Executive Director of Development - Search Extended

Hiring Department:
Office of the Vice Chancellor for Advancement

Location:

Chicago, IL

Requisition

Salary Range:
The budgeted salary range for the position is $150,000 - $165,000. We strive to provide a competitive salary, considering factors such as available market data, internal equity, candidate experience and qualifications, and budget constraints. The final salary offer will be determined through a thorough assessment of these elements.

Are you a strategic fundraising leader ready to make a transformative impact? Join us as the Executive Director of Development, where you’ll play a pivotal role in advancing the mission and priorities of UIC’s College of Engineering through philanthropic leadership.

In partnership with the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Advancement and the Dean, you will set ambitious fundraising goals and lead a dynamic team in securing major gifts from alumni and friends. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of a college deeply committed to excellence, innovation, and community impact.

• Develop and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies aligned with college and university priorities.
• Lead efforts to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift prospects and donors.
• Collaborate closely with academic leaders, faculty, and advancement colleagues to ensure strategic alignment and execution.
• Champion a culture of philanthropy and donor engagement across the college.
• Provide visionary leadership and mentorship to development staff.

• Bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent required.
• Minimum of five years of progressive experience in fundraising, business development, or a related field focused on relationship management.
• Proven ability to build consensus and collaborate across diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills.
• Demonstrated leadership and strategic thinking capabilities.
• Ability to thrive in a complex, evolving organizational environment.
• High level of discretion and professionalism in handling sensitive matters.
• Deep understanding of institutional giving and its role in advancing mission-driven work.

This is more than a job; it’s a chance to lead with purpose, drive meaningful change, and be part of a passionate community committed to excellence. If you’re a relationship-builder, strategic thinker, and inspiring leader, we invite you to apply.

UIC is among the nation’s preeminent urban public research universities, a Carnegie RU/VH research institution, and the largest university in Chicago. UIC serves over 34,000 students, comprising one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation and is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPSI) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI).

Through its 16 colleges, UIC produces nationally and internationally recognized multidisciplinary academic programs in concert with civic, corporate and community partners worldwide, including a full complement of health sciences colleges. By emphasizing cutting‑edge and transformational research along with a commitment to the success of all students, UIC embodies the dynamic, vibrant and engaged urban university. Recent “Best Colleges” rankings published by U.S. News & World Report, found UIC climbed up in its rankings among top public schools in the nation and among all national universities.

UIC has nearly 260,000 alumni and is one of the largest employers in the city of Chicago.

It is a pivotal moment for the University of Illinois Chicago College of Engineering. Under the visionary leadership of Dean Lola Eniola-Adefeso, UIC Engineering launched a comprehensive strategic planning process in January 2025, which is designed to build on its many distinctive strengths and amplify its impact locally and globally.

UIC Engineering combines R1 research excellence with exceptional diversity, providing world‑class education to students from all backgrounds while advancing diversity in engineering. The past decade…