Description

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. 

Key Responsibilities

• 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.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree or foreign equivalent.
• Minimum of ten years of successful and progressively responsible experience in fundraising, business development, and/ or related field focused on relationship management. Higher education fundraising experience preferred.
• Demonstrated skills in achieving alignment, working cross-unit, providing active support and close collaboration amongst a broad range of stakeholders in relations to strategic plans and execution.
• Demonstrated analytical and strategic thinking capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a team-based environment.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to interact effectively with academic leaders, faculty, staff, donors, and volunteers.
• Proven leadership skills.
• Ability to work in highly complex organizational structure.
• Tolerance for and ability to work productively in the context of ambiguity, uncertainty and change.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with discretion.  
• Excellent problem-solving ability and creativity. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Higher education fundraising experience preferred.

Why Join Us?

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.

About the University of Illinois Chicago

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.

About the College of Engineering

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 has brought remarkable growth in enrollment, faculty expertise, research capabilities, and academic programs. This growth has included investments in facilities, including a new state-of-the-art Computer Design, Research and Learning Center, a 135,000-square-foot building featuring a robotics lab with a simulated city for testing autonomous vehicles, modern classrooms, and student community spaces, and the Engineering Innovation Building, which is home to the High-Bay Structures Laboratory, which enables engineers and industry professionals to develop and test large and heavy infrastructural components.  

The college has earned impressive national distinctions highlighting its commitment to quality and accessibility: #9 for "best value" (Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education), #9 for social mobility (U.S. News), and #39 among public universities (U.S. News Best Colleges 2025). 

Over 35,000 graduates have become industry leaders and top researchers worldwide, testament to the college's enduring impact on engineering education and professional development.

TO APPLY, PLEASE GO DIRECTLY TO THE UIC JOB BOARD.  Click the link https://uic.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/17062?c=uic to view the Executive Director of Development job posting.   FOR FULLEST CONSIDERATION, PLEASE APPLY BY November 2, 2025.  RESUME AND COVER LETTER REQUIRED. 

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.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes health, dental, vision, life insurance, a retirement plan, paid time off, and tuition waivers for employees and dependents. 

As an EOE/AA employer, the University of Illinois encourages applications from individuals regardless of an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, and Veteran or disability status. 

The University of Illinois may conduct background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer. Background checks will be performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

The University of Illinois System requires candidates selected for hire to disclose any documented finding of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment and to authorize inquiries to current and former employers regarding findings of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment. For more information, visit https://www.hr.uillinois.edu/cms/One.aspx?portalId=4292&pageId=1411899.