Development Officer or Associate Director of Development in Engineering

Utah State University; Logan (UT); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Utah State University’s College of Engineering is seeking a Development Officer or Associate Director of Development to advance major gift fundraising, cultivate partnerships, and steward donors for strategic college priorities in Logan, Utah. The role partners with university leadership to drive philanthropy and program expansion.

The position requires building strong relationships with the Dean, faculty, and industry partners, managing a portfolio of donors, and traveling to engage supporters.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field plus two years of related experience (Development Officer I) or three years (Development Officer II) OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Proven ability to engage in complex gift conversations with a track record of closing significant gifts or contracts.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with senior administrators, faculty, and advisory boards.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Experience leading or mentoring staff and working collaboratively within a team.
• Commitment to a respectful environment in donor engagement and workplace culture.
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively.

Responsibilities

• Qualify, cultivate, solicit, recognize, and steward donors with the capacity to give $50,000 or more.
• Develop and implement customized strategies for each donor/prospect, aligning philanthropic interests with college priorities.
• Engage corporate partners in supporting research, student opportunities, and innovation initiatives.
• Manage and optimize program resources, including budgets and timelines.
• Serve as an active partner to the Dean and other academic leaders on development activities.
• Track donor engagement and manage donor pipelines using advancement tools.

Skills

Donor engagement

Major gift conversations

Portfolio management

Strategic fundraising

Stakeholder collaboration

Travel readiness

Leadership / mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

Job description

Development Officer or Associate Director of Development in Engineering

Requisition ID: 2026-10650

# of Openings: 1

Location: US-UT-Logan

Category: Other

Position Type: Benefited Full-Time

Job Classification: Exempt

College: University Advancement

Department: Institutional Development

Advertised Salary: Commensurate with experience, plus excellent benefits

Overview

The College of Engineering (CoE) at Utah State University is entering an exciting era of growth and innovation. With the recent inclusion of Computer Science and plans to establish new programs in Energy Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and the School of Computing in the coming years, the college is expanding both its academic reach and its impact. Corporate partners and alumni are stepping forward to support these initiatives, creating new opportunities for transformative philanthropy.

The Development Officer or Associate Director of Development will play a pivotal role in engaging donors and partners to advance these priorities. This position is responsible for the qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major gift prospects, linking donor passions with the college's mission and emerging opportunities. Reporting to the Senior Director of Development for CoE, this role participates in strategy development for the college's advancement team, manages a portfolio of major gift donors and prospects, and serves as a visible ambassador for the College of Engineering. The successful candidate will build strong, collaborative relationships with the Dean, department heads, faculty, and university partners to secure significant private support for the college's strategic priorities.

This position will be hired at either a Development Officer or Associate Director of Development based upon duties assigned and qualifications of the candidate. (See Qualifications section.)

Responsibilities

Leadership & Strategic Planning

• Work with the Sr. Director of Development for CoE to set program goals aligned with the College as well as the university fundraising priorities.
• Qualify, cultivate, solicit, recognize, and steward donors with the capacity to give $50,000 or more.
• Develop and implement customized strategies for each donor/prospect, aligning philanthropic interests with college priorities, including the growth of Computer Science, and the launch of Energy Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and the School of Computing.
• Engage corporate partners in supporting research, student opportunities, and innovation initiatives tied to the college's expansion.
• Manage and optimize program resources, including budgets and timelines, to ensure efficient operations.

Program Management & Execution

• Serve as an active partner to the Dean and other academic leaders, providing strategic guidance for development activities and engaging advisory councils or campaign committees as appropriate.
• Utilize advancement tools to track donor engagement, report progress, and manage donor pipelines.
• Build a comprehensive understanding of gift vehicles-including cash, securities, planned gifts, and real property-to develop tailored proposals.

Data-Driven Strategy

• Work closely with Advancement Services data team to request and refine travel and prospect lists that align with campaign goals.
• Travel frequently to meet with donors, alumni, and corporate partners; evening and weekend work may be required.
• Stay informed on fundraising trends, technologies, and best practices to improve fundraising and college advancement effectiveness.

Collaboration & Partnerships

• Work closely with Advancement Services to ensure accurate gift processing and donor acknowledgment.
• Collaborate with university advancement colleagues, faculty, and administrators to identify, engage, and solicit major gift prospects.
• Represent the College of Engineering at events, alumni gatherings, and other public functions to promote its mission and achievements.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• For Development Officer (Development Officer I):
  • Bachelor's degree in a related field plus two years of related experience OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• For Associate Director of Development (Development Officer II):
  • Bachelor's degree in a related field plus three years of related experience OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• For both levels:
  • Proven ability to engage in complex gift conversations, with a record of closing significant gifts or contracts.
  • Demonstrated ability to work effectively with senior administrators, faculty, and advisory boards.
  • Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
  • Experience leading or mentoring staff and working collaboratively within a team.
  • Commitment to a respectful environment in donor engagement and workplace culture.
  • Willingness and ability to travel extensively.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with capital campaigns.
• Advanced degree.

ADA

Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes. The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.

University Highlights

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah's premier land-grant, public service university. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge and serving the public good through innovative research and scholarly activities that are grounded in reciprocal engagement with local, regional, and global communities. USU prepares students to be active, civically engaged leaders who are prepared to address critical societal challenges. Dedicated to providing a high-quality and affordable education, USU remains a leader in research, discovery, and public impact.

USU enrolls over 29,800 students, both online and in person at locations throughout the state. Utah State's 30 locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential campuses in Price and Blanding, and six additional statewide campuses, along with education centers serving every county. USU educates students from all 50 states and