Director of Development, Basic & Biomedical Sciences

UCSF Health, AG; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

UCSF seeks a Director of Development to lead major and principal gifts advancing foundational science and biomedical research. You will partner with deans, chairs, institute directors, and faculty leaders to translate scientific priorities into donor opportunities and secure transformative support.

You will oversee a broad portfolio spanning GEPA, PBBR, and interdisciplinary centers, crafting strategies that fuse research excellence with philanthropic leadership while coaching faculty and

Qualifications

• Expert knowledge of fundraising concepts, donor relations, and public relations principles.
• Expert knowledge of laws and regulations related to fundraising.
• Excellent written and interpersonal communication with political acumen to secure gifts.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and project management skills with budget/time discipline.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality at all times.

Responsibilities

• Manage a dynamic portfolio of 75-100 major and principal gift prospects.
• Target, cultivate, and solicit individual donors, foundations, and family offices for gifts of 250k to 1M+.
• Collaborate with deans, chairs, center/institute directors, and faculty leaders to align research priorities with donor opportunities.
• Educate and coach faculty on fundraising best practices and donor meetings/site visits.
• Develop customized philanthropic strategies linking interdisciplinarity with institutional priorities.

Skills

Fundraising strategy

Donor relations

Persuasive presentations

Confidentiality

Analytical thinking

Project management

Strategic agility

Collaboration

Intellectual curiosity

Education

Bachelor's degree in related area

Job description

Are you driven by the opportunity to power discoveries that transform human health on a global scale?

The Basic and Biomedical Sciences Development team is seeking an extraordinary, strategic, and collaborative Director of Development to advance philanthropic support for world-changing scientific innovation. Partnering directly with university deans, department chairs, institute directors, and world-renowned faculty, you will shape the future of medicine by securing major and principal gifts that accelerate breakthrough research and empower the next generation of scientific leaders.

This role offers an exceptional platform for an ambitious fundraising leader: a high-impact, broad-scope portfolio spanning foundational basic science departments, cutting-edge interdisciplinary research centers, the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs (GEPA), and the prestigious Sandler Program for Breakthrough Biomedical Research (PBBR).

Why This Role Is Unique

• Unrivaled Portfolio Breadth: Rather than working in a single niche, you will drive philanthropic strategies across an expansive ecosystem of basic sciences, multidisciplinary institutes, and graduate education.
• Direct Access to Academic Leadership: You will serve as a trusted advisor to deans, department chairs, and pioneering researchers, translating complex scientific visions into inspiring donor opportunities.
• High-Impact Philanthropy: Your work will directly fund high-risk, high-reward research (through PBBR) and nurture top-tier emerging scientists (through GEPA), leaving a lasting legacy on global health outcomes.
• Collaborative Environment: Join a high-performing, deeply supportive team environment built on partnership, intellectual curiosity, and shared impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a dynamic portfolio of 75-100 major and principal gift prospects, actively moving donors through the pipeline from identification and qualification to solicitation and stewardship.
• Target, cultivate, and solicit individual donors, foundations, and family offices capable of making gifts of $250k to $1M+.

Academic Partnership & Leadership Engagement

• Work directly with deans, department chairs, center and institute directors, and faculty leaders to understand strategic research priorities and convert them into compelling philanthropic proposals.
• Educate and coach faculty on fundraising best practices, serving as an expert partner in donor meetings and site visits.

Interdisciplinary Strategy & Programmatic Growth

• Develop customized philanthropic strategies that leverage the strengths of interdisciplinary initiatives, basic science departments, GEPA, and PBBR.
• Design and execute innovative proposals that connect donor passions with institution-wide scientific breakthroughs.

Desired Mindset & Competencies

• Intellectual Curiosity: A genuine passion for basic science, scientific innovation, and medical research.
• Strategic Agility: Comfort navigating complex institutional structures and managing multiple high-priority initiatives simultaneously.
• Collaborative Spirit: A team-first mindset with high emotional intelligence and a commitment to shared goals.

*note: Salary commensurate with internal equity based on education, scope, and experience

Required Qualifications

• Expert working knowledge of all aspects of fundraising, donor relations, and public relations concepts, principles, procedures, and techniques.
• Expert knowledge of applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, etc.
• Expert written and interpersonal communication skills, including political acumen, to establish and maintain good working relationships throughout the organization and with outside constituencies. Expert skills in making persuasive and compelling presentations of goals and objectives for a location in order to secure gifts.
• Expert organizational, analytical and critical thinking skills. Expert project / program management skills, including skills in setting and meeting program / project goals and objectives within budget and time constraints.
• Expert level skills in maintaining confidentiality.
• Bachelor's degree in related area and 10+ years of related expeirence / or equivalent experience / training.
• Expert knowledge of all aspects of the location

Preferred Qualifications

• Expert knowledge of all aspects of the institution, campus or medical center, including current issues of concern for both the campus and / or throughout higher education / healthcare, generally. Expert knowledge of the location, including its vision, mission, goals, objectives, achievements and infrastructure.

For other open positions at UDAR, UCSF, including additional Major Gift Officer roles, please visit: https://cloud.our.ucsf.edu/udar-talentdevelopment