Senior Director of Development, College of Dentistry

Job Description

The University of Tennessee Foundation, Inc (UTFI) invites applications and nominations to fill the position of Senior Director of Development for the College of Dentistry at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, the Senior Director of Development is responsible for leading the entire advancement of the University’s College of Dentistry’s mission through fundraising and related activities as well as supervisor fundraisers/fundraising activities for the colleges of pharmacy, nursing, graduate studies, and health professions.

Responsibilities

Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Portfolio Management and Donor Strategy: Establish and manage donor portfolios while developing cultivation and prospect strategies for self, the Dean, volunteers, and subordinate staff in connection with the College of Dentistry.

Campaign Leadership and Fundraising Operations: Lead the full lifecycle of campaign conceptualization, planning, and execution, along with day-to-day fundraising business processes for the College of Dentistry and subordinate staff.

Leadership: Supervise 2 FTE subordinates contributing to fundraising strategy across the Colleges of Pharmacy, Nursing, Graduate Studies, and Health Professions; manage metric performance requirements for the College of Dentistry; and provide coaching and leadership to fundraisers across all affiliated colleges.

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience

The candidate who fills the Senior Director of Development position is required to have:

• Bachelor’s degree
• 8 years of experience in fundraising roles
• 2 years of supervisory experience
• Track record of major gift success ($2M annually)
  
  

A valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record is required due to travel responsibilities of the position. UTFI reserves the right to consider all appropriate circumstances. In general, any significant driving offense less than 12 months old will eliminate the application from consideration for the position.

Note - Candidates holding a graduate degree must have at least 4 years of experience.

Preferred Education And Experience

In addition to meeting the required qualifications, the preferred candidate will have:

• Capacity to perform in an intellectually rigorous and complex environment
• Exhibit personal characteristics that lead to enabling effective interaction with important constituencies
• Possess a genuine commitment to the advancement of science education
  
  

Application Process: Priority will be given to applications received on or before May 15th via our DASH application system. Applications must include a completed candidate profile, cover letter, and resume. Candidates selected to move forward in the evaluation process will be asked to provide contact information for three professional references. References will not be contacted without explicit permission of the candidate.

When determining minimum qualifications, only information entered into the candidate profile can be considered. Please ensure your candidate profile is completed in its entirety as it relates to qualifying education/work experience.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment visa status.

Questions about the search may be directed to hr@utfi.org .

Target Start Date: July 2026

Benefits: The Foundation’s greatest asset is our team. Foundation employees are eligible for a comprehensive suite of benefits that includes:

• Generous paid leave , accruing up to 24 days of vacation and 12 days of sick leave annually, plus 14 paid holidays and administrative closing days
• Flexible work arrangements, offering a hybrid schedule to most team members
• Education benefits for employees and their dependents at UT System campuses
• Retirement and deferred compensation plans, including 401(k), 403(b), etc.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans
• Employee discounts to attractions, services, and goods
  
  

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The Foundation:  The University of Tennessee Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that serves as the preferred channel for private contributions benefiting students and faculty within the UT System. With a vision of being one of the top-performing advancement organizations in higher education, UTFI is committed to enhancing the educational landscape across the University of Tennessee campuses.

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) trains the next generation of health care providers for Tennessee, cares for the people from one end of the state to the other and researches the cures for the diseases that most affect all who call Tennessee home. Founded in 1911, the main UTHSC campus is located in Memphis and includes six colleges: Dentistry, Graduate Health Sciences, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy. UTHSC also educates and trains cohorts of medicine, pharmacy and/or health professions students — in addition to medical residents and fellows — at its major sites in Knoxville, Chattanooga and Nashville.

The UT System: The University of Tennessee System is comprised of campuses at Knoxville, Chattanooga, Pulaski, Martin and the Health Science Center at Memphis; the Institute of Agriculture; and the Institute for Public Service.

The University of Tennessee Foundation, Inc. is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, and parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law.