Director of Prospect Development

Posting Details

This position is designated as Exempt from the Human Resources Act (EHRA).

Posting Details

Benefits of Working at UNCW

At the University of North Carolina Wilmington, we are driven by a clear purpose: to empower student success, advance innovation, and strengthen the communities we serve. Guided by our strategic vision and commitment to excellence, UNCW offers a dynamic and collaborative environment where employees can make meaningful contributions while growing their careers.

Located in coastal North Carolina, UNCW combines the energy of a thriving academic community with the natural beauty of nearby beaches and outdoor spaces. Here, professional opportunity is balanced with an exceptional quality of life-creating a workplace where you can thrive both personally and professionally.

As a member of the Seahawk community, you'll benefit from a culture that values well-being, lifelong learning, and connection. UNCW offers a competitive and flexible benefits package designed to support your health, financial well-being, and professional growth. From comprehensive health coverage and retirement options to generous paid leave, tuition opportunities within the UNC System, learning and development opportunities, and wellness programs, UNCW is committed to helping you thrive both at work and in your personal life.

Hiring Range Determined based on qualifications and/or experience. Working Title Director of Prospect Development External Link to Posting https://jobs.uncw.edu/postings/40535 Vacancy Number E1596 Position Number 7480 Location of Workplace Main UNCW Campus Home Department University Advancement - 50000 Division University Advancement - 50 Division Brief Summary of Work for this Position

UNCW's Division for University Advancement is actively recruiting for a strategic leader who can build upon our philanthropic successes, elevate our prospecting operation, and oversee data compliance and integrity related to prospect development, concurrent with the university's nationally rising reputation.

Reporting to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Major Gifts, the Director of Prospect Development will provide innovative leadership in all areas of prospect development for both the major gift and leadership annual giving enterprises to achieve the university's fundraising priorities. The Director of Prospect Development will oversee the development associate for prospect research position.

The Director will serve as the resident expert on industry standards, advising fundraising and engagement staff on best practices related to prospect management and strategy to move prospects through the cultivation-solicitation-stewardship cycle.

As the subject matter expert on a variety of prospect research, analysis, and wealth assessment tools, the Director will implement data collection, mining, modeling, and reporting to develop, in collaboration with Advancement Services, a prospect data structure that facilitates a data-driven fundraising model.

Job responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Develop and implement a systematized and streamlined approach to prospect identification and qualification to ensure an ample pipeline of both major giving and leadership annual giving prospects.
• Institute portfolio and pipeline management best practices through prospect identification, data analysis, portfolio optimization, and related services in support of effective fundraising programs and activities.
• In collaboration with Advancement Services, develop and implement data structures, dashboards, and reports to facilitate prospect record management in support of data-driven major giving and leadership annual giving fundraising operations.
• In collaboration with Major Gift and Communications teams, develop procedures for streamlined proposal generation using templates and campaign "one-sheeters" to produce both personalized conversation starters and formal proposals.
• Identify, implement and utilize technology solutions that enhance prospect development capabilities and support portfolio management.
• Manage a development associate for prospect research-to include hiring, training, mentoring, and ongoing performance evaluation.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

• Bachelor's degree, or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.
• Five years of prospect development experience with knowledge of prospect identification, research, and analysis in a university or nonprofit setting.
• Knowledge of fundraising principles, prospect research tools, and fundraising CRM systems.
• Three years of experience managing a team.

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Proven ability to work independently, maintain confidentiality, and prioritize assignments.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to interact with a diverse team with competing priorities.
• Familiarity with higher education policies and procedures.
• Experience with Raiser's Edge, LexisNexis, Microsoft Office products, query and report writing.
• Experience with technology solutions that enhance prospect development capabilities and support portfolio management.

Required Certifications or Licensures

None

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit

The Division for University Advancement (UA) is responsible for the following primary goals:

• Coordinate a campus-wide, comprehensive effort to raise philanthropic funds that support the strategic plan and mission of the university.
• Manage an inclusive alumni engagement program designed to serve and engage nearly 100,000 alumni as ambassadors, advocates, and donors.
• Strengthen and expand UNCW's donor pipeline through effective discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• Ensure that external boards (UNCW Foundation Board, Board of Visitors, Student Aid Association Board, Alumni Association Board of Directors, and the Friends of UNCW) effectively support UNCW.

The division's fundraising efforts are enhanced by effective partnerships with the campus community as well as external constituents, including alumni, parents, corporations, foundations, volunteers, and friends. Development areas include annual giving, leadership annual giving, major gifts, principal gifts, corporate and foundation engagement, planned giving, and alumni engagement. Prospect development, events and board management, stewardship, communications, and advancement services are support services for the fundraising activities of the division.

College/School Information University Information

The University of North Carolina Wilmington, the state's coastal university, is dedicated to the integration of teaching, mentoring, research and service. Widely acknowledged for its world-class faculty and staff and continuously recognized at a national level for scholarly excellence and affordability, UNCW offers a powerful academic experience that stimulates creative inquiry and critical thinking.

A public institution with nearly 18,000 students, UNCW offers a full range of baccalaureate- and graduate-level programs, as well as doctoral degrees in educational leadership, marine biology, nursing practice and psychology; and many distance learning options, including clinical research, an accelerated RN-to-BSN program, an Executive M.B.A. program structured for working professionals, and the nation's only bachelor's degree program focused on coastal engineering.

The university's efforts to advance research and scholarly activities have earned UNCW the elevated designation of "Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity" institution (R2 University) by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

UNCW has been part of the University of North Carolina System since 1969.

EEO Statement

UNCW does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of his or her race, sex (such as gender, gender identity, marital status, childbirth, and pregnancy), age, color, national origin (including ethnicity), religion, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, veteran status, military service member status, genetic information, or relationship to other university constituents - except where sex, age, or ability represent bona fide educational or occupational qualifications or where marital status is a statutorily established eligibility criterion for State funded employee benefit programs.

Eligibility for Employment

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. UNC Wilmington participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Number of Openings Single Incumbent Special Notes to Applicants

PLEASE NOTE: This posting will close at 11:59PM (Eastern time) on the posted closing date. To receive full consideration, please be sure you have fully completed the entire application, including the 'Work History' section before you apply for this position. Applications must be submitted through the online application system to be considered.

Months Per Year 12 Months FTE 1.0 FTE (40 hours per week) Type of Position Permanent Anticipated Ending Date if Time-Limited Positions Job Posting Date 08/18/2026 Posting Close Date 09/09/2026

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Optional Documents

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• • How did you learn of this opportunity with UNCW? (2026)

• UNCW Website

• UNCW LinkedIn Page

• UNCW X Account (formerly Twitter)

• UNCW Employee Referral

• UNCW Instagram Account (UNCW_jobs)

• UNCW Job Alert

• Chronical of Higher Education

• Glassdoor

• Higher Ed Jobs

• Indeed

• Inside Higher Ed

• North Carolina Job Network

• Craigslist

• Career Events/Job Fairs

• Billboards/Marquee

• Other

• • If you selected "Other" to the question above, please explain how you found out about this opportunity. Enter N/A if not applicable.

(Open Ended Question)