Associate Athletic Director, Development (Administrator I)

Job no: 559474
Work type: Management (MPP)
Location: San Diego
Categories: MPP, Athletics, At-Will, Fundraising & Alumni Relations, Full Time, On-site (work in-person at business location)

Position Summary

San Diego State University is looking for a strategic fundraising leader and relationship builder to serve as Associate Athletic Director, Development. In this role, you will help advance the mission of SDSU Athletics and the Aztec Club by securing philanthropic support, strengthening donor relationships, and leading major gift initiatives that enhance the student-athlete experience and support the long-term success of Aztec Athletics. Working closely with Athletics and University Relations and Development leadership, you will play a key role in driving fundraising strategy and revenue growth for the department.

Key Responsibilities

• Major Gift Fundraising & Donor Engagement
  • Manage a portfolio of 150+ major gift prospects and oversee the full donor lifecycle, including identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
  • Secure major and planned gifts in support of SDSU Athletics priorities and initiatives.
  • Develop and implement donor strategies in collaboration with Athletics leadership, development professionals, coaches, and volunteers.
  • Represent SDSU Athletics and the university in donor meetings, events, and community engagements.
• Athletics Development Leadership
  • Help establish and execute short- and long-term fundraising goals for Athletics Development.
  • Provide strategic direction for donor cultivation and stewardship efforts in partnership with Athletics Development and URAD teams.
  • Oversee the Assistant Director, Development role, and support the continued growth and effectiveness of Athletics Development operations.
  • Collaborate with leadership to strengthen fundraising programs and advance departmental priorities.
• Planned Giving & Endowment Support
  • Oversee athletics endowed scholarship and planned giving initiatives, including the Coryell Legacy Society program.
  • Coordinate and execute signature donor engagement events, including the annual Coryell Legacy Society Dinner.
  • Support strategies that encourage long-term philanthropic investment in SDSU Athletics.
• Strategic Partnerships & Community Engagement
  • Build and maintain relationships with alumni, donors, volunteers, community leaders, and university stakeholders.
  • Serve as an ambassador for SDSU Athletics and advocate for the needs of student-athletes.
  • Collaborate across the university to advance fundraising priorities, donor engagement, and campus partnerships.
  • Support special projects and initiatives that contribute to the success of Athletics Development and the broader university mission.

Position Information

• This is a full-time, at-will role, offering comprehensive benefits.
• Position is designated exempt under FLSA and is not eligible for overtime compensation.
• Standard SDSU work hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but may vary based on operational needs. (Ability to travel and attend off-campus appointments and events. Evening, weekend, and other work outside of normal business hours is required to support events and departmental needs.)
• The individual hired into this role will work in the Experience Center in the Mission Valley area of San Diego.

Department Summary

University Relations and Development (URAD) shares the university's vision and mission underscored in the SDSU strategic plan. The plan identifies five strategic priorities including: Becoming a Premier Public Research University: A New Kind of Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI); Resilience. Designed to Thrive; We Are SDSU; Equity and Inclusion in Everything We Do; and Students at Our Core.

Units of URAD work together to create enduring relationships with alumni, parents, donors, students and the community to generate private support for SDSU students, faculty and a diverse number of programs. URAD handles a range of services encompassing stewardship, events, gift administration, communications and more. The departments of Development, SDSU Alumni, Planned and Annual Giving, Special Events and Donor Relations, Marketing and Communications, Financial Management, Data Management, Prospect Research and Management and Operations are making a tangible difference in the lives of more than 40,000 students.

Our fundraising success can be credited to the university's goal of building a world-class university campus, research center, and multi-use stadium in Mission Valley to serve higher education, the public good, and the community's goals and aspirations.

The Department of Athletics, utilizing the services of over 150 employees, is responsible for the intercollegiate athletics program at San Diego State University. Currently, there are 18 sport programs, approximately 425 student-athletes, and 17 offices in the department. The offices include the following: The Aztec Club, Administration, Athletic Medicine, Business Office, Compliance, Corporate Sales, Development, Equipment, Event Management/Facilities and Operations, Human Resources, Information Technology, Marketing, Media Relations, Strength and Conditioning, Student-Athlete Academic Support Services, Ticket Office, and Video.

For more information regarding the University Relations and Development department, click here.

For more information regarding the Athletics department, click here.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent, in a relevant field or combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of five (5) years of major gifts fundraising or closely related experience managing high-value, relationship-based revenue portfolios.
• Demonstrated success closing relationship-based commitments of $50,000+ (one-time or cumulative over time), preferably in a philanthropic setting.

Key Qualifications

• Demonstrated success as a development professional in a donor-centered fundraising environment.
• Experience across multiple areas of advancement, including prospect management, annual giving, donor relations, communications, gift administration, and gift acceptance.
• Ability to research, analyze, and interpret biographical, corporate, foundation, and philanthropic information to support fundraising strategies.
• Ability to build and maintain productive relationships with donors, volunteers, campus partners, and external stakeholders while representing the university professionally.
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic, evolving, and goal-oriented organizational environment.
• University employees that have direct job responsibilities involving intercollegiate athletics are expected to have knowledge and understanding of NCAA, conference and University rules, policies and procedures governing intercollegiate athletics. Additionally, he or she is required to notify the appropriate personnel of any knowledge of or should have known of any violation or suspected violation of NCAA, conference, or University regulations. The University reserves the right and option to terminate or suspend a staff member with or without salary payment for cause at any time. Failure to comply with any of the terms or conditions of the contract is considered "cause".

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in a related field.
• Experience fundraising within a large, complex university or intercollegiate athletics environment.
• Experience managing a large portfolio of major gift prospects and successfully upgrading donors to higher levels of philanthropic support.
• Experience with comprehensive or capital campaigns and fundraising technology platforms such as Salesforce, Paciolan, Ticketmaster, or Ellucian.

Licenses/Certifications Required

Valid California Driver's License or the ability to obtain one within 30 days of hire.

Compensation and Benefits

At San Diego State University, we value our team members and offer a competitive salary that reflects your qualifications and experience. But that's just the beginning! Our exceptional benefits package is designed to support your well-being and work-life balance:

• Generous Leave Benefits: Enjoy 15 paid holidays, 24 vacation days, and 12 sick days per year.
• Retirement Security: Benefit from a CalPERS defined benefit pension plan, with reciprocity with the UC Retirement Plan, plus retiree healthcare benefits.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Access a variety of health, dental, and vision plans at no or low cost to you.
• Educational Opportunities: Take advantage of the California State University system fee reduction program for yourself or a qualified dependent.
• Voluntary Benefits: Opt into additional benefits like Auto & Home Insurance, Life and Disability Insurances, a Legal Plan, Pet Insurance, and the ScholarShare 529 Plan for college savings.

The expected hiring salary for this position ranges from $105,000 to $115,000 annually.