Chief Development Officer (CDO) Jobs

Explore Chief Development Officer jobs for experienced leaders ready to shape organizational growth, revenue strategy, and long-term development. CDOs build and lead initiatives that expand an organization’s reach, strengthen partnerships, and create sustainable funding or business opportunities. Browse vetted professional roles paying $100,000 or more on Ladders.

What Does a Chief Development Officer Do?

A Chief Development Officer sets the strategy for organizational development and turns high-level goals into measurable results. Depending on the organization, the role may focus on fundraising and philanthropy, business development, strategic partnerships, or market expansion. CDOs typically work with executive teams and boards, oversee development staff, manage major stakeholder relationships, and track performance against growth targets.

Common CDO Responsibilities

  • Develop and execute strategies for revenue growth, fundraising, or organizational expansion.
  • Build relationships with donors, investors, customers, community leaders, and strategic partners.
  • Identify new markets, funding sources, and partnership opportunities.
  • Lead, coach, and develop business development or fundraising teams.
  • Collaborate with the CEO and other executives on planning, budgets, and organizational priorities.
  • Monitor performance metrics and communicate progress to leadership and stakeholders.

Qualifications for Chief Development Officer Roles

Employers often seek senior professionals with a record of delivering growth and leading teams. Requirements vary by industry and whether the position centers on nonprofit development, commercial growth, or partnerships. Common qualifications include extensive relevant experience, strong financial and strategic planning skills, executive communication, and the ability to build trusted relationships. Some roles prefer an advanced degree or specialized experience in areas such as major-gift fundraising, corporate partnerships, or business development.

Chief Development Officer Salary and Career Outlook

Compensation for CDO roles varies based on organization size, sector, location, and scope of responsibility. Many opportunities offer executive-level compensation, and Ladders focuses on vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more. Experienced development leaders may progress to broader executive roles, including chief executive, chief operating, or other enterprise leadership positions.

Find Chief Development Officer Jobs on Ladders

Search Chief Development Officer jobs on Ladders to discover senior opportunities aligned with your experience and career goals. Review role expectations, compare opportunities, and find positions where you can lead growth, partnerships, and development strategy.

Remote
caret down
Compensation
caret down
Position Level
caret down
Time Posted
caret down
Industries
caret down
More
1
caret down

$135K - $155K *

Manage multi-site office operations, ensuring efficiency, safety, and a positive environment. Lead staff, oversee vendor relationships, and implement workplace improvements while supporting a collabor...

United StatesRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$120K - $150K *

Lead the charge in developing strategic frameworks that translate business objectives into actionable insights. Collaborate cross-functionally to identify growth opportunities and influence decision-m...

United StatesRemote

3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$116K - $125K *

Lead business development initiatives in the acute care market, driving revenue growth and expanding client relationships. Collaborate with teams to formulate strategies, negotiate contracts, and anal...

Dallas, TXRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$110K - $125K *

Elevate your career by driving strategic sales initiatives in a dynamic environment. Leverage your expertise to build relationships, influence decision-makers, and expand market presence while managin...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$156K - $195K *

Champion the global eDiscovery Technology practice, leading a diverse team to innovate AI-assisted workflows, ensuring defensibility and quality across jurisdictions while driving growth and operation...

United StatesRemote

2 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Legal & Accounting

$90K - $105K *

Empower project success by coordinating PGHD initiatives, managing timelines, and engaging stakeholders. Drive quality and productivity through effective planning, documentation, and communication wit...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$100K - $120K *

Unlock potential by leading software development initiatives and guiding a high-performing team. Collaborate with cross-functional partners to ensure cohesive delivery and operational excellence in a...

Davenport, IARemote

Reposted 6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$83K - $124K *

Unlock potential by leading the design and implementation of CI/CD pipelines, enhancing software delivery and operational stability for enterprise applications while collaborating with cross-functiona...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$131K - $170K *

Lead the charge in enhancing operational performance and client satisfaction across multiple federal contracts while driving innovation through technology modernization and coaching Program Managers t...

