Director of Development
UCSF
Director of Development
UCSF
Public health sciences university in San Francisco
Position Overview
Are you driven by the opportunity to power discoveries that transform human health on a global scale?
The Basic and Biomedical Sciences Development team is seeking an extraordinary, strategic, and collaborative Director of Development to advance philanthropic support for world-changing scientific innovation. Partnering directly with university deans, department chairs, institute directors, and world-renowned faculty, you will shape the future of medicine by securing major and principal gifts that accelerate breakthrough research and empower the next generation of scientific leaders.
This role offers an exceptional platform for an ambitious fundraising leader: a high-impact, broad-scope portfolio spanning foundational basic science departments, cutting-edge interdisciplinary research centers, the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs (GEPA), and the prestigious Sandler Program for Breakthrough Biomedical Research (PBBR).
Why This Role Is Unique
Collaborative Environment: Join a high-performing, deeply supportive team environment built on partnership, intellectual curiosity, and shared impact.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Portfolio & Prospect Management
Academic Partnership & Leadership Engagement
Interdisciplinary Strategy & Programmatic Growth
Desired Mindset & Competencies
*note: Salary commensurate with internal equity based on education, scope, and experience
| Knowledge, Skills and Abilities | Req / Pref |
|---|---|
| Expert working knowledge of all aspects of fundraising, donor relations, and public relations concepts, principles, procedures, and techniques. | Req |
| Expert knowledge of all aspects of the institution, campus or medical center, including current issues of concern for both the campus and / or throughout higher education / healthcare, generally. Expert knowledge of the location, including its vision, mission, goals, objectives, achievements and infrastructure. | Pref |
| Expert knowledge of applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, etc. | Req |
| Expert written and interpersonal communication skills, including political acumen, to establish and maintain good working relationships throughout the organization and with outside constituencies. Expert skills in making persuasive and compelling presentations of goals and objectives for a location in order to secure gifts. | Req |
| Expert organizational, analytical and critical thinking skills. Expert project / program management skills, including skills in setting and meeting program / project goals and objectives within budget and time constraints. | Req |
| Expert level skills in maintaining confidentiality. | Req |
| Bachelor's degree in related area and 10+ years of related expeirence / or equivalent experience / training. | Req |
| Expert knowledge of all aspects of the location | Req |
| % of time | Essential Function (Yes/No) | Key Responsibilities (To be completed by Supervisor) |
|---|---|---|
40% | Yes | Serves as an expert or lead development professional in a specialized area such as major / principal gifts, gift planning or corporate / foundation relations, or a specific academic discipline that includes, or potentially includes, donors capable of making very significant contributions to the campus and / or medical center. Portfolio Management Core Objective: Directly manage and steward a dynamic portfolio of major and principal gift prospects (with capacity of $250k - $1M+), cultivating strategic donor relationships to advance transformative discovery and scientific innovation across basic science departments, research centers, GEPA, and PBBR.
|
25% | Yes | Develops, creates, writes, implements, and / or evaluates individualized marketing plans and / or strategies for cultivation and solicitation of major gifts, gift planning or corporate / foundation prospects (strategies typically require a high degree of innovation). Pipeline Development Core Objective: Systematically identify, research, and qualify prospective major and principal gift donors by building strong, collaborative partnerships with department chairs, institute directors, GEPA leadership, and faculty researchers.
|
15% | Yes | Writes complex proposals for solicitation of high value individuals, corporate, and / or foundation prospects. Prospect Strategy & Proposal Writing Core Objective: Develop bespoke cultivation strategies and author sophisticated, highly tailored major gift proposals that translate complex fundamental research into inspiring philanthropic opportunities.
|
15% | YES | Analyzes needs and creates strategic and long-range plans for fundraising and other advancement programs and may have the authority to make commitments and precedent-setting decisions regarding program design, development, and procedures. Leadership & Stakeholder Alignment Core Objective: Engage executive leadership, department heads, and faculty partners to elevate high-stakes major gift opportunities and foster a collaborative advancement culture.
|
5% | YES | Other Duties as Assigned Core Objective: Maintain flexibility to support broader institutional advancement priorities, special projects, and team-wide campaigns.
|
Budgeted Job Salary Range: $173,000 - $200,000
UC San Francisco is a public research university in San Francisco focused solely on health sciences, combining professional education with biomedical research and patient care. Its schools of dentistry, medicine, nursing and pharmacy train clinicians and scientists, while teams investigate cancer, immunology, genomics and neuroscience. UCSF Medical Center and Benioff Children's Hospitals connect clinical care with faculty research and training, and university clinics serve patients across Northern California. Founded in 1864, UCSF is the University of California campus dedicated to graduate and professional education and biomedical research, based in San Francisco.
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