Director of Development, Medicine, Surgery, Clinical Care

Duke University; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 78,161 - 156,319; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Competitive medical and dental benefits

Retirement benefits

Job summary

Duke PF in Durham, NC is seeking a Director of Development to lead major gift fundraising for the Duke Health Transplant Center and other priority areas. The role requires building relationships with grateful patients and their families while developing fundraising strategies that align with institutional goals.

Ideal candidates will have a bachelor's degree and at least five years of experience in fundraising, particularly in academic or healthcare environments. The position offers a hybrid work arrangement, allowing both on-site and remote work options for candidates residing within a 50-mile radius.

Duke PF provides competitive benefits including medical and retirement plans, making it an exciting opportunity for those passionate about development in healthcare.

Qualifications

• Five years of progressive frontline fundraising experience.
• Proven track record in major gift fundraising.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead major gift fundraising for Duke Health.
• Develop comprehensive fundraising strategies.
• Build and manage a robust major gift pipeline.

Skills

Leadership

Fundraising

Relationship building

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Director of Development, Medicine, Surgery, Clinical Care

Work Arrangement: Hybrid (On‑Site and Remote mix)

Requisition Number: 271827

Regular or Temporary: Regular

Location: Durham, NC, US, 27710

School of Medicine

Established in 1930, Duke University School of Medicine is the youngest of the nation’s top medical schools. Ranked sixth among medical schools in the nation, the School takes pride in being an inclusive community of outstanding learners, investigators, clinicians, and staff where interdisciplinary collaboration is embraced and great ideas accelerate translation of fundamental scientific discoveries to improve human health locally and around the globe. Composed of more than 2,600 faculty physicians and researchers, nearly 2,000 students, and more than 6,200 staff, the Duke University School of Medicine along with the Duke University School of Nursing, and Duke University Health System comprise Duke Health, a world‑class academic medical center. The Health System encompasses Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, Duke Health Integrated Practice, Duke Primary Care, Duke Home Care and Hospice, Duke Health and Wellness, and multiple affiliations.

Duke Health Development & Alumni Affairs (DHDAA) supports a flexible work environment by offering on‑site (in office 5 days a week), hybrid (in office a minimum of 2 days a week or defined by manager), remote (work off‑site 5 days a week), and flexible start and end time work arrangements. All team members must reside within a 50‑mile radius of our downtown Durham office.

Individuals working a hybrid or remote schedule must have access to and maintain a secure home office environment with high‑speed internet service and work collaboratively with others using a variety of technologies and tools. With approval from their manager, staff members may work a flexible schedule in terms of start/end times, while staying within DHDAA’s core work hours between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time). At the discretion of Managers and/or Senior Leadership, staff working a hybrid, remote or flex schedule may be required to be in the office on days and/or times outside of the agreed‑upon schedule.

The Director of Development, Duke Health reports to the Executive Director of Development, and is a member of the Duke Health Medicine, Surgery and Clinical Care fundraising team. This team partners with clinical, research, and educational leaders across a broad portfolio of departments, centers, and institutes, including Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Urology, Orthopaedic Surgery, Dermatology, Head and Neck Surgery and Communication Sciences, the Heart Center, Transplant Center, Eye Center, Molecular Physiology Institute, and Sports Sciences Institute, to advance philanthropic support for patient care, research, education, and innovation.

The Director of Development serves as the lead major gift fundraiser for the Duke Health Transplant Center, select priority divisions within the Departments of Medicine and Surgery, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, and other assigned areas. The role develops and implements comprehensive fundraising strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward grateful patients, families, and friends in support of institutional priorities.

This position is responsible for building and managing a robust major gift pipeline, securing philanthropic support of $100,000 and above, and serving as a strategic fundraising partner to physician leaders, administrators, and colleagues across Duke Health Development & Alumni Affairs.

The Director of Development will collaborate with colleagues across individual giving, grateful patient fundraising, annual giving, gift planning, principal gifts, and other development teams to ensure a coordinated and comprehensive approach to donor engagement and philanthropy across Duke Health.

