Executive Director, Development and Major Gifts - University Advancement

Benefits

Additional Information

University Advancement supports Carnegie Mellon University's vision of having a transformative impact on society through continual innovation in education, research, creativity and entrepreneurship by championing its mission, building relationships with its various constituencies, and securing critical private philanthropic support. As the division grows, we are searching for an Executive Director, Development and Major Gifts to join our team. The Executive Director, Development and Major Gifts provides strategic leadership for a central team of major gift officers and oversees key fundraising initiatives that support University Advancement's philanthropic goals. Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Development, this role will supervise a team of gift officers whose portfolios align with the schools and colleges, central units, and priority programs-including parent philanthropy-and is responsible for ensuring alignment and collaboration across the advancement ecosystem, including close coordination with the Chief Advancement Officers and the Annual Giving Digital Gift Officer team. The Executive Director manages a personal portfolio of approximately 50-75 prospects with a rated giving capacity of $50,000 or more and is responsible for the full lifecycle of donor engagement: identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. The position requires 8-10 annual trips outside the Pittsburgh region for donor engagement. This role is responsible for designing, implementing, and continually refining a university-wide parent fundraising program, leading its philanthropic strategy and execution, and ensuring its alignment and integration with the institution's broader advancement priorities. This role provides inspirational leadership to the major gifts team-setting goals and metrics, coaching and developing gift officers, and applying University Advancement best practices to monitor performance. The Executive Director ensures cohesive operations across fundraising teams and fosters a collaborative, high-performing culture grounded in transparent communication, shared strategy, and continuous improvement. PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE In consultation with the Associate Vice President for Development, determine the highest‑priority areas for deploying gift officers, and reassess these priorities annually. Direct gift officers in the solicitation of gifts and management of prospect portfolios, including establishing relationship strategies, recommending proposal purposes and levels, identifying key participants in cultivation and solicitation, and ensuring solicitations are executed effectively. Develop and implement work plans for gift officers, including progress tracking, prospect assignment, and performance metrics tied to annual dollar and donor goals. Supervise gift officer staff, including hiring, training, performance management, coaching, and mentoring. Serve as a team leader who motivates and develops colleagues. Stay informed about university programs, new initiatives, faculty research, and student activities to support informed prospect strategy, engagement, and communication. Coordinate closely with Prospect Management and Annual Giving Digital Gift Officer teams to strengthen the donor pipeline. Collaborate with central and unit‑based advancement partners-including Chief Advancement Officers, donor relations, alumni relations, and advancement resources-to support integrated development strategies. Oversee volunteer management for the ACS program and ACS board. Proactively build strong partnerships with faculty, deans, and advancement colleagues, coordinating multi‑touch engagements with prospects and donors. Qualify, cultivate, and solicit major gift prospects through personal visits, mail, phone, and volunteer engagement as needed. Travel 8-10 times per year and maintain a personal goal of 12-15 proposal submissions annually. Promote alumni relations activities and development events to assigned prospects. Manage and develop an assigned portfolio of major gift prospects, including establishing relationship plans, recommending gift purposes and levels, identifying key participants in cultivation and solicitation, and closing solicitations. Report regularly on progress toward goals, including solicitations, commitments, and qualifications. Perform other duties as assigned. YOU SHOULD DEMONSTRATE Strong knowledge of the principles of fundraising; The ability to understand the objectives of the University Advancement division, and to integrate fundraising goals with those objectives; The ability to initiate, analyze, monitor, evaluate and alter strategic advancement plans for prospect moves management; A personal belief in mission, goals and objectives of private higher education and ability to articulate the case for support for the vision/mission/goals of Carnegie Mellon; An interest in all aspects of education and a dedication to promoting the university's fundr

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