Director of Development Business

Job Summary

Under the general direction of the Executive Director of Development, the Director of Development for Business develops and executes strategies to secure philanthropic support for San José State University fundraising priorities identified by the University’s leadership in collaboration with the Office of Development in the Division of University Advancement. Responsibilities include identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding individuals capable of giving major gifts to the University.

The Director initiates, maintains and strengthens close working relationships with key academic leaders, campus administrators, various stakeholders and University Advancement colleagues.

• Manage an assigned prospect portfolio of key individuals supporting university fundraising priorities.
• Coordinate with the Prospect Research Team to expand and enhance a prospect pipeline that aligns with university and campaign priorities.
• Actively manage a prospect/donor portfolio with annual goals for personal visits and fundraising outcomes based on established metrics.
• Develop and execute sound strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward major‑gift prospects/donors—initiate contact, develop appropriate cultivation plans, and move individuals in an appropriate and timely fashion toward solicitation and closure.
• Present and regularly review top prospect strategies with immediate supervisor and other key team members as appropriate.
• Work collaboratively with the leadership of colleges, key university administrators and other stakeholders, offering counsel on donor‑centric cultivation and solicitation strategy as appropriate.
• Collaborate with peers in Major Gifts as well as colleagues in Annual Giving, Planned Giving and Corporate and Foundation Relations.
• Work with volunteer leadership providing direction and support in maximizing the college’s major‑gift fundraising potential.
• Focus on securing funding for designated priorities including research projects, innovation programs, scholarships, unrestricted support, facility renovations, new facilities and other specified priorities.
• Collaborate with stewardship colleagues on donor stewardship efforts particularly pertaining to the Division of Research and Innovation and help promote a culture of gratitude among internal and external constituents.
• Effectively utilize campus data management system and enter prospect/donor contact reports and relevant data in a timely fashion.
• Prepare written donor cultivation and solicitation plans and proposals.
• Participate in staff, functional and strategy meetings including prospect review sessions, attend conferences, seminars and other development training as feasible and appropriate.

• Ability to identify donors and close gifts of six and seven figures.
• Ability to navigate the institution and make the appropriate match for donor interests.
• Ability to engage and support volunteer leadership with their fundraising efforts, consultation and advocacy.
• Skilled in networking, opening doors and developing donor‑centric cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Deep appreciation and understanding of the academic enterprise and the ability to articulate academic values internally and externally.
• Knowledge of clear, audience‑appropriate communication practices for students, faculty and staff, while maintaining a student‑centered approach.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work as part of a collaborative team.
• Unquestionable integrity and commitment to professional ethics.
• High level of initiative, attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
• Skilled in managing multiple…