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University of the Pacific

Senior Assistant Dean for Development

🇺🇸 Stockton, CA

🕑 Full-Time

💰 $130K

💻 Other

🗓️ September 1st, 2025

CRM

Edtech.com's Summary

University of the Pacific is hiring a Senior Assistant Dean for Development. This role involves planning and implementing a comprehensive development program within the College of the Pacific, focusing on major gift fundraising, alumni relations, outreach, and donor communication. The position requires securing major philanthropic gifts, collaborating with university leadership, and leading strategic fundraising initiatives across campuses.

Highlights
  • Lead multi-year strategy, solicitation, and cultivation plans for major gift prospects ($50,000+).
  • Coordinate with College of the Pacific Dean, faculty, staff, and University Development across three campuses.
  • Manage and enhance relationships with alumni, donors, and volunteer boards including the Dean's council.
  • Conduct in-person donor engagement, solicitation, and outreach to meet fundraising goals.
  • Oversee development budget and ensure compliance with university gift policies and prospect management.
  • Prepare concept papers, proposals, grants, and reports to support fundraising efforts.
  • Requires at least a Bachelor's degree and five years of major gift fundraising experience.
  • Preferred qualifications include a Master’s degree, professional fundraising certification (e.g., CFRE), and experience in higher education advancement.
  • Proficient with MS Office Suite, CRM systems, and understands complex academic structures.
  • Offers a hiring salary around $130,000 with expectations of some nights, weekends, and travel.

Senior Assistant Dean for Development Full Description

Senior Assistant Dean for Development
Job Title  | Senior Assistant Dean for Development
Union Level  |
Department  | Unit Development - COP
Campus  | Stockton
Posting Number  | 201304151P
Full or Part Time  | Full Time
Number of Months  | 12
Work Schedule  | Standard work schedule. Some nights and weekends for events may be required to meet business needs.
Position End Date  |
Open Date  | 08/29/2025
Close Date  |
Open Until Filled  | Yes

Special Instructions to Applicants  | For Applicants Seeking Job Opportunities within the University
Internal: Internal applicants will be considered within the first five (5) business days of the posting period.
External: External applicants will be considered on the sixth (6) business day of the posting period.

Sponsorship  | This position is not eligible for a visa sponsorship now or in the future.
 
Position Summary Information 
Primary Purpose  | The Senior Assistant Dean for Development is responsible for planning and implementing a comprehensive development program within the College of the Pacific, the oldest and largest academic unit, at University of the Pacific, and will focus on major gift development, alumni relations, outreach, and communication with prospective and current donors. This position serves as a key member of University Development’s fundraising team and shares responsibility for leading the strategic direction of selected Pacific fundraising initiatives.

The Senior Assistant Dean works closely with the College of the Pacific Dean, faculty and staff, and the University Development and Alumni Relations team across Pacific’s three-city university campuses. The position is responsible for securing philanthropic major gift support at the $50,000+ level. The Senior Assistant Dean of Development must have a demonstrated track record of success in developing, leading, and managing fundraising initiatives and donor relationships. This is a high-profile role that requires a professional with excellent verbal and written communication skills, strong interpersonal skills, and a commitment to working collaboratively with teams and stakeholders.

Essential Functions  | Provides strategic leadership in developing multi-year strategy, solicitation and cultivation plans for major gift prospects as they relate to the College of the Pacific and ongoing academic fundraising initiatives. This includes the development of an annual business plan to secure philanthropic support. Secures support, enhances relationships, and promotes awareness for Pacific in the following ways: Solicits gifts of $50,000+ from alumni and friends through implementation of cultivation and solicitation strategies for major gift prospects. Works with administration, faculty, and volunteers across the three-city university campuses. Ensures the identification, recruitment and oversight of the Dean’s council and related volunteer boards.  Serves as the College’s representative and liaison to annual giving, alumni relations, corporate and foundation relations, principal gifts, planned giving, and stewardship. Conducts meaningful engagement and outreach, in-person cultivation and solicitation activities, and face-to-face meetings with donor prospects to achieve annual fundraising and metrics goals. Assists in creating an inspirational philanthropic culture both college-wide and outside of Pacific, by increasing visibility and value of the University among the community and professional organizations. Oversees and monitors budget for development activities. Works within the framework of the Prospect Management Program and Pacific Gift Policies, and utilizes the advancement database to record development activities. Participates in University and College of the Pacific events that involve external constituents to engage in development activities. Provides strategic guidance and advice to the Dean to facilitate prospect and donor engagement in key school initiatives. Writes concept papers, proposals, grants and reports as needed. Works independently as well as collaboratively with University Development, academic faculty, staff, and volunteers to achieve defined goals for each academic unit. Uses knowledge of major gift fundraising principles and takes initiative to organize and follow through with complex tasks and deadlines to execute a robust development program, especially within an educational organization. Performs other duties and responsibilities as requested by the Assistant Vice President for Development.

