Chief Advancement Officer

Director, Business Development - Academic, Non-Profit, Social Services, Pharma, BioTech, Research, Healthcare Recruitment at Merraine Group, Inc.

This position offers an excellent opportunity for a seasoned advancement professional to lead a comprehensive fundraising and external relations strategy within a mission-driven educational organization. The ideal candidate will bring expertise in development, donor engagement, and strategic communications, helping to secure the resources that advance the organization’s long-term goals. With a focus on philanthropic growth and external visibility, this role plays a pivotal part in strengthening community partnerships and enhancing organizational impact.

Base pay range

$85,000.00 / yr – $120,000.00 / yr

Brand Management & External Relations

Oversee all communications and marketing initiatives to ensure consistent, mission-aligned messaging.

Safeguard the organizational brand and reputation through thoughtful, strategic external communication.

Serve as a primary external representative to donors, partners, and community stakeholders, collaborating with leadership to strengthen visibility and credibility.

Manage a personal portfolio of major donors—individual, corporate, and foundation—cultivating and soliciting significant contributions.

Identify and develop new donor relationships while deepening engagement with existing supporters.

Oversee grant strategy, including proposal development, submission, and compliance reporting.

Lead a comprehensive stewardship program that reinforces donor appreciation and communicates impact.

Management & Operations

Provide leadership and coaching to the advancement team, setting clear expectations and performance goals.

Maintain effective donor database systems to support accurate gift processing, reporting, and prospect research.

Manage departmental budgeting and operational planning.

Ensure adherence to legal, ethical, and regulatory standards in all development activities.

Responsibilities

Design, implement, and manage a multi-year, data-informed advancement strategy that encompasses major gifts, annual giving, institutional funding, planned giving, and special events.

Partner with the CEO and Board of Directors to establish annual fundraising goals and drive board engagement in donor cultivation and solicitation.

Contribute to organizational planning and budgeting as a member of the leadership team.

Provide regular reporting on fundraising performance, trends, and key metrics to organizational leadership.

Foster a culture of philanthropy across staff, board members, and volunteers, encouraging organization-wide involvement in advancement efforts.

Qualifications & Experience

Master’s degree in a relevant field required; CFRE certification preferred.

3–5+ years of senior-level experience leading nonprofit development operations, with a demonstrated ability to secure major and transformational gifts.

Experience supervising development or communications staff and building high-performing teams.

Strong writing, public speaking, and media communication skills.

Prior experience collaborating with executive leadership and a volunteer Board of Directors.

Proficiency with donor relationship management platforms (e.g., Salesforce, Raiser's Edge, Bloomerang).

Strategic thinker with strong planning and analytical skills.

Exceptional relationship-building abilities and donor-centered mindset.

Clear, compelling communicator with strong storytelling capabilities.

Collaborative leadership style with the ability to motivate and support teams.

High degree of professionalism, discretion, and integrity.

Seniority level

Executive

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Sales, Management, and Business Development

Industries

Higher Education, Education, Non-profit Organizations

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