Senior Director for Development, Markkula Center for Applied Ethics

Position Title: Senior Director for Development, Markkula Center for Applied Ethics

Position Type: Regular

Hiring Range: $145,125 - $170,700 per year; Compensation will be based on education, experience, skills relevant to the role, and internal equity.

Pay Frequency: Annual

Purpose

This position plays a critical role in Santa Clara University's efforts to secure resources for its strategic funding priorities and deepen its relationships with alumni and donors. Reporting to the Executive Director for Development, Centers of Distinction, the Senior Director for Development, Markkula Center for Applied Ethics (MCAE), will manage and maintain a portfolio of approximately 125 major gift prospects of alumni, donors, and friends of the Markkula Center. He or she will lead the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of prospects targeted for gifts between $100,000 and $1,999,999, working closely with senior university administrators and Markkula Center leadership and administration to develop meaningful, donor-centered development strategies.

About the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics

The Markkula Center for Applied Ethics is a leading interdisciplinary center dedicated to advancing ethical reflection and practice in contemporary society. Rooted in Santa Clara University's Jesuit, Catholic tradition, the Center promotes ethical decision-making in service of the common good through scholarship, education, and public engagement. The Center addresses ethical challenges across multiple sectors, including technology, business, government, healthcare, and education, and serves as a bridge between academic research and real-world application. Through its programs, partnerships, and public resources, the Center seeks to develop ethical leaders and foster dialogue on pressing moral issues.

This position is eligible for a flexible work schedule: hybrid – work from the office and home with a 3:2 ratio.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead the qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of 125+ high-net-worth prospects, ensuring that each receives regular and strategic contact, including face-to-face visits, phone calls, and email communication. Meet the annual metrics set with the Assistant Vice President for Individual Giving in consultation with the Executive Director of Development.
• Collaborate with Center leaders, academic leaders and other development officers to develop multi-interest proposals and promote organized and strategic outreach to our donors.
• Produce well-written, accurate, and timely follow-up and related correspondence such as comprehensive proposals, related budgets, contact reports, cover and thank you letters, e-mails, reports, and briefings in support of cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding assigned prospects.
• Incorporate planned giving alternatives as necessary and appropriate. Coordinate planned giving requests.
• Interact with deans, directors, and/or University administrators in the form of fundraising strategy development, meeting and event attendance, and written briefings as they pertain to assigned prospects and prospect development.
• Track and record activities as they relate to assigned prospects using Blackbaud CRM constituent management software.
• Regularly reports to the Executive Director of Development on personal fundraising performance, including future projections.
• Work with the Executive Director of Development to actively contribute to strategic planning, decision-making, and goal setting to further University Relations strategic priorities.
• Participate as an active member of the Office of Development, sharing information and collaborating with colleagues respectfully and professionally; contributing to a healthy and positive work environment.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of Santa Clara University's mission.

Provides Work Direction

• May provide work direction to a shared administrative assistant and/or student worker.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The items below are representative of the knowledge, skills, abilities, education, and experience required or preferred.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of higher education.
• Demonstrated understanding of major giving, annual giving, and planned giving programs, with an emphasis on personal solicitations.
• Knowledge of scholarship and financial aid programs.
• Experience in budget development, implementation, and tracking.
• Understanding and appreciation of the mission of Santa Clara University and the vision and values of a Jesuit Catholic educational institution.

Skills

• Must be a goal-oriented and self‑motivated individual who can demonstrate accountability, initiative, creativity, and focus in a rapidly changing and intellectually stimulating environment.
• Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate, build alliances, and achieve results within a population that may possess competing interests, opinions, and/or expectations.
• Demonstrate strong active listening skills and the ability to negotiate positive outcomes.
• Positive attitude, sense of humor, and flexibility.
• Proficiency in using fundraising databases or similar systems.
• Required to have a valid driver's license and personal vehicle available for frequent travel to business meetings (mileage is reimbursed under federal guidelines).

Abilities

• Comfort working and communicating with top executives, community leaders, and/or University leadership, and building long-term relationships.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of internal and external constituents.
• Ability to craft solicitation strategies in support of strategic initiatives.
• Verifiable track record of soliciting individuals/organizations for financial investments and the ability to articulate and advocate a strong case for support.
• Ability to manage time and workload, multitask, and achieve goals in a deadline-driven environment.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to work on the road and/or during odd hours and weekends as required.

Education & Years of Experience

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 8+ years of related professional experience.
• 3+ years of direct major gift fundraising experience; verifiable track record of raising $1,500,000 and above annually.
• Valid driver's license.

Desired Qualifications

• Master's degree.
• Experienced university fundraising with a broad knowledge of the principles and practices of major gift fundraising, and a verifiable track record of having secured gifts of $100,000+.

Physical Demands

• Considerable time is spent at a desk using a computer and phone.
• Required to frequently travel to outside constituent meetings.
• Required to travel to other buildings on campus, attend conferences and training sessions within the Bay Area, nationally, or internationally.

Work Environment

• Typical office environment.
• Mostly indoor office environment with windows.
• Offices with equipment noise.
• Offices with frequent interruptions.
• Driving related to meetings with external constituents.
• Meeting with external constituents at off-campus locations, including other offices, restaurants, and public venues.

Telecommute

Santa Clara University is registered to do business in the following states: California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Illinois. Employees approved to telecommute are required to perform their work within one of these states.

EEO Statement

Equal Opportunity/Notice of Nondiscrimination
S Santa Clara University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, parental status, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy or related conditions, reproductive health decision making, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. For a complete copy of Santa Clara University's equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies, please visit the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX website at

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