Executive Director of Development for Student Success - University Development and Alumni Engagement

Job no: 557135
Work type: Management (MPP)
Location: Cal Poly - Mustang Business Park (San Luis Obispo)
Categories: MPP, At-Will, Fundraising & Alumni Relations, Full Time, On-site (work in-person at business location)

Job Summary

Under the supervision of the Associate Vice President for Colleges and Units, the Executive Director of Development for Student Success provides strategic leadership and vision for Cal Poly's comprehensive parent philanthropy program and student affairs fundraising. This role is responsible for designing, implementing, and advancing a campus-wide parent engagement and giving strategy that supports university priorities primarily focused on student success. The Executive Director leads the development of scalable student success initiatives, engaging parents in philanthropic opportunities, fosters cross-campus collaboration, supervises and mentors fundraisers working with parents and student affairs donors, and personally manages a portfolio of high-capacity parent donors.

The Executive Director of Development is expected to generate significant unrestricted and discretionary philanthropic support, strengthen a culture of parent engagement across campus, generate support for student success initiatives, and position Cal Poly for long-term growth in parent and family philanthropy and student affairs.

Department Summary

The role of the University Development and Alumni Engagement (UDAE) Division is to foster strong relationships with internal and external partners to enhance philanthropic support for Cal Poly. University Development and Alumni Engagement establishes and implements an integrated advancement program that includes coordinated fundraising, donor relations, gift processing, trust and endowment management, training and systems support for the donor database, and Cal Poly Foundation support and administration.

Key Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to design, implement, and assess strategic fundraising programs with measurable outcomes, including the ability to set goals, track key performance indicators, and report results to senior leadership.
• Strong budget development and fiscal management skills, including the ability to develop program budgets, manage expenditures, and align resource allocation with strategic priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to plan and execute high-quality donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship events at scale.
• Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to develop compelling donor communications, case statements, gift proposals, and stewardship reports for diverse audiences.
• Proficiency with advancement CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce/Affiniti, Raiser's Edge, or comparable platforms) and standard reporting tools.
• Comprehensive knowledge of all phases of fundraising, including annual giving, major gifts, principal gifts, planned giving, and constituency-based programs; demonstrated understanding of moves management methodology and donor portfolio strategy.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's Degree and seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in development, advancement, fundraising, sales, or a related field with two years of managerial experience. Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.

Licenses, Certificates, Credentials:

• Possession of a valid driver's license or the ability to obtain one by date of hire.

Salary and Benefits

The anticipated hiring range for this role is $130,000 - $155,000. Note that the offer is calculated based on the background and relevant years of experience of the individual selected.

Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Anticipated Hiring Range referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Classification Range may be broader than what the University anticipates paying for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).

Cal Poly offers a best-in-class benefits program, including health, dental and vision insurance, retirement participation in the Public Employees' Retirement System, and educational benefits for eligible employees. See our benefits website for additional information.