Colorado Springs, CORemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$180K - $220K *

Drive AI Systems Governance across multiple insurance carriers, ensuring compliance and ethical AI adoption while overseeing risk management, cybersecurity, and data privacy initiatives to enhance ope...

Iowa, LARemote

3 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$110K - $120K *

Accelerate data-driven insights by leading data cleansing and analytics efforts for federal financial management. Collaborate with stakeholders to deliver impactful reporting and automation solutions...

Arlington, VARemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Business Services

$275K - $325K *

Drive AI innovation at an enterprise scale by leading relationships with frontier labs and managing AI delivery teams. Oversee the development lifecycle and ensure production readiness within a high-i...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$115K - $158K *

Elevate your career by driving strategic initiatives in Medicare and Medicaid. Collaborate with leaders to analyze challenges, develop insights, and implement solutions that foster sustainable growth...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$80K - $95K *

Transform client relationships by leading a dedicated team and managing a key portfolio. Drive product adoption, enhance satisfaction, and ensure retention through strategic engagement and operational...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$279K - $342K *

Shape the future of security by leading a multidisciplinary team to enhance product, corporate, and information security. Drive strategic initiatives, foster collaboration, and ensure compliance while...

United StatesRemote

3 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$88K - $105K *

Champion the successful delivery of complex projects, guiding financial institutions in adopting innovative loan origination software. Manage timelines, risks, and stakeholder expectations to ensure p...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$75K - $103K *

Unlock potential by leading strategic partnerships and driving revenue growth through effective management of Fortinet business development resources and collaboration with sales teams...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$135K - $160K *

Drive the integration of complex application solutions, collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance efficiency and resolve issues, while providing expert guidance in a consultative role to en...

Chicago, ILRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Hospitals & Medical Centers

$133K - $180K *

Join a team that's redefining member experiences by architecting optimal journeys, bridging operational execution with strategic vision to enhance engagement and satisfaction across all touchpoints...

United StatesRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$80K - $95K *

Transform eDiscovery management by driving operational excellence, ensuring timely project delivery, and enhancing workflow efficiency. Collaborate with stakeholders to uphold quality standards and fo...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Legal & Accounting

$150K - $225K *

Grow your career with a pivotal leadership role overseeing IT service delivery, project management, and customer engagement. Drive collaboration across teams to enhance infrastructure operations and e...

Rockville, MDRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $164K *

Lead our cybersecurity and governance initiatives, enhancing security operations and risk management while driving compliance with CMMC 2.0 and ISO/IEC 27001 standards. Collaborate across teams to imp...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$144K - $184K *

Join an innovative engineering team to transform product delivery through AI-driven development, ensuring high standards and compliance while combining product, design, and engineering leadership acro...

United StatesRemote

Reposted today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$100K - $120K *

Champion data integrity by implementing comprehensive quality controls and metrics. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to optimize data governance and enhance usability across the enterprise. Dri...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$138K - $149K *

Unlock potential by leading database operations across Oracle, SQL Server, and cloud platforms. Drive modernization and security compliance while ensuring high availability and operational excellence...

RemoteRemote

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What is a Chief Development Officer?question toggle

    A Chief Development Officer is an executive who leads an organization’s development strategy. Depending on the employer, that can include fundraising, revenue growth, business development, strategic partnerships, or organizational expansion.

  • What does a Chief Development Officer do?question toggle

    A CDO sets development goals, identifies growth and funding opportunities, builds relationships with key stakeholders, leads relevant teams, and reports results to executive leadership or a board.

  • What qualifications are needed for a Chief Development Officer job?question toggle

    Qualifications vary by sector, but employers commonly look for substantial experience in development, fundraising, business growth, or partnerships; a record of leadership; strategic and financial skills; and strong communication. Some roles require an advanced degree or specialized expertise.

  • How much do Chief Development Officers earn?question toggle

    CDO compensation varies by organization, industry, location, and responsibilities. Ladders features vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more, including senior leadership opportunities.

  • Where can I find Chief Development Officer jobs?question toggle

    You can browse Chief Development Officer openings on Ladders, which focuses on vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more.