University of Southern California · 20 hours ago
Senior Director, Prospect Development
Los Angeles, CA - Health Sciences Campus
Full-time
Hybrid
Director/Executive
$115K/yr - $155K/yr
10+ years expThe University of Southern California is seeking a Senior Director, Prospect Development to join their Keck Advancement team. This role involves leading operational support for top fundraising priorities, overseeing prospect development and strategy, and fostering a collaborative team culture.
EducationHigher EducationUniversities
Responsibilities
Provide high-level support to the Senior Associate Vice President to advance development operations and gift officer activity
Lead the Keck Advancement Services team and contribute to strategic planning and decision-making
Develop and implement best practices for proposal processes and prospect development
Prepare and analyze reports for proposals, relationship management, and fund accounts
Gather and analyze data for special projects in collaboration with central advancement offices; identify trends and actionable insights
Conduct benchmarking research to support proposal development for Keck’s fundraising priorities
Coordinate with central Relationship Management and Tracking System to identify and assign prospects, ensuring effective alignment with Keck’s team, particularly at the $1M+ level
Collaborate with gift officers and central teams to manage and track portfolios; assist in strategies to re-engage inactive prospects or reassign based on interests
Coordinate and assemble fundraising priorities and materials for initiatives
Manage confidential documentation with accuracy and integrity; maintain secure files
Anticipate and manage projects proactively, resolving issues to keep initiatives on track
Build and maintain resources for fundraisers and staff; contribute to relevant training and education
Undertake special projects as directed by the Senior Associate Vice President
Perform additional responsibilities as assigned
Qualification
Required
Expertise in research and analytical tools; ability to interpret donor-giving trends and prioritize prospects
Proven ability to synthesize research data into actionable findings for fundraising staff and leadership
Familiarity with CRM systems (USC uses Salesforce)
Demonstrated experience implementing strategies, policies, and procedures; ability to manage multiple projects while addressing daily needs
Excellent verbal and written communication skills; strong interpersonal skills and political acumen to build partnerships at all organizational levels
Experience collaborating with diverse teams to organize workflow and achieve objectives
Ability to establish relationships with key stakeholders (administrative leaders, gift officers, faculty) to advance priorities
Advanced knowledge of confidentiality, regulatory, and university policies; sound judgment in handling sensitive matters
Strong project management, time management, and organizational skills; ability to work independently and as a team leader
Progressive experience in advancement, preferably in higher education
Knowledge of university fundraising principles and best practices
Highly motivated, thrives in a dynamic environment, and meets deadlines independently
Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience
Minimum 10 years of development research experience in higher education (or equivalent) and 3 years of management experience
Preferred
Master's degree in business administration or related field
Experience in a complex medical or academic development setting
Comfortable interfacing with senior university leadership and supporters
Strong diplomacy skills; ability to cultivate relationships at all levels
High integrity and confidentiality
Ability to multi-task effectively with strong organizational skills
Sound judgment and decision-making
Cooperative, team-oriented attitude; effective facilitator in various settings
Company
University of Southern California
University of Southern California is a private research university offering opportunities for interdisciplinary study and collaboration.
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
University of Southern California has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (253)
2024 (239)
2023 (172)
2022 (207)
2021 (182)
2020 (195)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$19.64MKey Investors
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research InstituteCalifornia Institute for Regenerative MedicineCDA Foundation
2025-02-04Grant· $10.8M
2025-01-30Grant· $5.93M
2024-07-30Grant
Leadership Team
David A Barnhart
Director, USC Space Engineering Research Center
H
Hossein Pourmand
Assistant Vice President, Research Initiatives, University Advancement
Recent News
2026-01-17
Sports Business Journal
2025-12-30
Company data provided by crunchbase