Assistant Dean of Philanthropy, Engineering

forefront of teaching and discovery in agriculture, business, design, education, humanities and social sciences, natural resources, textiles and veterinary medicine. NC State is consistently named as one of the best values in higher education, and many of our programs are ranked at the top of their respective disciplines. We take a great deal of pride in our collaborative, supportive and collegial team culture. All staff are provided opportunities for training and professional development, with an eye to personalized career growth.

Engineering has been a cornerstone of NC State University since the university's founding in 1887. Today, with more than 10,000 students and 300 tenure/tenure-track faculty, the College of Engineering is among the largest and most preeminent engineering programs in the nation. The College of Engineering seeks to actively engage its 78,000 alumni households, the largest alumni body of any academic college at NC State.

Through support of the North Carolina legislature, the College is undergoing a period of significant expansion to help meet the needs of the state's booming technology sector. Our students and faculty are focused on meeting the Grand Challenges of the 21st Century through discovery, innovation, education and outreach. Our cutting-edge research and education programs provide the knowledge and workforce to fuel the future of our state, nation and world. In the College of Engineering, we truly Think and Do.

Wolfpack Perks and Benefits

As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Proposition and learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone.

What we offer:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision
• Flexible Spending Account
• Retirement Programs
• Disability Plans
• Life Insurance
• Accident Plan
• Paid Time Off and Other Leave Programs
• 12 Holidays Each Year
• Tuition and Academic Assistance
• And so much more!

Attain Work-life balance with our Childcare benefits, Wellness & Recreation Membership, and Wellness Programs that aim to build a thriving wolfpack community.

Disclaimer: Perks and Benefit eligibility is based on Part-Time or Full-Time Employment status. Eligibility and Employer Sponsored Plans can be found within each of the links offered.

Essential Job Duties:

The Assistant Dean of Philanthropy is the chief fundraising and engagement officer for the College of Engineering and reports directly to the Dean with a dotted line to the Associate Vice Chancellor, University Development. This role provides strategic leadership for the college's advancement program, manages the advancement team, and works closely with university leadership, faculty, alumni, donors, and community partners to advance philanthropic priorities and strengthen engagement.

The Assistant Dean also serves as President of the NC State Engineering Foundation and sets the overarching strategy and vision for advancing philanthropy and provides strategic leadership to developing and advancing a comprehensive philanthropy program for the College.

The position partners closely with University Advancement, the Leadership Gift team and the Principal Gifts team to cultivate and secure transformational support for the College and university.

The successful candidate will lead and develop a team of advancement professionals while personally managing a portfolio of major, Leadership and principal gift prospects and donors.

Key Responsibilities

• Leading People: The Assistant Dean will lead and develop a high-performing advancement team by fostering a collaborative, accountable and donor-centered culture. This role will provide mentorship, establish clear expectations and support the professional growth and success of staff across advancement functions.
• Leading Change: The Assistant Dean will help guide the continued growth and evolution of the organization by fostering innovation, encouraging collaboration, and embracing new opportunities and ideas. This leader will be adaptable in a dynamic environment, thoughtfully aligning priorities, resources, and initiatives with the long-term goals of the organization. Working closely with internal and external partners, the Assistant Dean will help cultivate a shared vision that strengthens the organization's impact, advances strategic objectives, and positions it for sustained success
• Results Driven: The Assistant Dean will be an inspiring and visible leader who will engage the collective talents and energies of the development team in collaboration with the AVC for University Development and University Advancement to develop areas of highest potential including donor pipeline building, campaign planning and implementation. They will make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, and solving problems. They will hold self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, results. They will be committed to continuous improvement.
• Transformational Giving: In partnership with the Dean, University Advancement leadership, the Leadership gifts team and the Principal Gifts team, the Assistant Dean will help identify, cultivate, solicit and steward prospects capable of making seven-figure and transformational investments in the College of Engineering. This role will build strategies to grow the pipeline for Leadership and principal gifts and collaborate across the university to maximize philanthropic opportunities and long-term donor engagement.
• Foundation Board Strategy: The Assistant Dean's overarching responsibility is to promote philanthropic investment to fulfill and advance the mission of the College of Engineering. This encompasses working with the Dean of the College of Engineering, the AVC for University Development, Foundation board members and internal partners to foster a culture that advances philanthropy and engagement that goes beyond transactional and toward building lasting relationships with donors.
• Foundation Operations: As President of the NC State Engineering Foundation, the Assistant Dean will provide leadership for Foundation governance, board engagement, communication and fiscal oversight. This role will work closely with the Foundation Board of Directors to support effective operations, transparency in alignment with university policies and priorities.

Other Responsibilities:

• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Education and Experience:

• A bachelor's degree plus alternative or equivalent professional training and experience.
• At least eight years of progressively responsible experience in major gift fundraising and advancement leadership.
• Experience developing and successful implementation of comprehensive fund-raising strategies, including campaigns.
• Experience managing institutional advancement staff.
• Experience managing volunteer boards.

