New

Senior Regional Director of Regional Development

University of Georgia

retirement plan

United States, Georgia, Athens

May 01, 2026

Posting Details

Posting Number	S15083P
Working Title	Senior Regional Director of Regional Development
Department	DAR-Regional Development
About the University of Georgia	Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America and is the state's flagship university (https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 240 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University's main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University's enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly established School of Medicine.
About the College/Unit/Department	The Regional Development team builds and maintains relationships with alumni and friends to raise major gifts for the University of Georgia. Regional Directors build a culture of philanthropy in regions across the country while strengthening affinity for UGA. Through frequent travel to assigned cities, this team provides strategic direction and leadership for alumni and donors as they make philanthropic and volunteer decisions.
College/Unit/Department website	www.dar.uga.edu and https://give.uga.edu/
Posting Type	External
Retirement Plan	TRS or ORP
Employment Type	Employee
Benefits Eligibility	Benefits Eligible
Full/Part time	Full Time
Work Schedule
Additional Schedule Information	8:00am-5:00pm; Must be willing and able to work evenings and weekends, as necessary.
Advertised Salary	Commensurate qualifications and experience
Posting Date	05/01/2026
Open until filled	No
Closing Date	05/07/2026
Proposed Starting Date	07/01/2026
Special Instructions to Applicants	This position is structured as a permanent position within the Division of Development & Alumni Relations. We are unable to sponsor a work visa for this position. While this position is primarily based in Athens, GA, the hiring unit is open to considering a mobile work arrangement for candidates residing anywhere within the United States of America.
Location of Vacancy	Athens Area
EEO Policy Statement	The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR ( hrweb@uga.edu).
USG Core Values Statement	The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning, as well the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 08.02.18.01.02. Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 06.05 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom.

Position Information

Classification Title	Major Gifts Manager
FLSA	Exempt
FTE	1.00
Minimum Qualifications	Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent plus 10 years of professional experience to include 3 years of supervisory experience
Preferred Qualifications	At least 5 years of professional experience related to fundraising and development in Higher Education, preferably an R1 institution Master's degree Demonstrated success as a fundraiser with a proven track record of working with key levels of leadership to secure major gifts ($50k and up) for multiple institutional priorities Experience in planning, developing, and executing successful fundraising strategy Proven ability to lead and manage a team of major gift fundraisers Knowledge of private funding landscape in higher education Demonstrated ability to maintain high degree of confidentiality and responsibility regarding information related to university business and confidential donor and prospect information Demonstrated ability to respond to donors needs and concerns in a kind and professional way
Position Summary	Regional Directors make strategic engagement with alumni, parents, and friends a top priority by using a blend of in-person constituent meetings, virtual meetings when they are necessary for a donor-centered approach, and collaboration with internal stakeholders to engage individuals and organizations in their local markets. Expectations are for Regional Directors to conduct up to 160 planned, strategic meetings with top prospects each year. The majority of those meetings will be in-person based on planned and coordinated outreach. Travel should be coordinated around the availability of top prospects and coordinated with key internal stakeholders. This team is an extension of the development efforts of all schools and colleges, in addition to the various academic units and the Athletic Association. Because of this group's vast geographical reach, as well as the representation of the entire university, regional directors exemplify a donor-centered approach by maximizing a donor's philanthropic potential and passion to invest in any area of the University of Georgia. The Senior Regional Director will have significant management responsibilities of team members with a focus on fundraising metrics, travel, strategic planning, and prospect management. This position will be required to hire and continue to build this team while carrying a portfolio of major gift prospects. The Senior Regional Director will report to and partner with the Senior Director of Regional Development on high-level gift strategy, campus partnership, and strategic planning for the members and the team. While this position is primarily based in Athens, GA, the hiring unit is open to considering a mobile work arrangement for candidates residing anywhere within the United States of America.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies	Strong people management skills Proven record of accomplishment and success in fundraising or a similar role Ability to cultivate and solicit private gifts from high-level prospects Self-starter and highly motivated Collaborative style combined with the ability and desire to work in a team-based environment Excellent writing skills with extreme attention to detail, and confident, strong verbal communication Problem solver who can take initiative and set priorities while being flexible Team-oriented strategist able to effectively manage complex situations Highly organized and able to handle multiple projects Analytical, with adherence to self-guided goals and deadlines Adept at navigating complex environments with evolving priorities Skilled using Microsoft Office products such as Excel, Word, and PowerPoint Creative thinker with ability to receive constructive feedback on ideas Additional Division Expectations: Through open, honest, and respectful communication, all staff, supervisors, and colleagues of the Division of Development & Alumni Relations are expected to interact with fairness, compassion, and decency. All employees will be held accountable for meeting the expectation of promoting a stable, productive, and healthy work environment. Adherence to CASE standards and commonly accepted industry standards relating to fundraising reporting is expected of all fundraisers. All fundraisers will be held accountable for meeting this expectation.
Physical Demands	Work in a standard office environment Sit and work at a computer workstation for extended periods of time Work using electronic mail, telephone, face-to-face discussions, and paper form correspondence Communicate effectively in writing, speaking, and listening Organize and establish priorities; remember details; multitask Lift and/or move up to 20 pounds Walk, stand, stoop, lift, kneel, climb
Is driving a responsibility of this position?	Yes
Is this a Position of Trust?	Yes
Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources?	Yes
Does this position require a P-Card?	No
Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position?	No
Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care?	No
Does this position have Security Access (e.g., public safety, IT security, personnel records, patient records, or access to chemicals and medications)	Yes
Credit and P-Card policy	Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website.
Background Investigation Policy	Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website.