Work Arrangement – This is a full‑time position located in Durham, NC. This is not a remote position.

Department Preferences / Skills

• Preference for academic medicine, healthcare, higher education, or similarly complex nonprofit fundraising environments.
• Campaign experience is desirable.
• Proven track record of success in personally cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding meaningful philanthropic support from individuals, foundations, or corporations, with demonstrated success securing major gifts and building productive relationships with donors and key stakeholders.

Minimum Qualifications

Education – A bachelor’s degree is required, with communications, analytical, and organizational skills typically acquired through completion of such a program.

Experience – Five (5) years of progressive frontline fundraising experience with a proven track record of success in major gift fundraising, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and/or experience.

Work Performed

• Grow and manage a pool of prospects capable of making gifts of $100,000 or more, from identification through stewardship, focusing primarily on grateful patients, their families, and friends of the institution.
• Identify and qualify prospects, develop and cultivate relationships, create and execute gift strategies in partnership with physician and administrative leaders, solicit major and leadership‑level gifts, and successfully negotiate and close gifts.
• Develop compelling philanthropic opportunities and proposals that align donor interests with institutional priorities.
• Coordinate and ensure effective stewardship and recognition of donors’ philanthropy.
• Coordinate and collaborate with colleagues across Duke Health fundraising teams to ensure comprehensive coverage of prospects and donors.
• Write or assist in drafting proposals and other materials as necessary; assist with publicity arrangements on important gifts, programs, accomplishments, or events.

Strategic Planning and Program Implementation (20%)

• Serve as the lead major gift fundraising partner for assigned clinical and research programs, with primary responsibility for the Duke Health Transplant program.
• Forge strong partnerships with physician leaders, administrators, and faculty to identify philanthropic priorities and develop strategies that advance fundraising goals.
• Establish and maintain productive relationships with faculty physicians, clinical leaders, and development colleagues to support coordinated grateful patient, major gift, and referral development efforts.
• Work closely with leadership in assigned areas to develop compelling philanthropic priorities and opportunities that align with campaign priorities and Duke Health’s central missions of research, education, and care.
• Build annual and long‑term fundraising goals and strategies for assigned programs.
• Assist administrators and faculty in the identification and prioritization of institutional and departmental funding needs; keep abreast of institutional programs.
• Develop, evaluate, and refine plans and timetables for departmental or theme assignments; assist in planning and directing donor cultivation events and engagement opportunities.
• Partner effectively with colleagues across Duke Health to advance shared fundraising priorities and ensure coordinated donor engagement.
• Serve as a member of the Individual Giving fundraising team and help donors understand the relationship between patient care, research, educational needs within Duke Health.
• Coordinate and collaborate with colleagues across all Duke Health fundraising teams to ensure comprehensive coverage of prospects and donors.

Portfolio Development and Management (10%)

• Successfully maintain and manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors.
• Follow procedures in coordination with the Office of Gift Records to ensure effective collection, recording, accounting, acknowledgement, and follow‑up on all private gifts to assigned departments.
• Develop contact reports and enter moves and data into tracking databases.
• Work successfully with colleagues across the institution to collaborate on prospects with multiple interests.
• Follow best fundraising and operational practices for Duke Health Development & Alumni Affairs.

Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein.

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this classification. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required of personnel so classified.

Anticipated Pay Range – Duke University provides an annual base salary range for this position as USD $78,161.00 to USD $156,319.00.

Duke provides comprehensive and competitive medical and dental care programs, generous retirement benefits, and a wide array of family‑friendly and cultural programs to eligible team members. Learn more at: https://hr.duke.edu/benefits/

Equal Opportunity Employer – Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy‑related conditions), sexual orientation, or military status.

Read more about Duke’s commitment to affirmative action and nondiscrimination at hr.duke.edu/eeo.

Essential Physical Job Functions – Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and reasonable accommodation(s) can be requested with Duke Access and Accommodations Services (email: [e-mail]; phone: [phone]).