Director of Development, Batten School & VIMS

Job Requisition Summary

University Advancement creates the conditions for opportunity - human, financial and experiential - by garnering and stewarding the resources that advance William & Mary (W&M). The mission of the Advancement Office at the Batten School of Coastal and Marine Sciences & VIMS is to oversee all fundraising efforts for its benefit.

The mission of William & Mary's Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences & Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) is to seek and broadly communicate knowledge in marine and coastal science to the Commonwealth of Virginia, the nation, and the world through research, education, and advisory service. The Batten School & VIMS make seminal advances in understanding coastal and marine systems through research and discovery, translate research findings into practical solutions to complex issues of societal importance, and provide new generations of researchers, educators, problem solvers, and managers with an education of unsurpassed quality.

The Director of Development is an essential member of the William and Mary's Batten School's Development team. The Director is responsible for developing and managing a portfolio of donors and building philanthropic strategies for donors and prospects who support the school's priorities.

The Director reports to the Executive Director of Advancement and VIMS Foundation at the Batten School & VIMS. They work closely with internal partners in the Office of University Advancement, including other school and unit development professionals, regional gift officers, colleagues on the marketing, communications, events, stewardship, alumni engagement, and annual giving teams, and staff and faculty partners on campus.

The Director will develop an appropriate-sized major gift portfolio of prospects by the end of their second year in the position and will be expected to conduct an appropriate number of $50,000 asks based on the portfolio. In addition to annual dollars raised, performance goals include the number of asks and closes, activity/move measures, and the number of prospects identified and qualified for major gift potential.

This position will be located in the VIMS Advancement office near historic Yorktown, VA on our scenic Gloucester Point campus and offers a flexible work environment.

Download the position description on the University Advancement recruitment website: (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

For full consideration, submit application materials by the review date. Applications received after the review date will be considered if needed. A resume and cover letter are required for this position.

Salary: $90,000 to $100,000, commensurate with experience and internal alignment.

• Bachelor's degree or the equivalent combination of education, training, and/or experience.
• Commitment to the university's values of belonging, curiosity, excellence, flourishing, integrity, respect, and service, including, but not limited to, collaboration, staffing and programming.
• Understanding the role of philanthropy in higher education and its impact on the future of higher education.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills with fluency in persuasive language to promote visionary opportunities.
• An entrepreneurial spirit, independence, and ability to work effectively and successfully with minimal supervision and collaborate while building consensus among colleagues and managing complex priorities and projects concurrently.
• Experience managing and developing relationships with constituents, clients, or customers. Examples include outside sales, marketing or public relations, financial planning or wealth management, admissions or enrollment, membership development, and academic fundraising or alumni engagement.

• Master's degree in a relevant field such as business, communications, nonprofit management, public administration, or higher education.
• Knowledge of fundraising best practices, donor engagement strategies, and campaign planning.
• Proficiency in using donor management or CRM systems (e.g., Raiser's Edge, Salesforce) to support relationship development and data-informed decision making.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills with the ability to translate complex ideas into actionable plans.
• Ability to effectively collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to advance organizational goals.
• Progressively responsible experience managing and developing relationships with constituents, clients, or customers in a for-profit or nonprofit setting, with the ability to innovate, implement dynamic change, and exceed goals.
• Experience in major gift fundraising in a higher education environment.

• This position may require additional hours beyond typical work hours, including evenings and weekends.
• Must have the ability to travel extensively throughout the assigned region.

80% - Fundraising and Portfolio Management:

• The…