University of the Pacific recognizes that diversity, equity, and inclusion is foundational to the success of our valued students and employees. We prioritize policy and decision-making that demonstrates awareness of, and responsiveness to, the ways socio-cultural forces related to race, gender, ability, sexuality, socio-economic status, etc. impede or propel students, faculty and staff.

Minimum Qualifications  | Bachelor’s Degree. Five (5) years of major gift fundraising experience.
Preferred Qualifications  | Seven (7) years of fundraising experience. Master’s Degree. Professional certification in relevant field. (e.g., CFRE) Demonstrated experience fundraising in a higher education setting. Intermediate skills using computer software programs and proven ability to use MS Office Suite, Email, calendaring systems, and CRM database systems. Knowledge and/or experience working in a complex liberal arts and sciences academic unit, and ability to articulate the value of a liberal arts education. Strong verbal communication, writing, editing and proofreading skills. Understanding of linkages between multiple academic units aligned by accelerated degree programs leading from undergraduate to graduate study degree completion and specialty certification levels. Encompass traits of good judgment, confidentiality, and discretion in communicating with colleagues and constituents. Positive attitude, proven ability to work successfully with diverse populations and demonstrated commitment to promote and enhance diversity and inclusion. Skills to integrate broad-reaching and diverse academic programs into development strategies. Experience and sensitivity in working with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures. Demonstrated experience in advancing social justice, equity, and inclusion in a university setting. Ability to engage and integrate culturally responsive practices and knowledge in their work.

Physical Requirements  | The physical demands described here are representative but not definitive of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Requires extended periods of sitting and repetitive hand/wrist motion while using computer keyboard and phone. Frequent standing, walking across campus, climbing stairs, bending, stooping and reaching. Constant verbal and written communication. Occasional lifting up to 25 pounds.
Work Environment/Work Week/Travel:
Work is frequently performed in a standard office environment with use of computer and phone. Must be prepared to work non-business hours and weekends. Frequent travel both local and overnight. Frequent use of laptops and mobile devices to access data while traveling.
Valid driver’s license required. Incumbent must also be able to meet the University’s fleet rules and be eligible to drive for University business. The University and its insurance carrier reserves the right to exclude applicants based on their driving record.
Hiring Range  | $130,000

Background Check Statement  | All applicants who receive a conditional offer of employment are required to execute a release and authorization for a background screening.

AB 810 Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: University of the Pacific complies with California Assembly Bill 810, requiring candidates accepting conditional job offers to disclose any final administrative or judicial findings, ongoing proceedings, allegations, resignations under investigation, or appeals related to sexual harassment or misconduct within the past seven years.

Anti-Discrimination/EEO Policy Statement  | University of the Pacific is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to workforce diversity across backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints. Pacific does not unlawfully discriminate in its hiring of faculty and staff, or in the provision of its employment benefits to its faculty and staff on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, genetic information, sex/gender, marital status, military and veteran status, sexual orientation, medical condition, pregnancy, gender identity, gender expression, or mental or physical disability, or other legally protected characteristics or combination of such characteristics. While we strive to attract a broad and representative pool of candidates, all hiring decisions are made based on merit, selecting the most qualified individual for each position.

Posting Specific Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
  1. * Pacific participates in federal healthcare programs. As such, a required part of the hiring process is to verify that potential employees have not been excluded from participating in federal programs for mandatory exclusions (including for fraud, controlled substances crimes, patient abuse or neglect, or other program-related crimes) or for other permissive exclusions by the Office of Inspector General. A "Yes" response would be considered disqualifying. Please answer the following question accordingly: Are you currently excluded from participation in federal programs (including Medicare, Medicaid, or any other federal healthcare program)? 
    • Yes
    • No
  2. * Pacific participates in federal healthcare programs. As such, a required part of the hiring process is to verify that potential employees have not been excluded from participating in federal programs for mandatory exclusions (including for fraud, controlled substances crimes, patient abuse or neglect, or other program-related crimes) or for other permissive exclusions by the Office of Inspector General. A "Yes" response would be considered disqualifying. Please answer the following question accordingly: Have you received notice that you are under review for possible exclusion from any federal programs (including Medicare, Medicaid, or any other federal healthcare program)? 
    • Yes
    • No
  3. * How did you hear about this employment opportunity? 
    • Public Job Posting
    • Internal Job Posting
    • Agency Referral
    • Advertisement/Publication 
    • Personal Referral
    • Pacific Website
    • Other
  4. * Do you have a Bachelor's degree? 
    • Yes
    • No
  5. * Do you have five (5) years of major gift fundraising experience? 
    • Yes
    • No
Applicant Documents
Required Documents
  1. Resume
Optional Documents
  1. Cover Letter/Letter of Application
  2. Other Document