Director of Development

Who We Are

Founded in 1965,
UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs.

It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide.
To learn more about UC Irvine, visit (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

The School of Physical Sciences (SoPS) aims to deliver scientific breakthroughs that reshape our understanding of the physical world and provide solutions to the most profound problems of our age. We achieve this by asking hard questions; setting inspiring, visionary goals; and cultivating an inclusive, interdisciplinary culture that is open to broad ideas. We advance humanity through a deeper understanding of the physical science that governs the world.

Our flagship projects not only directly address some of today's most fundamental and existential problems, but also strive for their impactful applied solutions.
The SoPS develops philanthropic priorities that will empower the school to elevate its strong academics and research to elite levels of excellence. From predicting cancer tumor growth with mathematics to exploring the possibility of life on other planets and finding solutions to the effects of climate change, our researchers in the top-ranked departments of Chemistry, Earth System Science, Mathematics, and Physics & Astronomy are blazing new pathways every day.

Our world-renowned faculty bridge fields through interdisciplinary collaborations with engineers, computer scientists, biologists, social scientists and many others. This out-of-the-box thinking and our standing commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion propels our research and enables cutting-edge science to advance our mission.
Within the SoPS, the Office of Advancement is our comprehensive fundraising operation. This includes alumni relations and development, in strong partnership with the Director of Communications for the SoPS. With support from the University of California, Irvine Office of University Advancement, our staff partner with donors, alumni, faculty, and school senior leadership to secure philanthropic resources for the school of physical sciences and its departments.

The School of Physical Sciences (SoPS) is seeking a development professional who works collaboratively with the Executive Director of Development (EDoD), the Director of Communications for the SoPS, and University Advancement (UA) to contribute to the development program and secure significant philanthropic investments to support the SoPS. The primary activity of the Director of Development (DoD) is externally focused to secure private philanthropic support and the DoD’s effectiveness will be evaluated on the ability to achieve financial goals and meet metrics.

Under the general direction of the EDoD, the DoD develops strategies to manage and enhance the annual fund and major gifts programs for the SoPS. The DoD is expected to serve as a member of the School’s Advancement team, and to also be a highly collaborative colleague with other development officers across the campus. Our office works on coordinated hybrid schedules to meet the business needs of leadership and our clients.

This position will begin on-site and - with leadership approval - may be eligible for a hybrid schedule of no less than three days on site per week.