Senior Associate Director, Prospect Development

Florida State University; United States; On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Florida State University seeks a Senior Associate Director of Prospect Development to drive strategic donor intelligence and portfolio strategy. This role synthesizes research, financial data, relationships, and context into actionable insights for principal gifts fundraising and presidential donor engagement.

The position acts as a strategy partner for the principal gifts team, conducting portfolio reviews and ensuring rigorous, accessible research products for senior leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and four years of related experience, or a high school diploma with eight years of related experience.
• A valid Florida or Georgia Driver's License or the ability to obtain upon hire.

Responsibilities

• Develop research profiles on principal gift prospects and donors to inform cultivation and solicitation.
• Prepare executive briefing materials for the President and leaders in advance of donor visits and cultivation activities.
• Lead portfolio reviews and advise on portfolio structure, health, and activity.
• Supervise prospect research interns and coordinate with the advancement team to ensure insights flow across the enterprise.
• Collaborate to improve prospect development practices, templates, tools, and workflows.

Education

Bachelor's degree

High school diploma

Job description

Florida State University is currently in the leadership phase of a comprehensive campaign. As the leadership phase of the campaign begins, the Division of University Advancement is accelerating the hiring of additional development officers’ campus-wide and is excited to build out its team. For Advancement professionals who are interested in being a part of a comprehensive campaign from the beginning for their career development, the timing is ideal to join our team.

Responsibilities

The Senior Associate Director of Prospect Development plays a central role in advancing FSU's most ambitious philanthropic priorities by developing the intelligence that powers principal gifts fundraising and presidential donor engagement.

This is fundamentally a strategic role: the Senior Associate Director will not simply compile information about prospective donors but will synthesize research, financial data, relationships, and contextual insight into clear strategic recommendations that shape how the Division of University Advancement cultivates, solicits, and stewards its highest-capacity supporters.

Additionally, the Senior Associate Director will serve as a prospect management strategy partner to the principal gifts team by conducting regular portfolio reviews, supporting overall portfolio health and growth, and serving as the subject matter expert and liaison for the full scope of prospect development activities.

This role is well-suited to a thoughtful, curious researcher and writer who can move beyond fact-gathering to generate insight — someone who recognizes that the difference between a list of attributes and a strategic profile is the difference between data and intelligence.

Leadership Briefings & Executive Support

Produce comprehensive, strategically framed research profiles on principal gift prospects and donors, including high-capacity individuals, families, family offices, corporations, and affiliated entities. Synthesize biographical, financial, philanthropic, relationship, and contextual information into clear narratives that inform cultivation and solicitation strategy.

Assist in preparing meeting briefings for the FSU president and executive leadership in advance of donor visits, events, and cultivation activities. Highlight what matters most for the moment — recent developments, relationship dynamics, motivations, anticipated questions, recommended approaches.

Support due diligence research on prospective donors, gift sources, and naming opportunities to support informed decision-making, surfacing reputational, legal, or ethical considerations.

Develop research products beyond static dossiers, including relationship maps, capacity assessments, philanthropic interest analyses, and strategic recommendations tailored to specific cultivation moments.

Write with clarity, judgment, and discretion, recognizing that research products are read by senior leaders making consequential decisions and must be both rigorous and accessible.

Prospect Identification and Strategy

Proactively identify new high net worth prospects with the capacity and inclination to support University priorities, drawing on a range of research techniques including network analysis, peer screening review, wealth indicator research, and qualitative discovery.

Partner with principal gifts officers and the Senior Director of Prospect Development to refine identification strategies tied to specific funding priorities, campaign initiatives, and presidential interests.

Evaluate and qualify identified prospects, recommending appropriate next steps for assignment, cultivation, or further research.

Contribute to the long-term health of the principal gifts pipeline by continuously surfacing new names and re-evaluating existing prospects as circumstances change.

Create strategy profiles and other research materials to support strategy sessions on prospective principal gift donors.

Prospect and Portfolio Management

Provide guidance and support to the Associate Vice President for Principal Gifts & Gift and Estate Planning, and the principal gifts team regarding prospect and portfolio management.

Conduct regular portfolio reviews with principal gift officers, sharing recommendations and insights on portfolio structure, composition, and activity.

Serve as a subject matter expert on CRM systems, tracking, reporting, performance metrics, and prospect management policies, supporting the principal gifts team in their interpretation and application.

Prospect Development and Advancement-Wide Collaboration

Supervise prospect research interns and consulting partners as needed, providing direction, quality review, and developmental feedback.

Collaborate with colleagues across advancement — including donor relations, data management, reporting, and frontline fundraising teams — to ensure that research insights flow effectively into the broader advancement enterprise and that information about prospects is captured and shared appropriately.

Contribute to the continuous improvement of prospect development practices, including research standards, templates, tools, and workflows.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree and four years of experience in a related field; or a high school diploma or equivalent and eight years of experience in a related field. (Note: post-high school education may substitute for experience at the equivalent rate).

A valid Florida or Georgia Driver's License or the ability to obtain upon hire.

University Information

One of the nation's elite research universities, Florida State University preserves, expands, and disseminates knowledge in the sciences, technology, arts, humanities, and professions, while embracing a philosophy of learning strongly rooted in the traditions of the liberal arts and critical thinking. Founded in 1851, Florida State University is the oldest continuous site of higher education in Florida. FSU is a community steeped in tradition that fosters research and encourages creativity. At FSU, there’s the excitement of being part of a vibrant academic and professional community, surrounded by people whose ideas are shaping tomorrow’s news!

Learn more about Florida State University and our campuses.

FSU Total Rewards

FSU offers a robust Total Rewards package. Visit our FSU Total Rewards website to learn more about our Compensation, Benefits, Wellness, Recognition, and Employee Development programs.

Use our FSU Total Compensation Calculator to calculate Total Compensation options based on potential salary, benefits and retirement contributions, earned leave, and other employment-related perks.

Considerations

This is an A&P position.

This position requires successful completion of a criminal history background check.

This position is being advertised as open until filled.

This position has been designated as eligible for remote work based on the current position/job functions.

FSU is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.