Senior Director of University Strategic Initiatives

American University is a student-centered research institution located in Washington, DC, with highly-ranked schools and colleges, internationally-renowned faculty, and a reputation for creating meaningful change in the world. Learn more about American University

Time Type:

Summary/Objective:

The Senior Director of University Strategic Initiatives provides vision and leadership for the University's Scholarship Program and other key initiatives to include the Civic Life Initiative, Women’s Philanthropy Initiative, University Library and Department of Student Affairs.  This role is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive fundraising strategy that aligns with the university's mission, values, and strategic goals. The Senior Director will collaborate with university advancement leadership, and other university colleagues to ensure that fundraising and programmatic goals are achieved.  

The incumbent works within an entrepreneurial and fast-paced university environment and is responsible for independently managing a top tier of at least 100 prospects and donors by closely collaborating with faculty, staff, and senior administration officials to design and implement major and principal gift plans that strengthen the donor base; concurrently, the Senior Director of Development will proactively build the donor pipeline by identifying new prospective major and principal gift donors and developing long range plans for their involvement with the university.  

Additionally, as part of the Senior Director of Development’s responsibilities, the incumbent will serve as a development liaison for assigned academic departments, centers, and/or program areas, interfacing with directors and department heads on a regular basis to secure program support as well as maintain pipelines for fundraising and volunteer leadership; concurrently, the incumbent will collaborate with other fundraisers in the department and across the university in the overall relationship building of alumni with the school. 

As part of this work, the incumbent will work with senior leaders to strategize and facilitate development trips and will coordinate any or all aspects of development travel including prospect identification, scheduling, logistics, travel arrangements, event logistics, briefing, staffing, and follow-up correspondence. To this end, this position requires the willingness and ability to frequently travel approximately 50% of the time, as well as the ability to work some occasional evenings and weekends when helping coordinate and staff regional cultivation and stewardship events when appropriate.  

The incumbent will be responsible for assuring that pertinent information and strategic moves for assigned prospects are properly recorded in the institutional database.  

Essential Functions:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Major and Principal Gift Fundraising/Stewardship 

This position is responsible for identifying, qualifying, visiting, cultivating, soliciting, closing, and stewarding donors to raise major and principal gifts for the American University. Manages a portfolio of key relationships with 100 rated prospects and donors in assigned region(s), with heavy emphasis on donors rated $100,000 and above. The incumbent will maintain an entrepreneurial inclination and capacity for hard work within an intensely goal-oriented and collaborative environment. Works closely with Assistant Vice President of Advancement and collaboratively with colleagues to achieve fundraising goals.  

Success will be measured by the incumbent's ability to identify and cultivate prospective donors' philanthropic interests; the quality of their prospect strategies; their ability to move donors from cultivation to solicitation, and the successful closure of five, six and seven-figure gifts.    

2. Planning and Development Programs Support 

Conceive, develop, implement, and manage fundraising strategies and initiatives to meet university-wide priorities. Collaborate with on-campus partners, including senior leaders and faculty members, in moving potential donors through the pipeline and closing gifts to benefit university priorities. 

3. Management of Fundraisers 

Supervise two FTE fundraisers to achieve ambitious annual goals for identifying, qualifying, visiting, cultivating, soliciting, closing, and stewarding donors to raise major and principal gifts for the American University. 

4. Prospect Management  

Work in concert with the Office of Advancement colleagues, including particularly close collaboration with the Planned Giving Team, Parents Team, Leadership Annual Giving Team, and Office of Prospect Research & Management to conduct prospect identification and qualification. Conducts timely updating of reports, recording of action items in database, filing of appropriate donor records and updates, files and reconciles credit card receipts and cash reimbursements. 

5. Other duties as assigned in support of the broader objectives of the Assistant Vice President for Advancement and the Vice President for Advancement. 

Supervisory Responsibility:

• POS155555 Chief Develop. Officer, Univ Library and Student Experience

• POSXXXXX Associate Director of Development, Annual Giving (July 1, 2025)

Competencies:

• Prioritizing and Organizing

• Managing Performance

• Driving Continuous Improvement

• Thinking Broadly

• Evaluating and Implementing Ideas

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

• Full-time

• 35 hours/week

• Seasonal evening and weekend work for scheduled University events and programs. 

Salary Range:

• $145,000 - $160,000/yr.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent

• 10 years of relevant experience

•  10 years of progressively responsible experience in institutional development with emphasis on major gifts from individuals and organizations, or equivalent combination of education and experience; preferred experience in higher education, with experience in alumni relations, and/or volunteer management a plus 

• Integrity and trust with a demonstrated ability to manage highly confidential information 

• Ability to manage a fast-paced office with competing demands; not easily flustered nor easily overwhelmed by a high volume of activity and projects. 

• Experience interacting comfortably with C-suite level donors 

• Familiarity with databases and/or other fundraising systems, and strong command of MS Office Suite of products.  

• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills. (A writing sample may be required.)  

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Master's degree or equivalent

• 10 years of relevant experience 

Travel Required

• This position will require travel outside the Washington metropolitan area at least 50% of the time.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

• Hiring offers for this position are contingent on successful completion of a background check. 

Benefits

AU offers a competitive benefits package including a 200% matching retirement plan, tuition benefits for full-time staff and their families, several leadership development certificates, and has been recognized by the American Heart Association as a fit-friendly worksite. Click here to learn about American University's unique benefit options.

Other Details

• Hiring offers for this position are contingent on successful completion of a background check.

• Employees in staff positions at American University must deliver their services to the university from either the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia, or perform work on-site at the university.

• Please note this job announcement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

• American University is an E-Verify employer.

Current American University Employees

American University current employees must apply through their employee Workday account. If you are a current employee at American University, please log into Workday and select the Find Jobs report which will take you to our internal career listings.

Contact Us

For more information or assistance with the American University careers site, email theworkline@american.edu.

American University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution that operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity and expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status, an individual’s genetic information or any other bases under federal or local laws (collectively "Protected Bases") in its programs and activities.

Salary : $145,000 - $160,000