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University of Utah

Principal Advancement Director

🇺🇸 Hybrid - Salt Lake City, UT

🕑 Full-Time

💰 $120K - $150K

💻 Development & Advancement

🗓️ July 22nd, 2025

CRM

Edtech.com's Summary

University of Utah is hiring a Principal Advancement Director. The Principal Advancement Director, also known as the Senior Director of Stewardship, leads the development and management of a comprehensive, campus-wide stewardship program to enhance donor satisfaction, retention, and engagement while ensuring compliance and recognition align with institutional priorities and donor intent. This role manages teams responsible for gift acknowledgment, agreements, compliance, recognition, and campus stewardship while collaborating closely with university leadership and advancement teams.

Highlights
  • Design and lead a scalable university-wide stewardship program supporting personalized donor engagement and college/department stewardship tools.
  • Develop and advance donor relations strategy including acknowledgments, impact reports, and recognition materials.
  • Manage donor recognition programs such as giving societies and milestone honors.
  • Lead university-wide donor relations compliance program coordinating with Advancement Services, Office of General Counsel, and Income Accounting.
  • Maintain centralized systems for compliance tracking, gift documentation, and risk assessments.
  • Oversee donor recognition for physical spaces, ensuring alignment with donor intent, branding, and accessibility standards.
  • Set direction for and mentor a team of professionals and support staff to foster collaboration and continuous improvement.
  • Required qualifications include a Master's degree or equivalent experience and six years of related experience.
  • Preference for candidates with experience in donor relations, strategic planning, CRM systems, project management, and team leadership.
  • Salary range is $120,000 to $150,000 annually, full-time position within University Advancement, reporting to the President's office under Development Department.

Principal Advancement Director Full Description

Principal Advancement Director

Open Date  | 07/17/2025
Requisition Number  | PRN42555B
Job Title  | Principal Advancement Director
Working Title  | Senior Director of Stewardship
Job Grade  | I
FLSA Code  | Management
Patient Sensitive Job Code?  | No
Standard Hours per Week  | 40
Full Time or Part Time?  | Full Time
Shift  | Day
Work Schedule Summary  | Monday – Friday 8am-5pm, Hybrid work environment but in-office work will be required.
VP Area  | President
Department  | 00289 - Development
Location  | Campus
City  | Salt Lake City, UT
Type of Recruitment  | External Posting
Pay Rate Range  | 120000 to 150000
Close Date  | 10/17/2025
Priority Review Date (Note - Posting may close at any time)  |

Job Summary 
University Advancement at the University of Utah is seeking an experienced, strategic, and creative leader to serve as the Senior Director of Stewardship. This role is a key member of the Donor Relations team and plays a central part in fostering meaningful, lasting relationships between the University and its donors. As the architect of a comprehensive, campus-wide stewardship program, the Senior Director will lead efforts to enhance donor satisfaction, retention, and engagement. The role collaborates closely with university leadership and university advancement senior leaders to align stewardship strategies with institutional priorities and fundraising goals. The ideal candidate will bring a strong background in donor relations, a data-informed approach to strategy, and a passion for building sustainable, donor-centered programs. This position also plays a leadership role in shaping the donor experience at the University of Utah—ensuring that every donor feels appreciated and understands the impact of their giving. The candidate must be excited by strategically developing stewardship, compliance, and recognition programs in collaboration with donor relations team members and cross-functionally with fundraising teams. Responsible for managing the teams responsible for gift acknowledgment, gift agreements, gift compliance, gift recognition, and campus stewardship.

Responsibilities  | Stewardship
Design and lead a scalable, university-wide stewardship program that ensures timely, personalized donor engagement and equips colleges and departments with tools and guidance for effective stewardship. Advance a comprehensive donor relations strategy through acknowledgments, impact reports, and recognition materials that communicate the value of giving. Collaborate with development officers, academic units, and campus partners to align stewardship with donor intent and institutional priorities. Manage donor recognition programs, including giving societies and milestone honors. Promote a culture of ethical stewardship, transparency, and accountability. Implement systems to track stewardship activities, monitor outcomes, and evaluate effectiveness. Supervise and mentor a stewardship team, fostering collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Gift Agreements and Compliance
Lead a university-wide donor relations compliance program aligned with institutional policies, donor intent, and legal standards. Collaborate with Advancement Services, OGC, and Income Accounting to ensure accurate gift documentation and execution, balancing donor expectations with institutional integrity. Standardize protocols for acknowledgments, impact reporting, and stewardship fulfillment across all units. Maintain a centralized system to track compliance, reporting timelines, and fund beneficiaries. Conduct audits and risk assessments to ensure adherence to donor intent and institutional standards. Serve as the primary advisor on donor compliance for senior leadership and campus partners. Develop training and resources on compliance best practices and evolving regulations. Monitor regulatory changes (e.g., CASE standards) and update policies accordingly.

Recognition
Advance a university-wide donor recognition program for physical spaces, including buildings, rooms, and outdoor areas. Collaborate to develop policies for signage, naming approvals, and installation standards in collaboration with Campus Planning and Facilities, Mar/Comm, and donor relations. Ensure that the inventory and tracking system for all named spaces and physical recognition elements are working effectively for the team and campus partners. Ensure recognition aligns with donor intent, university branding, and accessibility standards.

Leadership & Team Management
Set direction and priorities for a team of professionals and support staff. Foster a high-performance, innovative, and collaborative team culture. Mentor and develop staff, emphasizing growth and retention.

Minimum Qualifications  | Master’s Degree or equivalent experience (One year of education is equivalent to two years of experience). Six years of related experience.

Preferences  | Proven experience in donor relations, stewardship, or advancement leadership.Strong strategic planning, project management, and analytical skills.Exceptional communication and relationship-building abilities.Experience managing teams and cross-functional collaboration.Familiarity with CRM systems and data-informed decision-making.
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 patients from all backgrounds and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education and quality healthcare for historically underrepresented students and patients.

All qualified individuals are strongly encouraged to apply. 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.

The University of Utah is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and 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 Affirmative Action (OEO/AA). 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.

Posting Specific Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
  1. * Do you have a Master's degree or equivalency? (2 years related work experience may be substituted for 1 year of education) 
    • Yes
    • No
  2. * How many years of related work experience do you have? 
    • Less than 1 year
    • 1 year
    • 2 years
    • 3 years
    • 4 years
    • 5 years
    • 6 years
    • 7 years
    • 8 years
    • 9 years
    • 10 years
    • 11 years
    • 12 years 
    • more than 12 years
Applicant Documents
Required Documents
  1. Resume
  2. Cover Letter
  3. List of References
Optional Documents
  1. Historical Only – Do Not Use – See Document Description for More Information – Addendum to the University of Utah – Veteran Only
  2. Historical Only – Do Not Use – See Description for More Information – Appropriate discharge document (such as DD-2214) – Veteran Only
 University Human Resource Management 
 250 East 200 South, Suite 125 Salt Lake City, UT 84111
 Contact us: (801) 581-2169 By Email: employment@utah.edu