Director of Development Principal Gift Operations

This position may be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement that may include a partially remote work location, consistent with System Office policy. UNC Chapel Hill employees are generally required to reside within a reasonable commuting distance of their assigned duty station.

The Director of Development for Principal Gift Operations provides strategic and operational leadership for the University Development Office's Principal Gifts Program, which oversees engagement, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of the university's most capable donors typically those with the capacity to make gifts of $5 million or more. This role is central to delivering a white‑glove donor and leadership experience, ensuring that every interaction, event, communication, and briefing involving the university's most influential donors and senior leaders is executed with precision, discretion, and polish.

The Director oversees a portfolio of high‑stakes functions, including donor hospitality, campus visits, principal gift stewardship, executive‑level gift acknowledgements and impact reporting, proposal development coordination, and strategic data dashboards. This position establishes and upholds operational standards that ensure seamless coordination across donor relations, communications, prospect development, university events, and executive offices, setting the institutional benchmark for excellence at every touchpoint.

As a strategic partner to the Chancellor, Provost, Vice Chancellor, deans, and other senior leaders, the Director supervises the development of executive‑ready briefings, dashboards, and data tools, collaborating closely with Business Intelligence and Prospect Development to ensure accuracy, clarity, and real‑time reliability. The role also serves as the operational hub for principal gift proposals and stewardship, ensuring alignment with donor strategy, institutional priorities, and the highest standards of narrative, design, and presentation.

The Director leads the strategy and execution of concierge‑level donor experiences, including VIP events, campus visits, and personalized stewardship, ensuring timely and accurate fulfillment of all recognition commitments.

Initially supervising one full‑time team member and one temporary team member, the Director will build and scale a team to support the long‑term strategic vision for principal gift operations, setting a consistent standard of excellence and professionalism across the university's most critical donor interactions.