Senior Director of Development, Owen

Position Summary

The Senior Director of Development for Strategic Initiatives is a senior fundraising professional within Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) who participates in the strategic direction and execution of major and principal gift fundraising strategies to support the highest priorities of the Owen Graduate School of Management. This role focuses primarily on cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding prospects capable of making principal-level gifts.

Working closely with the Associate Dean of Development, the Dean of the Owen Graduate School of Management, and senior leadership, the Senior Director advances strategic initiatives, projects, and existing centers for Entrepreneurship and Financial Markets. The position manages a portfolio of high-capacity prospects and plays a central role in achieving fundraising goals, with a target fundraising range of $3–5 million annually.

The Department of Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) assists Vanderbilt University in securing the resources, both human and financial, that are required to achieve its mission and goals. The Department is responsible for the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individuals and organizations whose charitable objectives are consistent with those of Vanderbilt University’s teaching and research programs. DAR’s university development team is responsible for seeking new resources from alumni, parents, friends, and family foundations to support key fundraising priorities.

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Strategic Fundraising Leadership

• Develop proactive strategies to identify, qualify, and engage prospects for philanthropic investment.
• Set strategic direction and execution of fundraising initiatives aligned with Owen’s priorities and university-wide objectives.
• Partner with the Associate Dean of Development in annual and multi-year fundraising planning and processes.
• Assist in setting, tracking, and assessing progress toward fundraising goals.
• Collaborate with cross-functional DAR teams, including Principal Gifts, Annual and Leadership Annual Giving, Corporate Relations, Foundation Relations, Planned Giving, Research and Prospect Development, Stewardship, and Alumni Relations.
• Participate in advisory boards, councils, and committees whose responsibilities include advancing philanthropy in support of strategic priorities.

Major and Principal Gifts

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 55 high-capacity prospects capable of making gifts of $100,000 or more, primarily unaffiliated and unassigned.
• Lead full donor lifecycle activities, from identifying and qualifying prospects through cultivation, solicitation, and gift closure.
• Secure outright gifts, multi-year pledges, planned gifts, and corporate/foundation awards in support of strategic initiatives and priority projects.
• Achieve progressive fundraising growth, with a target range of $3–5 million.
• Participate in strategies for effective utilization of the Dean and senior leaders in advancing the most significant fundraising opportunities.

Program Growth and Institutional Collaboration

• Support fundraising efforts tied to strategic initiatives and projects, including centers, programs, and academic innovation.
• Collaborate with other schools, colleges, and university programs to coordinate engagement strategies for prospects without existing unit affiliation.
• Strengthen the identification pipeline by working closely with the Associate Dean of Development and Research and Prospect Development to surface new high-capacity prospects aligned with institutional priorities.

Professional Conduct

• Maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment in all donor and colleague interactions.
• Demonstrate professionalism, composure, and discretion in complex situations.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Work Environment

This position is preferred to work in the Nashville area but is open for remote work.

If working in the Nashville area, this is a hybrid role that is expected to be in the office one day per week or more depending on…