Senior Development Officer

Institutional Advancement at Saint John’s University invites applications for a full-time (1.0 FTE), benefit eligible position of Senior Development Officer.

Why Join Us?

The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees, including:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance

• 18 Paid Holidays Annually

• Generous Vacation and Sick Leave

• Life and Long-Term Disability Insurance

• Tuition Remission for Eligible Dependents

• Employer Contributions to a Retirement Plan

• Employee Assistance Program with access to free or discounted counseling, legal guidance, financial coaching, and more

Join a committed team dedicated to safety, community, and service in a supportive and values-driven work environment.

To learn more about our benefits, visit mycsbsju.edu/jobs.

The Senior Development Officer (SDO) is responsible for helping expand the resource base for Saint John’s University by building relationships with campaign major gift prospects including alumni, parents and friends. The SDO has responsibility for the cultivation and solicitation of campaign prospects and select regional advancement activities.  The SDO also takes the lead in soliciting Annual Fund Fellows Society support among assigned prospects.

The SDO is responsible for implementing strategies for successful discovery visits, and the cultivation, solicitation and recognition of individuals at major gift levels, including increasing volunteer leadership in the major gift fundraising process.   The SDO employs fresh outreach tactics, new technologies, innovative solicitation strategies, and spirited professionalism in deepening the engagement and financial support of Saint John’s benefactors.    

Institutional Inclusion Visioning Statement

The College of Saint Benedict (CSB) and Saint John’s University (SJU) believe that an excellent liberal arts education requires an understanding and appreciation of cultural difference and that everyone deserves to feel safe and morally valued. To that end, we will challenge our own practices and systems. Our commitment to an inclusive environment will be incorporated into all decision-making processes. We dedicate ourselves to cultivating an equitable, inclusive community founded on respect for all persons.

CSB and SJU offer competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits program (click the benefits tab above the position summary section to view more information). For further information regarding our institutions, visit CSBSJU.

The posted wage represents CSB and SJU's good faith estimate of likely compensation at the time of posting. Actual pay will be dependent upon several factors, including the candidate's experience, qualifications, and skills, and may fall outside of the range indicated.

Major Gift Responsibilities (75%).

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 150 major and leadership gift prospects for the campaign.

• Implement strategies for the cultivation, solicitation, recognition and stewardship of major gifts.   

• Manage schedule to ensure personal visits with assigned prospects and regular “discovery” visits to include making a minimum of 20 personal visits per month.

• Monitor individual performance goals and objectives.

• Work closely with other senior development officers to ensure effective coordination of effort to reinforce the prospect relationship continuum.

• Complete appropriate follow up activities, including personal letters of thanks, and submit regular call reports on prospects/donor visits.

Regional Advancement Responsibilities (10%)

• Manage SJU regional advancement activities in several out-of-state areas.

• Develop and implement advancement strategies for these regions specifically in the area of donor cultivation and solicitation.  

• Consult with University Relations team members to advance alumni relations cornerstone initiatives and to facilitate events and stewardship programs.

Volunteer Engagement Responsibilities (10%)

• Work cooperatively with the IA Development Team to identify and recruit campaign gift regional team members.

• In coordination with the Associate Vice President for Institutional Advancement, help execute the training of select campaign volunteers.  

• Manage the work of Regional Gift Team volunteers in the assigned regions, including monitoring call activity and providing timely support.

• Manage the work of select project Gift Team volunteers including monitoring call activity and providing timely support.

Other duties as assigned (5%)

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required.

• Senior leadership experience with educational, not-for-profit or other organization. Fund raising and volunteer management experience preferred, including cultivation and solicitation of major gifts.

• Specialized knowledge related to planned giving and major gifts fund-raising desirable.  

• Able to work effectively with donors and professional advisors.

• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills are essential, including active listening and the ability to ask engaging questions. Persuasive speaking and writing skills about higher education and the Catholic tradition are highly desirable.

• Must be able and willing to travel and work evenings/weekends as required to fulfill job responsibilities.

• Proficiency with computers and software applications like Outlook, MSWord, MSExcel, and donor databases is expected.

• Must be a motivated, mature team player dedicated to advancing higher education, with a commitment to Catholic education and the mission of Saint John’s University.

• High competence, discretion, judgment and confidentiality are expected at this level of responsibility.

• The ability to work effectively and independently with limited supervision.

• Must hold a valid driver’s license.

Physical requirements:

• This position requires standing for long periods of time during event management.

• Must be able to lift up to 25 lbs on occasion in support of development events.

• This position also requires extended periods of time at a computer.

• Must be able to work in a wide variety of environments indoor and outdoor in support of events.

• Ability to move frequently between locations, such as airports, hotels, and meeting venues.

• Ability to drive rental cars in various locations, which may require long hours of driving.

Travel requirements:

• Travel locally, regionally and nationally to identify, cultivate and solicit donors, and to represent SJU at community and college-sponsored events as needed in order to meet established activity and revenue goals.

Applications are accepted online by clicking on "Apply." Candidates are asked to complete the application form and submit a cover letter and resume.

If you require an accommodation to participate in the SJU hiring process, please contact Human Resources at (320) 363-5500 or [email protected].

It is the policy of SJU to conduct a pre-employment background check. An offer of employment is contingent upon a successful background check. Saint John's University also utilizes E-Verify as part of its onboarding process to confirm work authorization.

Saint John's University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University are Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employers.