Senior Director of Development and Research Funding - Pomona, CA - Western University of Health Sciences

Description

The Senior Director of Development and Research Funding (Senior DoD) plays a critical leadership role in advancing the philanthropic priorities of Western University of Health Sciences. This position carries primary responsibility for fundraising in the College of Health Sciences, while also providing strategic leadership to secure funding for research initiatives across the University. Reporting to the Vice President of Development and Campaign Strategy (VPD), the Senior DoD is responsible for designing and implementing comprehensive fundraising strategies that engage individuals, corporations, foundations, and other external partners to generate major gifts, principal gifts, and research funding. The Senior DoD manages a portfolio of top prospects, mentors colleagues in development, and partners with deans, faculty, and University leadership to secure transformative support.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Individuals must possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities or be able to perform the essential functions of the assigned classification, with or without reasonable accommodation(s), using some other combination of skills and abilities. Necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities are as follows:

Knowledge of:

• In-depth knowledge of fundraising, donor relations, stewardship, alumni engagement, and grant/foundation fundraising.
• Familiarity with advancement database systems (Raiser's Edge, RENXT, or Banner).
• Knowledge of federal and institutional regulations relevant to fundraising and research (FERPA, HIPAA).
• Awareness of CASE standards and professional ethical guidelines.

Skills:

• Advanced proposal development and grant writing skills for individual and research fundraising.
• Exceptional written, oral, and interpersonal communication abilities.
• Strong strategic planning, project management, and leadership skills.
• • Advanced organizational, analytical, and critical thinking skills.

Ability to:

• Close major and principal gifts consistently.
• Lead and collaborate with faculty, deans, and senior administrators.
• Manage multiple projects and priorities independently.
• Mentor colleagues and support team success.
• Uphold confidentiality and ethical standards in all interactions.
• Represent WesternU with integrity, professionalism, and credibility.
• Work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders across sectors.
• Demonstrate a commitment to working for an organization that values and promotes humanism.

Required Qualifications

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor's degree required.

EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum 6–8 years of progressive fundraising experience, including securing major and principal gifts. Demonstrated success in grant writing and obtaining foundation or private funding for research. Supervisory or mentoring experience in a development office preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree preferred in a relevant field.

Essential Job Duties

Key Responsibilities

College & Individual Giving Fundraising:

• Develop and lead fundraising strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major and principal gift prospects in support of the College of Health Sciences and University priorities.
• Ensure ambitious fundraising goals are met; prepare compelling proposals for individuals, corporations, and foundations.
• Expand the individual giving pipeline, enhance corporate philanthropy, and develop initiatives that sustain student success and academic excellence.
• Partner with college deans and leadership to align institutional needs with donor interests.
• Recruit, train, and guide volunteers and faculty leaders to participate in advancement efforts and high-level donor solicitations.
• Monitor progress using Raiser's Edge and uphold WesternU's prospect management and stewardship standards.

Key Responsibilities

Donor Relations and Communications:

• Represent Western University of Health Sciences in external-facing engagement on behalf of the College as needed with donors, corporate partners, foundations, and other key stakeholders.
• Collaborate with communications team to develop targeted messaging, proposals, and collateral materials that effectively convey the University's mission and impact to donor audiences.
• Serve as a passionate advocate for WesternU's mission and priorities during donor meetings, community events, and professional conferences.
• Maintain a strong understanding of healthcare education trends and research advancements to position WesternU's work effectively with external partners and funders.
• Ensure that stewardship communications and recognition efforts reflect donor intent and demonstrate the impact of their support.

Key Responsibilities

Research-Focused Fundraising:

• Provide leadership in securing grants and private philanthropic funding for research initiatives across the University.
• Collaborate with faculty, research directors, and academic leadership to identify and prioritize research funding opportunities.
• Cultivate relationships with foundations, corporations, and private funders aligned with WesternU's research strengths.
• Support faculty in building and stewarding relationships with research donors and partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Other Duties as Assigned

Posting Details Continued

Work Schedule

• The working hours will be 8am-5pm with some nights and weekend hours.

Working at WesternU

We believe in making an impact in the lives of our employees, personally, and professionally. Every employee has different individual and/or family needs. We offer benefits that are both comprehensive and flexible to address your unique needs. We believe work-life harmony is positive and achievable.

We offer competitive salaries, generous paid time off, insurance plans, reimbursements, and retirement benefits. Additionally,

• Our faculty, staff, and administrators are 100% focused on student success.

• Our University culture creates the context for a nurturing and supportive environment.

• Faculty, staff, and students can expect to make deep, personal relationships within the University community.

• As a Faculty, Staff, or Student at WesternU, you can focus on work that you love, be your authentic self, and lead to the future with innovation in health sciences.

• WesternU's core value of humanism encourages all to bring their whole self in all that they do.

• We are committed to fostering a culture of respect, equity, collaboration, and fun at all levels for all people

Expected Pay Scale

Minimum

$130,000.00 Annually

Maximum

$160,000.00 Annually

Physical Demands

Physical Demands

Do the essential functions of this job require lifting?

Yes

If yes, list maximum weight and duration

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by any employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, use hands, and reach with hands and arms in order to operate a PC in the performance of job duties, and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job includes close, distance, and peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to focus.

Individual must be able to travel to meet with individual prospects/donors in their homes, offices and other locations.

Describe Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Duties are normally performed in the homes or offices of other people or in a typical office setting. The noise level in these settings is usually fairly quiet.

Posting Information

Posting Number

A00930

Posting Date

11/04/2025

Close Date

11/04/2026

Open Until Filled

Yes

Conditions of Employment - Background Check

To secure employment, successful fulfillment of a background check, including a criminal records check, may be required. Western University of Health Sciences will extend a conditional offer of employment, subject to rescission if the background check unveils disqualifying information or if it is found that the candidate deliberately withheld or misrepresented information. Non-completion of the background check to satisfaction may impact the ongoing employment of a current Western University of Health Sciences employee who received a conditional offer for the position.

Pay Transparency Act

Pay Transparency Act- Western University of Health Sciences is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This range considers various factors in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience. The Expected Pay Scale is defined as the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. Placement within the Expected Pay Scale is determined by internal equity and relevant qualifications.

Equal Opportunity Statement (EEO)

It is the policy of Western University to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment as required by law without regard to age, race, color, national origin ancestry, citizenship, ethnicity, creed, religion or religious creed, sex or gender (including gender identity), marital status, sexual orientation, disability (both physical and mental) including HIV and AIDS, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), pregnancy (which includes childbirth, breastfeeding and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding), age, genetic information, military and veteran status, or any other applicable protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.This policy applies to all employment practices within WesternU including without limitation, hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoffs, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, and training. WesternU makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merits, and business needs at the time.

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

• Resume

Optional Documents

• Cover Letter

• Letter of Recommendation #1

• Letter of Recommendation #2

• Letter of Recommendation #3