Assistant Director of Development/Catamount Club - #251078

Western Carolina University; Cullowhee (NC); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Western Carolina University is seeking an Assistant Director of Development for the Catamount Club to drive sport-specific annual giving and donor engagement. You will partner with Athletics and Advancement to create compelling campaigns, manage events, and grow donor support for student-athletes.

The role requires strong communication, project management, and donor relations skills, with a focus on outcomes, storytelling, and cross-team collaboration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; fundraising experience preferred in collegiate athletics.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills for donor engagement.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop sport-specific annual giving strategies and donor engagement plans.
• Lead fundraising campaigns and events to support Catamount Club.
• Collaborate with coaches to identify stories that highlight funding opportunities.
• Build pipelines of prospective donors and coordinate solicitations.
• Use data analytics to evaluate performance and improve strategies.

Skills

Communication

Customer service

Organizational skills

Multitasking

Donor relationship management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Donor database systems

Job description

Assistant Director of Development/Catamount Club - #251078

Working Title Assistant Director of Development/Catamount Club - #251078

Department

Department Office, Assistant VC of Development

Anticipated Hiring Range

Anticipated Hiring Range Based on qualifications/experience, internal equity, and departmental budget restrictions.

About WCU

Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes ‘Best Employers’ lists each year. Including:
2025 – Ranked 1st in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes ‘America’s Best Employers by State’ list.
2024 – Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes ‘America’s Best Midsize Employers’ list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
2023 – Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes ‘America’s Best Midsize Employers’ list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
2022 – Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes ‘America’s Best Employers by State’ list.
Western Carolina University is the UNC system’s westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.
Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans – eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.
Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year. Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.
WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences – many of which are offered free of charge.

Position Summary

The primary location of this position is on-site at the Cullowhee, NC campus. This position is designated as being exempt from the State of North Carolina Human Resources Act ( EHRA ).
Are you passionate about collegiate athletics and inspired by the power of philanthropy to elevate the student‑athlete experience? Western Carolina University invites applications for a dynamic and driven individual to join our team as an Assistant Director of Development/Catamount Club. This is your opportunity to make a direct and lasting impact on WCU Athletics by helping to shape the future of our programs and the lives of our student‑athletes.

Reporting to the Associate Director of Athletics Annual Giving, this position plays a visible, hands‑on role within both the Athletics Department and the Division of Advancement. The Assistant Director is responsible for fundraising, donor engagement, and events management to support WCU Athletics and to meet annual development goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and lead comprehensive, sport‑specific annual giving strategies to grow philanthropic support for Western Carolina University Athletics, with emphasis on donor acquisition, retention, renewal, reacquisition, and increased engagement.
• Assist in developing annual engagement and solicitation plans for assigned sports to ensure consistent, year‑round communication with alumni, donors, parents, fans, and other constituents.
• Partner with Advancement Communications colleagues to create compelling sport‑specific fundraising communications, including coach and program updates, newsletters, donor impact stories, giving appeals, digital content, and other materials that connect supporters with program priorities and accomplishments.
• Execute integrated, multi‑channel fundraising campaigns using email, text messaging, social media, direct outreach, and other appropriate channels. Collaborate with Catamount Club and Athletics social media staff and individual team accounts to ensure campaigns are coordinated and mutually reinforcing.
• Work with coaches and Athletics staff to identify compelling stories that promote program priorities, funding opportunities, competitive successes, and other content that strengthens donor engagement and inspires philanthropic support.
• Partner with Advancement Stewardship colleagues to develop meaningful stewardship opportunities for Catamount Club members and sport‑specific donors, ensuring donors understand the impact of their support and remain connected to the programs they value.
• Partner with Advancement Events colleagues and Athletics staff to identify and execute engagement opportunities that deepen relationships with sport‑specific donors and prospects and complement broader annual giving strategies.
• Develop targeted sport‑specific strategies for institutional and athletics giving initiatives, including giving days and other special campaigns, by identifying appropriate audiences, messages, funding priorities, and channels for each program.
• Build and manage pipelines of prospective sport‑specific donors, with emphasis on acquiring new donors and re‑engaging former supporters, and conduct appropriate direct outreach and solicitation as part of broader annual giving campaigns.
• Use donor data, engagement information, campaign results, and other analytics to segment audiences, evaluate performance, identify opportunities, and continuously improve sport‑specific annual giving strategies.
• Maintain strong working relationships with coaches and Athletics staff while serving as a key Catamount Club resource for assigned sport‑specific annual giving and engagement plans.
• Collaborate with Catamount Club and Advancement colleagues, including the Associate Director of Athletics Annual Giving and the Associate Athletics Director for Development, to ensure sport‑specific fundraising efforts complement the broader annual giving strategy and philanthropic priorities of WCU Athletics.
• Carry out other duties as assigned in support of Catamount Club and Athletics annual giving goals.

This position is ideal for a self‑starter who thrives in a team‑oriented environment and believes in the transformative potential of college athletics. If you’re ready to build something meaningful at a place where student success and school spirit run deep—join us.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities Required for this Position

• Strong communication, customer service, and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel) and donor database systems.

Minimum Qualifications

• Interested candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States of America without the need for employer sponsorship or any other type of immigration‑related assistance.
• Bachelor’s degree required. Candidate must have previous experience in Fundraising, preferably in Collegiate Athletics. This position involves local and occasional out of state travel. Flexibility, including necessity of frequent night and weekend work, is required.

Preferred Qualifications

Position Type

Position Type Permanent Full-Time

Number of Hours Per Week

Number of Hours Per Week 40

Number of Months Per Year

Number of Months Per Year 12

Background/E-Verify

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks.
Western Carolina University uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify . Proper documentation of identity and employability are required at the time of employment.

All new employees are required to have listed credentials/degrees verified within 30 days of employment. All new employees who will be teaching are required to provide official transcripts within 30 days of employment. Transcripts should be provided for the highest earned degree and/or the degree which is being used to satisfy credential/qualification requirements.

EOE

Western Carolina University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; ethnicity; religion; sex; pregnancy; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; national origin; age; disability; genetic information; political affiliation; National Guard or veteran status, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, and policies, and the policies of The University of North Carolina. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations in the application and interview process please call [phone] or email at [e-mail].

University Safety

The Western Carolina University Annual Safety Report is available online at University Annual Safety Report or in hard-copy by request at the office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, 227 HFR Administration Building, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7147) or the Office of University Police, 111 Camp Annex, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7301). The report, required of all universities participating in Title IV student financial aid programs, discusses crime statistics, procedures for reporting suspicious or criminal activity, security, police authority, crime prevention strategies, university policies on substance abuse and sexual offenses, workplace violence and fire safety.

Supplemental Questions

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• * How did you hear about this employment opportunity?
  • HigherEdJobs.com
  • Inside Higher Ed
  • HERC - Higher Education Recruitment Consortium
  • Website - Jobs.wcu.edu
  • Indeed.com
  • Personal Referral
  • Agency Referral
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