Job Summary

The Senior Director of Development will cultivate and solicit alumni, parents, friends, employers, foundations and corporations for contributions. The incumbent will direct the implementation and coordination of a comprehensive development program by identifying, qualifying, cultivating, and soliciting major gifts; understand and comply with the policies, procedures and best practices established by University Development; foster successful major gift fundraising by preparing university leaders to participate routinely and effectively in development activities and prospect appointments; and participate in college based programs that identify and encourage relationships with donors, prospects and alumni. 

The Senior Director of Development reports directly to the Executive Director of Development and External Relations of the Orfalea College of Business (OCOB) and will work in collaboration with the Executive Director of the CIE, and University Development and Alumni Engagement. This job involves planning and implementing short and long-term development initiatives for the CIE. This includes organizing fundraising and public relations campaigns that align with the college's mission and vision.

Department Summary

The role of the University Development and Alumni Engagement (UDAE) Division is to foster strong relationships with external partners while enhancing support for Cal Poly. University Development and Alumni Engagement does this by implementing an overall advancement program that includes alumni and parent engagement, community outreach, coordinated fundraising efforts, donor relations, gift processing, trust and endowment management, training and systems support for the donor database, and Cal Poly Foundation support and administration.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion are core values at Cal Poly and UDAE is committed to a continuous process of learning and updating practices to support systemic evolution toward equity, diversity, and inclusion for our team and constituents.

Key Qualifications

• Previous capital campaign, major gift cultivation and/or donor solicitation experience is essential.
• Demonstrated experience and success in major gifts fundraising, marketing, planned giving, or other related professional field, preferably in a university setting or other fast paced and dynamic environment.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and cultivating major gift donor contacts within the development community. Demonstrated experience in independent management of a large, complex, and successful, program with annual and multi-year goals. 
• Thorough knowledge of and experience with prospect management systems, fiscal administration, and volunteer development including utilizing the alumni relations database and prospect management systems as organizational tools.
• Thorough knowledge of the financial structure of donations, to include cash, gifts-in-kind, stocks, and securities.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's Degree and a minimum of six years of progressively responsible professional experience in development, major gifts fundraising, donor relations, marketing, planned giving or other related professional experience with four years being direct fundraising experience.
• Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.

Salary and Benefits

The anticipated hiring range for this role is $120,750 to $145,950. Note that the offer is calculated based on the background and relevant years of experience of the individual selected.

Cal Poly offers a best-in-class benefits program, including health, dental and vision insurance, retirement participation in the Public Employees' Retirement System, and educational benefits for eligible employees. See our benefits website for additional information.

Cal Poly

Cal Poly is a nationally-ranked public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, and known for its Learn by Doing philosophy. Each year more than 20,000 top-tier students come to San Luis Obispo to put knowledge into action, taking their learning outside the classroom as they prepare for careers in engineering, agriculture, science, business, humanities and the built environment. Cal Poly’s hands-on philosophy, small class sizes and close student-faculty mentorships result in graduates ready from day one to impact their communities, California and the world. For more information, visit calpoly.edu.

Diversity Statement

At Cal Poly, we believe that cultivating an environment that embraces and promotes diversity is fundamental to the success of our students, our employees and our community. Bringing people together from different backgrounds, experiences and value systems fosters the innovative and creative thinking that exemplifies Cal Poly's values of free inquiry, cultural and intellectual diversity, mutual respect, civic engagement, and social and environmental responsibility.
Cal Poly's commitment to diversity informs our efforts in recruitment, hiring and retention. Cal Poly is an equal opportunity employer.

Supplemental Information

Following a conditional offer of employment, a background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate may start work with Cal Poly. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may result in the withdrawal of the offer of employment. Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive.

The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

This position may be "Designated" under California State University's Conflict of Interest Code. This would require the filing of a Statement of Economic Interest on an annual basis and the completion of training within 6 months of assuming office and every 2 years thereafter.

Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo is not a sponsoring agency for staff positions (i.e. H-1B visas).