Associate Director Develoment (Major Gifts)

University of Sydney; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 118,000 - 144,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Hybrid work options

Job summary

University of Sydney seeks an Associate Director Development, museums and cultural engagement to lead major gift fundraising for the Chau Chak Wing Museum and broader arts initiatives. You will build high‑level donor relationships, align donor passions with strategic university programs, and collaborate with senior leaders to raise the institution’s philanthropic profile.

The role requires cultural competence, leadership experience, and a donor‑centric approach, with flexible, hybrid work

Qualifications

• Has experience as a development professional including cultivation and solicitation of major gifts.
• Demonstrates high cultural competence including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander engagement.
• Natural relationship builder who engages with people from diverse cultures.
• Excellent written and listening communication to develop compelling proposals.
• Passionate about people leadership and mentoring with team leadership experience.
• Strategic thinker capable of planning months or years in advance.

Responsibilities

• Raise major gifts to support the Chau Chak Wing Museum and cultural programs.
• Develop relationships with high net-worth donors.
• Align donor passions with university projects and outreach initiatives.
• Collaborate with senior leaders to reflect donor priorities.
• Elevate philanthropy profile within the University.
• Support broad fundraising activity and capacity building.

Skills

Major gifts

Cultural competence

Relationship building

Excellent communication

Team leadership

Strategic planning

Emotional intelligence

Donor-centric approach

High achiever

Job description

• Role to work in the Advancement Portfolio with a specific focus Museums and cultural engagement


• Fixed term until November 2027 - Flexible and hybrid work options


• HEO 8 - Starting salary of $131,108 base plus 17% superannuation and leave loading.

Are you passionate about history, culture, sciences, and the arts we have a fixed term opportunity for a self-motivated and passionate fundraiser to join the advancement portfolio in our Faculty of Arts and Culture.
As an experienced fundraiser in our arts and culture team, you will be responsible for raising major financial gifts that will support projects and programs to support our Chau Chak Wing Museum which sits at the nexus of art, history, culture and sciences, as well as broader cultural engagement across the University.
You will develop relationships with high net worth donors, connecting their passions with work that would otherwise not be undertaken, or education and outreach opportunities to support the next generation of leaders and thinkers. You will build strong internal relationships with senior leaders to understand how their critical work can be aligned with donor passions. You would be a part of lifting the profile of philanthropy across the institution.
Working for one of the most successful fundraising programs in Australian higher education. Having completed the nation's first $1 billion fundraising campaign and embarking on the next, this is an exciting time to join the team. To support this wide range of fundraising activity, we are investing in our capacity.

About you

The University values courage and creativity; openness and engagement; inclusion and diversity; and respect and integrity. As such, we see the importance of recruiting talent aligned to these values and are looking for an Associate Director Development, museums and cultural engagement, who:

• Has experience as a development professional including the cultivation and solicitation 6 and 7 figure major gifts


• Can demonstrate a high level of cultural competence and an understanding of the contribution Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples make to the University of Sydney


• is a natural relationship builder who enjoy interacting with people one on one and fostering relationships with people at different levels and from different cultures


• has excellent communication skills, both listening and written in order to develop compelling proposals that align to a prospective donor's interest


• is passionate about people leadership and mentoring and has experience leading a team


• is strategic and can plan months, sometimes even years in advance


• has highly developed emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills


• is a high achiever and naturally driven by success both professionally and personally


• has a positive attitude, always striving for excellence with a donor centric approach.

About us

The Advancement Portfolio team at the University of Sydney is one of the most successful fundraising programs in Australian higher education. Having achieved the nation's first $1BN fundraising campaign and onto their second campaign, the team is not only the finest performing, its success facilitates the largest real-world impact that philanthropic giving makes possible.
Since its inception 175 years ago, the University of Sydney has led to improve the world around us. We believe in education for all and that effective leadership makes lives better. These same values are reflected in our approach to philanthropy and underpin our long-term strategy for excellence and growth. We’re Australia's first university and have an outstanding global reputation for academic and research excellence. Across our campuses, we employ over 7600 academic and non‑academic staff who support over 60,000 students.

Sponsorship / work rights for Australia

You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment to be eligible to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.

Pre-employment checks and declarations

Your employment is conditional upon the successful completion of all pre-employment or background checks required for the role in terms satisfactory to the University. Also, to meet the University’s obligations under the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Eliminate Gender-Based Violence you will be asked to declare if you have been investigated for, or found to engaged in, sexual harm or gender-based violence in the course of previous employment or in a legal process. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment.

EEO statement

At the University of Sydney, our shared values are trust, accountability and excellence and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community that thrives through diversity and reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this through our commitment to diversity and inclusion, evidenced by our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people living with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBTQIA+. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds.
We are proud to be recognised as an Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Platinum Employer. Find out more about our work on diversity and inclusion.