University Advancement Senior Director

Position Highlights

The Advancement Senior Director leads major gift fundraising efforts that advance Rochester Institute of Technologys strategic priorities with a dedicated focus on the College of Science and College of Health Sciences and Technology. Working closely with academic leadership faculty and advancement colleagues this role develops and implements comprehensive fundraising strategies that strengthen philanthropic support and drive institutional impact.

As the primary relationship manager for a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects the Senior Director cultivates solicits and stewards donors capable of making gifts of $100000 or more. This position is responsible for building meaningful relationships identifying new philanthropic opportunities and expanding the prospect pipeline through strategic engagement and outreach.

The Senior Director collaborates across University Advancement and partners with volunteer leaders donors and campus stakeholders to coordinate stewardship activities donor engagement opportunities and special events. Through these efforts the role helps deepen donor relationships inspire philanthropic investment and advance RITs mission and priorities.

University Advancement

RITs Division of University Advancement builds meaningful relationships with alumni parents friends corporations foundations and other partners whose engagement and philanthropy advance the universitys mission. The division is a collaborative forward-thinking environment that values trust accountability innovation and shared expertise. Advancement professionals have the opportunity to connect supporters with transformative initiatives that fuel student success groundbreaking research experiential learning and programs that shape the future of technology health sciences and creative problem-solving.

Closely aligned with their dedicated college(s) the Senior Advancement Director serves as a trusted strategic partner to college leadership and faculty. This role connects donor passions with opportunities that advance education student achievement faculty excellence innovative research and emerging university priorities. Working within a university recognized for its hands-on approach industry partnerships and commitment to innovation the Senior Advancement Director plays a key role in securing philanthropic investments that create lasting impact for students faculty and the broader community.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Identifies cultivates solicits and stewards leadership annual gift and major gift donors and prospects in coordination with faculty staff and volunteers
• Manages a robust portfolio of prospects creates fundraising strategies develops relationships with donors solicits gifts and coordinates effective donor stewardship
• Develops an understanding of the educational research operational and financial needs and goals of assigned college
• Cultivates relationships with alumni parents companies and other friends and collaborates with the teams in planned giving principal giving alumni relations parent engagement regional advancement and corporate and foundation relations to encourage donors to support university initiatives
• Plans coordinates and directs special events for donors and prospects
• Updates the prospect management database with information related to donor strategies proposals contacts and results
• Other duties as assigned

Knowledge Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of cultivating soliciting and closing gifts
• Skill in written and verbal communication
• Ability to network establish and foster working relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to manage multiple projects take initiative and coordinate follow-up
• Ability to collect synthesize and process information quickly and accurately

Minimum Education & Experience

• Bachelors degree in related field
• 10 years of relevant experience
• Equivalent combination of experience and education may be considered

Job Level Overview

Specialized Contributor Level 4 - An advanced/lead role requiring a high degree of knowledge and recognized expertise in the profession or field. Manages large projects programs or specialized assignments that are strategic in nature and are without precedent and/or structure. Typically serves as a mentor to less experienced staff and reviews or delegates work.

FLSA Category

Work Location

Compensation

Application Materials

When you are ready to complete an application for this position please be prepared to submit the below requested information. This will be required to ensure your application is processed in a timely manner.

Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States.

Additional Details

In compliance with NYSs Pay Transparency Act the salary range for this position is listed above. Rochester Institute of Technology considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position candidates work experience education/training key skills internal peer equity as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. The hiring process for this position may require a criminal background check and/or motor vehicle records check. Any verbal or written offer made is contingent on satisfactory results as determined by Human Resources. RIT provides equal opportunity to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race color creed age marital status sex gender religion sexual orientation gender identity gender expression national origin veteran status or disability in its hiring admissions educational programs and activities. RIT provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities under the Rehabilitation Act the Americans with Disabilities Act the New York Human Rights Law or similar applicable law.

If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process please contact the Human Resources office at or email your request to. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.