Department
ADV Development
About the Department
Advancement’s Development team provides strategic leadership for fundraising and engagement efforts across the University of Chicago, aligning institutional priorities with philanthropic opportunities. The Office oversees a broad portfolio of development programs and works in close partnership with University leadership, including the President, Provost, Deans, and other academic leaders to advance major and principal gift strategy, donor engagement, and campaign execution. The team collaborates across University Advancement to strengthen a culture of philanthropy, enhance coordination among units, and deepen relationships with the University’s alumni and friends. Through a strategic approach, Advancement’s Development team supports long-term institutional goals while enabling impactful, mission-driven giving.
Job Summary
As the Advancement division enters a period of increased complexity and scale associated with a comprehensive campaign, this role is designed to provide dedicated capacity for development-related planning, coordination, and execution across development teams. The role works closely with the CDO and Advancement teams to translate strategic direction into actionable plans, track progress across initiatives, and support disciplined execution of top priorities. The role requires exceptional judgment, discretion, and the ability to operate with credibility across multiple stakeholders across Advancement and the broader University.
Responsibilities
- Partners with the Senior Associate Vice President for Advancement and Chief Development Officer (CDO), to support planning, priorities, and decision-making.
- Develops and maintains integrated project plans, charters, and status reports to promote transparency and shared accountability.
- Translates strategic priorities into actionable initiatives, structured workplans, timelines, and measurable milestones across development teams.
- Tracks progress against established goals, proactively identifying risks, gaps, and interdependencies requiring alignment or escalation.
- Coordinates cross-functional workstreams, stakeholders, and deliverables to support timely execution of major initiatives.
- Supports development-related planning, coordination, and execution, including roadmap development and milestone tracking.
- Provides organizational structure, analytical support, and meeting facilitation to sustain momentum and clarity during a period of increased development complexity and scale.
- Supports the CDO in moves management, including creating briefing developments, synthesizing input from stakeholders, and tracking CDO activity to inform priorities, such as trip planning and identifying key donor meetings and engagements.
- Develops concise strategic briefings, synthesis materials, and presentations to support informed decision-making, working with appropriate Advancement teams to ensure organizational alignment.
- Supports alignment of the CDO’s time, attention, and focus with highest-impact initiatives, including development strategy, fundraising priorities, and external partnerships.
- Drafts, refines, and supports development of strategic narratives, communications, and planning materials. Provides strong preparation to the CDO for presentations and external meetings.
- Represents the CDO in selected meetings to advance priority initiatives and ensure alignment.
- Seeks opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance including attending webinars and seminars; and building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions.
- Works somewhat independently to develop detailed work plans, schedules, project estimates, resource plans, and status reports. Assembles and leads a project team, assigns individual responsibilities, identifies appropriate resources needed, and develops schedules to ensure timely completion of projects.
- Acts as a resource for a project team and provides analytical guidance. Interprets complex project issues and provides analytical guidance to a project team.
- Performs other related work as needed.
Minimum Qualifications
Education:
Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
Work Experience:
Certifications:
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Preferred Qualifications
Education:
- Advanced degree.
Experience:
- Minimum five years of professional experience in advancement, campaign planning, strategic planning, project management, or related fields.
- Development strategy, including moves management.
- Data analysis and communicating complex topics to non-technical people.
- Managing complex cross-team projects with multiple stakeholders.
Technical Skills or Knowledge:
- Demonstrated skill and knowledge of, or ability to learn quickly, the internal workings of the University as well as the technology tools available to Advancement, including Phoenix, the University's Donor Relationship Management System.
- Proficient in a Microsoft Windows computer environment, especially with Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access.
Preferred Competencies
- Highly organized with strong project management discipline.
- Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write effectively. Explain complex ideas clearly and simply.
- Manage confidential information with discretion and tact.
- Act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
- Work collegially and collaboratively in a team setting.
- Self-motivated and take initiative.
- Prioritize multiple projects and independently follow through with detail.
Working Conditions
- This position has a hybrid work schedule which includes weekly in office presence.
- Standard office environment.
- Travel to campus and/or non-campus locations for University business.
- Work evenings and weekends as needed.
- This position is located in Hyde Park at 5235 South Harper Court.
- This position is not eligible for employer-sponsored employment authorization.
Application Documents
- Resume/CV (required)
- Cover Letter (preferred)
When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.
Job Family
Role Impact
Scheduled Weekly Hours
Drug Test Required
Health Screen Required
Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
Pay Rate Type
FLSA Status
Pay Range
The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.
Benefits Eligible
The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.
Posting Statement
The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.
Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.
All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.
The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.
Skills Required
- College or university degree in a related field
- 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline
- Advanced degree
- Professional experience in advancement, campaign planning, strategic planning, project management, or related fields
- Development strategy experience, including moves management
- Data analysis and ability to communicate complex topics to non-technical audiences
- Experience managing complex cross-team projects with multiple stakeholders
- Familiarity with or ability to quickly learn Phoenix donor relationship management system
- Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access in a Microsoft Windows environment
- Highly organized with strong project management discipline and ability to manage confidential information with discretion
What We Do
The University of Chicago is an urban research university that has driven new ways of thinking since 1890. Our commitment to rigorous inquiry and intellectual freedom draws pathbreaking scholars to our global campuses, where field-defining ideas are born that challenge and change the world. The University of Chicago has its main campus on Chicago's South Side and seven international campuses and centers throughout the world. Students can choose from 53 majors and 47 minors in the undergraduate College, with four divisions and seven professional schools for graduate study.
