Senior Director of Development, Cancer Programs

University of California - San Francisco; Oakland (CA); Hybrid; USD 300,000 - 420,000; Full time

Job summary

University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) seeks a visionary Senior Director of Development for Cancer Programs. You will partner with the Division of Hematology Oncology to shape philanthropic strategy and supervise frontline fundraising professionals, managing a portfolio of high-net-worth prospects.

You will lead major and principal gifts, collaborate with clinical leaders, and mentor a team to build transformative partnerships benefiting cancer patients and research at UCSF.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of all aspects of fundraising and donor cultivation.
• Understanding of laws, rules, regulations, policies affecting fundraising.
• Knowledge of the campus, its achievements, vision, mission, goals and issues of concern.
• Leadership and people-management experience in a fundraising team.
• Experience in a complex academic medical center or healthcare nonprofit.

Responsibilities

• Lead frontline fundraising officers and set strategic metrics.
• Direct major and principal gift solicitations ($250K+ to $1M+).
• Develop and execute philanthropic strategy for the division.
• Collaborate with faculty and clinical leaders across UCSF Cancer Center.
• Mentor team members to build transformative philanthropic partnerships.

Skills

Fundraising knowledge

Donor identification

Solicitation

Leadership

Staff management

Strategic planning

Persuasion

Communication skills

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Job description

The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) - a global leader in health sciences and medical innovation - is seeking a visionary, collaborative, and strategic Senior Director of Development, Cancer Programs. Reporting to the Executive Director of Development, Cancer Plus, within the Office of University Development and Alumni Relations (UDAR), you will serve as the primary development partner for the Division of Hematology Oncology and work with Division Chief Dr. Krishna Komanduri. In this critical leadership role, you will shape and drive the division's overarching philanthropic strategy while directly supervising frontline fundraising professionals.

Operating with significant autonomy, you will bridge world-class scientific research and clinical excellence with high-capacity donor vision. You will lead frontline major and principal gift solicitations ($250 - $1M+), partner with faculty and clinical leaders across the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, and mentor team members to build transformative philanthropic partnerships that power discoveries and improve outcomes for cancer patients.

Why This Role Is Unique

• Lead Philanthropy for a Premier Division: Serve as the chief development strategist for UCSF's renowned Division of Hematology and Oncology, shaping philanthropic priorities alongside Division Chief Dr. Krishna Komanduri.
• Direct Access to World-Class Leadership: Build trusted partnerships with department heads, institute directors, clinical chairs, and pioneering researchers, translating complex biomedical initiatives into visionary donor opportunities.
• Team Leadership & Mentorship: Directly supervise and mentor frontline fundraising officers (Fundraiser 3 and Fundraiser 4 roles), setting strategic metrics, guiding moves management, and elevating team performance.
• Transformative Principal Gift Scope: Manage a dynamic portfolio of high-net-worth individual prospects, family offices, and grateful patient leads capable of making major and principal investments ($1M+).
• High-Impact Collaborative Culture: Join UDAR's Cancer Plus team in a flexible hybrid role based out of UCSF's 2001 The Embarcadero location, embedded in one of the nation's premier academic development organizations.

Desired Mindset & Competencies

• Strategic Leadership & Talent Mentorship: Proven capability to lead, motivate, and mentor frontline fundraisers while managing complex operational and revenue targets.
• Intellectual Curiosity & Scientific Acumen: Innate passion for cancer research, hematology, and medical innovation, paired with the ability to translate technical concepts into compelling donor cases.
• Navigating Complex Clinical Environments: Deep expertise navigating academic medical centers, developing clinician referral pipelines, and handling high-net-worth grateful patient relationships with discretion and political acumen.

At UCSF's Office of University Development and Alumni Relations (UDAR), we're proud to be the kind of place where great ideas can come from anyone, and you can do the most impactful work of your career alongside fantastic colleagues. From our pioneering work in the AIDS crisis to the creation of a silicon brain, you will experience the world-class nature of our work and the difference it makes.

UDAR is a team of innovative professionals who partner with world-class scientists, healthcare providers, and philanthropists to advance breakthrough research and life-changing patient care. We're one of the nations top fundraising organizations, home to smart, driven people who care deeply about UCSF's mission to advance science and transform health.

Our success comes from the combined talents of many roles: frontline fundraisers who build transformative partnerships with donors; alumni relations professionals who nurture lasting connections with the UCSF community; writers and designers who help tell the university's story; researchers and analysts who provide critical insights; and operations and information systems experts who keep us running smoothly.

What makes UDAR special? A commitment to growing talent from within, celebrating collective wins, and creating an environment where our staff thrive. Our culture of team-based fundraising is distinctly collaborative and we're always eager to embrace fresh approaches.

Regardless of your role at UCSF you'll be part of a unified team operating at the very top of its game.

Read more about UCSF here https://magazine.ucsf.edu/

Qualifications

• Req Strong knowledge of all aspects of fundraising, donor and public relations, including strategies for donor identification, cultivation and solicitation.
• Req Strong knowledge of applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, etc.
• Req Strong knowledge of the campus, its achievements, vision, mission, goals, objectives, applicable policies, infrastructure, and current issues of concern.
• Pref Strong knowledge of management / leadership concepts, principles and best practices.
• Req Strong leadership / management skills to select, train, mentor, evaluate and motivate staff.
• Req Strong written, oral and interpersonal communications skills and political acumen to establish and maintain good working relationships within all organizational levels and with outside constituencies.
• Req Strong skills to meet predetermined goals and objectives, including securing gifts and meeting fundraising goals.
• Req Strong strategic planning skills and skills to conceive, design, implement, evaluate and manage fundraising programs and strategies.
• Req Strong analytical, critical thinking, problem-solving skills.
• Req Strong skills in persuasion / negotiation and strong marketing skills.
• Req Prior experience working within a complex academic medical center, higher education environment, or healthcare non-profit
• Pref Knowledge of oncology, hematology, or complex biomedical research funding structures.
• Pref Bachelor's degree in related area and 8+ years of related experience including 3+ years of supervisory, management experience; and / or equivalent experience / training.
• Req Master's degree in healthcare administration, business, communications, or related discipline.
• Pref