Senior Director of Development

Senior Director of Development

WWU College of Business & Economics

Western Washington University, with over 15,000 students in seven colleges and the graduate school, is nationally recognized for its educational programs, students and faculty. The campus is located in Bellingham, Washington, a coastal community of 90,000 overlooking Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades Mountain range. The city lies 90 miles north of Seattle and 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia.

Western has additional sites in Anacortes, Bremerton, Everett, Port Angeles, and Poulsbo. Western is recognized nationally for its successes, such as being named one of the top public master's‑granting institutions in the Pacific Northwest for 25 years in a row by U.S. News & World Report.

University Advancement supports Western's mission, which states that together with our students, staff, and faculty, we are committed to making a positive impact in the state and the world with a shared focus on academic excellence and inclusive achievement. The Division of University Advancement is comprised of 60+ staff members who support the engagement, philanthropy, communications and marketing work of the University.

The five leadership units are: communications and marketing; major giving, planned giving and corporate/foundation relations; advancement data services, research and annual giving; engagement including donor relations, alumni and constituent relations, and career services; finance, accounting and administration. Current fundraising efforts are focused on the university’s top priority, scholarships to support student recruitment and retention.

The Senior Director of Development manages a team of fundraisers at the Director and Associate Director level with a goal of raising money for all colleges and programs across the university. They are responsible for mentoring their team members and ensuring the team achieves its annual fundraising goal. The Senior Director is the main liaison between Deans and Academic Partners and reports to the Associate Vice President for Development for University Advancement.

The Senior Director is a strategic partner to all academic and development professionals in securing philanthropic gifts, representing University Advancement as leaders and partnering with colleagues in Prospect Research, Advancement Services, Planned Giving and Alumni Engagement. As a senior development officer, this position is charged with creating and implementing a comprehensive development program for their team, to engage and solicit alumni, parents, friends, community members, business, and civic leaders to achieve the fundraising goals for Western.

The Senior Director of Development is personally responsible for soliciting and closing major gifts of $25,000 or more, with a specific focus on principal gift prospects starting at the $250,000 level. This full‑time position reports to the Associate Vice President for Development for University Advancement. Annual success metrics are determined from both the activities associated with fundraising and the actual fundraising results of the team.

The Senior Director is responsible for the discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of Western donors. Multiple channels are utilized, including face‑to‑face, phone and video, with a key success metric focused on substantial contacts. The position requires travel in and out of state with a heavy focus on the Puget Sound area.

• Responsible for the design and implementation of a comprehensive development plan to increase philanthropic support for university priorities.
• Manages a team of fundraisers at the Director and Associate Director level.
• Coaches, mentors, and develops team members.
• Plans annually and ensures the team achieves its fundraising goals and metrics.
• Serves as primary liaison between Deans and academic partners; works with department chairs and institute directors to shape fundraising priorities and campaigns.
• Coaches and serves as strategic…