The Sr. Director of Development for the Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water & Air (“Institute”) provides overall guidance and management of the Institute's major gifts program. The position is responsible for the Institute's overall acquisition of philanthropic gifts and coordination on behalf of the Institute across the Office of Advancement.  Reporting to the Executive Director of Corporate and Foundation Engagement with dotted line accountability to the Institute’s executive staff, the Sr. Director of Development is the key Advancement liaison to the Institute. As a development leader on the USU development team, the Sr. Director of Development is highly collaborative, committed to a culture of excellence, demonstrates advanced fundraising competencies and helps sustain USU’s fundraising success and growth through their leadership. This position requires extensive public contact with high-level donors and partners. This position is based in Salt Lake City, UT. Travel is required. This position description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive list of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to the position.

Core responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead the day-to-day planning and oversight of the Institute development strategy and drive fundraising activity related to major gift proposals.
• Develop and implement both annual and long-range goals, objectives and strategies to maximize private support through various sources (with emphasis on corporations, foundations and planned giving vehicles) for the Institute.
• Create and maintain specialized fundraising initiatives as deemed appropriate for the Institute.
• Collaborate with USU leaders and development peers to link donors’ passions with USU priorities and ensure a gratifying gift and/or engagement experience.  
• Qualify, cultivate, solicit and steward major gift prospects for both the Institute and the University, emphasizing collaboration and high-level major gifts. Stewardship activities may comprise up to 15 percent of the role’s assignment.
• Create and maintain an effective rapport with the Institute’s Executive Director and other USU leaders. Coordinate with the Institute to guide strategic development activities and consult with stakeholders to ensure Institute goals are attained.
• Utilize the suite of advancement resources to provide regular progress reports on Institute performance.
• Partner closely with prospect analytics and research, the principal gift workgroup and campaign operations to identify new donor opportunities, analyze performance, implement effective practices and coordinate donor/campaign engagement for Institute prospects.
• Travel to key markets and regions to submit proposals and steward donors.
• Complete other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree plus five years of experience OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Possess a track record of closing gifts or negotiating contracts and ability to have complex gift conversations.
• Demonstrated experience building successful, productive and collaborative relationships with top university administrators, deans and board members.
• Coaching experience of professional staff.
• Willingness and ability to travel; evening and weekend work is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• An advanced academic degree.
• Experience with capital campaigns.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• 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 different backgrounds.
• Ability to position the Institute Executive Staff to maximize their potential as fundraisers.
• Ability to work effectively with multiple stakeholders (students, alumni, faculty, staff) from different backgrounds. 

Along with the online application, please attach:

• Resume to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV”
• Cover Letter to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Documents 1-10”
• Professional Refrences contact information to be entered at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile

**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.

The Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water, and Air was established in 2021 with endorsement by the Utah Legislature. Its mission is to guide Utah land, water, and air policy by connecting decision-makers with high-quality research. For more information about the institute and its initiatives, visit usu.edu/ilwa.

The Division of Advancement is a welcoming office where inclusiveness and teamwork are highly valued. Advancement staff are engaged in the meaningful work of securing private financial resources to fuel Utah State University's mission by creating gratifying gift and engagement experiences for USU's generous and passionate alumni and friends. Comprising the division are the office of the Vice President, the USU Foundation & Board, Advancement Services, the Alumni Association (Alumni Engagement), Gift Planning, Corporation and Foundation Engagement, Strategic Communications, the Annual Fund and ACE (Alumni Center for Engagement). Furthermore, the division coordinates all fundraising efforts across campus, including colleges, various programs, extension campuses, and USU Athletics. Through the collaboration of these units, the Division of Advancement is able to achieve significant annual fundraising goals by inspiring stakeholders to invest their time and resources in Utah State University.

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 and serving the public good through innovative research and scholarly activities that are grounded in reciprocal engagement with local, regional, and global communities. USU prepares students to be active, civically engaged leaders who are prepared to address critical societal challenges. Dedicated to providing a high-quality and affordable education, USU remains a leader in research, discovery, and public impact.

USU enrolls over 29,800 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 educates students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries. For over 100 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns, serving every county in the state.

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 recent Mountain West regular-season and tournament championships in women’s volleyball, three consecutive Mountain West tournament titles in women’s soccer conference championships, and a first-ever conference championship for gymnastics, reflecting USU's commitment to perseverance and achievement.

Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all individuals feel respected, valued, and supported and where diversity of thought and culture are cultivated. 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 a reasonable accommodation 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 12/2025

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, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

Utah State University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination including harassment in employment including in hiring, promotion, transfer, or termination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy or any other federal, state, or local law.

Utah State University does not discriminate in its housing offerings and will treat all persons fairly and equally without regard to race, color, religion, sex, familial status, disability, national origin, source of income, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Additionally, the University endeavors to provide reasonable accommodations when necessary and to ensure equal access to qualified persons with disabilities.

In all circumstances, Utah State University follows state and federal laws related to sex-segregated spaces.

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:

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

U.S. Department of Education

Denver Regional Office

303-844-5695| OCR.Denver@ed.gov

U.S. Department of Education

Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

800-421-3481 |  OCR@ed.gov

*updated 10/2025