional initiatives. The position is described as a flexible hybrid role based out of UCSF’s 2001 The Embarcadero location.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a related area and 8 or more years of related experience, including 3 or more years of supervisory or management experience, or equivalent experience or training.
Strong knowledge of fundraising, donor and public relations, and donor identification, cultivation, and solicitation strategies.
Strong knowledge of applicable laws, rules, regulations, and policies.
Strong management and leadership skills, including selecting, training, mentoring, evaluating, and motivating staff.
Strong written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills and political acumen to build working relationships across organizational levels and with outside constituencies.
Ability to meet predetermined goals and objectives, including securing gifts and achieving fundraising targets.
Strong strategic planning skills and ability to conceive, design, implement, evaluate, and manage fundraising programs and strategies.
Strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills.
Persuasion, negotiation, and marketing skills.
Demonstrated capability to lead and mentor frontline fundraisers while managing complex operational and revenue targets.
Ability to translate technical scientific concepts into compelling donor cases.
Expertise navigating academic medical centers, developing clinician referral pipelines, and managing high-net-worth grateful patient relationships with discretion and political acumen.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of the campus, its achievements, vision, mission, goals, objectives, policies, infrastructure, and current issues of concern.
Prior experience in a complex academic medical center, higher education environment, or healthcare nonprofit.
Knowledge of oncology, hematology, or complex biomedical research funding structures.
Master’s degree in healthcare administration, business, communications, or a related discipline.
Passion for cancer research, hematology, and medical innovation.

Responsibilities

Manage and steward a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects, cultivating donor relationships in support of institutional, academic, research, and clinical priorities.
Lead face-to-face and virtual solicitations for major and principal gifts, including strategic seed funding, endowed faculty chairs, capital projects, scholarships, and specialized research or program funds.
Design and execute multi-stage cultivation and solicitation plans for individuals, corporate leaders, philanthropic advisors, and institutional partners.
Provide customized donor stewardship through faculty and executive briefings, impact updates, facility tours, and exclusive symposia.
Evaluate portfolio performance, proposal conversion, and progress toward revenue targets; prioritize prospects and maintain pipeline momentum.
Directly manage, mentor, and develop frontline fundraising staff; set performance goals, portfolio metrics, donor visit targets, and moves-management expectations.
Oversee division-level fundraising metrics and progress toward individual, division, and Cancer Plus team targets.
Prepare and coach faculty for donor interactions, including briefing materials, messaging frameworks, and roles for joint solicitations.
Orient faculty to advancement strategies and help them recognize potential supporters and collaborate with development officers.
Coordinate with central advancement, donor relations, and communications colleagues to align donor messaging and ensure compliant gift execution.
Serve as a strategic liaison for interdisciplinary initiatives spanning schools, departments, research centers, and campus programs.
Plan and host donor gatherings, salon dinners, and executive briefings with faculty, institutional leaders, and philanthropic advisors.
Build trusted relationships with faculty, researchers, clinical leaders, and institutional leadership to identify funding needs and donor leads.
Identify and cultivate high-capacity prospects through executive, entrepreneurial, grateful beneficiary, and philanthropic networks, including family offices, wealth managers, and philanthropic advisors.
Engage volunteer leaders, advisory boards, and institutional advocates to secure introductions to prospective donors.
Partner with prospect research to analyze wealth indicators, philanthropic trends, corporate transactions, and foundation giving; maintain prospect strategy information in the CRM.
Translate complex academic, clinical, and research initiatives into accessible donor proposals and opportunities.
Write tailored gift proposals, white papers, letters of intent, and pledge agreements.
Collaborate with planned giving specialists and legal, financial, and philanthropic advisors to structure complex and deferred gifts.
Develop multi-year engagement strategies for top-tier prospects and advisors, aligning donor interests with institutional priorities.
Support campaigns, institutional milestones, emergency funding initiatives, team planning, staff mentoring, and cross-departmental advancement projects as assigned.