Sr. Director of Development, CELS & GSO

Title: Senior Director of Development, College of the Environment and Life Sciences & the Graduate School of Oceanography

Department: Development

Reports to: Jeff Simon, Associate Vice President for Unit Development

Location: Kingston, RI

Employment Type: Exempt, Full-Time

Position Summary

The University of Rhode Island Foundation (URIF) seeks an experienced, strategic, and entrepreneurial fundraising leader to serve as Senior Director of Development for the College of the Environment and Life Sciences (CELS). This position provides leadership for a comprehensive major and principal gifts program, advances college and university fundraising priorities, and serves as the senior philanthropic partner for the Dean of CELS and advisor to the Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO) at the Narragansett Bay Campus.

Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Unit Development, the Senior Director of Development leads, plans, and executes a comprehensive fundraising program for CELS. The Senior Director manages a portfolio of approximately 125 major and principal gift prospects and donors, primarily focused on individuals with the capacity to make gifts of $100,000 or more. The position works closely with the Dean, Foundation leadership, faculty, advisory council members, and development colleagues to secure transformational philanthropic support for student success, faculty excellence, research, innovation, experiential learning, and capital priorities. The Senior Director also provides leadership, mentoring, and strategic direction for development staff assigned to CELS and GSO and plays a key role in university-wide campaign initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy & Major Gift Development

• Serve as the senior development leader for CELS and provide strategic leadership for a comprehensive, donor-centered fundraising program aligned with College and University priorities.
• Collaborate with the Dean to identify, articulate, and advance philanthropic priorities; establish annual and long-term fundraising goals; and foster a culture of philanthropy among alumni, faculty, students, and external partners.
• Develop and implement comprehensive cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for a portfolio of 125 major and principal gift prospects and donors.
• Personally solicit and close major and principal gifts, including annual, major, planned, capital, and endowment commitments.
• Develop solicitation and closure strategies aligned with College priorities, University campaign objectives, and Foundation fundraising goals.
• Partner with the Gift Planning Office to develop strategies for cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding planned gift donors.
• Partner with Principal Gifts leadership to identify and advance high-capacity prospects capable of transformational philanthropic investments.
• Review, analyze, and expand prospect pools to ensure an effective pipeline of major and principal gift opportunities.

• Advise the Dean on prospect management issues, fundraising opportunities, and strategies that enhance the College’s philanthropic success.

Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement

• Lead, mentor, and coach development staff assigned to CELS and GSO, ensuring achievement of performance expectations, professional development, and alignment with Foundation fundraising standards. Provide direct supervision for development staff supporting the GSO.
• Provide strategic leadership and support for the Dean’s Advisory Council, including member recruitment, onboarding, engagement, fundraising participation, and stewardship.
• Prepare and oversee proposals, briefing materials, stewardship reports, and engagement strategies for senior university leaders, volunteers, and board members.
• Coordinate donor engagement activities involving the Dean and other academic leaders, including visit planning, follow-up, and stewardship.
• Represent CELS and URIF at internal and external events and participate in signature university events that create opportunities for strategic donor engagement.

CELS/GSO Stewardship & Operations

• Coordinate prospect strategies with Foundation leadership, principal gifts, corporate and foundation relations, annual giving, donor relations, alumni engagement, communications, and gift planning staff.
• Partner with Donor Relations to ensure exemplary stewardship of named funds, endowments, and current-use gifts.
• Respond proactively to emerging fundraising opportunities and contribute to Foundation-wide initiatives, campaign planning, and cross-unit collaborations.
• Maintain accurate and timely records of donor interactions, strategies, proposals, and outcomes within the Foundation’s prospect management system.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, preferably in higher education or a similarly complex nonprofit environment. 
• Demonstrated success in securing major gifts of $100,000 and experience managing principal gift prospects.
• Demonstrated leadership, strategic thinking, initiative, sound judgment, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively in a complex and collaborative environment. 
• Exceptional interpersonal, organizational, verbal, and written communication skills are required.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, lead teams, build relationships with high-level donors and volunteers, and achieve ambitious fundraising goals. 

• Some travel and evening/weekend work required.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, CRM/prospect management systems, and web-based applications required.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Experience leading staff, campaign initiatives, advisory boards, or fundraising teams strongly preferred.

Salary: $130,000 to $140,000 commensurate with experience.

Join the URI Foundation team!

We offer competitive benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, generous paid time off, and unparalleled retirement savings programs. Join our team of talented, mission-driven advancement professionals!

We are an equal opportunity employer and provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, making decisions based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, veteran status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic characteristics, or any other characteristic protected by law.