Director/Senior Director of Regional Development, MidAtlantic/Southeastern US

Classification Title:

SR DIR, Development

Classification Minimum Requirements:

Senior Director: Master’s degree in appropriate area of specialization and six years of appropriate experience; or a bachelor’s degree in appropriate areas of specialization and eight years of experience.

Director: Master’s degree in appropriate area of specialization and three years of appropriate experience in development or a related field; or a bachelor’s degree in appropriate areas of specialization and five years of experience in development or a related field.

Job Description:

The Director/Senior Director of Development for Regional Development, MidAtlantic/Southeastern US will serve as a key advancement leader, responsible for cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors with the capacity to make major and principal gifts of $100,000 and above. This role is instrumental in driving philanthropic investment in the University of Florida’s highest priorities and strategic initiatives.

Reporting to the Interim Senior Assistant Vice President of Development, the Director/Senior Director will implement comprehensive development strategies designed to strengthen long-term donor relationships and secure transformative support. Working collaboratively with university leadership, academic partners, faculty, and volunteers, this position will develop customized engagement plans that align donor interests with UF’s mission and vision.

The ideal candidate will bring a sophisticated understanding of major/principal gift strategy, exceptional relationship-building skills, and a proven ability to close complex gifts. This is an opportunity to advance UF’s standing as a premier institution for teaching, research, innovation, and service through strategic philanthropy.

This position is based in the MidAtlantic U.S. Ideal candidates will bring a deep understanding of the region and established networks or relationships that can help advance UF’s philanthropic priorities.

Portfolio Management

• Responsible for the identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major and principal prospects.
• Focus on individual, corporate, and foundation prospects rated at a capacity of $100,000 or above with particular focus on $1M+ commitments.
• Assess and refine the portfolio by identifying new high-net-worth individuals and families with the capacity and affinity to support institutional priorities.
• Create and execute tailored, multi-year engagement and solicitation strategies for each assigned prospect, leveraging a moves management framework. Each plan should be rooted in the donor's philanthropic interests and aligned with university strategic priorities.

Strategic Initiatives

• Partner with university leaders and academic units to design and execute complex, multi-step donor strategies that lead to significant philanthropic investments.
• Build and manage relationships, utilizing a strategic moves management approach to yield maximum philanthropic support in a timely fashion.
• Work cross-functionally with faculty, academic administrators, and development colleagues to align donor interests with institutional priorities, including those outlined in UF’s strategic plan and campaign goals.
• Develop and present concept papers and gift proposals and acknowledge and recognize gifts in ways that are meaningful to donors.
• Contribute to the success of UF’s current and future comprehensive campaigns by advancing principal gift-level solicitations and supporting campaign leadership.

Donor Engagement

• Organize and facilitate high-level engagement experiences, including campus visits, and personalized briefings and engagement opportunities to deepen prospect relationships.
• Ensure exceptional donor stewardship through customized reporting, naming opportunities, and long-term relationship management.

University of Florida
At the University of Florida, we are feeding communities, healing coastlines, exploring space, curing diseases, powering cities, building industries, and imagining wonders. As the state’s most comprehensive university, UF is a land, sea, and space grant institution with ties to every Florida county, a top academic medical center, and much more. The ideas born here gather steam and make tangible impacts. Florida is among the nation’s leaders in technology transfer, turning discoveries into companies, products, and jobs. Come join us—let’s see where we can go together.

Expected Salary:

Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience and final role classification, aligned with market standards for the MidAtlantic region. The University of Florida offers a competitive benefits package