Director of Development for Principal Gift Operations

🇺🇸 Hybrid - Chapel Hill, NC 🕑 Full-Time 💰 TBD 💻 Communications 🗓️ March 12th, 2026

ETL Clari

Edtech.com's Summary

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is hiring a Director of Development for Principal Gift Operations. This role leads strategic and operational activities for the Principal Gifts Program, managing engagement, solicitation, and stewardship of major donors giving $5 million or more, while delivering high-touch donor service and coordinating executive briefings and data tools.

Highlights

Oversee donor hospitality, campus visits, stewardship, gift acknowledgements, impact reporting, proposal coordination, and strategic dashboards.
Deliver a white-glove, concierge-level experience to principal donors and senior university leaders.
Develop executive-ready briefings and collaborate with Business Intelligence and Prospect Development teams.
Manage alignment of gift proposals and stewardship with donor strategies and institutional priorities.
Supervise and build a team to support long-term goals for principal gift operations.
Require minimum of a bachelor's degree and at least one year of professional fundraising experience.
Preferred seven or more years of fundraising experience, ideally in a research university setting with knowledge of principal gifts.
Strong communication skills with diplomacy and ability to lead through influence without direct authority.
Commitment to operational excellence, process improvement, and managing complex workflows with precision.
Position is full-time permanent staff within the University Development Office.