Director of Development & Community Engagement

Director of Development and Community Engagement

Exempt 1.0 FTE 

Reports to: Head of School

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All UCDS employees are expected to embody the school’s mission to design a culture of inquiry essential to meaningful learning; cultivate reflective, collaborative, skillful thinkers who ignite positive change in their communities; and engage diverse perspectives in an ongoing effort to shape and share our innovative education model.

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Job Summary

The Director of Development and Community Engagement at UCDS will lead all aspects of the Development Office, including donor relations, frontline fundraising and major gifts, alumni relations, and volunteer coordination in support of the school’s mission and values. This role is central to building a strong culture of philanthropy across faculty, staff, and the broader school community. Reporting directly to the Head of School and working closely with the Board of Trustees, the Director will develop and implement strategic, data-informed approaches to strengthen UCDS’s financial sustainability, deepen long-term donor relationships, and expand community engagement.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Fundraising and Campaign Leadership

• Build and shape a comprehensive giving strategy aligned with the UCDS strategic plan.
• Design and execute integrated fundraising strategies to support institutional priorities.
• Lead capital campaign efforts from feasibility through execution, serving as both lead
• Strategist and solicitor (portfolio size and campaign goal to be determined).
• Develop data-informed strategies to engage and steward donors at all levels, continuously assessing and refining fundraising effectiveness.

Donor Engagement and Relationship Management

• Cultivate and steward relationships with major donors and key community stakeholders, including corporate and foundation partners.
• Design and implement strategic donor engagement plans that support both immediate and long-term giving goals.
• Expand the donor base while strengthening retention and re-engagement of existing supporters.

Collaboration and Communications

• Partner with admissions, marketing, and communications teams to develop compelling, mission-aligned messaging.
• Ensure consistency and alignment of development communications with broader institutional goals.

Data-Driven Development Management

• Utilize Veracross to manage donor relationships, track contributed revenue, and inform strategy.
• Apply data insights to prepare monthly reports, monitor performance, guide decision-making, and optimize development outcomes.

Leadership and People Management

• Supervise and support the Development team, fostering a collaborative, high-performing, and growth-oriented culture. Working with a team of 2 direct reports: Assistant Director of Development, Development and Event Manager.
• Engage cross-functional teams and volunteers to strengthen community-building efforts aligned with the UCDS mission and related to development department events.

Supervisory Responsibilities 

The Development Director oversees the work and job performance of the following direct reports and those in their departments:

• Assistant Director of Development
• Development & Events Manager
• Development Assistant & Community Liaison
• Parent/Guardian Association members
• Volunteers
• Alums