Lead Development Officer

The University of Southern California (USC), founded in 1880, is a world‑class research university located in the heart of Los Angeles and the city’s largest private employer. As a USC employee, you will become part of the “Trojan Family”—the faculty, students, and staff who make the university an exceptional place to work. USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences is committed to the creation, preservation, and communication of knowledge, a lifelong passion for learning, and the betterment of society. Realizing this mission requires a culture in which students, faculty, and staff can thrive—one grounded in respect, collaboration, opportunity, and a shared commitment to excellence. The Director of Development will contribute to this mission by building meaningful relationships with alumni, parents, and friends and securing philanthropic support for the College’s highest priorities. In addition to strong fundraising expertise, the successful candidate will be a collaborative colleague who strengthens relationships, understands their impact on others, and contributes positively to the success of the advancement team and the broader Dornsife community. Job Summary USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences seeks an accomplished, entrepreneurial, and highly motivated Director of Development to manage and grow a portfolio of high‑capacity gift prospects and donors, with a primary focus on Hong Kong and a complementary portfolio in Southern California. This is a frontline fundraising role for a seasoned development professional who is energized by building relationships, identifying opportunity, and translating the intellectual and academic strengths of Dornsife into compelling philanthropic investments. The Director of Development will manage a portfolio of prospects and donors capable of making gifts of up to $5 million and will be responsible for driving the full major‑gift cycle—from prospect identification and qualification through cultivation, solicitation, gift negotiation, and stewardship. The successful candidate will be an independent self‑starter who is comfortable creating a strategy where one does not yet exist, developing trusted relationships with individuals and families, and navigating complex philanthropic interests to connect donors with opportunities across Dornsife’s humanities, social sciences, and life and physical sciences. Working closely with academic leaders, faculty, University Advancement colleagues, and other development partners, the Director will develop and execute individualized engagement strategies designed to deepen donor affinity, increase philanthropic investment, and secure support for Dornsife’s highest priorities. The role requires exceptional judgment, initiative, cultural fluency, discretion, and the ability to operate effectively across geographies, time zones, and levels of university leadership. This is an opportunity for a proven major‑gift fundraiser to have meaningful ownership of a significant portfolio and to play a visible role in expanding Dornsife’s philanthropic reach internationally and in Southern California.

Key Responsibilities
Build and manage a major‑gift portfolio. Manage a portfolio of approximately 75 high‑potential prospects and donors, with a particular emphasis on individuals and families based in Hong Kong and Southern California. Develop and continually refine sophisticated relationship strategies that reflect each donor’s interests, capacity, connections, and philanthropic objectives. Identify and qualify new prospects. Identify, research, qualify, and engage prospective donors with the capacity and inclination to make significant investments in USC Dornsife. Develop networks and referral sources that expand the College’s pipeline, particularly within international markets. This work will be supported by research teams in University Advancement and Dornsife Advancement. Drive the complete major‑gift process. Personally lead prospects through discovery, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, taking ownership of outcomes and maintaining momentum across a complex and often lengthy fundraising cycle. Structure transformative gifts. Partner with donors, their advisors, and university colleagues to structure significant and complex gifts that align donor intent with Dornsife priorities and university policies. Develop compelling philanthropic opportunities. Work with academic and university leaders to translate Dornsife’s priorities into clear, persuasive, donor‑centered opportunities. Develop customized proposals, briefing materials, talking points, and other communications that articulate the impact and significance of philanthropic investment. Cultivate relationships with senior‑level donors and advisors. Establish and sustain relationships characterized by trust, credibility, and discretion. Engage effectively with high‑net‑worth individuals, family representatives, professional adviso