University-Wide Development has a current opportunity for a Development Officer (Development Officer I) or Associate Director of Development (Development Officer II).  The position will be hired at either level depending on duties assigned and qualifications/experience.  The Development Officer/Associate Director of University-Wide Development is responsible for advancing the university's mission through the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major gifts ($25,000 and above). This position will collaborate across several colleges, departments and programs to help achieve specific fundraising goals.

The University-Wide Development unit primarily serves the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President, the Division of Student Affairs, University Libraries, the University Honors Program, the School of Graduate Studies, the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art, the Office of Research, and the Office of Global Engagement. The University-Wide Development staff also works closely with collegiate development officers, statewide campus development and corporations and foundations.  

The Development Officer/Associate Director of University-Wide Development will also be responsible for qualifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding alumni and friends of Utah State University in select regions throughout the United States.

This position requires extensive travel, including overnight trips. This position also requires occasional event attendance that may occur during nights and weekends.  

The Development Officer/Associate Director of University-Wide Development will report to the Senior Director of University-Wide Development. University-Wide Development is part of the USU Advancement Central Development unit, under the direction of the Associate Vice President of Central Development.

Major Gift Solicitation:

• Successfully solicit major gifts ($25,000 and above) from university alumni and friends.
• Strategically manage solicitation timing, amount and purpose.
• Develop a multi-year pipeline of support.
• Draft fundraising proposals that align with donors’ philanthropic interests.

Donor Engagement and Prospect Management:

• Build relationships and engage with constituents through individual outreach and communication efforts.
• Utilize university events to connect with alumni and friends of the university.
• Cultivate and steward donors while expressing appreciation and communicating impact.
• Manage prospects and donors through deliberate actions to enhance their engagement with USU and strengthen their desire to support the mission and vision of the university and its programs.

Philanthropic Strategies:

• A strong understanding of philanthropic giving methods and strategies is required to have meaningful gift conversations with constituents.
• Ability to work within and communicate the philanthropic gift framework established by USU Advancement.
• Knowledge of USU philanthropic impact areas, funds, programs and campaigns to best connect donors with causes that are meaningful to them.

Communication and Collaboration:

• Communicate effectively and collaborate with university advancement staff, collegiate development officers, program and department heads and university administration.
• Effectively communicate fundraising initiatives, opportunities and strategies with university supporters.

Strategic Planning:

• Work closely with the Senior Director of University-Wide Development and university program leaders to establish strategic fundraising initiatives and goals.
• Collaborate with Senior Director of University-Wide Development and Development Officer Analysts to determine strategic outreach and donor development actions.
• Opportunities to meet with and participate on volunteer boards, committees and councils made up of university and community stakeholders and USU administration.

University Representation:

• Must represent the university during meetings, donor visits and events while communicating the university’s mission, vision and impact.
• While in a working capacity, it is vital to always represent the university in a first-class manner and avoid engaging in any actions that could reflect negatively on the university.

Goal Achievement:

• Meet and exceed annual metrics including, but not limited to, number of visits, solicitations, gifts received and gift amount totals.

Minimum Qualifications:

• This position will be hired at one of two possible levels:
  • For Development Officer I:
    • Bachelor’s degree in a related field OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • For Associate Director of Development (Development Officer II):
    • Bachelor’s degree in a related field plus one year of experience OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• For both levels:
  • Ability to have complex gift conversations and a track record of closing gifts or negotiating contracts.
  • Demonstrated experience building successful, productive and collaborative relationships with top university administrators, deans and board members.
  • Demonstrated experience staffing dean’s councils, advisory boards and committees.
  • Supervisory and coaching experience of professional staff.
  • Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills, as well as analytical, research and management skills.
  • Knowledge of and commitment to the use of information technology to support advancement programs.
  • Strong interpersonal skills, particularly with donors, volunteers, and staff members from diverse backgrounds.
  • Commitment to diversity and inclusion.
  • Ability to position the department leaders to maximize their potential as a fundraiser.
  • Willingness and ability to travel; evening and weekend work is required.
  • Ability to work effectively with multiple stakeholders (students, alumni, faculty, staff) from diverse backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications:

• An advanced academic degree.
• Successful major gift fundraising experience.
• Experience working at an institution of higher education.
• Knowledge and experience in using fundraising software and CRM systems.
• Experience designing and executing comprehensive fundraising campaigns.
• Record of success in establishing positive relationships with donors, alumni, students, faculty and staff.

Along with the online application, please attach:

1. Resume/CV to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV"
2. Name and contact information for 3 professional references to be entered into Candidate Profile
3. Cover letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes. The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge through research and scholarly activities, providing a high-quality undergraduate and graduate education at an affordable price.

USU enrolls 28,900 students, both online and in person at locations throughout the state. Utah State’s 30 locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential campuses in Price and Blanding, and six additional statewide campuses, along with education centers serving every county. USU Online educates students from all 50 states and 55 countries. For over 25 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns in all of Utah’s counties.

Competing at the NCAA Division I level, USU is a proud member of the Mountain West Conference and will join the Pac-12 Conference beginning in the 2026-2027 season. The Aggies’ long-standing tradition of athletic and academic excellence is exemplified by conference championships in multiple sports, reflecting USU's commitment to perseverance and achievement.

Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all individuals feel respected, valued, and supported. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU. 

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or hr@usu.edu. 

*updated 01/2025

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

Executive Director of the Office of Equity Matthew Pinner, discrimination@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 401, 435-797-1266

Title IX Coordinator Cody Carmichael, titleix@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 404, 435-797-1266

Mailing address: 5100 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit https://equity.usu.edu/, or contact:

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 800-421-3481, OCR@ed.gov

*updated 09/2023