Associate Athletic Director for Development

Position Title:

Associate Athletic Director for Development

Time Type:

Full time

Position Summary and Qualifications:

Saint Joseph’s University is seeking a senior member of its Advancement and Athletics teams – Associate Athletic Director for Development. The successful candidate will join a dynamic team at an enterprising University.

Saint Joseph University’s Department of Athletics is in a transformational era, with a premium on creating a world-class Division I experience for its student-athletes; generating excitement among the campus community, alumni and the Philadelphia area; and competing for Championships in the Atlantic 10, one of the best conferences in Division I. We are looking for energetic, hard-working candidates who have a passion for competing and are excited to push the boundaries of traditional thinking when it comes to college athletics.

The Associate Athletic Director for Development is responsible for leading and executing fundraising efforts to advance the mission and priorities of Saint Joseph’s University Athletics. This position focuses on securing major gifts in support of athletic facilities, programs, and strategic initiatives, with a particular emphasis on men’s and women’s basketball and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) priorities.

The Associate Athletic Director will manage a portfolio of alumni, parents, and friends with significant philanthropic capacity, working to achieve annual fundraising goals and strengthen engagement across the Hawk Athletics community. This role will also play a key part in securing funding for ongoing, transformative capital projects, and expanding support for the Basketball Excellence Fund (or its successor fund).

Position Title:

Associate Athletic Director for Development

Time Type:

Full time

Position Summary and Qualifications:

Saint Joseph’s University is seeking a senior member of its Advancement and Athletics teams – Associate Athletic Director for Development. The successful candidate will join a dynamic team at an enterprising University.

Saint Joseph University’s Department of Athletics is in a transformational era, with a premium on creating a world-class Division I experience for its student-athletes; generating excitement among the campus community, alumni and the Philadelphia area; and competing for Championships in the Atlantic 10, one of the best conferences in Division I. We are looking for energetic, hard-working candidates who have a passion for competing and are excited to push the boundaries of traditional thinking when it comes to college athletics.

The Associate Athletic Director for Development is responsible for leading and executing fundraising efforts to advance the mission and priorities of Saint Joseph’s University Athletics. This position focuses on securing major gifts in support of athletic facilities, programs, and strategic initiatives, with a particular emphasis on men’s and women’s basketball and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) priorities.

The Associate Athletic Director will manage a portfolio of alumni, parents, and friends with significant philanthropic capacity, working to achieve annual fundraising goals and strengthen engagement across the Hawk Athletics community. This role will also play a key part in securing funding for ongoing, transformative capital projects, and expanding support for the Basketball Excellence Fund (or its successor fund).

It is important to note that while this position reports to the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development, it also has a firm foothold in Athletics. The level of collaboration between Advancement and Athletics is strong and is central to the success of both Athletics and Advancement.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: (60%)

• Successfully raise a minimum of $500,000 in major gifts annually from assigned portfolio donors.

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 100–125 major gift prospects, conducting 120–150 meaningful personal visits annually.

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors with an emphasis on basketball, NIL, and other athletic priorities.

• Collaborate with other Major Gift Officers and University Advancement colleagues to coordinate donor strategies, particularly with alumni or donors who support athletics.

• Maintain detailed and accurate records of donor engagement, solicitation progress, and gift commitments in University CRM systems, ensuring compliance and timely documentation.

• Together with the General Managers for Men’s and Women’s Basketball, and the Sr. Associate Athletic Director for Development, serve as the “NIL Team” for St. Joe’s Athletics.

Strategic Planning and Collaboration (20%)

• Partner with University Advancement and Athletics leadership to identify and engage new major and planned giving prospects.

• Work closely with the Hawk Athletic Fund and Annual Giving teams to enhance overall participation and philanthropic impact.

• Develop and execute short- and long-term fundraising strategies to support current and emerging athletic priorities.

• Provide leadership in aligning athletic development efforts with institutional goals and strategic initiatives.

Relationship Building and Representation (15%)

• Serve as a visible representative of Saint Joseph’s Athletics at athletic, alumni, and university events to promote donor engagement and program support.

• Support the planning and execution of athletics-based events, including games, donor receptions, and team-related functions.

• Strengthen collaboration between Athletics, Advancement, and campus partners to ensure a seamless donor experience.

Administrative and Stewardship Support (5%)

• Assist with stewardship efforts including ticket management, donor recognition, and event coordination.

• Contribute to University and Athletics professional development initiatives and represent Athletics in select Advancement and campus committees.

• Perform additional duties as assigned by the supervisor or Advancement leadership.

Minimum Qualifications (Education/Training and Experience)

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree required

• Three or more years of progressively responsible experience in major gift fundraising, sales, or related relationship management field (Note: outstanding fundraising performance, participation in college athletics, and other factors could substitute for one or more years of experience).

• Demonstrated success in securing major gifts or significant partnerships

• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills

• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail

• Ability to work independently while fostering a collaborative team environment

• Valid driver’s license and willingness to travel locally and nationally

• Proven track record of cultivating and closing major gifts

• Strategic thinker with the ability to align donor interests with institutional priorities

• Strong networking, relationship-building, and follow-up skills

• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities effectively

• Commitment to the mission, values, and Jesuit tradition of Saint Joseph’s University

Preferred:

• Master’s degree or equivalent work experience

• Previous experience in higher education fundraising or intercollegiate athletics administration

• Understanding of NCAA regulations and the evolving NIL landscape

• Proficiency with fundraising or CRM software (e.g., Banner, Blackbaud, etc)

Physical Requirements and/or Unusual Work Hours:

• Standing for long periods of time

• Some travel required, specifically in the U.S. outside of the Philadelphia region

• Evening/weekend hours required, especially during academic year

Saint Joseph’s University is a private, Catholic, Jesuit institution and we expect members of our community to be knowledgeable about – and to make a positive contribution to – our mission. Saint Joseph’s University is an equal opportunity employer that seeks to recruit, develop and retain a talented and diverse workforce. The University is committed to the diversity of its faculty and staff so that our students, our disciplines and our community as a whole can benefit from the multiple perspectives it offers. The University seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. EOE

Saint Joseph’s University prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in its programs and activities, including admission and employment, in accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The Title IX Coordinator is responsible for overseeing compliance with Title IX and other civil rights laws and regulations. To contact the Title IX Coordinator, e-mail titleix@sju.edu, visit Campion Student Center suite 243, or call 610-660-1145. To learn more about the University’s Title IX policies, the process for filing a report or formal complaint of sex discrimination, sexual harassment, or other form of sexual misconduct, and the University’s response to reports and/or formal complaints, please visit www.sju.edu/titleix. Inquiries may also be directed to the Federal agency responsible for enforcing Title IX, the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.

Pay Transparency & Benefits Overview

Please click to read more about the university's approach to pay and benefits transparency. Adjunct instructor compensation can be found in the article. Otherwise, an estimated pay range is listed below. This position's estimated pay range is:

$102,400.00 - $114,950.00

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