Director of Development

Position Overview

Are you driven by the opportunity to power discoveries that transform human health on a global scale?

The Basic and Biomedical Sciences Development team is seeking an extraordinary, strategic, and collaborative Director of Development to advance philanthropic support for world-changing scientific innovation. Partnering directly with university deans, department chairs, institute directors, and world-renowned faculty, you will shape the future of medicine by securing major and principal gifts that accelerate breakthrough research and empower the next generation of scientific leaders.

This role offers an exceptional platform for an ambitious fundraising leader: a high-impact, broad-scope portfolio spanning foundational basic science departments, cutting-edge interdisciplinary research centers, the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs (GEPA), and the prestigious Sandler Program for Breakthrough Biomedical Research (PBBR).

Why This Role Is Unique

• Unrivaled Portfolio Breadth: Rather than working in a single niche, you will drive philanthropic strategies across an expansive ecosystem of basic sciences, multidisciplinary institutes, and graduate education.
• Direct Access to Academic Leadership: You will serve as a trusted advisor to deans, department chairs, and pioneering researchers, translating complex scientific visions into inspiring donor opportunities.
• High-Impact Philanthropy: Your work will directly fund high-risk, high-reward research (through PBBR) and nurture top-tier emerging scientists (through GEPA), leaving a lasting legacy on global health outcomes.
• Collaborative Environment: Join a high-performing, deeply supportive team environment built on partnership, intellectual curiosity, and shared impact.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Portfolio & Prospect Management

• Manage a dynamic portfolio of 75-100 major and principal gift prospects, actively moving donors through the pipeline from identification and qualification to solicitation and stewardship.
• Target, cultivate, and solicit individual donors, foundations, and family offices capable of making gifts of $250k to $1M+.

Academic Partnership & Leadership Engagement

• Work directly with deans, department chairs, center and institute directors, and faculty leaders to understand strategic research priorities and convert them into compelling philanthropic proposals.
• Educate and coach faculty on fundraising best practices, serving as an expert partner in donor meetings and site visits.

Interdisciplinary Strategy & Programmatic Growth

• Develop customized philanthropic strategies that leverage the strengths of interdisciplinary initiatives, basic science departments, GEPA, and PBBR.
• Design and execute innovative proposals that connect donor passions with institution-wide scientific breakthroughs.

Desired Mindset & Competencies

• Intellectual Curiosity: A genuine passion for basic science, scientific innovation, and medical research.
• Strategic Agility: Comfort navigating complex institutional structures and managing multiple high-priority initiatives simultaneously.
• Collaborative Spirit: A team-first mindset with high emotional intelligence and a commitment to shared goals.

*note: Salary commensurate with internal equity based on education, scope, and experience

Responsibilities

% of timeEssential Function (Yes/No)Key Responsibilities (To be completed by Supervisor)

40%

Yes

Serves as an expert or lead development professional in a specialized area such as major / principal gifts, gift planning or corporate / foundation relations, or a specific academic discipline that includes, or potentially includes, donors capable of making very significant contributions to the campus and / or medical center.

Portfolio Management

Core Objective: Directly manage and steward a dynamic portfolio of major and principal gift prospects (with capacity of $250k - $1M+), cultivating strategic donor relationships to advance transformative discovery and scientific innovation across basic science departments, research centers, GEPA, and PBBR.

• Discovery & Innovation Solicitations: Lead face-to-face and virtual solicitations for major and principal commitments, matching donor vision with high-impact institutional priorities - including high-risk/high-reward seed research (PBBR), faculty recruitment, state-of-the-art instrumentation, and graduate student/postdoctoral fellowships (GEPA).
• Complex Moves Management: Design and execute multi-stage cultivation and solicitation plans for high-net-worth individuals, tech/biotech entrepreneurs, and science-focused philanthropists, strategically moving donors from initial interest to multi-year investments in foundational science.
• High-Touch Scientific Stewardship: Deliver customized stewardship - including private lab visits, intimate briefings with principal investigators (PIs), research impact updates, and exclusive symposia - demonstrating how donor investments accelerate groundbreaking discoveries and support the next generation of scientific leaders.
• Portfolio Health & Velocity: Continuously evaluate portfolio performance based on contact quality, proposal conversion, and progress toward major gift revenue targets, actively prioritizing high-capacity prospects while maintaining strong pipeline momentum.

25%

Yes

Develops, creates, writes, implements, and / or evaluates individualized marketing plans and / or strategies for cultivation and solicitation of major gifts, gift planning or corporate / foundation prospects (strategies typically require a high degree of innovation).

