Lead Senior Director of Development

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Posting Number: STA00260PO25

Job Family: Alumni Relations and Development

Job Function: Development

USC Market Title: Lead Senior Director of Development

Link to USC Market Title:

Job Level: M4 - Managerial

Business Title (Internal Title): Lead Senior Director of Development, Joseph F. Rice School of Law

Campus: Columbia

Work County: Richland

College/Division: Division of Development

Department: DEV Development Office

State Pay Band: Unclassified

Approved Starting Salary: $116,104

Advertised Salary Range: $116,104 - commensurate with qualifications

Location of Vacancy: Columbia, SC

Part/Full Time: Full Time

Hours per Week: 40

Work Schedule: Standard working schedule: 8:30am - 5:00pm

Must be willing to work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the department.

Basis : 12 months

Job Search Category: Alumni Development

About University of South Carolina: From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor's degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service - helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.

Advertised Job Summary: Under limited supervision, reporting to the Senior Associate Vice President of Development (SAVP), the Lead Senior Director of Development for the Joseph F. Rice School of Law (School) will be responsible for an effective, comprehensive, and ongoing development program through major gifts fundraising. Responsibilities include planning, managing, implementing, promoting, coordinating, and administering the development program with an emphasis on major gifts for the School. Responsible for leading a team of fundraising professionals. This position will be part of the University Development team and will operate within the system and procedures of USC Development to ensure consistent and well-coordinated activities. Additionally, there is a strong connection to the dean of the School. The dean provides direction on the fundraising priorities and strategic vision for the School.

Job Related Minimum Required Education and Experience: Requires a bachelor's degree in a job related field and 5 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience.

Preferred Qualifications: Bachelor's degree and 5 years proven experience major gift/development in higher education and/or hybrid development model. Supervisor experience is preferred. Previous campaign experience including experience soliciting and closing $1M gifts. Familiarity with Blackbaud CRM donor database preferred. Required to travel to geographical location of donors/prospects and work evenings and weekends. Must have a reliable means of transportation.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities: Thorough knowledge of principles and methods of planning and conducting a comprehensive fundraising program. Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with faculty, alumni, donors, students, volunteers, businesses and the general public. Outstanding oral, written and interpersonal communication skills. Ability to travel, work evenings and weekends, as required. Effective computer experience including database operation and word processing. Supervisory experience in hiring, managing, training and mentoring development directors and administrative staff are required. Proven ability to develop relationships with leaders in a broad range of professions.

Job Duty: Serves as Prospect Manager for potential donors with capacity over $25,000 with emphasis on current and future major gifts for the School. Responsible for identifying, cultivating, and soliciting a gift portfolio that benefits the program priorities of the School. Uses Blackbaud CRM to coordinate and document all prospect and donor relationships as well as any relevant assignment, cultivation, or solicitation information or pending opportunities.

Essential Function: Yes

Percentage of Time: 20%

Job Duty: Provide oversight and leads a team of fundraising professionals. Creates and fosters an environment conducive to high performance and a cohesive team, recruits, trains, and mentors professional staff. Manages staff maintaining clear monthly goals and annual performance reviews; develops performance plans and conducts reviews. Assesses effectiveness of staff, processes, procedures, resource allocation and strategies. Clearly articulates expectations, standards of accountability and guidance of staff toward desired outcomes. Strategizes and implements fundraising plans to grow leadership annual giving program and major/principal gifts program.

Essential Function: Yes

Percentage of Time: 15%

Job Duty: Solicits prospective donors, including individuals, foundations, and corporations in coordination with central's office of Corporate and Foundation Relations and/or the office of Gift Planning. Number of solicitations are set and established by the SAVP for Development with consultation with the Lead Senior Director of Development that may include individual and team solicitation goals. All solicitations are documented within a Plan and Opportunity in Blackbaud CRM. Establish a donor pipeline by entering all opportunities in Blackbaud CRM. Adheres to Prospect Development policies and procedures.

Essential Function: Yes

Percentage of Time: 10%

Job Duty: Meets process performance goals set and established by the SAVP for Development with consultation with the Lead Senior Director of Development that includes individual and team goals. These goals include a set number of personal initial visits, and solicitations, with a focus on the Top 5 gift closures selected at the beginning of the fiscal year, and tracked via the Fundraiser Dashboard through timely documentation in Blackbaud CRM. Stewardship visits are strongly encouraged.

Essential Function: Yes

Percentage of Time: 25%

Job Duty: Actively works with SAVP for Development, the School dean, department chairs, faculty, alumni and key volunteers in fundraising efforts. Partners closely with Gift Planning, Annual Giving, Principal Gifts, and Corporate and Foundation Relations for opportunities to gain expertise from the support fundraising programs.

Essential Function: Yes

Percentage of Time: 10%

Job Duty: In collaboration with the School dean, and the SAVP for Development, develops an annual plan of work, including specific fundraising, campaign, prospect development, stewardship and programmatic goals, priorities, and needs. Prepares reports and other required information as requested. May work with School budget analyst/director on program budget allocation.

Essential Function: Yes

Percentage of Time: 10%

Job Duty: Serves as a member of the overall USC development team by collaborating with colleagues across disciplines on donor strategies. Files timely contact reports timed with reimbursement requests; maintains accurate records and provides timely updated information in Blackbaud CRM as appropriate. Serves on committees and attends staff meetings as required.

Essential Function: Yes

Percentage of Time: 5%

Job Duty: Accepts and implements other specific assignments as directed.

Essential Function: No

Percentage of Time: 5%

Safety Sensitive or Security Sensitive: No

Hazardous weather category: Non-Essential

Number of Vacancies: 1

Desired Start Date: 06/16/2025

Job Open Date: 04/04/2025

Job Close Date: 05/12/2025

Open Until Filled: No

Special Instructions to Applicant: Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email.



We are only accepting applications submitted by May 12, 2025.


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EEO Statement: The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender (including transgender), gender identity or expression, genetic information . click apply for full job details