Sr. Director of Development, School of Engineering (Sr. Major Gift Officer)

NOTE: This search is being managed by Boyden, who is a third-party search partner. If interested in applying, please provide your resume and cover letter via email to Wendy Wilsker at wwilsker@boyden.com.

 The Sr. Major Gift Officer serves as the Sr. Director of Development for the School of Engineering and is the lead Advancement Officer in the school, responsible for designing and implementing a comprehensive advancement program that secures philanthropic resources for the top priority projects of the Institute and the school. This role will directly report to the Assistant Vice President for Advancement and Constituent Development and with the responsibility to lead and collectively support the Dean of the School of Engineering on matters pertaining to schools fundraising. The officer works cooperatively with the Central Advancement Office, Alumni Engagement, Annual Giving, Corporate and Foundation Philanthropy, Planned Giving, and Regional Advancement to build successful fundraising programs for the school, and supports the dean on matters of school fundraising. The primary responsibility is cultivating and soliciting 150 to 200 prospects capable of making gifts of $100,000 to $2.49 million.

Founded in 1824, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is the first technological research university in the United States. We bring creativity, science, and technology together to address society's greatest challenges. We cultivate exceptional problem-solvers by immersing them in a culture of rigorous inquiry, disciplined practice, and hands-on application. Our strategic plan, RPI Forward, charts a pioneering course for the next era of RPI. Explore the RPI Forward plan. ↗︎

Nestled on a beautiful 275-acre campus in upstate NY, RPI is home to five schools, 32 research centers, three makerspaces, an observatory, one of the world’s fastest supercomputers, and the IBM Quantum System One - the first university-based quantum computer in the world. 

With top notch employee health and retirement benefits, RPI offers its full-time employees a generous paid time off program, tuition remission, and opportunities for career growth. 

• Bachelor's Degree in relevant field of study
• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible fundraising experience
• Experience in higher education and demonstrated record of cultivation and closing major gifts

Relevant combinations of education, training and experience may be considered.

NOTE: This search is being managed by Boyden, who is a third-party search partner. If interested in applying, please provide your resume and cover letter via email to Wendy Wilsker at wwilsker@boyden.com.

NOTE: This search is being managed by Boyden, who is a third-party search partner. If interested in applying, please provide your resume and cover letter via email to Wendy Wilsker at wwilsker@boyden.com.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

• Proven ability to establish and maintain relationships with major gift prospects, manage high-level volunteers, and close major gifts of $50,000 or more
• Ability to set priorities while contributing to the broader team effort in Institute Advancement

• Raise new commitments from prospects capable of gifts of $100,000 - $2.49 million as identified in Goals/Objectives
• Prepare and submit proposals as specified in Goals/Objectives
• Conduct pre-planned face-to-face prospecting and cultivation visits as specified in Goals/Objectives
• Conduct major moves as specified in Goals/Objectives
• Manage the dean’s involvement in the cultivation and solicitation of top prospects while planning, directing, and implementing the activities required to secure the School of Engineering’s fundraising goal
• Identify additional potential donors for the school and coordinate their cultivation and solicitation through the Central Advancement Office, working with central staff across annual giving, corporate and foundation philanthropy, planned giving, and alumni engagement
• Direct the involvement of the School of Engineering’s faculty and Leadership Council in fundraising activities for the school
• Raise funds to support the Dean’s Excellence Fund
• Maintain up-to-date prospect information in Advance through the prospect tracking system
• Participate and present in prospect strategy sessions
• Other duties as assigned by the Vice President and the Senior Associate Vice President or designee

Business Hours with weekends or evenings occasionally required

Driving a personal vehicle for non-passenger use

Back to search results Apply now Refer a friend