Duties/Responsibilities

Manage a team of regional director positions focused on the university's fundraising mission.

Ensure fundraising strategies, goals, and pipeline development are set for the Fiscal Year and that all work is focused on attaining these goals.
Maximize the quality of prospects and optimal prospect portfolio size for direct reports.
Ensure direct reports focus their time and work on solicitation, cultivation and stewardship, and that proper follow-up is completed after visits with the prospects in their portfolio.
Train, mentor, and oversee activities of the direct reports. Evaluate performance and provide regular feedback to each direct report.
Schedule regular "one-on-one" meetings with each direct report for purposes of planning, collaboration, communication, and fundraising management.

Percentage of time

Duties/Responsibilities

Conduct monthly scheduled meetings with prospective donors, alumni, assigned portfolio, and UGA constituents in assigned regions. That goal, along with a fundraising goal, will be agreed upon annually during strategic planning and revisited quarterly.

The purpose of the meetings is to discover, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward University-wide prospects and donors.
Basic expectation of a meeting is that it is a scheduled and agreed-upon face-to-face meeting between the Regional Director and the prospect.
Territories to conduct monthly meetings include cities assigned to the Regional Director based on institutional priority, wealth ratings, and alumni density.
Purpose of the meetings is to cultivate, solicit, and steward assigned and newly identified prospects and donors for current and deferred gifts of $50K+ to benefit any School, College, or Unit within the University of Georgia.

Percentage of time

Duties/Responsibilities

Design and implement fundraising strategies to secure Principal gifts ($1 million+) and major gifts ($50K+) in support of the University's strategic priorities.

Fundraising goals are established and agreed upon annually by the Senior Regional Director and the Regional Director in consultation with the Senior Director of Development.
Develop and continue to increase a portfolio of prospects with capacity of $50K+ in collaboration with the Research & Prospect Management teams and the Senior Regional Director.
Participate in prospect strategy meetings with Regional Development team, Research & Prospect Management team, volunteers, etc., when appropriate.

Percentage of time

Duties/Responsibilities

Complete managerial processes critical to travel, scheduled meetings, and fundraising performance.

Complete telephone/correspondence/preparation/follow-up; record meetings, interactions, and plans in the giving & alumni database (GAIL) in a thorough and timely manner after the completion of individual meetings and/or trips.
Prepare timely, accurate, and relevant proposals, presentations, and other fundraising materials as needed for solicitation.
Develop a strategy or plan for each prospect assigned, with a written solicitation strategy in place for each person.
Plan and/or participate in quarterly strategy planning sessions for assigned regions with internal university stakeholders.
Perform administrative duties as needed.

Percentage of time

Duties/Responsibilities

Work collaboratively with development and alumni colleagues across campus on prospects, alumni, and constituents in an effort to maximize giving potential for Schools, Colleges, and Units' fundraising priorities.

Create and execute fundraising plans for assigned regions with School/College/Unit fundraisers, Alumni Association, and other internal stakeholders.
Work with School/College/Unit fundraisers to fulfill requests to schedule meetings with prospects for the Regional Director's assigned regions.
Attend division and development staff meetings, scheduled individual strategy meetings, as well as agreed-upon professional development activities.

Percentage of time