Managing Director of Development, Fulbright College

StartupNWA; Fayetteville (AR); On-site; USD 110,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, life and disability保险

Tuition waivers for employees and/or家庭

Holidays and retirement programs

Job summary

University of Arkansas seeks a Managing Director of Development in the Fulbright College Development Office to lead frontline fundraising and manage a team of development officers. This role translates institutional priorities into measurable outcomes while driving annual and campaign goals.

Reporting to the senior director, the role balances team leadership with portfolio management and collaboration across leadership, faculty, and donors for impactful results.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited university.
• At least five years of development experience in higher education or equivalent.
• Experience securing five- and six-figure philanthropic commitments.
• At least three years leading frontline fundraising staff or initiatives.
• Experience managing volunteers and advisory boards.

Responsibilities

• Drive frontline fundraising performance for Fulbright College development.
• Lead a team of development officers and manage a strategic portfolio of major gift prospects.
• Translate college priorities into measurable fundraising outcomes.
• Foster a high-performing, collaborative fundraising environment with accountability.

Skills

Written communication

Oral communication

Leadership

Team collaboration

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master’s degree (preferred)

Job description

Closing Date:

10/20/2026

Type of Position:

Major Gifts

Workstudy Position:

No

Job Type:

Regular

Work Shift:

Day Shift (United States of America)

Sponsorship Available:

No

Institution Name:

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas is a land grant institution, classified by the Carnegie Foundation among the nation’s top 2 percent of universities with the highest level of research activity. The University of Arkansas works to advance the state and build a better world through education, research, and outreach by providing transformational opportunities and skills, fostering a welcoming climate, and nurturing creativity, discovery, and the spread of new ideas and innovations.

The University of Arkansas campus is located in Fayetteville, a welcoming community ranked as one of the best places to live in the U.S. The growing region surrounding Fayetteville is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies and one of the nation’s strongest economies. Northwest Arkansas is also quickly gaining a national reputation for its focus on the arts and overall quality of life.

As an employer, the University of Arkansas offers a vibrant work environment and a workplace culture that promotes a healthy work-life balance. The benefits package includes university contributions to health, dental, life and disability insurance, tuition waivers for employees and their families, 12 official holidays, immediate leave accrual, and a choice of retirement programs with university contributions ranging from 5 to 10% of employee salary.

Below you will find the details for the position including any supplementary documentation and questions, you should review before applying for the opening.

Department:

Fulbright College Development Office

Summary of Job Duties:

The managing director of development is a leader within the Fulbright College advancement team, responsible for driving frontline fundraising performance and managing a team of development officers. Reporting to the senior director of development, this role leads the execution of fundraising strategy by translating institutional and college priorities into measurable outcomes.

Working in alignment with priorities established by the senior director of development, the dean, and central advancement leadership, the managing director cultivates a high-performing, collaborative, and impact-driven fundraising environment grounded in accountability, positivity, and shared success. This role balances team leadership with management of a strategic personal portfolio of major gift prospects.

Success in this role is measured primarily by team fundraising performance, portfolio productivity, and progress toward annual and campaign goals.

Regular, reliable, and non-disruptive attendance is an essential job duty, as is the ability to create and maintain collegial, harmonious working relationships with others.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited university
• At least five years of development experience in a higher education setting, including demonstrated major gift success, or equivalent experience in another non-higher education setting
• Experience and demonstrated success securing five- and six-figure philanthropic commitments
• At least three years of experience leading or managing frontline fundraising staff, teams, or complex fundraising initiatives
• Experience managing volunteers and advisory boards
• Experience and successful participation in a major giving campaign

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree from an accredited university
• Experience with professional travel across the U.S.
• Work experience on a university campus
• Work experience with a college of arts and sciences
• Demonstrated leadership experience within a fundraising or advancement environment
• Proven understanding of strategic fundraising priorities
• Demonstrated experience and success in securing Planned Gifts
• Experience utilizing fundraising analytics, business analysis, and performance metrics to support decision-making and team accountability
• Graduate of the University of Arkansas – Fayetteville.
• Experience and proven track record of working with an existing network of current and prospective benefactors to the College and University

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Effective written, oral communication, and organizational skills
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships with senior leadership, faculty, staff, donors, and external constituents
• Ability to manage people, priorities, and organizational change effectively
• Ability to implement annual goal-setting processes through both individual and collaborative planning

Salary Information:

$110,000 - $130,000 Commensurate with education and experience

Required Documents to Apply:

Cover Letter/Letter of Application, List of three Professional References (name, email, business title), Resume

Optional Documents:

Proof of Veteran Status

Recruitment Contact Information:

Crystal Ellis, Strategic Talent Acquisition Specialist, [e-mail]

Pre-employment Screening Requirements:

Criminal Background Check, Sex Offender Registry

The University of Arkansas is committed to providing a safe campus community. We conduct background checks for applicants being considered for employment. Background checks include a criminal background check and a sex offender registry check. For certain positions, there may also be a financial (credit) background check, a Motor Vehicle Registry (MVR) check, and/or drug screening. Required checks are identified in the position listing. A criminal conviction or arrest pending adjudication or adverse financial history information alone shall not disqualify an applicant in the absence of a relationship to the requirements of the position. Background check information will be used in a confidential, non-discriminatory manner consistent with state and federal law.

The University of Arkansas seeks to attract, develop and retain high quality faculty, staff and administrators that consistently display practices and behaviors to advance a culture that embeds equal opportunity, educational excellence and unparalleled access for all.

The University of Arkansas is an equal opportunity institution. The University does not discriminate in its education programs or activities (including in admission and employment) on the basis of any category or status protected by law, including age, race, color, national origin, disability, religion, protected veteran status, military service, genetic information, sex, sexual preference, or pregnancy. Questions or concerns about the application of Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, may be sent to the University’s Title IX Coordinator and to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.

Persons must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of employment.

All Application information is subject to public disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.

Constant Physical Activity:

N/A

Frequent Physical Activity:

N/A

Occasional Physical Activity:

N/A

Benefits Eligible:

Yes