The University of Florida is currently in its fifth comprehensive campaign—a bold, future‑shaping initiative building on the extraordinary momentum of recent years and propelling the university into its next era of impact. To help advance this historic effort, UF Advancement is expanding its team with mission‑driven development professionals who are ready to champion UF’s priorities and inspire transformational philanthropy.

Join the UF Advancement team as a Director of Development and take advantage of a unique opportunity to combine strategic fundraising leadership, meaningful relationship building, and mission-driven impact within a leading research university environment. Professionals considered for these roles will support: 

Major Gift Fundraising & Donor Portfolio Management

• Manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors capable of making gifts of $100,000+ through strategic relationship development and personalized engagement.
• Develop and implement individualized strategies for identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gift donors aligned with college/unit priorities.
• Lead donor solicitations and philanthropic conversations that result in significant charitable investments and long-term partnerships.
• Achieve annual fundraising and performance goals, including philanthropic production targets, donor visits, proposals submitted, and total dollars raised.

Donor Engagement, Stewardship & Relationship Building

• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with donors, prospects, alumni, volunteers, and university stakeholders through meaningful, in-person engagement.
• Steward donors through thoughtful recognition, communication, and ongoing engagement aligned with UF Advancement’s mission, values, and standards.
• Create tailored communication and engagement strategies that keep donors informed about institutional priorities, opportunities, and philanthropic impact.
• Represent the college/unit at events and engagement activities designed to strengthen donor relationships and advance fundraising objectives.

Strategic Fundraising Planning & Collaboration

• Collaborate with faculty, administrators, and program leaders to identify funding priorities and translate institutional needs into compelling philanthropic opportunities.
• Partner with faculty and staff to coordinate comprehensive donor engagement and fundraising strategies.
• Build and sustain strong internal partnerships through consistent, proactive communication with leadership, faculty, and advancement colleagues.
• Develop efficient travel and engagement strategies to maximize donor outreach and fundraising productivity across priority regions.

Communications, Proposal Development & Storytelling

• Prepare persuasive written materials including gift proposals, concept papers, donor correspondence, and case statements that inspire philanthropic investment.
• Communicate institutional priorities and impact effectively through exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Tailor messaging and solicitation approaches to diverse donor audiences and philanthropic interests.

Performance Management & Operational Effectiveness

• Operate effectively in a goal-driven, metrics-based advancement environment with strong accountability for fundraising outcomes.
• Demonstrate strong organizational, prioritization, and time-management skills while managing multiple projects and donor relationships simultaneously.
• Utilize donor databases, contact management systems, and tracking tools to document activity, manage pipelines, and support strategic decision-making.
• Maintain technical proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and other advancement-related technologies.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Master's degree in appropriate area of specialization and three years of appropriate experience in Development or a related field; or a bachelor's degree in appropriate areas of specialization and five years of experience in Development or a related field; and a valid driver’s license.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Fundraising Expertise: Demonstrated success securing major gifts, ideally at the $100,000+ level, and cultivating long-term donor relationships; and strong understanding of fundraising principles, donor strategy development, and advancement best practices.

• Higher Education & Mission Alignment: Experience working within higher education or a similarly complex organization; and enthusiasm for advancing the mission of a large, comprehensive research university through philanthropy.

• Relationship Management & Collaboration: Ability to work independently while contributing as a collaborative and collegial team member; and skilled at building productive relationships across varying levels of leadership and stakeholder groups.

• Leadership & Professionalism: Commitment to fostering a respectful, professional, and collaborative work environment; and ability to lead through influence, inspire confidence, and thrive in a data-informed culture.

• Technical & Operational Skills: Proficiency with Windows-based systems, Microsoft Office Suite, donor databases, and constituent relationship management platforms.

• Travel & Engagement: Willingness and ability to travel frequently to maintain strong donor and university relationships.