Director of Development (FA387)

Location: Farmville, VA Category: Administrative/Professional Posted On: Wed Jul 2 2025 Job Description:

Longwood University invites qualified applicants to apply for the position of Director of Development (FA387). Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Development, the Director of Development will serve as a key member of the Institutional Advancement team, with a primary focus on leading donor stewardship and engagement efforts. This position is responsible for implementing a comprehensive stewardship program, developing customized recognition strategies, and coordinating meaningful donor experiences, including virtual events. The Director will serve as a member of the planning team for Longwood's annual Day of Giving while also assisting the Associate Vice President with a variety of strategic initiatives, including project coordination, data reporting, and special fundraising efforts. The ideal candidate will be a collaborative, detail-oriented professional who is committed to fostering a culture of philanthropy and strengthening relationships with donors at all levels.

This position is located in Farmville, Virginia, and is required to work in person on Longwood University's campus.

Essential Responsibilities and Duties:

• Lead and implement a comprehensive donor stewardship program, ensuring timely, meaningful acknowledgements and consistent, personalized recognition for donors at all levels.
• Execute all aspects of general annual giving stewardship, including execution, tracking, and refinement of appreciation efforts and donor communications.
• Assist in the development and manage customized stewardship plans for specific donor segments and university departments in coordination with advancement colleagues.
• Create and manage stewardship materials, including impact reports, donor spotlights, thank-you packages, and digital content.
• Monitor and analyze engagement and stewardship efforts, using data and feedback to inform strategic improvements.
• Plan and execute donor engagement experiences, both in-person and virtual, that enhance relationships and foster a strong culture of philanthropy.
• Collaborate with the Annual Giving team to ensure consistency in tone, branding, and messaging across all donor-facing materials.
• Collaborate on the planning and execution of Longwood's annual Day of Giving, including donor segmentation, messaging, engagement strategies, and follow-up stewardship.
• Build strong relationships across campus to align donor engagement with institutional priorities, partnering with faculty, staff, and leadership as appropriate.
• Support special fundraising initiatives and projects, working in partnership with university departments and stakeholders.
• Assist the AVP of Development by compiling data, preparing reports, and tracking fundraising progress to support strategic decision-making.
• Support the AVP of Development in the coordination and execution of various projects and initiatives across the development portfolio.
• Attend and support key university and development events, including evenings and weekends as needed.

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree required, preferably in a related field such as Business, Communications, Marketing, or a similar discipline; a master's degree is preferred.
• A valid driver's license is required, with the ability to travel frequently throughout the region and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• Willingness and flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed to support special events and programs is required.
• Relevant experience in fundraising (annual giving preferred), development, communications, or a related field is strongly preferred.
• Proven leadership skills and the ability to manage diverse priorities across multiple functional areas in a fast-paced environment.
• Exceptional attention to detail and a demonstrated ability to develop, implement, and evaluate strategic advancement plans.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build meaningful relationships with donors, alumni, faculty, students, and university stakeholders.
• A high level of professionalism, discretion, and emotional intelligence, with the ability to interact effectively with a wide range of individuals and constituencies.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling messaging and steward relationships through multiple channels.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and research skills, paired with creativity and strategic thinking.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with internal campus partners and external constituents.
• A strong personal and professional commitment to the mission, vision, and values of Longwood University and the role of higher education in society.
• Must be self-motivated, adaptable, organized, and capable of managing multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining a positive and respectful attitude.
• Appreciation for and sensitivity to engaging with diverse audiences, including university leadership, faculty, alumni, donors, and volunteers.

Additional Information:

This position is a full-time, administrative and professional faculty, exempt position. A successful fingerprint based criminal background investigation is required. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni are encouraged to apply.

Commonwealth of Virginia benefits accompany this position to include:

• State health and dental benefits & flexible spending accounts
• Paid leave (which may include sick leave, personal leave, annual leave, etc.), and 13 holidays
• Retirement savings plans (some with limited employer match available (VRS))
• Life & Long-Term care insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee discounts for various services, including Verizon.
• Educational benefits for most employees
• More affordable Fitness Center membership

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Longwood University will provide, if requested, reasonable accommodations to applicants in order to provide access to the application and/or interview process. You are not required to note the presence of a disability on your application. If, however, you require accommodations in the application and/or interview process, please contact the Office of Human Resources at 434-395-2074 or humres@longwood.edu .

Per CFR: Title 34, the Title IX Coordinator's contact information can be located through this link http://www.longwood.edu/titleix/ .

A diversified workforce is an important part of our strategic plan. EOE/AA