Fund Development Specialists

Fund Development Specialists

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Announcement

 Details 

Open Date  | 02/09/2026
Requisition Number  | PRN44236B
Job Title  | Fund Development Specialists
Working Title  | Major Gift Specialist
Career Progression Track  | P00
Track Level  | P5 - Expert, P4 - Advanced, P3 - Career
FLSA Code  | Administrative
Patient Sensitive Job Code?  | No
Standard Hours per Week  | 40
Full Time or Part Time?  | Full Time
Shift  | Day
Work Schedule Summary  | Monday to Friday, 8 am – 5pm, with occasional evening and weekend hours required to support donor meetings, events, and College activities. Travel is required to support donor, alumni, and industry engagement and stewardship activities.
VP Area  | Academic Affairs
Department  | 00051 - College of Engineering-Dean
Location  | Campus
City  | Salt Lake City, UT
Type of Recruitment  | External Posting
Pay Rate Range  | $75,000 to $110,000
Close Date  | 04/01/2026
Priority Review Date (Note - Posting may close at any time)  | 02/27/2026

Job Summary  | The John and Marcia Price College of Engineering seeks to hire a Major Gift Specialist (Fund Development Specialist III, IV, or V) to support the College’s comprehensive development program. This position supports the identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of alumni, individuals, corporations and other supporters, with particular focus on emerging and mid-level donors, including alumni five to ten years post graduation. Working closely with senior development staff, the position manages a portfolio of prospects and contributes to the long-term development of future major gift donors.

To support these efforts, the position builds strong relationships with alumni and donors through effective listening, strategic engagement, and thoughtful solicitation. The role develops and implements direct marketing and personal solicitation strategies, including personally soliciting annual gifts of $1,000 and above. Responsibilities include collaborating with engineering boards and advisory councils; guiding the creation of email, social media, and other donor communications in partnership with College development and public relations staff; ensuring all messaging aligns with the College’s priorities. The position utilizes data and metrics to inform decision-making, identify solicitation opportunities, and strengthen long-term donor cultivation, while supporting fundraising for programatic priorities, scholarships, planned giving, endowments, and capital needs.

Learn more about the great benefits of working for University of Utah: benefits.utah.edu

The department may choose to hire at any of the below job levels and associated pay rates based on their business need and budget.

Fund Development Specialists, III
Job Code: P23743Grade: P17Expected Pay Range: $75,000 to $90,000

Fund Development Specialists, IV
Job Code: P23744Grade: P19Expected Pay Range: $85,000 to $100,000

Fund Development Specialists, V
Job Code: P23745Grade: P20Expected Pay Range: $95,000 to $110,000
Responsibilities  | Key Responsibilities

Support fundraising initiatives for the John and Marcia Price College of Engineering, with an emphasis on leadership and emerging gifts aligned with priorities identified by the Dean and Principal Development Director (e.g., scholarships, fellowships, research funds, annual giving, endowments, select capital priorities, and emerging programmatic needs). Actively prospect, qualify, and engage alumni and donors, including outreach to new and previously unengaged prospects through strategic networking, referrals, and targeted outreach. Develop and implement individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans to advance donors through the giving pipeline and build long-term philanthropic relationships. Personally solicit annual and leadership-level gifts (generally $1,000+), while supporting the development of future major gift prospects. Build and sustain positive relationships with donors to encourage continued engagement, increased giving, and long-term philanthropic commitment. Draft and contribute to donor communications, proposals, cases for support, and other fundraising materials in collaboration with College development and public rations staff. Maintain complete, accurate, and timely records of donor interactions, strategies, and activities in the University’s UNITE donor tracking system. Serve as a liaison to assigned academic departments within the College, supporting faculty and department leadership with fundraising planning, donor engagement, and stewardship efforts. Plan and conduct donor visits and small-scale cultivation, solicitation, and recognition activities, as appropriate and in coordinating with College and development leadership. Collaborate as an active member of the Price College of Engineering Development team, supporting college-wide fundraising initiatives and events as needed. Support engagement with engineering alumni and volunteers, including participation in advisory councils, boards, events, mentoring initiatives, and targeted communications, as assigned. Contribute to strategic planning for assigned fundraising priorities in partnership College and development leadership. Assist with stewardship and oversight of scholarship, planned giving, and endowment funds in coordination with advancement and financial staff to ensure alignment with donor intent.
 
Principal Accountabilities Meet or exceed annual fundraising and engagement goals that support priority needs within the Price College of Engineering. Demonstrate consistent movement of prospects through the leadership and emerging gifts pipeline. Maintain accurate, timely donor records that support effective stewardship, reporting, and team coordination. Work collaboratively, professionally, and respectfully with development colleagues, faculty, alumni, and college leadership to foster trust, credibility, and shared success.

Minimum Qualifications  | EQUIVALENCY STATEMENT: 1 year of higher education can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience (Example: bachelor’s degree = 4 years of directly related work experience).Department may hire employee at one of the following job levels:
Fund Development Specialists, III: Requires a bachelor’s (or equivalency) + 6 years or a master’s (or equivalency) + 4 years of directly related work experience.
Fund Development Specialists, IV: Requires a bachelor’s (or equivalency) + 8 years or a master’s (or equivalency) + 6 years of directly related work experience.
Fund Development Specialists, V: Requires a bachelor’s (or equivalency) + 10 years or a master’s (or equivalency) + 8 years of directly related work experience.

Preferences  | Preference will be given to those who have fundraising experience in higher education and/or the health sciences.
Type  | Benefited Staff

Special Instructions Summary  |
Additional Information  | The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (“URS”). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at (801) 581-7447 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801) 366-7770 or (800) 695-4877 or University Human Resource Management at (801) 581-7447 if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules. This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen. The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education. Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities. Consistent with state and federal law, the University of Utah does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX (OEO). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator’s office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at: https://www.utah.edu/nondiscrimination/  Online reports may be submitted at oeo.utah.edu https://safety.utah.edu/safetyreport This report includes statistics about criminal offenses, hate crimes, arrests and referrals for disciplinary action, and Violence Against Women Act offenses. They also provide information about safety and security-related services offered by the University of Utah. A paper copy can be obtained by request at the Department of Public Safety located at 1658 East 500 South.

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 Contact us: (801) 581-2169 By Email: employment@utah.edu