Senior Director, Community Resource Development

Compensation: $100,000 with bonus potential

General Statement of Duties:

The Senior Director of Community Resource Development provides strategic leadership in cultivating, securing, and stewarding philanthropic investments in Webster University, with a focus on high-capacity donors, corporate leaders, and industry thought partners. This position is accountable for leading the process of engaging, analyzing, and stewarding stakeholders with the potential for transformational giving, including major gifts, endowments, and naming opportunities.

The Senior Director works closely with University Agents to identify and elevate programs and initiatives most likely to resonate with high-capacity donors and thought leaders, ensuring alignment between program priorities and donor interests. The Senior Director collaborates closely with the Associate Vice President and university leadership to develop compelling cases for investment, ensuring that Webster’s most ambitious priorities are presented in ways that resonate with industry leaders and top donors. The Senior Director supervises the Director of Community Resource Development, ensuring that strategies at all donor levels are aligned and coordinated.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities*

Leadership in Donor Engagement

• Lead the full cycle of engagement with high-net-worth individuals, corporate leaders, and industry thought leaders.
• Direct the creation of tailored case statements, proposals, and investment opportunities for transformational gifts, including naming rights, endowed scholarships, schools, colleges, chairs, and professorships.
• Act as a senior ambassador for Webster University with community leaders, major donors, and national/global partners.

Prospect Research & Donor Strategy

• Analyze and prioritize prospects with significant giving capacity and influence, ensuring Webster’s highest-level investment opportunities are strategically presented.
• Collaborate with Advancement Services and prospect research teams to develop actionable donor intelligence.
• Design and implement tailored solicitation strategies for top-tier prospects.

Collaboration & Institutional Alignment

• Partner with deans, faculty, and administrative leaders to translate academic and institutional priorities into compelling philanthropic opportunities.
• Collaborate with University Agents across schools, colleges, and global campuses to capture program details, successes, and aspirations, translating them into compelling narratives for transformational gift opportunities.
• Work with the Global Marketing team to ensure donor materials and communications are aligned with Webster’s brand and mission.
• Coordinate closely with the Associate VP to align major gift strategies with institutional advancement goals.

Supervision & Mentorship

• Supervise, coach, and evaluate the Director of Community Resource Development to ensure coordinated strategies and role clarity.
• Provide mentorship to the Director in cultivating and stewarding mid-level donors, alumni, and stakeholder groups.
• Promote collaboration across the advancement team to strengthen a pipeline of donors at all giving levels

Governance & Reporting

• Provide updates and reports to the Associate VP and, when requested, to the Board of Trustees committees on major gift cultivation strategies.
• Ensure compliance with ethical fundraising practices, donor intent, and university policies.

Secondary Duties and Responsibilities*

Other duties as needed to promote unity within and across the Webster Community.

Days M-F 8:30a-4:30p with some occasional weekend coverage. This position is approved for a 1-day hybrid, work arrangement as offered in Webster University’s Flexible Work Arrangements policy. Use by individual employees is at the discretion of the supervisor and unit leadership based on department and University needs”.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree
• 7–10 years of progressive experience in advancement, major gifts, or fundraising, preferably in higher education.
• Demonstrated success in securing transformational gifts and engaging high-capacity donors.
• Exceptional storytelling, proposal development, and donor engagement skills.
• Experience supervising staff and coordinating donor pipelines.
• Strong analytical skills to assess donor interests, giving capacity, and philanthropic trends.
• Strategic leadership and vision
• Expertise in major gift cultivation and solicitation
• Relationship-building with high-capacity donors and thought leaders
• Persuasive storytelling and case development
• Donor analysis and portfolio strategy
• Supervisory and mentorship ability
• Collaboration with University Agents and institutional leadership
• Commitment to ethical fundraising, diversity, and inclusion