Senior Director of Development, Knauss School of Business

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Senior Director of Development, Knauss School of Business

Posting # : 5390

Position Status : Full-time regular

Location : San Diego

Position Type : Administrator, School of Business, University Advancement

Position Title & Department : Senior Director of Development, Knauss School of Business; University Advancement

Department Description : Giving is paramount in the University of San Diego’s ability to support the many needs of the university and its students across the campus and around the world. Development is, by definition, the process of creating and enhancing relationships with (potential) donors to ensure current and future funding. It is incredibly exciting and inspiring to be working at a university that fosters a university-wide ecosystem that strengthens the collective capacity of our students, faculty, staff, and community partners to address humanity’s most urgent challenges through meaningful, sustainable, and innovative collaborations to advance USD’s mission. Members of the university development team are uniquely positioned to be a part of changemaking every day as they work with numerous constituencies within the university community as well as our engaged alumni, parents, and friends.

Knauss School of Business at the University of San Diego is dedicated to developing socially responsible leaders through values-based education, innovative research, and a global mindset. Guided by a vision to lead business stewardship in improving the quality of life on earth for all, the Knauss School embraces a stewardship approach—empowering students, faculty, staff, and alumni to apply values-driven, free-enterprise skills that improve businesses, industries, and communities locally and globally. The School offers academically rigorous and relevant programs that are AACSB accredited, with its undergraduate and MBA programs consistently ranked among the best in the U.S. and internationally.

University Description : The University of San Diego, an engaged and contemporary Catholic institution, was founded by the Diocese of San Diego and the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1949. Governed by an independent board of trustees since 1972, USD remains committed to a liberal arts education grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition and the pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty. Inspired by this centuries old tradition of Catholic higher education, the University welcomes people of all faith traditions and any, or no, religious background. The future success of USD relies on the contributions of those who seek to foster the development of engaged global citizens and an earnest confrontation of humanity’s urgent challenges.

Detailed Description

The senior director of Development for the Knauss School of Business (KSB) is responsible for major gift fundraising duties for the School and university-wide priorities. With the associate vice president for Development (AVP) in University Advancement and the dean of KSB, the senior director develops a comprehensive fundraising program for private support from faculty, staff, alumni, friends of KSB, other individuals, corporations, and foundations to solicit donors at all levels to KSB but with particular emphasis on major gifts. Major gifts include those cash or property gifts of $25,000 or more. The senior director develops strategies for identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors for all approved fundraising priorities at KSB and other areas at USD when appropriate.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Work directly with the KSB deans, faculty, department heads, institutes and centers to identify, plan, coordinate, and implement KSB’s fundraising priorities.
• Work with KSB faculty and departments to promote new relationships and enhance existing relationships with potential donors.
• Collaborate with KSB director of Marketing and Communications in promoting KSB and its mission, assist in developing communication strategies, leverage planned event content and scheduling, and identify opportunities for media coverage as required.
• Actively participate in supporting major KSB goals and activities, such as student recruiting and retention, commencement, Distinguished Alumni selections, class gifts, and career development and placement opportunities.
• Directly communicate with KSB’s project managers regarding the availability and restrictions of funds.
• Serve as the project manager for KSB’s development budget, developing and managing the annual operating plan.
• Provide regular quantitative reports to KSB leadership team and faculty regarding short and long-term fundraising goals, results, and challenges.
• Consistently review accurate recording of donations in CRM and financial management platforms; initiate corrections as necessary.
• Identify priority prospects for annual, special, and major gifts and implement fundraising strategies.
• Develop cultivation and solicitation strategies for assigned prospects.
• Achieve fundraising goals as established by the AVP and dean for specific metrics, including but not limited to dollars raised, contacts made, and proposals submitted; meet established capital campaign unit goals.
• Initiate, cultivate, solicit, and steward all assigned and major gift prospects for all approved fundraising priorities for KSB and the university; actively cultivate a portfolio of major giving donors.
• Work closely with KSB’s assistant director of Alumni Relations to develop relationships with alumni leading to solicitation of gifts that will result in increasing both the number and amount of contributions.
• Work closely with the Offices of Advancement Services, Foundation Relations, Alumni Relations, Parent and Family Relations, and other directors of Development throughout the university to identify new qualified major gift prospect alums, parents, friends, faculty, corporations, and foundations.
• Work closely with the associate vice president of Advancement Operations to provide appropriate KSB messaging and to identify new, qualified President’s Club and major gift prospects.
• Work closely with the Office of Planned Giving to secure deferred and estate gifts.
• Work closely with the KSB’s director of Marketing and Communications, as well as the central offices of University Marketing and Communications and University Events and Partnerships, to plan and coordinate fundraising communications, publications, brochures, and special events.
• Work with appropriate personnel, when necessary, to assure the success of key special / signature events.
• Work with the dean, the development manager, the assistant director of Alumni Relations, and other KSB personnel, as directed, to identify and cultivate KSB Advisory Board(s) members to assist KSB’s fundraising efforts.
• Write proposals for major gift requests for capital project naming opportunities, scholarships, Centers and Institutes, Chairs and Professorships, and other priorities as determined by the dean and KSB leadership team.
• With the dean, plan and co-host visits by prospects, donors, or their representatives.
• Identify and coordinate the efforts of volunteers and other staff members to be involved in the cultivation and solicitation process, as appropriate.
• Fully comply with the university’s prospect management / move management system including the filing of donor / prospect Contact Reports.
• Oversee the day-to-day administration of KSB’s Office of Development, including accurate gift processing, writing and sending thank you letters, etc.
• Work cooperatively with all fundraising staff and directors at the university; develop relationships with colleagues at peer institutions.
• Attend conferences and professional development seminars to stay current with fundraising strategies and best practices.
• Participate in San Diego community events and activities as needed to represent USD, the dean, and KSB.

Department Management

Background Check

Successful completion of a pre-employment background check.

Degree Verification Requirement

Persons offered employment in this position will be required to provide official education transcripts for degree verification purposes.

Job Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

Performance Expectations- Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

$11,667 - $12,500 per month; Excellent Benefits

The University of San Diego offers a very competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, a retirement contribution given to you by the University, and access to on-campus Fitness Centers. Please visit the benefits section of our website to view all of the perks and benefits that USD has to offer. USD : Human Resources : Benefits

The salary range provided in this posting reflects what we reasonably expect to pay for this position. Actual compensation offered or earned is dependent on experience, education and other factors including departmental budget.

Special Application Instructions

To be considered for this opportunity, please visit Bryant Group’s website, review the search specifications, and submit your letter of interest and resume as instructed. Priority will be given to candidate materials received by October 24, 2025.

Hours : 40 hours per week

Note : External job postings will be up for at least three days. After that time, applications will be reviewed by the hiring manager / committee throughout the posting period. A candidate may be selected at any time which could then close this posting on a date earlier than listed.

The University of San Diego is a smoking and tobacco-free campus. For more information, visit www.sandiego.edu / smokefree.

Advertised : October 16, 2025 Pacific Daylight Time

Applications close : Open until filled

Notice of Availability : In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (the Clery Act), the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available at www.sandiego.edu / safety / documents / annualreport.pdf . This report is published by October 1st of each year and includes current institutional policies and procedures concerning campus safety and security; fire safety and evacuation policies; sexual misconduct and relationship violence reporting and response stands and protocols; and crime and fire statistics for the three previous calendar years. To request a paper copy, please contact the Clery Act Compliance Manager via email at clery@sandiego.edu, by calling (619) 260-4768, or in-person in the Hughes Administration Center, room 150.

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