Director of Development, CAFES

Job Summary

The Director of Development will serve as a professional in the college to cultivate and solicit alumni, parents, friends, employers, foundations and corporations for contributions. The incumbent will  participate in a comprehensive college-based development program by identifying, qualifying, cultivating, and soliciting major gifts; understand and comply with the policies, procedures and best practices established by University Development; foster successful major gift fundraising by preparing  academic leaders to participate routinely and effectively in development activities and prospect appointments; and participate in college based programs that identify and encourage relationships with donors, prospects and alumni. 

The Director of Development reports directly to the Senior Director of Development and will work in collaboration with the CAFES Assistant Dean for Advancement and External Relations, and University Development and Alumni Engagement. This job involves participating in short and long-term development initiatives across the college. This includes participating in fundraising and public relations campaigns that align with the college's mission and vision.

Department Summary

The university’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences is comprised of expert faculty members who take pride in their ability to transform academically motivated students into innovative professionals ready to solve the complex challenges associated with feeding the world in sustainable ways. Students have access to state-of-the-art laboratories, including organic and conventional crop land, orchards, vineyards, forests, and rangeland, all of which provide the basis for Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing methodology. It is the fifth-largest college of agriculture in the country with more than 4,100 undergraduate students. 

The role of the University Development and Alumni Engagement (UDAE) Division is to foster strong relationships with external partners while enhancing support for Cal Poly. University Development and Alumni Engagement does this by implementing an overall advancement program that includes alumni and parent engagement, community outreach, coordinated fundraising efforts, donor relations, gift processing, trust and endowment management, training and systems support for the donor database, and Cal Poly Foundation support and administration.

Key Qualifications

• Previous capital campaign, major gift cultivation and/or donor solicitation experience.
• Experience and success in major gifts fundraising, marketing, planned giving, or other related professional field, preferably in a university setting or other fast paced and dynamic environment.
• Experience in developing and cultivating major gift donor contacts within the development community.  
• Knowledge of the financial structure of donations, to include cash, gifts-in-kind, stocks, and securities.
• Knowledge of prospect management systems, fiscal administration, and volunteer development.
• Ability to perform record keeping, using principles of accounting, budgeting, etc.
• Ability to draft complex proposals to corporations, private foundations, and individuals that include detailed goals, work plans and evaluative mechanisms.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with the ability to set own priorities to coordinate multiple assignments with fluctuating and time-sensitive deadlines.  Demonstrated ability to plan, coordinate, prioritize, and effectively execute multiple activities and events, and meet established deadlines.
• Ability to interpret, communicate, and apply policies and procedures. Ability to analyze information and data from a variety of sources and present information and recommend solutions.
• Ability to use sound judgment, discretion, tact, and a willingness to take initiative. Ability to represent Cal Poly and University Development in a positive manner on campus and with external constituencies.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively interact and communicate with diverse constituencies both inside and outside the University, while maintaining a very high level of diplomacy and professionalism.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including ability to write and speak persuasively about Scholarship and/or the University. Ability to write concisely and clearly, edit and rewrite materials submitted by others, to revise documents quickly to meet deadlines, and make effective presentations.  Ability to produce professional documents that meet high st