Executive Director, Development

C001 New Jersey Institute of Technology; New Jersey; On-site; USD 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

New Jersey Institute of Technology is seeking an experienced Executive Director of Development to lead fundraising for major gifts and donor engagement. You will identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a strategic portfolio of high-capacity donors and partners, aligning philanthropic opportunities with NJIT priorities.

The role requires a proven track record in securing five- and six-figure gifts, exceptional communication, and the ability to work across university leadership, volunteers, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 3–5 years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, preferably in higher education.
• Demonstrated success securing five- and six-figure gifts.
• Experience managing a substantial portfolio of major gift prospects and donors.
• Strong written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of high-capacity donors, developing individualized strategies for qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and close major gifts, focusing on five- and six-figure commitments.
• Develop gift strategies aligning donor interests with NJIT priorities.
• Conduct personal visits and meaningful donor interactions to deepen relationships.
• Prepare proposals, briefing materials, and solicitation strategies to secure major gifts.
• Coordinate with university colleagues to move prospects and engage during the fundraising cycle.
• Maintain a disciplined pipeline and progress toward fundraising goals.
• Develop annual and multi-year fundraising plans for assigned portfolios or priorities.
• Document next steps and donor activity accurately in the database.
• Collaborate with major gifts, planned giving, annual giving, and other teams to unify donor engagement.

Skills

Major gifts fundraising

Relationship management

Strategic planning

Communication

Donor stewardship

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Raiser’s Edge

Prospect-management systems

Job description

Title:

Executive Director, Development

Reports To:

Associate Vice President, Planned Giving and Major Gifts

Position Summary:

New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) seeks an accomplished, strategic, and relationship-oriented fundraising professional to serve as Executive Director of Development within University Advancement. Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Major and Planned Giving, the Executive Director will be responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding a portfolio of major gift prospects in support of NJIT’s institutional priorities. The Executive Director will develop and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies designed to secure significant philanthropic support from alumni, parents, corporations, foundations, and other friends of the university. The position will work closely with university leadership, faculty, volunteers, and colleagues throughout University Advancement to translate institutional priorities into compelling philanthropic opportunities while building long-term relationships with donors. The successful candidate will be an experienced fundraiser with a demonstrated record of securing major gifts, strong interpersonal and communication skills, exceptional organizational abilities, and the capacity to work effectively in a complex research university environment. The Executive Director will be expected to manage a significant portfolio of prospects and donors, with particular emphasis on identifying and closing five and six-figure gifts.

Essential Functions:

Manage a portfolio of high-capacity individuals, corporations, foundations, and other prospective donors, developing individualized strategies for qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.

Identify, cultivate, solicit, and close major gifts, with a particular focus on gifts of five and six-figures and, where appropriate, transformational philanthropic commitments.

Develop sophisticated gift strategies that align donor interests and philanthropic objectives with NJIT’s institutional priorities.

Conduct personal visits and other meaningful donor interactions to establish and deepen relationships.

Prepare and present proposals, briefing materials, solicitation strategies, and other materials necessary to secure major gifts.

Coordinate with University Advancement colleagues to ensure effective prospect movement and appropriate engagement throughout the fundraising cycle.

Maintain a disciplined pipeline of qualified prospects and demonstrate consistent progress toward annual fundraising goals.

Develop and implement annual and multi-year fundraising plans for assigned portfolios, schools, colleges, programs, or institutional priorities.

Develop strategies for moving prospects through the donor cycle and ensure appropriate next steps are documented and executed.

Maintain accurate and timely records of prospect and donor activity in Raiser’s Edge.

Regularly assess portfolio composition and prioritize prospects based on capacity, affinity, engagement, and readiness for solicitation.

Establish strong working relationships with faculty leadership, department chairs, faculty members, and other university leaders.

Serve as a strategic fundraising advisor to academic and administrative leaders, helping translate institutional goals into compelling philanthropic opportunities.

Prepare university leaders and volunteers for donor meetings, cultivation activities, and solicitations.

Accompany university leadership on donor visits and assist in developing individualized engagement and solicitation strategies.

Help strengthen a culture of philanthropy throughout NJIT by educating faculty and staff about the role of private support.

Collaborate closely with colleagues in major gifts, planned giving, annual giving, corporate and foundation relations, advancement operations, alumni engagement, communications, and donor relations.

Coordinate fundraising activity across portfolios to ensure a strategic and unified approach to donor engagement.

Prerequisite Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, preferably in higher education or other complex nonprofit environment.
• Demonstrated success securing five and six-figure gifts.
• Proven experience managing a substantial portfolio of major gift prospects and donors.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute successful cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• Excellent written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain productive relationships with senior university leaders, donors, volunteers, alumni, and external partners.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and project-management skills.
• Experience working with advancement databases and prospect-management systems.
• Willingness and ability to travel and work occasional evenings and weekends as required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree or additional professional credentials.
• Working knowledge of Raiser’s Edge database.
• Experience working within a research university or similarly complex institution.
• Experience with comprehensive or capital campaigns.
• Experience securing transformational gifts and/or managing major gift prospects.
• Experience working with academic deans, faculty, senior administrators, and volunteer leadership.
• Familiarity with planned giving and other sophisticated philanthropic vehicles.

Department:

University Advancement

Compensation:

$120,000 - $140,000

At the university's discretion, the education and experience prerequisites may be exempted where the candidate can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the university an equivalent combination of education and experience specifically preparing the candidate for success in the position.

Range: Non-Aligned -9 NJIT considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as, market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

This pay range represents base pay only and excludes any additional items such as incentives, bonuses, or other items.

To learn more about the comprehensive benefits NJIT offers for this position, please visit our benefits page: https://hr.njit.edu/health-benefits.

FLSA:

Exempt

Time Type:

Full time

Pay Rate:

Salary

Additional Information:

As an EEO employer NJIT is committed to building a diverse and inclusive teaching, research, and working environment and strongly encourages applications from individuals with disabilities, minorities, veterans, and women.

Employment at NJIT is subject to the provisions of New Jersey First Act which mandates new employees, who are not NJ residents, to establish primary residence in New Jersey within one year of their appointment to certain positions. The law does not apply to any individual employed at NJIT on a temporary or per semester basis as a visiting or adjunct professor, teacher, lecturer, researcher or administrator. For more information on the act please click here.

If special accommodations are needed in applying for a position, please visit the Department of Human Resources located in Fenster Hall, 5th Floor, University Heights, Newark, NJ 07102 or call [phone].

If you have questions, please email the Human Resources Department at [e-mail].

Information regarding NJIT campus security, personal safety, and fire safety including topics such as, disciplinary procedures, crime prevention, NJIT Police law enforcement authority, crime reporting policies, and crime statistics for the most recent three year period is available on the NJIT Department of Public Safety here.

NJIT is an E-Verify employer and uses E-Verify to confirm work authorization of each new hire.

About NJIT:

When you work at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), you become part of a dynamic and innovative community dedicated to advancing education, research, and technological excellence. Recognized as New Jersey’s premier public polytechnic university, NJIT serves a diverse population of over 12,000 students across six colleges and schools, offering a forward-thinking academic environment in the heart of Newark, just minutes from New York City. At NJIT, we are committed to fostering a workplace culture rooted in inclusion, collaboration, and excellence. Employees are empowered to grow professionally, contribute to meaningful work, and support a mission that shapes the future of technology, education, and research. Learn more about what we offer here!