New

Director of Prospect Development

North Carolina State University

Commensurate with Education and Experience

life insurance, flexible benefit account, paid time off

United States, North Carolina, Raleigh

Feb 11, 2026

Posting Information

Posting Number	PG194468EP
Internal Recruitment	No
Working Title	Director of Prospect Development
Anticipated Hiring Range	Commensurate with Education and Experience
Work Schedule	Monday- Friday ; 8:00 am-5:00 pm and other hours as needed to fulfill the duties of this position; Flexible work arrangements available
Job Location	Raleigh, NC
Department	University Development
About the Department	North Carolina State University (NC State) was founded in 1887 with the purpose of creating economic, societal, and intellectual prosperity for the people of North Carolina. Today it is the largest university in North Carolina with more than 34,000 high-performing students, 8,000 pre-eminent faculty and staff and over 310,000 alumni. NC State is known for its leadership in research, education, and service and as a research extensive university, is recognized for its strengths in science, engineering, and technology. The University consistently ranks among the top public national universities and one of the best values in higher education. University Advancement amplifies NC State's local and global impact by nurturing lifelong relationships, championing philanthropy and strengthening the Wolfpack community. Led by Vice Chancellor Brian Sischo, UA fulfills its mission through the operations of four main units: University Development, which seeks and obtains philanthropic support; Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving, which builds and fosters relationships and a culture of philanthropy with alumni and other constituencies; and Advancement Services, which provides information management and other key support functions to all University Advancement units. The mission of University Development within the Division of University Advancement at NC State is to raise philanthropic support for university goals and priorities that benefit our students, faculty, this campus and ultimately, the state of North Carolina. The department includes the offices of Central Major Gifts, Corporate and Foundation Relations, Gift Planning, Development Communications and Stewardship and Prospect Development.
Wolfpack Perks and Benefits	As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Proposition and learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone. What we offer: Medical, Dental, and Vision Flexible Spending Account Retirement Programs Disability Plans Life Insurance Accident Plan Paid Time Off and Other Leave Programs 12 Holidays Each Year Tuition and Academic Assistance And so much more! Attain Work-life balance with our Childcare benefits, Wellness & Recreation Membership, and Wellness Programs that aim to build a thriving wolfpack community. Disclaimer: Perks and Benefit eligibility is based on Part-Time or Full-Time Employment status. Eligibility and Employer Sponsored Plans can be found within each of the links offered.
Essential Job Duties	NC State seeks a strategic, collaborative and forward-thinking Director of Prospect Development to lead a high-performing team responsible for prospect research, portfolio management and data-driven insights that inform and advance fundraising strategy. In collaboration with University Development leadership, the Director will help shape the university's emerging prospect development model, leveraging NC State's newly launched Kindsight Ascend on Salesforce CRM (Lobo), integrating AI and next-generation tools in preparation for a university-wide comprehensive campaign. This is a pivotal leadership opportunity to reimagine how NC State identifies and engages philanthropic prospects: blending technology, data and human insight to drive greater alignment across a decentralized advancement ecosystem. The Director will lead efforts to build a unified, innovative and service-minded Prospect Development program that empowers fundraisers, amplifies institutional priorities and embraces continuous learning. Reporting to the Senior Director of Philanthropy for Comprehensive Campaign Strategy, the Director will play a critical role in shaping strategy for NC State's next campaign. This role requires strategic vision, strong people leadership and a willingness to explore bold, innovative ideas that advance NC State's culture of philanthropy.
Other Responsibilities	Major Duties and Responsibilities: Lead a dynamic, future-oriented Prospect Development team and program dedicated to supporting strategic fundraising across University Advancement Collaborate with University Development leadership and other campus partners in campaign strategy development including gift pyramid modeling, portfolio alignment and pipeline analysis to support principal and major gift activity Champion the integration of emerging technologies-including artificial intelligence, machine learning and predictive modeling-to enhance prospect discovery, segmentation and personalization In partnership with the Advancement Information Technology team, drive business intelligence through the creation and delivery impactful reports and dashboards (e.g. in Tableau) to inform campaign strategy, monitor portfolio performance and support data-informed decision making for UA leadership Manage and mentor a skilled Prospect Development team, empowering staff with the tools, clarity and support they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving field Build effective client-facing relationships with fundraisers in both central and college/unit-based advancement teams Foster a culture of experimentation, curiosity and collaboration-embracing agile practices and encouraging innovative problem-solving across the team Design and implement scalable research and prospect management practices to grow prospect pools for fundraising teams across UA that enable fundraising success Build and champion a culture of ethical data stewardship and business intelligence that are transparent and effective in a decentralized environment

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience	Bachelor's degree Minimum of five years of prospect development experience Minimum of three years of strong, demonstrated leadership and supervisory skills
Other Required Qualifications	Strong, demonstrated leadership and supervisory skills, with experience leading a team while building trust and collaboration across departments Experience in building effective relationships and collaborating with senior leadership, campus partners and fundraisers to develop aligned strategies, advance shared goals and drive fundraising success Excellent analytical skills, including the ability to interpret and present complex data, prospecting strategies and new technologies clearly and effectively to a variety of audiences Expertise in prospect research and prospect management, with knowledge of current best practices, ethical standards and data governance Demonstrated ability to apply prospect research strategies to identify and prioritize prospects aligned with university initiatives and strategic objectives Proven experience designing and executing research methodologies, rating systems and portfolio strategies aligned to institutional goals Ability to identify, evaluate and implement technology solutions, processes and systems that support research and fundraising Excellent organizational, time management and project management skills, with the ability to balance multiple priorities and meet deadlines Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to facilitate cross-functional collaboration and influence without authority High attention to detail, sound judgment and experience handling sensitive and confidential information Fluency in the use of relationship databases, data tools and software (e.g. Salesforce, Tableau, Excel, subscription research tools) Experience managing budgets, contracts and vendor relationships Strong commitment to customer service, continuous improvement and operational excellence
Preferred Qualifications	Experience working in a decentralized fundraising environment, particularly at a large public or research-intensive university Experience supporting or leading comprehensive campaign strategy, including pipeline analysis, gift table modeling, and prospect segmentation Experience in frontline fundraising or other external-facing/client-serving role Experience with Kindsight Ascend on Salesforce CRM Experience implementing or using AI, predictive modeling or advanced analytics to inform prospect strategy and portfolio optimization Experience in delivering client-facing services and building effective relationships.
Required License(s) or Certification(s)	N/A
Valid NC Driver's License required	No
Commercial Driver's License required	No

Recruitment Dates and Special Instructions

Job Open Date	02/11/2026
Anticipated Close Date	Open until filled
Special Instructions to Applicants	In addition to your application, please submit a resume, cover letter and contact information for at least 3 professional references.

Position Details

Position Number	00060869
Position Type	EPS/SAAO
Full Time Equivalent (FTE) (1.0 = 40 hours/week)	1.00
Appointment	12 Month Recurring
Mandatory Designation - Adverse Weather	Non Mandatory - Adverse Weather
Mandatory Designation - Emergency Events	Non Mandatory - Emergency Event
Department ID	082001 - University Development
EEO	NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity. If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu. Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit. NC State University 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.