Senior Director of Development Administration, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering

University of Florida; Gainesville (FL); On-site; USD 117,000 - 143,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Florida invites applications for a Senior Director of Development Administration in the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering on the Gainesville campus. This leadership role oversees a comprehensive fundraising program for ECE and EED, reporting to the Executive Director of Advancement and guiding a small development team.

Responsibilities include building major gift pipelines, donor engagement, campaign planning, budget oversight, and collaboration with academic leaders to

Qualifications

• Master's degree plus six years of experience or bachelor's degree plus eight years of experience.
• Valid driver’s license is required.
• Experience in major gifts fundraising and donor cultivation.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement fundraising initiatives, identify prospects, and cultivate gifts of $500,000 and above.
• Build and manage a portfolio of donors, conduct face-to-face visits, and close major gifts.
• Lead and mentor the development team, aligning goals with UF Advancement’s mission and strategic plan.
• Oversee budget, planning, and coordination with academic units and volunteers to enhance fundraising effectiveness.

Skills

Fundraising strategy

Donor relations

Team leadership

Strategic planning

Budget management

Education

Master's degree in relevant field

Bachelor's degree in relevant field

Tools

Windows

Microsoft Word

Excel

Access

CRM systems

Job description

Senior Director of Development Administration, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering

Job No: 541756

Work Type: Full Time

Location: Main Campus (Gainesville, FL)

Categories: Advancement

Department: 19011700 - EG-DEVELOPMENT

Job Description

Classification Title: Senior Director of Development Administration, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering

Classification Minimum Requirements: Master's degree in appropriate area of specialization and six years of appropriate experience or a bachelor's degree in appropriate areas of specialization and eight years of experience.

The Senior Director of Development Administration leads a comprehensive fundraising program in support of the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE) and the Department of Engineering Education (EED) within the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering. Reporting to the Executive Director of Advancement, this strategic leadership role is responsible for developing and executing fundraising initiatives that advance the college's priorities and support the University of Florida's ambitious philanthropic goals.

In partnership with college and university leadership, the Senior Director cultivates meaningful relationships with alumni, donors, and stakeholders to secure philanthropic investments that drive innovation, student success, and academic excellence. The role also provides direct supervision and mentorship to a development professional, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and professional growth while contributing to strategic planning, fundraising performance, and operational effectiveness across the advancement program.

Through thoughtful donor engagement and strategic outreach, the Senior Director helps inspire a culture of philanthropy by connecting donors to the transformative impact of their giving and creating opportunities for long-term engagement that support the future of engineering education and research at UF.

Portfolio Management

• Responsible for implementing fundraising initiatives, identifying, and cultivating prospects.
• Focus on individual prospects and will work with leadership, corporate and foundation prospects where gifts are assessed at $500,000 and above.
• Build a portfolio of fundraising prospects and strategically manage relationships through face-to-face visits to bring major gift solicitations to closure.
• Develop and present major gift proposals by acknowledging and recognizing gifts in ways that are meaningful to donors and appropriate to the mission, vision and values of the unit and UFA.
• Responsible for articulating, communicating, and prioritizing within the context of the overall Advancement mission, goals, and objectives.
• Strengthen alumni and donors' awareness of, and interest in giving opportunities and collaborate with academic unit-based development officers across campus.

Strategic Initiatives & Leadership

• Develop support for the program by effectively involving stakeholders, such as volunteers, faculty, staff, and members of the advisory board, in efforts supporting the fundraising program.
• Assist in developing and implementing a comprehensive communications plan to inform constituents and identified markets about the mission, vision, and values of the unit, its funding priorities, and gift opportunities.
• Initiate, plan and support activities and events involving volunteers and prospects.
• Create a structured process for the identification, recruitment, evaluation, recognition, and replacement of volunteers to strengthen fundraising effectiveness.
• Participate in recruiting experienced leadership for boards and/or committees in order to ensure that these groups are representative of, and responsive to, the communities served.
• Plan and monitor the budget, using resources for best results in fundraising and planning activities involving volunteers, prospects, faculty, and administration.
• Manage staff using talent management best practices in alignment with UF Advancement's mission and vision; ensure best practices in office systems, practices, files and record keeping; ensure effective use of strategic tools and resources such as contact reports, prospect management, research, and analysis, and the CRM database.
• Build, manage and lead a strong team of development professionals. Identify and recruit top talent and provide leadership, counsel on matters relating to fundraising, and accountability including establishing goals in alignment with unit objectives, developing metrics and strategic planning. In addition, incumbent will attend senior development meetings.

Program Coordination

• In partnership with the Executive Director of Advancement, assist with the formation and implementation of fundraising plans and policies related to the College, interprets policy to faculty and other staff, as necessary.
• Work closely with the Executive Director of Advancement and members of the Dean's Advisory Board to identify new prospects and establish fundraising priorities for HWCOE.
• Assist with the administration of the development programs for HWCOE promoting potential donor priorities as they relate to the overall priorities.
• Assist with planning and implementing short- and long-term development and alumni programs and strategies.
• Assist with designing solicitation strategies on a case-by-case basis, being cognizant of development and college office needs and procedures.
• Create a structured process for the identification, recruitment, evaluation, recognition, and replacement of volunteers to strengthen fundraising effectiveness.
• Assist in developing and implementing a comprehensive communications plan to inform constituents and identified markets about the mission, vision, and values of the unit, its funding priorities, and gift opportunities.
• Ensures best practices in office systems, practices, files, and record keeping; ensures effective use of strategic tools and resources such as contact reports, prospect management, research, and analysis, and the Advance database.

