Cleveland State University
Development Senior Director, University Initiatives
🇺🇸
Cleveland, OH
🕑
Full-Time
💰
TBD
💻
Development & Advancement
🗓️
June 17th, 2026
CRM
Edtech.com's Summary
Cleveland State University is hiring a Development Senior Director, University Initiatives. The role involves developing and implementing strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors for university-wide initiatives and special projects. The director builds relationships supporting CSU's mission, collaborates with deans and faculty, manages major gift donor portfolios, and coordinates with various fundraising and donor relations functions.
Highlights
- Develop and implement donor cultivation and solicitation strategies for university-wide initiatives and special projects.
- Build and maintain relationships with major gift donors to support Cleveland State University's mission and strategic goals.
- Collaborate closely with deans, faculty, and University Advancement departments.
- Manage a portfolio focused on major gifts and coordinate with annual giving, planned giving, corporate/foundation relations, and stewardship teams.
- Proficiency required with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms and Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, Teams, PowerPoint).
- Bachelor's degree required with 7 years of experience in outreach programming, fundraising, alumni relations, special events, project management, or development.
- Proven track record of securing six- and seven-figure major or planned gifts.
- Must be able to travel about 10% for events and up to 5% within the U.S.; availability for evenings and weekends is required.
- Valid driver’s license and compliance with CSU Driving and Motor Vehicle Policy are required.
- Preferred experience includes significant involvement in higher education development or advancement.
Development Senior Director, University Initiatives Full Description
Development Senior Director, University Initiatives
Posting Details
Business Title | Development Senior Director, University Initiatives
Posting Category | Administrative and Professional
Salary Grade | 09
Salary Plan | Professional Non Bargaining
Hiring Range /Pay Rate |
Department | Development
Department Description |
Position Location | Main Campus
FTE | 1.00
Job Summary | Responsible for developing and implementing strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward Cleveland State University (CSU) prospects and donors for university-wide initiatives, special projects and programs (i.e. Libraries, Student Success and Belonging, Talent Hub, Honors College, Graduate College. TEDxClevelandStateUniversity, Biomedical Discovery Complex, Galleries at E. 13th Street, Summer Research, Veterans Affairs, and others as identified). Builds relationships that support the mission and strategic goals of CSU. Provides close collaboration with deans and faculty across CSU and integration within University Advancement. Manages a portfolio focused on building and maintaining relationships with major gift donors. Coordinates with annual giving, planned giving, corporate and foundation relations, and stewardship and donor relations. Performs other functionally related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications | Bachelor’s degree. Successful demonstration of securing six- and seven-figure major and/or planned gifts Seven (7) years of experience in a combination of the following, outreach programming, fundraising, alumni relations, special events, project management, or development. Proficiency with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms. Ability to travel (10% estimated); availability for evening/weekend events. Ability to travel approximately 5% throughout the United States per year. Valid driver’s license and ability to establish and maintain driver eligibility under CSU Driving and Motor Vehicle Policy.
Preferred Qualifications | Significant experience in higher education development or advancement.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) | Knowledge of best practices within the development field. Ability to build and maintain professional relationships and work as an individual contributor and an effective team player, in addition to being highly organized, self-directed and forward-thinking. Excellent interpersonal skills and have a “Customer Focus” attitude and delivery. Detailed oriented and capable of managing large amounts of data, maintain detailed comprehensive records, analyze and organize information, have effective project and time management skills and be well organized. Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, Teams and PowerPoint.
Requisition Number | PT0703868S
Date grant, position, or appointment expires (For Funds Available, Temporary, and Waiver of Posting |
Special Instructions to Applicants |
Applicant Instructions | Applications will be exclusively accepted online at http://www.csuohio.edu/offices/hrd/employment.html. Mailed or emailed application materials will not be accepted.
Hours per week | 40
Work Schedule | Typically Monday- Friday, with weekend work/travel. Generally 8:00 am- 5:00 pm.
Advertising Copy |
Full Time/Part Time | Full Time
Posted Date | 06/12/2026
Close Date/Application Deadline |
Open Until Filled | No
Review Begins | 06/15/2026
Tentative Start Date |
Posting Category | Administrative and Professional
Salary Grade | 09
Salary Plan | Professional Non Bargaining
Hiring Range /Pay Rate |
Department | Development
Department Description |
Position Location | Main Campus
FTE | 1.00
Job Summary | Responsible for developing and implementing strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward Cleveland State University (CSU) prospects and donors for university-wide initiatives, special projects and programs (i.e. Libraries, Student Success and Belonging, Talent Hub, Honors College, Graduate College. TEDxClevelandStateUniversity, Biomedical Discovery Complex, Galleries at E. 13th Street, Summer Research, Veterans Affairs, and others as identified). Builds relationships that support the mission and strategic goals of CSU. Provides close collaboration with deans and faculty across CSU and integration within University Advancement. Manages a portfolio focused on building and maintaining relationships with major gift donors. Coordinates with annual giving, planned giving, corporate and foundation relations, and stewardship and donor relations. Performs other functionally related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications | Bachelor’s degree. Successful demonstration of securing six- and seven-figure major and/or planned gifts Seven (7) years of experience in a combination of the following, outreach programming, fundraising, alumni relations, special events, project management, or development. Proficiency with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms. Ability to travel (10% estimated); availability for evening/weekend events. Ability to travel approximately 5% throughout the United States per year. Valid driver’s license and ability to establish and maintain driver eligibility under CSU Driving and Motor Vehicle Policy.
Preferred Qualifications | Significant experience in higher education development or advancement.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) | Knowledge of best practices within the development field. Ability to build and maintain professional relationships and work as an individual contributor and an effective team player, in addition to being highly organized, self-directed and forward-thinking. Excellent interpersonal skills and have a “Customer Focus” attitude and delivery. Detailed oriented and capable of managing large amounts of data, maintain detailed comprehensive records, analyze and organize information, have effective project and time management skills and be well organized. Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, Teams and PowerPoint.
Requisition Number | PT0703868S
Date grant, position, or appointment expires (For Funds Available, Temporary, and Waiver of Posting |
Special Instructions to Applicants |
Applicant Instructions | Applications will be exclusively accepted online at http://www.csuohio.edu/offices/hrd/employment.html. Mailed or emailed application materials will not be accepted.
Hours per week | 40
Work Schedule | Typically Monday- Friday, with weekend work/travel. Generally 8:00 am- 5:00 pm.
Advertising Copy |
Full Time/Part Time | Full Time
Posted Date | 06/12/2026
Close Date/Application Deadline |
Open Until Filled | No
Review Begins | 06/15/2026
Tentative Start Date |
Supplemental Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
- * Do you have a Bachelors Degree?
- Yes
- No
- * Do you have seven (7) years of experience in a combination of the following, outreach programming, fundraising, alumni relations, special events, project management, or development?
- Yes
- No
- * Are you able to travel (10% estimated); availability for evening/weekend events?
- Yes
- No
- * Are you a current, internal SEIU applicant/team member?
- Yes
- No
- * How did you hear about this employment opportunity?
- Public Job Posting
- Internal Job Posting
- Agency Referral
- Advertisement/Publication
- Personal Referral
- CSU Website
- Other
- If you selected 'Public Job Posting" or "Other" please provide source.
(Open Ended Question) - * Do you require any type of accommodation, should you be invited to campus for further screening? Please contact CSU at (216) 687-3636 if you need accommodation.
- Yes
- No
- * Are you able to perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation?
- Yes
- No
Application Documents
Required Documents
- Resume
Optional Documents
- Cover Letter/Letter of Application
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