Chief Development Officer (Athletics)

University of Arizona

life insurance, vision insurance, sick time

United States, Arizona, Tucson

Jan 04, 2025

Chief Development Officer (Athletics)
Posting Number	req21162
Department	Administration and Athletics
Department Website Link	arizonawildcats.com
Medical Sub-Speciality
Location	Main Campus
Address	1 National Championship Drive, Tucson, AZ 85721 USA
Position Highlights	The Athletics Department is dedicated to excellence in collegiate sports, building a modern model of intercollegiate athletics fostering a culture of integrity, innovation, and student-athlete success. The Chief Development Officer (CDO) for Arizona Athletics will lead the department's comprehensive development strategy, overseeing major gifts, annual giving, and donor engagement initiatives. The CDO will collaborate closely with university advancement leadership to build a robust fundraising program, advancing Arizona Athletics' goals and creating sustainable financial support for the department's long-term success. This role requires a visionary leader who can inspire a culture of philanthropy, foster deep connections with supporters, and grow financial contributions for Arizona Athletics to enhance the student-athlete experience. The CDO will report to the Vice President & Director of Athletics. This position requires the ability work a flexible schedule, including nights and weekends, and travel as needed. Outstanding UA benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; UA/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to UA recreation and cultural activities; and more! The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work-life programs. For more information about working at the University of Arizona and relocations services, please click here.
Duties & Responsibilities	Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy aligned with Arizona Athletics' mission and priorities. Identify and prioritize key funding opportunities and guide the direction of philanthropic activities. Major Gifts & Campaigns: Lead efforts to secure major gifts, overseeing the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individual and corporate donors. Develop multi-year capital campaigns and initiatives in partnership with university advancement. Donor Engagement & Stewardship: Strengthen relationships with current and potential donors by creating personalized engagement opportunities. Collaborate with athletics and advancement leadership to recognize, steward, and retain donors. Annual Giving: Supervise the execution of annual giving campaigns, working to expand the donor base and increase participation among alumni, fans, and other supporters. Team Leadership & Development: Proven ability to recruit, develop, manage and hold accountable a high-performing development team. Foster a collaborative, results-driven environment that encourages professional growth and supports department-wide initiatives. Collaboration: Work closely with university leadership, staff, coaches, alumni, and external stakeholders to support shared objectives. Collaborate with other development officers across the university to align fundraising efforts and optimize impact. Data-Driven Insights: Utilize data analytics to assess donor trends, inform strategy, and improve campaign performance. Track key metrics and report regularly on progress toward fundraising goals. Commitment: A genuine passion for collegiate athletics and Arizona Athletics' mission, and a strong commitment to advancing the student-athlete experience. Additional duties as assigned. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Leadership: Strong leadership skills with a proven ability to manage, motivate, and develop a high-performing team. Communication: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with an ability to articulate a compelling case for support. Relationship-Building: Excellent interpersonal skills, with a track record of cultivating relationships with high-net-worth individuals and corporations. Strategic Thinking: Strong strategic and analytical thinking abilities, with the capacity to innovate and implement creative fundraising solutions. Financial Acumen: Proficient in financial management as it pertains to goal setting, revenue forecasting, and budget oversight.
Minimum Qualifications	Bachelor's degree. A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in development, fundraising, or advancement.
Preferred Qualifications	Master's degree in a relevant field or Juris Doctor is preferred. Ten years of experience within intercollegiate athletics or higher education. Demonstrated success in securing major gifts and leading large fundraising campaigns. Experience with NCAA policies and procedures.
Rank
Tenure Information
FLSA	Exempt
Full Time/Part Time	Full Time
Number of Hours Worked per Week	40 + nights and weekends
Job FTE	1.0
Work Calendar	Fiscal
Job Category	Athletics
Benefits Eligible	Yes - Full Benefits
Rate of Pay	$200,000 - $400,000
Compensation Type	salary at 1.0 full-time equivalency (FTE)
Type of criminal background check required:	Name-based criminal background check (non-security sensitive)
Number of Vacancies	1
Target Hire Date
Expected End Date
Contact Information for Candidates	Daniel Parker, Vice President and Managing Director Grant Higgison, Principal Xavier Harper, Executive Recruiting Coordinator ghiggison@parkersearch.com xharper@parkersearch.com Parker Executive Search 770-804-1996 ext. 118 770-804-1996 ext. 119
Open Date	1/3/2025
Open Until Filled	Yes
Documents Needed to Apply	Resume, Cover Letter, and One Additional Document
Special Instructions to Applicant	The University of Arizona invites nominations and applications or expressions of interest to be submitted to the search firm assisting the University. Applications must include a cover letter, resume or curriculum vitae, and list of references. For full consideration, application materials should be submitted to Parker Executive Search's website: https://www.parkersearch.com/opportunities/chief-development-officer. Confidential review of materials will begin immediately and continue until the appointment is made. Thank You.
Diversity Statement	At the University of Arizona, we value our inclusive climate because we know that diversity in experiences and perspectives is vital to advancing innovation, critical thinking, solving complex problems, and creating an inclusive academic community. As a Hispanic-serving institution, we translate these values into action by seeking individuals who have experience and expertise working with diverse students, colleagues, and constituencies. Because we seek a workforce with a wide range of perspectives and experiences, we provide equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or genetic information. As an Employer of National Service, we also welcome alumni of AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service programs and others who will help us advance our Inclusive Excellence initiative aimed at creating a university that values student, staff and faculty engagement in addressing issues of diversity and inclusiveness.
Notice of Availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report	In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act), each year the University of Arizona releases an Annual Security Report (ASR) for each of the University's campuses.Thesereports disclose information including Clery crime statistics for the previous three calendar years and policies, procedures, and programs the University uses to keep students and employees safe, including how to report crimes or other emergencies and resources for crime victims. As a campus with residential housing facilities, the Main Campus ASR also includes a combined Annual Fire Safety report with information on fire statistics and fire safety systems, policies, and procedures. Paper copies of the Reports can be obtained by contacting the University Compliance Office at cleryact@arizona.edu.