Executive Director of Development, Engineering

The selected candidate will be required to work in person for the first six months. After that period, the position will be eligible for a hybrid work schedule.

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INITIAL REVIEW DATE (IRD)

UC Santa Cruz jobs are posted until filled. All application materials submitted by 11:59 pm on the IRD will be routed to the hiring team for consideration. NOTE: Applicants who miss the IRD are still encouraged to apply; their materials will still be forwarded for consideration if requested by the hiring team. Application materials cannot be accepted outside of the jobs portal. Applications cannot be edited on an applicant's behalf. For more information about the IRD and the applicant review process, view this link.

The IRD for this job is: 11-18-2026

ABOUT UC SANTA CRUZ

UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the experience of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university. It's known as an unconventional place where innovation and experimentation is part of the campus's DNA. That playful, bold spirit still thrives today, all on a campus renowned as among the most beautiful in the world.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

University Advancement supports the teaching, research, and public service of UC Santa Cruz by making and keeping deep, heartfelt connections. Building enduring relationships among students, alumni, faculty, donors, and others is the lifeblood of our work and helps to make UC Santa Cruz a thriving community of knowledge, inquiry, public service, and social mobility.

We are a welcoming group of ambitious and creative professionals pursuing our mission in support of the university's overarching purpose. We take our work seriously because we care - but we don't take ourselves too seriously! The University Advancement culture is lively and dynamic; we value collaboration; and our staff is resourceful, enthusiastic, and hard-working.

The division is a fun, friendly, and open place, and our colleagues are supportive of and positive about each other's goals and aspirations. We often jump in to help where needed, rolling up our sleeves to get the job done. We dare to approach challenges as opportunities. We seek creative ways to overcome obstacles, at times with limited resources, while keeping our eye on the objective: helping students achieve their goals, providing crucial public service, and advancing life-changing research and discovery.

We hope you are inspired by what we do and are excited to contribute to our mission. We are looking for candidates who do great work, and we hope they come from a number of different backgrounds and experiences. We aspire to build an increasingly diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. We encourage you to apply even if you do not believe you meet every qualification for the position but possess transferable skills and experiences.

More information can be found at https://advancement.ucsc.edu/

JOB SUMMARY

The campus seeks an experienced, highly motivated fundraising professional to serve as Executive Director of Development.

Under the general direction of the University Advancement, Associate Vice Chancellor for Development in consultation with the Dean, Baskin School of Engineering, the Executive Director of Development serves in a lead role to plan, develop, implement and evaluate the major gift fund-raising program at the Baskin School of Engineering to secure and increase philanthropic support from individuals, corporations, and foundations for the initiative/divisional priorities. It is expected that this position will have close collaboration with the Innovation and Business Engagement Hub and Office of Research through the AVC for Innovation and Business Engagement.

The Executive Director's primary responsibilities will include managing the division's relationship with current and prospective donors to engineering who are capable of giving at the $50,000 level or above adhering to university-wide policies and procedures. The Executive Director will prepare a strategic plan to develop and implement all components of a major gifts program with specific emphasis on initiating a plan to identify and qualify new prospects. The Executive Director manages a team, including an Associate Director of Development, Senior Director of Corporate Development and jointly supervises a Development Assistant. .

The Executive Director will design and implement comprehensive strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward the highest capacity individuals, build engagement of these individuals, create gift opportunities based on initiative/divisional priorities, formulate and coordinate fundraising strategies, and determine appropriate stewardship plans for significant donors.

The Executive Director will partner with the dean to articulate and amplify the division's fundraising priorities, particularly in preparation for a future campaign. The Executive Director will involve high-level volunteers and academic leaders in connecting donors to the division to deepen their interest and involvement. The Executive Director will consult with the AVC of Development and other University Advancement colleagues to develop and implement donor strategies, and work in close partnership with the AVC, Innovation and Business Engagement Hub to ensure a holistic approach to corporate engagement.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Budgeted Salary: $140,000 - $200,000/year. Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.
Under California law, the University of California, Santa Cruz is required to post a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. The salary shown above is the budgeted amount the University reasonably expects to pay and the salary extended should not exceed this posted amount.

Benefits Level Eligibility: Full benefits

Schedule Information:

• Full-time, Fixed
• Percentage of Time: 100%, 40 Hours per Week
• Days of the Week: Mon-Fri
• Shift Includes: Day

Employee Classification: Career appointment

Job End Date: None

Work Location: UC Santa Cruz Main Campus. The selected candidate will be required to work in person for the first six months. After that period, the position will be eligible for a hybrid work schedule.

Union Representation: Non-Represented

Job Code Classification: 000465 (FUNDRAISING MGR 2) - Grade 27

Travel: Up to 25% of the time

JOB DUTIES

80% - Division Development

• With faculty, volunteers, and staff, identify new sources of potential gift support for the campus with a particular focus on initiative/divisional priorities. Identify, create, and execute cultivation and solicitation strategies with specific timetables for prospects, i.e., individuals, corporations, and foundations, working with academic leaders (the dean, department chairs, faculty), volunteers, and staff to increase and enhance the institution's success in private fundraising.
• Working closely with Prospect Research and Development, develop and maintain a portfolio of approximately 90 major or principal gift-level prospective donors, defined as individuals capable of contributing $50,000 or more. Develop and implement 144+ meaningful in-person interactions (moves) with portfolio annually. Solicit at least 15 major gifts and raise at least $2.5M in new philanthropic commitments on an annual basis.
• Personally cultivate, solicit, and coordinate stewardship for assigned donors and prospects. Work cooperatively with other development officers, deans, faculty, administrative personnel, and volunteers to develop and coordinate effective donor strategies. Prepare and edit proposals/presentations needed for the successful solicitation of prospective donors.
• Serve as liaison for the division with the other units within University Advancement, including Planned Giving, Student Success and Strategic Initiatives, Innovation and Business Engagement, Government & Community Relations, and Donor & Constituent Engagement.
• Devise and implement a stewardship program to assure regular contact with major donors through annual impact reports and various stewardship and cultivation activities and events.
• Participate in University Advancement and initiative/division meetings and task forces as well as special committees for projects as needed.
• Develop strategies, plan, and coordinate special events to reach, identify and expand the base of major gift level donors.