Other Required Qualifications:

• Proven leadership skills that nurture an accountable, goal-oriented and values-based team environment.
• Robust knowledge of institutional fundraising in a large, complex organization.
• Demonstrated success in personally cultivating, soliciting and stewarding major and principal gifts from individuals, foundations and corporations with a sound knowledge of principles, practices and ethics of charitable giving.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills; along with outstanding written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to serve as a critical and trusted leader and partner displaying evidence of high integrity, honesty and trustworthiness.
• Demonstrated ability to develop strategic plans, implement programs and manage and implement change.
• Unrelenting commitment to a collaborative and collegial team approach.
• Strong track record of working effectively with volunteers, faculty and administrators, engaging them in the life of the institution and assisting them in improving their effectiveness in all aspects of fundraising.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise a high degree of sound judgement and diplomacy, and a commitment to confidentiality are essential.
• Experience managing and motivating advancement professionals.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A master's degree is preferred along with at least eight years in fundraising at a research university or research institute.
• Previous campaign experience is preferable along with a strong knowledge of all aspects of corporate/foundation, individual and planned giving.
• An understanding of the land grant, research Tier One university environment.
• Familiarity with NC State University.
• Management and oversight experience of a foundation or 501(c)3 nonprofit.

Required License(s) or Certification(s):

• A valid North Carolina Driver's License is required within 60 days of start date. Must be maintained as a condition of employment.

Valid NC Driver's License required: Yes

Commercial Driver's License required: No

Job Open Date: 09/11/2026

Anticipated Close Date: Open until filled

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Please include as attachments a resume/CV, cover letter, and contact information for at least 3 professional references.

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for current or future sponsorship.

Position Number: 00006023

Position Type: EPS/SAAO

Full Time Equivalent (FTE) (1.0 = 40 hours/week): 1.0

Appointment: 12 Month Recurring

Mandatory Designation - Adverse Weather: Non Mandatory - Adverse Weather

Mandatory Designation - Emergency Events: Non Mandatory - Emergency Event

Department ID: 140101 - College Of Engineering - Dean's Office/Administration

EEO:

NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.

If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu.

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.

NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Organization

NC State: Think and Do

NC State was founded with a purpose: to create economic, societal and intellectual prosperity for the people of North Carolina and the country. We began as a land-grant institution teaching the agricultural and mechanical arts. Today, we're a pre-eminent research enterprise with 12 colleges excelling in all major academic fields.

Our 34,000 high-performing students take what they learn in the classroom and apply it in the real world by conducting research, working in internships and co-ops, and performing acts of world-changing service. That experiential education ensures that they leave here ready to lead the workforce. NC State's 13:1 student-faculty ratio is one of the reasons why we're the best college for your money in North Carolina (Money) and the No. 5 best value among public universities nationally (U.S. News & World Report).

Overcoming Challenges, Improving Lives

NC State is one of only two universities in the nation leading two National Science Foundation Engineering Research Centers — one developing wearable, self-powered health monitors, and the other researching smart-grid technology. We're also leading interdisciplinary efforts to curb nuclear proliferation, help farmers confront climate change and build a new American manufacturing sector.

Our research doesn't just get published in a journal or sit on a shelf; it makes an impact. NC State is No. 6 nationwide in commercialization agreements based on university research, and we're No. 2 among universities without a medical school. Our Cooperative Extension Service provides research-based information to citizens in all 100 North Carolina counties. In addition, our industrial extension unit — Industry Expansion Solutions — has created an economic benefit for the state's manufacturers averaging $149 million per year since 2005.

Bright Minds Creating a Bold Future

NC State's 9,000 faculty and staff are world leaders in their fields, bridging the divides between academic disciplines and training high-caliber students to meet tomorrow's challenges. NC State students won two Goldwater scholarships, five Fulbright scholarships, one Churchill scholarship and a record-breaking 25 National Science Foundation graduate research fellowships in the 2016-2017 academic year. In addition, 25 faculty are members of the National Academies.

Our Centennial Campus, an award-winning public-private research campus, is home to more than 70 partner organizations working alongside more than 70 NC State research and academic units. Centennial is also the location of the innovative Hunt Library, which Time magazine has dubbed “the library of the future.”

In Raleigh and Around the World

It all happens in one of the best cities in America. A top spot for job-seekers and tech professionals, Raleigh is nationally recognized as a leading urban center:

• No. 2 hot spot for tech jobs (Forbes, 2016)
• No. 3 best city for young professionals (Forbes, 2016)
• No. 4 best city for jobs (Glassdoor.com, 2017)
• No. 4 best place to live (U.S. News & World Report, 2016)
• Best big city in the Southeast (Time, 2016)
• Selected as a Google Fiber expansion city

With Durham and Chapel Hill, Raleigh anchors the Research Triangle, a national hotspot for high-tech enterprise. The top companies in the region — including IBM, Cisco Systems, SAS Institute, Biogen Idec and GlaxoSmithKline — are among the country's best employers. They also lead the way in hiring new NC State graduates.

More than 130 years after its creation, NC State continues to make its founding purpose a reality. Every day, our career-ready graduates and world-leading faculty make the fruits of learning and discovery available to people across the state, throughout the nation and around the world.