Associate or Senior Associate Director of Development

Advance the people and programs preparing the next generation of educators and human development professionals.

The University of Virginia seeks a relationship-driven and strategic fundraising professional to serve as Associate or Senior Associate Director of Development for the School of Education and Human Development (EHD), joining a collaborative advancement team pursuing ambitious fundraising goals.

EHD’s programs and professional fields have a practical, lasting impact on society. In this role, you will help donors connect with the Dean’s vision for the school and see how their philanthropy can strengthen its programs and priorities. It is a unique opportunity to build meaningful, long-term donor relationships at the major-gift level on behalf of a school whose work reaches far beyond Grounds.

Reporting to the Executive Director of Development for EHD and partnering closely with the Dean’s Office, EHD faculty and staff, and colleagues across the Foundation and University, the Associate or Senior Associate Director will manage a portfolio of major-gift donors and prospects ($100K+), develop comprehensive strategies to grow their engagement and giving, and help achieve EHD’s annual and long-range fundraising goals.

What We’re Looking For

The ideal candidate is a resourceful, self-directed fundraiser who builds strong relationships and can bring EHD’s mission to life for donors.

Successful candidates will demonstrate:

- A proven track record of managing portfolios that include donors at the $100,000+ level.

- A creative and entrepreneurial approach to identifying and cultivating prospects.

- The ability to develop and manage fundraising strategies in collaboration with the Executive Director and University leadership.

- A drive to meet and exceed challenging fundraising goals.

- Skill in articulating EHD’s and the University’s educational mission, strategic aims, and programs, and engaging donors in the Dean’s vision.

- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with a high level of emotional intelligence and integrity.

- An appreciation for the importance of education and human development programs and their impact on society.

What You’ll Do

In this role, you will:

- Build and manage a portfolio of major-gift donors and prospects ($100K+), moving them toward giving levels that achieve EHD’s annual and long-range goals.

- Create and carry out intentional strategies to qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors.

- Travel regionally and nationally to engage alumni, parents, friends, and community members in EHD initiatives.

- Partner with the Dean’s Office and EHD faculty and staff to align fundraising with the school’s programs and priorities.

- Collaborate with colleagues in the Foundation and across the University to ensure alignment and synergy in fundraising efforts.

Minimum Qualifications

- Education: Bachelor's degree

- Experience: At least three years of relevant experience for the Associate Director level; at least five years of fundraising experience for the Senior Associate Director level.

- Driver's License

Preferred Qualifications

- Ability to travel and work occasional nights and weekends.

- An appreciation for the importance of education and human development degree programs and the impact of these professional and practical fields in our society.

- Highest level of integrity.

- Creative, entrepreneurial, and resourceful.

- Ability to juggle multiple priorities; self-directed and motivated.

- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor communications for different audiences.

- Strong interpersonal skills with a high level of emotional intelligence.

Physical Demands

This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings and programs.

Salary Range

- The anticipated hiring range is $75K - $84K for the Associate Director level and $85K - $95K for the Senior Associate Director level, commensurate with education and experience.

Position Type & Work Location

- This is an exempt-level, benefited position. Learn more about UVA benefits (https://hr.virginia.edu/benefits).

- This is a restricted position, which is dependent on funding and is contingent upon funding availability.

- UVA External Relations offers a flexible workplace. All team members must have access to and maintain a secure home office environment with high-speed internet service and be able to work collaboratively with others using a variety of technologies and tools.

- This hybrid position can be worked remotely periodically, although frequent in-person work in our office building, on UVA Grounds, or at event venues is required. The ideal candidate will live within 50 miles of our office building in Charlottesville, Virginia.

About UVA and the Community

To learn more about UVA and the Charlottesville area, visit UVA Life and Embark CVA .

Application Timeline

Application review will begin after November 10, 2026.

Additional Requirements

- Background checks will be conducted on all new hires prior to employment.

- This position will not consider candidates who require immigration sponsorship now or in the future.

How to Apply

Please apply online , by searching for requisition number R0089006 .

Internal applicants may search and apply for jobs on the UVA Internal Careers website .

Complete an application with the following documents:

- Resume

- Cover Letter

Upload all materials into the resume submission field. You can submit multiple documents into this one field or combine them into one PDF. Applications without all required documents will not receive full consideration.

Reference Check Process

Reference checks will be completed by UVA’s third-party partner, SkillSurvey, during the final phase of the interview. Five references will be requested, with at least three responses required.

Contact

- For additional information about the position, please contact April Sibiski, Director of Staff Success for External Relations, at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]).
- For questions about the application process, please contact Jon Freeman, [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]).

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment .