Regional Director of Development, Southeastern States

How to Apply

You must apply through the U-M Jobs website (careers.umich.edu). In addition to your resume, please submit a cover letter, not to exceed one page. In the body of your letter, please describe how the position fits with and advances your career goals. Your resume and cover letter will be a writing sample for the initial screening process. Please submit your cover letter and resume as a single electronic document (a PDF is preferred, but other formats are also acceptable), as the system will accommodate only one attachment.

Note: The expected timeline for this search is Round 1 Zoom interviews in July, Round 2 Zoom interviews in August, followed by the final in-person round also in August, with an anticipated start date in September or October.

Salary and Work Location

The salary range for this position is $80,000 - $100,000. Salary is determined by direct, relevant experience and demonstrated past performance, while ensuring equity on our team.

Our office is located at 309 Maynard Street in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This position is hybrid, with the major gift officer team typically being in the office on Tuesdays. Specific days in the office will be determined with your manager and team.

This position also requires frequent travel across the southeastern states region. Your primary regional coverage will include these states: NC, SC, GA, FL, AL, and MS.

Mission Statement

The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.

Job Summary

Who we are

LSA Advancement builds philanthropic relationships to inspire transformational support for the liberal arts and sciences at the University of Michigan. We are more than 50 professionals building a positive work environment that supports the excellence and transformative power of the college's liberal arts mission through values-based fundraising and development operations.  To learn more about what we do and what it's like to work with us, visit our Join Our Team Website.

Who you are

You are an active listener who enjoys meeting new people and can encourage someone to share their story with clarifying, thoughtful questions. You have a passion for the goals of higher education and can share them with a diverse audience. You are a strategic thinker who enjoys working toward a goal. You approach challenges with creativity and collaboration. You are a lifelong learner with curiosity about topics ranging from Astrophysics to Native American studies to Van Gogh. If this describes you, we'd love to hear from you.

What you'll do

Major gift fundraisers in LSA have conversations about student support and scholarships, dinosaurs, economic recovery, and English literature, all in one day, sometimes in one discussion. Our alumni live in all corners of the world, work in every imaginable field, and have one thing in common: their love for Michigan and their liberal arts education.

Members of our team travel to assigned regions of the country to meet with alumni, parents, and friends who have the potential to make gifts of $100,000+. You will talk to them about their experience on campus and the path that they have followed since graduation. You will guide a discussion to help alumni understand LSA's priorities and connect them to their philanthropic involvement with LSA in a way that is meaningful to them. You will work with college leaders, faculty, staff from our academic departments, and other colleagues across campus to cultivate potential donors and steward existing donors, ensuring they recognize the impact of their giving. You will also partner with 3-5 academic departments or programs to help position them to receive major gifts.

Reports to: You will report directly to the Executive Director for Eastern States, with project-based assignment reporting lines to other members of the LSA major gift officer team.

A full job description can be found here.

Required Qualifications*

Here are the things you already have:

• A bachelor's degree.
• Five or more years of previous experience in fundraising or a related relationship-building field, such as sales, financial industry, education, or marketing.
• Experience working and collaborating with a variety of partners.
• Demonstrated written communication skills.
• Working knowledge of business productivity tools such as Google Workspace or Microsoft Office and video conferencing applications (e.g., Zoom, Google Meet).
• Experience working with sensitive and confidential data.

We encourage applications from candidates with varied perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds.

Travel requirements:

Individuals must be able to travel by air and by car to their assigned region, including areas that may not have reliable public transportation, such as Uber or Lyft. Travel will include overnight stays several days a month and occasional evening and weekend work responsibilities such as attending donor meetings, sporting events, lectures, tailgates, dinners, etc.

Work Authorization:

Authorization to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment, and applicants for this position will not be sponsored for work visas.

Why Work at Michigan?

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, the University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family, and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:

• Generous time off, including vacation time, sick time, holiday, and season days
• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses

In addition, LSA offers:

• Enhanced tuition support programs for LSA courses
• Strong commitment to work/life balance
• Flexible work arrangements with respect to campus stakeholder needs

Being part of something greater, of serving a larger mission of discovery and care - that's the heart of what drives people to work at Michigan. In some way, great or small, every person here helps to advance this world-class institution. It adds purpose to your profession. Work at Michigan and become a victor for the greater good.

You can learn more about the benefits you will be eligible to receive at this website.

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Additional Information

As one of the world's great liberal arts and sciences colleges, LSA pushes the boundaries of what is understood about the human experience and the natural world, and we foster the next generation of rigorous and empathetic thinkers, creators, and contributors to the state of Michigan, the nation, and the world.

To learn more about LSA's Mission, Vision and Values, please visit lsa.umich.edu/strategicvision.

Background Screening

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks.  Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.