Senior Director of Development, Divisions and Institutes

St. John; New York (NY); On-site; USD 145,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

St. John's University is seeking a Senior Director of Development for Divisions and Institutes on the Queens Campus. Lead major gift fundraising across university-wide initiatives, manage ~150 prospects, and secure gifts of $25,000 and above.

Collaborate with senior leadership and Advancement teams to align funding priorities and strategic goals. The role requires 8-12 years in fundraising with strong CRM and donor analytics experience, and a track record of closing major gifts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required.
• 8-12 years of progressive fundraising/advancement experience.
• 7+ years of leadership and major gift solicitation (>$25,000).
• Experience building donor relationships and managing complex pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of ~150 prospects for major gifts.
• Develop strategies for cultivation, engagement, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Lead gift negotiations and close gifts aligned with priorities.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to development staff.

Skills

Leadership

Relationship Building

Communication

Problem Solving

Technical Proficiency

CRM Expertise

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Ellucian Advance/Banner

Salesforce (Affinaquest/Ascend)

Blackbaud Raiser's Edge/NXT

Job description

Senior Director of Development, Divisions and Institutes

St. John's University

Salary: $145,000.00 - $165,000.00 Annually

Job Type: Full-Time Administrator

Job Number: 202600057

Location: Queens Campus, NY

St. John's, established in 1870, has two New York City campuses;international locations in Rome, Italy; Limerick, Ireland; andParis, France; and study abroad locations around the world. ThePrinceton Review and other top rankings consistently recognize theUniversity's outstanding academics, diverse student body, dynamicinternship, and volunteer opportunities, focus on student life, anddiverse study abroad offerings. St. John's University offers morethan 100 undergraduate and graduate programs in its six collegesand schools, with a growing number of programs offered online. TheUniversity is accredited by the Middle States Commission on HigherEducation and 12 other major academic and professionalassociations.

A dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion is at the heart ofour mission.? As a Catholic and Vincentian university, St. John'sis committed to institutionalizing practices of inclusiveexcellence to ensure that we welcome and celebrate the intrinsicworth of all members of our community.? We will become an evenstronger university as we enhance equity at every level of ourinstitution.?Our graduates will excel in the competencies andvalues needed for leadership and service in a rapidly evolvingworld.

Job Summary

The Senior Director of Development, Divisions and Institutes willbe responsible for major gift fundraising for university-wideinitiatives, including Divisions, Institutes and non-academicdepartments, as determined by the Senior Vice President ofInstitutional Advancement. Primary responsibilities includedeveloping and managing a portfolio of approximately 150prospects/suspects, including alumni and friends of the University,and seeking, soliciting, and securing major gifts of $25,000 andabove to the University.

Job Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 150 prospects in support ofthe designated division, institute, and/or unit
• Develop and implement strategies for the cultivation,engagement, solicitation, and stewardship of major gift ($25,000and above) prospects.
• Determine donor interest and develop and execute anindividualized plan for each prospect. Solicit every prospect foran annual gift during each fiscal year, in addition to major andplanned gifts as appropriate.
• Recommend suitable giving opportunities and prepare major giftproposals for specific initiatives and priorities.
• Participate in and advise on strategies that contribute to thedevelopment of a strong prospect pipeline.
• Work with other members of the Advancement team toappropriately engage assigned prospects in Universityactivities.
• Participate as an active member of the prospect managementprocess, including and especially identifying new prospects anddeveloping strategies for those prospects.
• Actively engage with assigned prospects to follow up on, andsecure pledge payments in a timely manner to support pledgefulfillment efforts.
• Ensure gift recognition occurs and acknowledgements are sentfrom the appropriate individuals in Advancement.
• Partner with division and institute leadership to identifyfunding priorities, translate programmatic needs into compellingcases for support, and align development efforts with strategicgoals.
• Lead complex gift negotiations and close gifts that advanceinstitutional priorities.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to development staffsupporting divisions and institutes, as applicable.
• Partner with colleagues across development (annual giving,prospect research, donor relations, etc.) to maximize fundraisingoutcomes.
• Represent St. John's University externally with donors,partners, and community stakeholders.
• Utilize data, analytics, and donor insights to inform strategyand optimize performance.
• Play a leadership role in capital campaigns and strategicinitiatives tied to divisions and institutes.
• Contribute to messaging, case development, and donor engagementstrategies.
• Collaborate on cross-functional initiatives that span multipleareas of the organization.

Supervisory Responsibility

Manage one Assistant Director of Development

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover orcontain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties orresponsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time,with or without notice.