20% - Administration and Management

• Manage the Baskin Engineering Development team, consult and effectively work with senior management, managers, and professional staff campus wide and throughout University Advancement on specific initiatives. Model and promote effective teamwork and collegiality. Manage and facilitate information flow up, down and across the organization.
• With the Dean of Engineering, AVC for Development, AVC for Innovation and Business Engagement, and input from the team, develop an annual development plan and formulate annual goals and objectives, ensuring that plans are appropriately coordinated with and communicated to other development and divisional staff. Develop long-term major gift prospect strategies designed to achieve these goals and objectives.
• Prepare and recommend a development budget to the Dean and for approval.
• Manage approved development budget in a prudent and effective manner, following campus policies and procedures.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative workplace free from any form of harassment, intimidation, or unlawful discrimination.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Eight or more years of substantial and progressively responsible experience in the design and implementation of complex development programs, emphasizing successful identification, cultivation, and securing of annual and major philanthropic commitments from individuals, corporations, and foundations, or other comparable business development and/or sales and marketing programs.
• Demonstrated success in the personal solicitation of major and principal gifts from individuals.
• Sound knowledge of the full spectrum of development principles and activities including gift policies, solicitations, stewardship, donor recognition, administration, working with high-level volunteer committees, and the ability to apply this knowledge creatively to specific fundraising projects.
• An affinity for the division and a familiarity with the terminology associated with the discipline.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to work effectively with the Dean, faculty, administrators, community leaders, volunteers, donors, and other staff including people of differing temperaments, socioeconomic backgrounds and political/ethical philosophies.
• Superior communication skills to express concisely and persuasively, both orally and in writing, the mission of the campus and the fund raising goals of the campus and the Division.
• Ability to recruit volunteer support, and to organize and staff effectively the efforts of high-level fundraising volunteers.
• Ability to listen carefully to what people are saying and translate their interest and resources into gifts needed by the campus.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision as well as to serve as a key member of the development team.
• Experience formulating and managing an operational budget.
• Effective computer skills with experience using word processing, spreadsheet, database and publishing applications and databases to create, retrieve and compile up-to-the-minute documents and historical information for reports and for donor research.
• Demonstrated experience in division fund raising environment or background in the division's disciplines with relevant fundraising experience, emphasizing the identification, cultivation, and bringing to successful conclusion principal gifts from foundations, corporations or individuals.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Certified Fund Raising Executive or Master's degree.
• Experience working with a major comprehensive campaign, especially in higher education.
• Knowledge of planned giving techniques, including an understanding of current tax laws relevant to charitable giving and estate planning.
• Knowledge and understanding of a university setting, its people and programs, as well as its educational and fundraising objectives.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Selected candidate will be required to pass a pre-employment criminal history background check.
• Selected candidate must pass the employment misconduct disclosure process.
• Ability to work long periods of time at a computer with or without accommodation.
• The selected candidate will be required to work a hybrid work schedule and must be able to work successfully from a home/remote office and fulfill the requirements of the UCSC telecommuting agreement.
• Ability to work a variable schedule including evenings and weekends.
• Ability to travel to multiple work locations on and off campus.
• Ability to travel within a defined regional or service area.
• Ability to maintain appearance and conduct suitable for working in a professional setting.
• Selected candidate will be required to complete training within established time frames as directed including UC compliance training.
• The University of California has implemented a Vaccination Policy covering all employees. Employees, including new hires, are required to comply with any applicable policies relating to the University of California vaccine program.
• Per the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), this position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter. The selected candidate will be required to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect as defined by CANRA and will be required to sign a Statement Acknowledging Requirement to Report Child Abuse prior to commencing employment. CANRA Penal Codes, and related definitions, requirements, and responsibilities may be obtained here.
• Exercise the utmost discretion in managing sensitive information learned in the course of performing their duties. Sensitive information includes but is not limited to employee and student records, health and patient records, financial data, strategic plans, proprietary information, and any other sensitive or non-public information learned during the course and scope of employment. Understands that sensitive information should be shared on a limited basis and actively takes steps to limit access to sensitive information to individuals who have legitimate business need to know. Ensure that sensitive information is properly safeguarded. Follow all organizational policies and laws on data protection and privacy. This includes secure handling of physical and digital records and proper usage of IT systems to prevent data leaks. The unauthorized or improper disclosure of confidential work-related information obtained from any source on any work-related matter is a violation of these expectations.

MISCONDUCT DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:
  • UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
  • UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
  • Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

SAFETY STATEMENT

All UCSC employees must understand and follow job safety procedures, attend required health and safety training, proactively promote safety at work, and promptly report actual and potential accidents and injuries.

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY

EEO/AA

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.

It is the policy of the University of California to undertake affirmative action and anti-discrimination efforts, consistent with its obligations as a Federal and State contractor.