Associate Director, Development and Alumni Relations

Lehigh University; Bethlehem (Northampton County); Hybrid; USD 83,910 - 102,080; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Tuition benefits for employees and families

Job summary

Lehigh University is seeking an Associate Director for Development and Alumni Relations in Bethlehem, PA. In this role, you will manage major gift donors and play a pivotal role in advancing university priorities through philanthropy.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in fundraising and relationship management, driving engagement and securing substantial financial support for the university's mission.

This is a full-time position with a competitive salary range of $83,910-$102,080, plus a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Over seven years of related work experience in a development position.
• One to two years of related experience or equivalent training.
• Valid Driver's License required.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of major gift donors to secure at least $1 million annually.
• Cultivate relationships through face-to-face visits and events.
• Prepare strategic materials and proposals for donor engagement.

Skills

Relationship management

Fundraising strategy

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Job description

Associate Director, Development and Alumni Relations

Join Lehigh University's Development and Alumni Relations team and make a lasting impact on one of the nation's premier research universities. As Associate Director, you'll cultivate meaningful relationships with major gift donors while advancing Lehigh's mission of excellence in education and research.

About the Opportunity

This full‑time exempt position offers the chance to work directly with potential and current major gift level donors to Lehigh University. You'll manage a comprehensive portfolio of donors and prospective donors, guiding them through every phase of the gift cycle from initial contact to successful closure and ongoing stewardship.

Position Number: S80890. Grade: 11 - 40 with an approximate salary range of $83,910-$102,080 and is subject to change based on experience, skills and qualifications.

Key Responsibilities

• Secures a minimum of $1 million annually in philanthropic support for university priorities through the identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major gift donors.
• Cultivates relationships with current and prospective major donors through face‑to‑face visits to assess giving capacity and institutional alignment, building a strategic pipeline of solicitations.
• Arranges and staffs campus visits, tours, and cultivation events, while judiciously engaging senior leadership, deans, and faculty to deepen donor connection to the university.
• Prepares strategic briefing materials, standardized correspondence, and compelling, customized fundraising proposals and impact reports for prospective and current donors.
• Plans and executes targeted strategies to qualify, cultivate, and solicit major gift‑rated prospects within an assigned portfolio and geographic region to support institutional fundraising.
• Monitors and tracks overall fundraising progress, regional activity, and pipeline metrics—including LYBUNT, SYBUNT, and new prospect development—providing regular status reports to management.
• Utilizes alumni relations events, programming, and regional networks to drive engagement and create strategic touchpoints that facilitate philanthropic cultivation.
• Masters university fundraising priorities and cases for support to align donor passions with institutional needs, while assisting in the recruitment and management of key fundraising volunteers.
• Logs all fundraising activity in the development database in a timely manner, prepares pipeline updates for leadership meetings, and collaborates with prospect management to ensure gifts are properly booked, troubleshooting any financial discrepancies.
• Manages internal communications by providing regular performance reports to supervisors and keeping colleagues informed of relevant updates, while efficiently handling travel expenses and coordinating personalized stewardship efforts for assigned prospects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree
• One or two years of related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Over seven years related work experience in a development position in which external relationships have been strongly established
• Valid Driver's License and good driving record
• Works well with in a collaborative team environment
• Ability to work weekends and evenings

Why Choose Lehigh University

Lehigh University offers an exceptional work environment where innovation meets tradition. Located in Pennsylvania's beautiful Lehigh Valley, our campus provides easy access to major metropolitan areas while maintaining a close‑knit community atmosphere. We're committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that values diverse perspectives and experiences. Our comprehensive benefits package includes competitive salary, health insurance, retirement plans, and tuition benefits for employees and their families. You'll join a community dedicated to academic excellence, groundbreaking research, and preparing students to make meaningful contributions to society.

Lehigh University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate. We are committed to a culturally and intellectually diverse community and we seek qualified candidates to contribute to the university's mission.

Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing an accommodation for any part of the interview or hiring process may contact Lehigh's Accommodations Specialist.

Special Considerations

• This position is responsible for driving university‑owned vehicles as a routine function, therefore a valid Driver's License and a good driving record is required.
• This position is hybrid with the possibility of being considered fully remote.

Successful completion of standard background checks including but not limited to: social security verification, education verification, national criminal background checks, motor vehicle checks, PATCH, FBI fingerprinting, Child Abuse Clearance and credit history based upon the requirements of the position.

Only complete applications will be considered therefore please complete the application in its entirety. Once the posting is removed from the website applications may no longer be allowed to be completed.

Advertised: May 19, 2026 Eastern Daylight Time

Applications close: