Executive Director, Development
Nevada System of Higher Education
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
University of Nevada, Reno seeks an Executive Director of Development to lead a large team and drive philanthropic investments across colleges and units. The role combines executive leadership with hands-on fundraising, overseeing portfolio growth and campaign execution.
Reporting to University Advancement, you will partner with deans and academic leaders to align strategy, optimize development operations, and deliver data-informed results in support of institutional goals.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's or master's degree with related professional work experience in development and fundraising.
- Experience in development, prospect management, research, strategic planning and data management.
- One year of supervisory experience or related management experience.
Responsibilities
- Lead a large team of Directors of Development and oversee fundraising strategy.
- Manage select portfolio of major and principal gift prospects and drive campaign execution.
- Collaborate with Deans, academic leaders and University Advancement to align fundraising priorities.
- Provide strategic direction and coaching to improve performance and outcomes.
Skills
Education
Job description
The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) appreciates your interest in employment at our growing institution. We want your application process to go smoothly and quickly.
The University of Nevada, Reno seeks a dynamic and experienced Executive Director, Development (EDOD) to join University Advancement.
The Executive Director of Development is a senior fundraising leader responsible for advancing the University's philanthropic priorities through strategic leadership, organizational partnership, and frontline fundraising excellence. Serving as a key member of University Advancement, this role provides vision, direction and oversight for a team of Directors of Development, fostering a high-performance culture through coaching, talent development and data-informed management. Working closely with Deans, academic leaders, and University Advancement leadership, the Executive Director aligns fundraising strategy across colleges and units, strengthens development operations and ensures effective portfolio management, prospect strategy and campaign execution in support of institutional goals.
In addition to leading and positioning a large team of fundraisers for sustained success, the Executive Director is expected to perform at the highest level as an individual fundraiser. The role manages a select portfolio of major and principal gift prospects, cultivating transformational philanthropic investments while serving as a trusted strategic advisor on complex fundraising initiatives. By balancing executive leadership with exemplary personal fundraising performance, the Executive Director drives immediate fundraising results, provides continuity during leadership transitions and plays a critical role in the success of the University’s comprehensive campaign and long-term advancement strategy.
Bachelor's Degree and six (6) years of related professional work experience OR
Master's Degree and four (4) years of related professional work experience
Progressively responsible professional experience in areas of development, prospect management and research, strategic planning and data management including one year of supervisory experience or related experience.
Variable work schedule
Administrative Faculty - D
To view the salary schedule for this position, please visit: Salary Schedules and select Administrative Faculty by Grade. Salary is competitive and commensurate with related education and experience.
Our retirement plan is beyond compare. Your 19.25% contribution is generously matched by the University. With the faculty retirement plan, you are 100% vested your first day. Sit back and watch your retirement dollars grow! All permanent employees on an annual "A" or "B" contract who are employed at least 50% full-time are eligible to participate in the NSHE retirement program unless they are members of PERS of Nevada.
"I had no idea the values of the faculty retirement plan when I joined UNR. On my first day, I found out I was fully vested in my contributions and the company’s 19.25% matching. I have watched my retirement grow over the years, not only in contributions, but with investments. It is hard to put into words how appreciative I am to feel so secure in my future" – Michelle B.
- Health insurance options including dental and vision - Health Insurance
- Generous annual, sick leave, long term disability and life insurance - Faculty Benefits
- E. L. Wiegand Fitness Center offers annual or semester memberships and spouse/domestic partner membership options. E.L. Wiegand Fitness Center
- Reno is proud to be a University town! Many local businesses offer discounts to WolfCard holders
- Mountain EAP supports employees (and eligible dependents) through life's difficult moments. Mountain EAP is located in Reno and specializes in counseling and advising services for personal or interpersonal issues.
- Faculty Senate is the principal representing body for faculty. Its membership includes representatives from each academic and administrative major unit of the University. Faculty Senate
- No state income tax!
The University is proud to provide a reduced-rate tuition benefit to faculty and qualified dependents. Faculty can take up to six credits per semester at a reduced rate. Dependents of faculty have unlimited credits, but in order to be eligible children must be unmarried and under the age of 24 and must receive at least 50% of their financial support from the employee and/or employee's spouse or domestic partner. Faculty Grants-in-Aid
The University of Nevada, Reno recognizes the importance of addressing dual-career couples’ professional needs. We offer a dual career assistance program to newly hired faculty spouses/partners that provides resources and assists them to identify career opportunities in Northern Nevada. Dual Career Assistance Program
Karessa Skuse at kskuse@unr.edu
Yes
100.0%
A background check will be conducted on the candidate(s) selected for hire.
HR will attempt to verify academic credentials upon receipt of hiring documents. If the academic credentials cannot be verified, HR will notify the faculty member that an official transcript of their highest degree must be submitted within thirty days of the faculty member’s first day of employment.
References will be contacted at the appropriate phase of the recruitment process.
Applicants hired on a federal contract may be subject to E-Verify.
As part of the hiring process, applicants for positions in the Nevada System of Higher Education may be required to demonstrate the ability to perform job-related tasks.
For positions that require driving, evidence of a valid driver’s license will be required at the time of employment and as a condition of continued employment.
Schedules are subject to change based on organizational needs.
The University of Nevada, Reno is committed to providing a place of work and learning free of discrimination on the basis of a person’s age (40 or older), disability, whether actual or perceived by others (including service-connected disabilities), gender (including pregnancy related conditions), military status or military obligations, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, race (including hair texture and protected hairstyles such as natural hairstyles, afros, bantu knots, curls, braids, locks and twists), color, or religion (protected classes).
The University of Nevada, Reno is a leading public research university committed to the promise of a future powered by knowledge. Founded in 1874 as Nevada's original land-grant university, the University serves more than 23,000 undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and 63 countries.
Classified by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as an R1 ("Very High Research") university, it is also recognized in the Carnegie Community Engagement classification. The University is also ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the "Best National Universities" and "Best National Public Universities." It also ranks in the top tier of the WSJ/Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the New York Times' "Top Colleges for Economic Diversity."
Since 2009, nearly $1 billion has been has invested in advanced labs, facilities, and residence halls on the main campus. The University is home to Nevada’s first medical school – the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine and the Wayne L. Prim Campus at Lake Tahoe, where education, research, and creative work thrive in a stunning mountain setting. The University delivers on its original land-grant mission with outreach across the state through the University of Nevada, Reno Extension, Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Nevada Small Business Development Center, the Nevada Seismological Laboratory, and Wolf Pack Athletics.
The main campus is in Reno, Nevada, a burgeoning global technology hub with a vibrant midtown and downtown. Found where the high desert of the Great Basin meets the High Sierra and Lake Tahoe, the beautiful, 290-acre main campus is also a Nevada State Arboretum. The University's physical infrastructure is expanding with ongoing construction of the newly named John Tullock Business Building, set to open in fall 2025. Groundbreaking is also planned for a new State Public Health Laboratory Building on campus, alongside the recent acquisition of 16 parcels near campus, known as "University Village," to provide affordable housing for graduate students and early career faculty.
Collaborating with world-renowned organizations, the University fosters innovation through initiatives such as the Digital Wolf Pack partnership with Apple, which ensures equitable access to technology for students, providing new incoming freshman or transfer students with an iPad Air and accessories. Google’s TechWise initiate is an 18-month program that fully supports undergraduate students in becoming entry-level software engineers by graduation.
In 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced that Nevada – led by the University of Nevada, Reno – was named one of the inaugural 31 RegionalTechnology and InnovationHubs (TechHubs). Nevada was selected from a competitive pool of 489 applicants from across the United States and its territories. Nevada’s Tech Hub will strengthen America’s lithium batteries, critical elements and other electric vehicle materials industry sectors within the state.
Through its commitment to high-impact education, world-improving research and creative activity, and outreach that’s transforming Nevada’s communities and businesses, the University continues its 150-year tradition of benefitting our state, nation and world.
The University recognizes that diversity promotes excellence in education and research. The inclusive and engaged community on campus recognizes the added value that students, faculty, and staff from different backgrounds bring to the educational experience.
Today, the University delivers on its original land-grant mission of access to education and knowledge by investing in the academics, facilities, support, engagement and vibrant campus life that promote our diverse students' cognitive growth and academic achievement – all while remaining one of the best values in American higher education.
For more information, please visit the University's website.
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