Senior Director, Development, Arts and Culture

Company: University of Chicago
Location: Chicago
Posted on: April 1, 2026

Job Description:

Department ADV Schools & Units About the Department The Advancement Office engages alumni (~220k), current students, parents, and friends of the University through intellectual, professional and social activities on campus, around the world and online. Advancement raises $600 Million annually to support faculty and researchers, practitioners and patients, and students and programs across the University. Our work supports priorities in every division, school, department, and institute. Centrally organized within Advancement, the Arts and Culture team advances philanthropic partnerships with key alumni, parents and friends across the campus’ arts ecosystem, including new and emerging projects and established arts units: Court Theatre, Smart Museum, Arts in Public Life, Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, and others. Job Summary This role manages multiple related teams of managers and professional staff who execute programs designed to meet fundraising goals for contributed income. Manages relationships with alumni, faculty, administrators and organizations with potential to make gifts. Develops communication strategies for projects and contributes to the development of larger advancement strategies. Responsibilities Provides management, leadership, oversight, and vision for comprehensive arts and culture related fundraising strategy and activities at the University of Chicago. Shapes and grows the University’s arts and culture related philanthropic activity with a focus on individual and organizational donor prospects with capacity to give major and principal gifts in collaboration with the Vice Provost for the Arts, the Deans of the Humanities and University Library, campus arts and culture unit leaders, unit DoDs, and the Associate Vice President in Advancement. Serves as a key strategist and coordinator for arts and culture fundraising priorities in the next campaign, and in partnership with other leaders, works to draft and formalize campaign plans. Develops and manages a personal portfolio of individual and organizational donors with a goal to develop a sustainable pipeline of $100K solicitations and closing $2.5M-$5M in gifts annually. Manages and oversees fundraising teams affiliated with the Court Theatre (4 FTE) and the Smart Museum (2 FTE), the centrally organized Arts and Culture Development Team (1 FTE), and dotted line oversight for fundraising teams at ISAC (3 FTE) and the University Library (3FTE). Travels with and regularly staffs campus arts and culture leadership in their work with high-capacity individual and organizational donor prospects. Responsible for a range of key priority areas, including developing new funding opportunities tied to these areas as needed. Hires, manages, evaluates, develops and terminates staff as needed. Actively encourages staff members' professional growth and participation in the life of the University. Monitors and manages an annual budget. Addresses budget variances as they occur. Seeks opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance, including building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions, with an eye towards broadly diversifying the advancement profession. Manages department strategies and plans to achieve University fundraising goals. Develops and implements fundraising programs and activities. May recruit staff volunteers. Manages and maintains a portfolio of current and potential donors. Identifies and cultivates gift prospects and potential donors through events, visits, personalized correspondences, and phone calls. Performs other related work as needed. Minimum Qualifications Education: Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field. Work Experience: Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7 years of work experience in a related job discipline. Certifications: Preferred Qualifications Education: Bachelor’s degree. Advanced degree. Experience: Minimum 10 years of professional work experience in nonprofit management, development, alumni relations, marketing, public relations, sales or similar field. Minimum five years of soliciting and closing major gifts. Minimum four years of management experience, including staff management. Minimum two years of experience developing and monitoring budgets. Familiar with working with volunteers. Technical Skills or Knowledge: Demonstrated skill and knowledge of, or ability to learn quickly, the internal workings of the University as well as the technology tools available to Advancement, including Phoenix, the University's Donor Relationship Management System. Proficient in a Microsoft Windows computer environment, especially Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access. Preferred Competencies Demonstrated record of organizing successful fundraising, marketing or membership programs. Demonstrated success of meeting or exceeding goals. Build, lead, mentor, and motivate a diverse team, and encourage growth and change in both people and programs. A strong commitment to personal and professional development, and foster a collaborative and inclusive team environment. Manage confidential information with discretion and tact. Act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality. Work collegially and collaboratively in a team setting. Prioritize multiple projects and independently follow through with detail. Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write effectively. Self-motivated and take initiative. Expertise managing a complex prospect and donor pipeline. Working Conditions This position has a hybrid work schedule which includes weekly in office presence. Standard office environment. Travel to campus and/or non-campus locations for University business. Work evenings and weekends as needed. Travel domestically and internationally. This position is located in Hyde Park at 5235 South Harper Court. Application Documents Resume/CV (required) Cover Letter, addressed to Hiring Committee (preferred) When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application. Job Family Alumni Relations & Development Role Impact People Manager Scheduled Weekly Hours 37.5 Drug Test Required No Health Screen Required No Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required No Pay Rate Type Salary ? FLSA Status Exempt ? Pay Range $180,000.00 - $190,000.00 The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting. Benefits Eligible Yes The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook . Posting Statement The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination. Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form. All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position. The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu . Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

Keywords: University of Chicago, South Bend , Senior Director, Development, Arts and Culture, Administration, Clerical , Chicago, Indiana