Pipeline Development 

Core Objective: Systematically identify, research, and qualify prospective major and principal gift donors by building strong, collaborative partnerships with department chairs, institute directors, GEPA leadership, and faculty researchers.

• Faculty & Institutional Leadership Alignment: Partner closely with basic science department chairs, center and institute directors, PBBR leadership, and academic leaders to build trust, articulate funding priorities, and uncover high-potential philanthropic opportunities.
• Proactive Prospecting & Network Expansion: Identify and cultivate high-capacity prospects across technology, biotechnology, venture capital, and entrepreneurial networks who possess an affinity for disruptive, data-driven, or exploratory biomedical research.
• Venture & Advisory Board Engagement: Collaborate with volunteer leaders, scientific advisory boards, and institute advocates to leverage their personal and professional networks for warm, high-level introductions to prospective major donors.
• Intelligence & CRM Discipline: Partner with the prospect research team to analyze wealth indicators, patent filings, corporate exits, and foundation giving trends, maintaining meticulous CRM strategy tracking for all science and graduate education prospects.

15%

Yes

Writes complex proposals for solicitation of high value individuals, corporate, and / or foundation prospects.

Prospect Strategy & Proposal Writing 

Core Objective: Develop bespoke cultivation strategies and author sophisticated, highly tailored major gift proposals that translate complex fundamental research into inspiring philanthropic opportunities.

• Bespoke Proposal & Case Writing: Author compelling, impact-driven major gift proposals, white papers, letters of intent, and pledge agreements that clearly articulate the transformative potential of basic research, multidisciplinary initiatives, and trainee support.
• Complex & Structured Giving: Collaborate with planned giving specialists, tax advisors, and family office representatives to structure complex gifts, including seed funding models, endowed chairs, graduate fellowships, and blended gift commitments.
• Institutional Priority Translation: Work directly with faculty, PIs, and academic leadership to translate technical, cutting-edge biomedical concepts (e.g., genetics, cell biology, neuroscience, immunology) into accessible, visionary donor proposals.
• Individualized Strategy Roadmaps: Formulate multi-year engagement strategies for top-tier individual prospects, aligning donor interests with institutional strengths across basic science departments and campus-wide initiatives like PBBR.

15%

YES

Analyzes needs and creates strategic and long-range plans for fundraising and other advancement programs and may have the authority to make commitments and precedent-setting decisions regarding program design, development, and procedures.

Leadership & Stakeholder Alignment

Core Objective: Engage executive leadership, department heads, and faculty partners to elevate high-stakes major gift opportunities and foster a collaborative advancement culture.

• Faculty Coaching & Strategy Prep: Brief and coach department chairs, institute directors, and research faculty prior to donor interactions, providing detailed meeting briefs, messaging frameworks, and explicit roles for joint solicitations.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner seamlessly with advancement and university colleagues to ensure unified donor messaging and compliant gift execution.
• Advancement Collaboration across GEPA & PBBR: Serve as a subject-matter resource and strategic liaison for interdisciplinary initiatives bridging basic science departments, postdoctoral affairs, and campus-wide research programs.
• Exclusive Donor Engagements: Conceptualize and host intimate donor gatherings, salon dinners, and executive briefings featuring leading researchers to build community and advance principal gift relationships.

5%

YES

Other Duties as Assigned

Core Objective: Maintain flexibility to support broader institutional advancement priorities, special projects, and team-wide campaigns.

• Special Campaigns & Institutional Initiatives: Support priority campaigns, institutional milestones, or emergency research funding initiatives as directed by advancement leadership.
• Departmental & Team Support: Participate in team planning, staff mentoring, and cross-departmental working groups to enhance advancement processes, templates, and collaborative workflows.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills and AbilitiesReq / Pref

Expert working knowledge of all aspects of fundraising, donor relations, and public relations concepts, principles, procedures, and techniques.

Req

Expert knowledge of all aspects of the institution, campus or medical center, including current issues of concern for both the campus and / or throughout higher education / healthcare, generally. Expert knowledge of the location, including its vision, mission, goals, objectives, achievements and infrastructure.

Pref

Expert knowledge of applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, etc.

Req

Expert written 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.

Req

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.

Req

Expert level skills in maintaining confidentiality.

Req

Bachelor's degree in related area and 10+ years of related expeirence / or equivalent experience / training.

Req

Expert knowledge of all aspects of the location

Req