Senior Athletic Development Officer

James Madison University; Harrisonburg (VA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

James Madison University is seeking a Senior Athletic Development Officer to lead fundraising efforts for the Duke Club and manage donor relations within JMU Athletics. The role emphasizes major gifts, strategic donor engagement, and collaboration with events staff to maximize support.

The successful candidate will hold a Bachelor's degree (Master's preferred), possess strong communication skills, and be willing to travel and work non-traditional hours as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Fundraising experience or related field experience (min. 2 years).
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Willingness to work flexible hours and travel.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both written and verbal.

Responsibilities

• Fundraising for JMU Athletics (Duke Club).
• Actively manage a portfolio of annual/major gift donors.
• Qualify new Duke Club annual and MG donors.
• Make direct solicitations and assist staff with donor cultivation and stewardship.
• Develop and implement strategies for leadership annual and major gifts.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor relations

Portfolio management

Event coordination

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Job description

Working Title: Senior Athletic Development Officer

State Role Title: Administrative and Professional Faculty

Position Type: Administrative & Professional (Non-teaching Faculty)

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: Intercollegiate Athletics

Department: 400311 - Athletics/JMU Foundation

Pay Rate: Commensurate with Experience

Is this a JMU only position?: No

Is this a grant-funded position?: No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position?: No

Beginning Review Date: 11/30/2026

About JMU:

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.
Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.
Who We Are
Situated in the heart of Virginia's beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52,000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA.
JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.
JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master's and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

General Information:

James Madison University, a Division I member of the NCAA and Sun Belt Conference, the Duke Club is seeking a Senior Development Officer to work within a highly competitive program. This is a full-time position with a comprehensive benefits package.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Fundraising for JMU Athletics (Duke Club)
• Actively manage a portfolio of prospective and current annual/major gift donors to JMU Athletics
• Qualifying new Duke Club annual and MG donors
• Make direct, face-to-face solicitations, and assist staff with their qualifying, cultivating, solicitation and stewarding (e.g. provide portfolio development support, help with donor communications)
• In collaboration with the Director of Major Gifts, develops and implements strategies for leadership annual and major gift fundraising to generate private contributions supporting the top priorities of JMU Athletics, including student-athlete support, unrestricted needs and capital projects
• Collaborate with Assistant Director of Events & Donor Stewardship to ensure development and execution of effective stewardship strategies for all leadership annual and major gifts
• Work collaboratively with other athletic and university fundraisers
• Participate in season ticket campaigns for all applicable sports
• Fundraising liaison for multiple sports
• Ensuring compliance with all relevant institutional, conference and NCAA rules and regulations

Qualifications:

Required:

• Bachelor's degree
• Fundraising/Sales experience or at least 2 years of work experience in a related field
• Strong organizational skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to relate to a broad range of constituencies.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.
• Willingness and ability to travel.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to utilize technological resources to maximum advantage.

Preferred:

• Master's degree
• Experience working in Athletics Fundraising

Additional Posting Information:

JMU's Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2OTF1NG.

Conditions of Employment:

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: [phone].

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at [phone] or [e-mail]. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.