Competencies, Education, Experience

• Leadership & Professional Excellence:Demonstrated strength in leadership, project management,collaboration, analytical thinking, and stakeholderengagement.
• Relationship Building & Agility: Skilledat building strong relationships in donor-facing and professionalsettings; comfortable operating in social environments. Ability tomanage multiple priorities and adapt quickly in a fast-paced,evolving environment.
• Communication & Organization: Excellentwritten, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, withstrong organizational ability and attention to detail.
• Problem Solving & Judgment: Proven abilityto think critically, resolve complex issues, work independently,and exercise sound professional judgment.
• Technical Proficiency: Advanced proficiency inMicrosoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), includingpresentations, reporting, and data analysis.
• CRM & Development Systems Expertise:Experience with fundraising and CRM platforms such as Ellucian(Advance/Banner), Salesforce (Affinaquest, Ascend), or Blackbaud(CRM, Raiser's Edge, NXT), with a focus on prospect management andpipeline tracking.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor's Degree required.
• Minimum of 8-12 years of progressive experience in fundraising,advancement, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7+ years of one-on-one leadership ($1,500+) and/ormajor gift ($25,000+) solicitation experience.
• Minimum of 7+ years' experience in Development, preferably in aHigher Education environment.
• Proven ability to build and manage relationships with seniorleaders, donors, and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated knowledge of development practices and principlesand a track record of success in managing leadership or major giftprospects and in securing gifts.
• Demonstrated skill to work within a complex environment withstrong capabilities in planning, organizing, and managing.
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and peers inthe Advancement area and with internal partners and externalvolunteers.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills.
• Flexibility to travel, largely on a local/regional basis.Occasional weekend and evening work will be necessary, as well asoccasional travel nationally.
• Affinity and commitment to the mission of St. John'sUniversity.

Preferred Education & Experience

• Advanced degree (e.g., Master's, MBA, or relevant field)preferred.
• Experience in complex, matrixed organizations such ashealthcare systems, higher education, research institutions, orlarge nonprofit environments.
• Experience supporting or leading capital campaigns orlarge-scale fundraising initiatives.
• Familiarity with donor databases/CRMs and pipeline managementtools.
• Experience working with faculty, or academic/institute programleadership.

Supplemental Information

Work Environment

Working in the University Center, where Advancement is housed, aswell as off campus, to visit with donors and prospects. Primaryequipment includes the phone, laptop computer, and commercialprinters.

Physical Demands

Prolonged periods of sitting and working at a computer, includingvirtual meetings and document preparation.

Frequent verbal communication in person, over the phone, and viavirtual platforms.

Ability to travel regularly, including local and regional traveland occasional national travel; may involve extended periods ofsitting, standing, or walking.

Ability to attend and actively participate in events, which mayrequire standing for extended periods.

Occasional lifting and carrying of materials related to events ormeetings (typically up to 10-15 pounds).

Environmental Conditions

Primarily office-based with a hybrid work environment (asapplicable).

Frequent attendance at events outside of standard business hours(evenings and weekends) to support donor engagement andstewardship.

Work is fast-paced and deadline-driven, requiring the ability tomanage multiple priorities and adapt to changing needs.

Prolonged periods of sitting, working at a computer, andparticipating in virtual and in-person meetings.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

Full-time position with office hours matching University businessday as well as off hours, attending events on nights and weekendsas needed. Expectations are for flexibility as needed for eventsand fundraising opportunities outside of those hours.

Travel

There may be some travel involved, since the assigned prospects maynot be local. Having a car is necessary for this position.

Important Note- St. John's is NOT an E-VerifyEmployer

St. John's offers a competitive compensation program which iscommensurate with your qualifications, experience, and contingentupon the departmental budget. St. John's University considersfactors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities ofthe position, candidate's work experience, education/training, keyskills, internal peer equity, as well as market and organizationalconsiderations when extending an offer.???

We also offer an extremely comprehensive benefits program to meetthe diverse needs of our workforce. Along with exceptional benefitssuch as medical, dental, life insurance, long term disabilityinsurance, tuition remission, generous 403(b) employercontribution, employee assistance program, and liberal paid timeoff policies, faculty and staff can also enjoy St. John'sperforming arts, libraries, bookstores, dining facilities, campusrecreation and sporting events

Any offer of employment is subject to receipt by St. John'sUniversity of satisfactory references, verification of employmentand education.

St. John's University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.?Allqualified applicants will receive consideration without regard torace, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity,national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with adisability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristicprotected by law.