Job Details

Major Gift Specialist

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.

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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: P23743
Grade: P17
Expected Pay Range: $75,000 to $90,000

Fund Development Specialists, IV
Job Code: P23744
Grade: P19
Expected Pay Range: $85,000 to $100,000

Fund Development Specialists, V
Job Code: P23745
Grade: P20
Expected 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

1. Meet or exceed annual fundraising and engagement goals that support priority needs within the Price College of Engineering.
2. Demonstrate consistent movement of prospects through the leadership and emerging gifts pipeline.
3. Maintain accurate, timely donor records that support effective stewardship, reporting, and team coordination.
4. 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.

Special Instructions


Requisition Number: PRN44236B
Full Time or Part Time? Full Time
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.
Department: 00051 - College of Engineering-Dean
Location: Campus
Pay Rate Range: $75,000 to $110,000
Close Date: 4/1/2026
Open Until Filled:

To apply, visit https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/196680







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