"Senior Director of Development, College of Pharmacy"

The Senior Director of Development serves as a liaison between the College of Pharmacy and University Development. Serving as the College’s chief development officer, this position is responsible for raising major ($50,000+) and principal ($1,000,000+) gifts to enable the unit to fulfill its mission and implement its programs and initiatives. In addition to major and principal gifts, the position is also responsible for providing strategy, leadership, direction, coordination, and management of all levels of giving for the College of Pharmacy, including annual gifts and stewardship.

To fulfill the college’s mission and implement its programs and initiatives, the Senior Director of Development works closely with the Dean to develop fundraising priorities, create a development plan, implement the plan, and secure major and principal gifts while also supervising a development and alumni relations team. In this role, the employee is responsible for communication, collaboration and coordination between the College of Pharmacy and the University Development office, as well as creating productive partnerships with all other UGA school, college, and unit fundraising programs.

The University Development office sets four objectives for Senior Directors of Development: number of annual visits, number of gift proposals, unit fundraising goal and personal fundraising goal. Each of these goals are discussed with the director and customized for their specific unit. In addition, each director is required to attend the division and development meetings as well as an individual monthly strategy meeting at the University Development office with the Senior Director of Development for Constituent Programs.

Minimum Qualifications

Requires at least a baccalaureate degree in the field. Please contact your Human Resources office for an evaluation of education/experience in lieu of the required minimum qualifications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree preferred or bachelor’s degree and at least 7 years of related higher education experience; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience related to sales, marketing, development, business administration, higher education, project management, or relationship management with a proven ability to cultivate and solicit major gifts.
• Previous work experience in higher education and in a hybrid centralized-decentralized fundraising model involving colleges/schools.
• Significant experience developing fundraising strategies while providing leadership and direction for implementation of a comprehensive development plan.
• Management experience.
• Knowledge and experience using Blackbaud CRM system.
• Leadership in a major capital campaign.

Special Instructions to Applicants

This position is open until filled with priority given to applications submitted by August 15, 2025. Please submit a cover letter and resume to include three references. The cover letter should address the interest in the position, qualifications, and relevant experience. This position is structured as a permanent position within the Division of Development & Alumni Relations. We are unable to sponsor a work visa for this position.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies

• Leadership experience, including work in all functional areas of development and experience leading a major capital campaign.
• Demonstrated track record of successful frontline fundraising, including principal gift experience (discovery through solicitation and stewardship).
• Strength in developing and executing strategic and comprehensive fundraising plans to achieve goals; experience working with senior administration and ability to effectively strategize and engage various groups and constituents.
• Demonstrated supervisory, organization, time management, and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent communication skills (verbal, written, presentation) and active listening skills.
• An ability to deliver an effective and consistent message; a communication style that is open, cordial, and compelling.
• Ability to develop trust and strong collaborative working relationships; experience nurturing and motivating high-level volunteers and expressing appreciation for their role in building an effective development network.
• Self-starter, takes initiative, and can work independently as well as in a team environment.
• Detail oriented, excellent memory for details, and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to prioritize, work with, and complete multiple tasks simultaneously under deadlines.
• Proficiency using Microsoft Office software, for instance MS Word and Excel.
• Demonstrates a commitment to outstanding customer service; Must work well in dealing with a variety of personality types.
• Exhibits behavior that supports the mission, vision, and values of the University of Georgia.
• Communicates and employs interpersonal actions that model high standards of professional, responsible, accountable, and ethical conduct.

Additional Division Expectations

Through open, honest, and respectful communication, all staff, supervisors, and colleagues of the Division of Development & Alumni Relations are expected to interact with fairness, compassion, and decency. All employees will be held accountable for meeting the expectation of promoting a stable, productive, and healthy work environment. Adherence to CASE standards and commonly accepted industry standards relating to fundraising reporting are expected of all fundraisers. All fundraisers will be held accountable for meeting this expectation.

Physical Demands

Work in a standard office environment; Travel in and out of state; Work nights and weekends as necessary; Work using electronic mail, telephone, face-to-face discussions, paper form correspondence; Communicate effectively in writing, speaking, and listening; Organize and establish priorities; Remember detail; multi-task; Lift and/or move up to 20 pounds; Walk, stand, stoop, lift, kneel, climb.

Duties/Responsibilities

(50%): Collaborate with the dean to design and implement fundraising strategies to meet the college’s annual and long-term needs and manage development professionals in the College of Pharmacy. Manage a portfolio of major and principal giving prospects for the College of Pharmacy focusing on soliciting major and principal gifts, presenting proposals, and making an annually established goal of face-to-face meetings with donors and prospects monthly. The purpose of the meetings is to cultivate, solicit, and steward prospects and donors for current and deferred gifts of $50,000+ to benefit the College of Pharmacy. This could require 1-2 days out of the office each week including some overnight travel in and out of state and occasional weekend work. Telephone and/or correspondence preparation and follow-up, as necessary. Prepare timely, accurate, and relevant proposals, presentations, and other fundraising materials for cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.

(25%): Serve as the liaison between the College of Pharmacy and Central Development ensuring all UGA policies and procedures are followed by the college. Attend division and development staff meetings, monthly individual strategy meetings, and external affairs meetings at the College of Pharmacy. Work collaboratively with all offices of the Development and Alumni Relations division including UGA Foundation Financial Accounting, Gift and Estate planning, Regional Development, Business Engagement, Foundation Relations, etc., and development colleagues located in schools, colleges, and units across campus. Supervise a development and alumni relations team at the College of Pharmacy including staff responsible for fundraising, alumni relations, donor relations and administrative support.

(15%): Manage the college’s largest donors at the Principal Gift ($1,000,000+) level in collaboration with the Dean, Central Development, and the applicable collaborators (schools/colleges, fellow fundraisers, gift and estate planning, foundation relations, business engagement, principal gifts, etc.) Cultivate and maintain strategic partnerships with internal and external stakeholders. Prepare and maintain timely proposals, prompt and thorough reporting, and clear communication both directly with donating persons or entities and applicable collaborators. Guide proper long-term stewardship planning and implementation for principal gifts secured in collaboration with Central Development, the Office of Donor Relations and Stewardship, and the Dean.

(5%): With the assistance of the Dean and the Senior Director of Development for Constituent-Based Programs, submit an annual and long-term fundraising plan for the college that includes written strategies for top donor prospects in all college fundraisers’ portfolios.

(5%): Complete telephone/correspondence/ preparation/follow-up; record visits, interactions, and plans in the giving and alumni database (GAIL) in a thorough and timely manner. Expectation is monthly updates.