Chief Development Officer

Chief Development Officer

Job Description Summary

The Chief Development Officer is a key leadership role and member of the President's Cabinet, responsible for establishing, leading and executing a comprehensive university fundraising program. This individual works closely with university leadership, faculty, community partners, and alumni to foster a culture of philanthropy and secure significant gifts from individuals, foundations, and corporations. The role involves strategic planning and maintaining strong relationships with donors and other supporters of the University.

The Chief Development Officer works closely with university deans, advisory boards, the Shawnee State University Foundation, and the SSU Alumni Association, including executive staff and volunteer leadership, to advance the University's mission and philanthropic goals.

1. Strategic Planning & Fundraising Leadership

2. Major Gift Fundraising & Campaign Management

3. Alumni and Donor Relations

4. Team Management, Data & Reporting

1. Strategic Planning & Fundraising Leadership

• Create and execute plans to cultivate and meet goals for special projects, college capital and annual funds, athletics, scholarships ensuring alignment of fundraising initiatives with the university's mission, vision, and long-term goals.
• Establish, implement, and evaluate the university's fundraising strategies and goals, at the direction of the President and in collaboration with the President's Cabinet.
• Build relationships with academic departments, faculty, and university leadership to identify funding priorities.
• Work closely with the Office of Communications to ensure the development team's messaging aligns with the university's overall marketing and branding efforts.
• Address complex and non-routine fundraising challenges requiring the development of new strategies, donor models, and campaign approaches in response to evolving institutional, economic, and philanthropic conditions

2. Major Gift Fundraising & Campaign Management

• Lead efforts to secure major gifts for capital campaigns, endowments, and other priority initiatives.
• Represent the University in high-level negotiations and discussions with major donors, foundation leaders, corporate executives, and volunteer leadership, requiring advanced diplomacy, persuasion, and judgment.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors and prospects capable of making significant contributions to the university.
• Coordinate and lead the cultivation and solicitation of gifts in collaboration with university leadership, deans, faculty, and trustees.
• Oversee university-wide fundraising campaigns, including goal-setting, planning, implementation, and reporting.
• Coordinate and lead the cultivation and solicitation of gifts in collaboration with university leadership, deans, faculty, and trustees.
• Oversee university-wide fundraising campaigns, including goal-setting, planning, implementation, and reporting.

3. Alumni and Donor Relations

• Cultivate strong relationships with alumni, parents, and friends of the university.
• Oversee donor stewardship programs to ensure long-term engagement and continued giving.

4. Team Management, Data & Reporting

• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of development professionals, providing guidance, coaching, and professional development opportunities. Foster a collaborative and results‑driven team culture.
• Provide organizational leadership for the University's development function, including responsibility for staffing models, position design, performance management, succession planning, and long‑term workforce development.
• Ensure that fundraising data is accurately tracked, analyzed, and reported to university leadership, donors, and other stakeholders. Prepare reports and presentations for the Board, President, and other key stakeholders.

• Proven success in developing and leading strategic fundraising initiatives, particularly in the areas of major gifts, capital campaigns, and annual giving.
• Strong knowledge of fundraising best practices, donor relations, and…