Perform related duties as required or deemed appropriate to the accomplishment of the responsibilities and functions related to this position.

Expected Salary

Up to $130,000 annually; Commensurate with education and experience

Required Qualifications

Master's degree in appropriate area of specialization and six years of appropriate experience or a bachelor's degree in appropriate areas of specialization and eight years of experience.

A valid driver's license is required.

Preferred

The ideal candidate will possess:

• Five to eight years of major gift fundraising experience with documented success in cultivating and soliciting major gifts of $500,000 and above from individual and corporate prospects with campaign experience.
• Prior experience in a college or university setting, enthusiasm for fundraising in a comprehensive research university, and the desire to work collegially within a goal-oriented fundraising organization.
• Knowledge of fundraising principles, methods, and standards.
• Experience in developing solicitation strategies.
• The ability to work strategically, develop and implement constituency programs and activities, along with a talent for motivating volunteers.
• Ability to work collaboratively and as a team player.
• Competency in problem solving.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, strong interpersonal abilities, and the capacity to engage effectively and collaboratively with a wide range of individuals are essential.
• Support the University's commitment to creating a respectful and collaborative work environment that values integrity, professionalism, and mutual respect in all interactions; demonstrated success collaborating with stakeholders; strong project management skills; experience in a data-driven environment; excellent organizational abilities; and the capacity to lead, influence, and inspire others are essential.
• Proficient in the following areas: Windows operating systems, Microsoft Word, Excel, and Access, as well as internet browsers and email platforms. Familiarity with donor databases, contact management systems, and tracking systems is also highly preferred.
• The ability and willingness to travel. A valid driver's license and good driving record are essential.*

*Business expenses are reimbursed through a standard accounting system. The ability to pay for expenses using your own personal credit card or funds and have them reimbursed is essential.

UF Advancement has defined the following critical competencies for organizational and position specific success:

Relationship Mastery

• Identifies, targets, and strategically builds relationships with colleagues, prospects, donors, and volunteers.
• Establishes and maintains effective relationships, demonstrating genuine interest in the well-being and opinions of others and recognizing common ground with individuals from varying backgrounds.
• Anticipates conversational direction with ability to swiftly adapt and diffuse high tension situations.
• Successfully identifies the proper timing, medium and consistency to engage stakeholders.
• Exhibits a high level of emotional intelligence in all interactions.

Donor Focus

• Consistently searches for ways to improve the donor experience centralizing all efforts and tasks around meeting their needs.
• Matches donor/prospect passions with university priorities, involving the right people and resources at the right time.
• Places prospect/ donor needs ahead of personal success.
• Utilizes resources, remains flexible, and creatively suggests individualized engagement activities.

Tenacity

• Identifies and seizes opportunities, setting “stretch” goals and exceeding them (always looking for the next rung on the ladder)
• Ability to re-direct prospects from distractions and non-productive requests (in control but not seemingly in control)
• Strong commitment to close gifts (every day is a domino)
• Does not give up in the face of obstacles (master of “No”)

Credibility

• Acts in an ethical and authentic manner to support the mission of the university, demonstrating a “can do” spirit, sense of ownership, urgency, and commitment.
• Stay current on functional and technical aspects of one's job seeking opportunities to acquire new knowledge and skills.
• Promotes and establishes trust, respect and rapport utilizing diplomacy and tact.
• Fulfill commitments made to donors, colleagues, and university partners.

Entrepreneurial Spirit

• Understands current environment and possesses the ability to adapt to new opportunities and challenges.
• Generates innovative ideas, solutions, and opportunities to positively impact results (doesn't order from the menu)
• Learns from success and failure with a drive to succeed (hates to lose)
• Accepts, embraces, and leads change.

Engaging Communication

• Possesses the ability to engage and inspire.
• Successfully reads verbal and non-verbal cues adapting communication style and strategy as needed.
• Demonstrates active listening and understands the art of asking questions to skillfully obtain more complete information.
• Commands attention when speaking and presenting to individuals or groups.

Strategic Thinking

• Ability to effectively synthesize information and data to evaluate and prioritize prospects/donors in a larger context (knows their prospects)
• Ability to document and illustrate a comprehensive engagement strategy with realistic timelines.
• Collaboratively engages colleagues and academic partners and integrates their knowledge into strategy.
• Ability to think big, and create bold and inspiring tactics.

Mission Driven

• Considers national trends and best practices of advancement within higher education.
• Possesses a solid appreciation of UF history, culture, and tradition.
• Understands the power of philanthropy and how to engage donors toward achieving their goals.
• Creates advocates for the university through the ability to “visualize dreams,” “ask,” and “close.”

Health Assessment Required:No

Applications Close: 15 November 2026

Our Commitment: The University of Florida is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Hiring is contingent on eligibility to work in the U.S. The University of Florida is a public institution and is subject to all requirements under Florida Sunshine and Public Record laws. If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 352-392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800-955-8771 (TDD) or visit Accessibility at UF.