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.

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$77K - $101K *

Transform contract administration by overseeing government contracts, ensuring compliance, and facilitating contractor performance. Engage with stakeholders to resolve issues and maintain documentatio...

6 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$95K - $115K *

Join a dynamic team to enhance client relationships and drive IT strategy. Collaborate with stakeholders to optimize technology solutions, reduce risks, and boost productivity through innovative IT go...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$80K - $95K *

Lead the charge in delivering strategic IT solutions, fostering client relationships, and enhancing service delivery. Collaborate with teams to align technology with business goals, ensuring optimal p...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$180K - $220K *

Optimize technology platforms by leading cloud migration and modernization efforts for mission-critical services. Drive engineering excellence and strategic partnerships to enhance operational perform...

6 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$180K - $220K *

Drive your career with a strategic leadership role overseeing global engineering teams, focusing on cloud migration, platform modernization, and operational excellence in a mission-critical environmen...

6 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$90K - $100K *

Lead the charge in building a robust accounting function, overseeing monthly closes, revenue reconciliation, and financial reporting. Collaborate closely with the Controller to enhance processes and s...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

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

$120K - $140K *

Lead the charge in driving strategic business development efforts focused on Veterans Affairs and federal contracts, enhancing growth through relationship building and effective communication with key...

Rockville, MDRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Join a team that's dedicated to enhancing business performance and driving growth. This hands-on leadership role involves collaborating with market leaders to identify gaps, implement strategies, and...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Staffing

$150K - $180K *

Lead the charge in advancing cybersecurity by managing red team operations, enhancing offensive security strategies, and fostering collaboration across teams to strengthen enterprise defenses against...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$150K - $180K *

Join a dynamic team as you lead offensive security operations, manage a skilled red team, and enhance security posture through strategic partnerships and advanced adversary simulations in a complex en...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$235K - $307K *

Drive impactful technical strategies by partnering with engineering leaders to evaluate complex architectures, optimize operations, and ensure alignment across departments, enhancing productivity and...

4 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$250K - $300K *

Shape the future of AI by identifying and evaluating socially impactful opportunities. Leverage technical expertise and relationships across sectors to surface innovative ideas and guide actionable re...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$95K - $115K *

Elevate customer success by guiding clients through their journey, maximizing product value, and fostering strategic partnerships. Collaborate cross-functionally to enhance user experience and drive r...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$224K - $374K *

Unlock potential by leading strategic business development efforts for financial institutions. Collaborate with internal teams and partners to drive growth in wealth management solutions, ensuring cli...

Austin, TXRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$120K - $150K *

Drive strategic financial leadership at a school district. Oversee budgeting, accounting, and compliance to ensure fiscal responsibility and support educational goals. Collaborate with the administrat...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

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

$110K - $130K *

Join a team that's redefining innovation and data management, leading corporate initiatives to enhance technology and analytics. Collaborate across functions to drive business value and establish a ro...

Vaughan, ONIn-Person

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Lead corporate innovation and data initiatives, partnering with business units to drive technology and data improvements, establish governance, and enhance decision-making through AI and analytics...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$80K - $95K *

Champion impactful services for individuals with disabilities by leading program operations, ensuring quality care, and fostering community partnerships. Drive strategic initiatives that promote indep...

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$234K - $362K *

Elevate your career by leading integrated campaign strategies and digital channel management. Collaborate with global teams to enhance audience engagement and drive impactful communications across div...

Yesterday

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

$160K - $200K *

Lead a high-impact Forward Deployed Engineering team, driving complex enterprise implementations and ensuring delivery excellence. Manage operations, scale talent, and maintain hands-on involvement in...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $160K *

Drive the advancement of high-value, complex deals, partnering with C-Suite executives to create innovative solutions that expand the organization's portfolio and enhance strategic account growth...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$95K - $115K *

Transform database management by overseeing schema design, security, and performance in a federal environment. Collaborate with teams to ensure data integrity and support application needs while optim...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$107K - $199K *

Join a team that's driving strategic initiatives and operational excellence. This role collaborates with senior leadership to enhance growth plans, manage impactful projects, and ensure alignment acro...

Oregon, USRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$132K - $264K *

Transform data into actionable insights by leading the Identity squad, driving technical direction, and enhancing identity resolution at scale. Collaborate with a high-performing team to tackle comple...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$224K - $374K *

Drive growth by consulting with financial institutions to enhance their wealth management offerings. Lead sales efforts, manage relationships, and ensure client success in a dynamic environment focuse...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

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.