UCSD

Associate Director of Development, Health Sciences

The University of California, San Diego

DEVELOPMENT - HEALTH SCIENCESPosted April 25, 2026Job ID: 139422

About this position

Position Description

Under the direction of the Health Sciences Advancement Leadership and the Executive Director of Development, with work direction from the Senior Director of Development, the Associate Director of Development will be responsible for securing private support gifts ($25k and above) for priorities identified by Health Sciences leadership. The Associate Director will be responsible for managing a prospect/donor portfolio in various stages of identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship. Special emphasis will be placed on creating and implementing strategies for identifying and qualifying prospective donors and building strategic relationships with academic and medical center faculty and staff. Health Sciences Advancement works in a centralized, collaborative team environment with consistent coaching and feedback. The ideal candidate will be a consummate professional and will thrive in a fast-paced campaign, metrics/results-driven fundraising environment. The candidate will have strong work ethic and a successful track record of building and growing fundraising programs and a demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with colleagues, faculty and community partners. Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion are core values at UC San Diego and Advancement is committed to a continuous process of learning and updating practices to support systemic evolution toward equity, diversity, and inclusion for our team and constituents. We foster the UC San Diego Principles of Community by encouraging and developing a collaborative and positive environment among colleagues. UC San Diego provides resources and services so employees can develop a deeper connection to our diverse campus community. Explore more at: UC San Diego Staff Associations network and Campus Community Centers.

Qualifications

Advanced knowledge of all aspects of fundraising, donor relations, and public relations concepts, principles, procedures, and techniques. Advanced working knowledge of all aspects of the location, including current issues of concern for both the campus and / or throughout higher education / healthcare generally. Advanced working of the location, its vision, mission, goals, objectives, achievements and infrastructure. Advanced knowledge of applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, etc. Advanced written, oral and interpersonal communication skills, including political acumen, to establish and maintain good working relationships throughout the organization and with outside constituencies. Ability to make persuasive and compelling presentations of goals and objectives for a location in order to secure gifts. Advanced organizational, analytical and critical thinking skills, including skill in creative and effective decision-making and problem identification / avoidance / resolution, and strong project management skills. Very strong skills in maintaining confidentiality. Proven experience in the full spectrum of development including: gift policies, solicitations, stewardship, donor recognition, and administration. Demonstrated success at fundraising by developing and implementing strategic solicitation fundraising plans that incorporate a concise definition of goals, targeted audiences, and strategies in-line with institution and academic goals in higher education and closing gifts (from $25,000 - 100,000) from individuals, corporations, and foundations, both local and national. Proven record of writing proposals for a significant project/gift (from $25,000 - 100,000) directed to individual and foundations/corporations. Demonstrated ability to develop and implement persuasive cultivation ideas and techniques and provide critical analysis, using sound judgment with realistic expectations for prospects and donors. Strong written and oral communication skills that demonstrate correct grammar usage, syntax, and format, with the ability to make oral presentations and/or interpret various related programs to potential donors. Knowledge of the principles and practices of public relations to provide direction to special programs for outreach to prospective and existing donors. Demonstrated skill in the technique of donor prospect research with the ability to extract the pertinent/critical information from various documents. Demonstrated interpersonal skills to establish and maintain good working relationships with colleagues, faculty, donors, volunteers, and University officials, with an emphasis on tact, diplomacy, flexibility, professionalism, and discretion. Strong sense of ethical conduct that will inspire confidence and motivation with the proven ability to persuade colleagues and donor prospects, while maintaining confidentiality in all matters as they relate to sensitive donor relations issues. Proven ability to hire, train, supervise, evaluate, and discipline staff. Demonstrated expertise to utilize on-line databases and other software to create, retrieve, and compile up-to-the-minute documents and historical information for reports. Knowledge of principles and practices of developing and utilizing volunteer leadership and organizing and maintaining volunteer support organizations. Demonstrated understanding of the philosophy of quality service and group process, with proven aptitude for working as part of a team. Proven administrative ability to provide direction to staff and volunteers in accomplishing established goals and objectives and maintain office activities with respect to established procedures and guidelines. Demonstrated ability to navigate and utilize an electronic mail application.

Job Location

Torrey Pines Center North