Senior Director of Development – MUSC Children’s Health

Job Description Summary

MUSC Foundation is excited to present this new role on the Institutional Advancement team, the Executive Director of Development (EDOD) for MUSC Children’s Health. The EDOD is responsible for leading and executing a comprehensive individual giving strategy in support of MUSC Children’s Health across South Carolina to include Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital (SJCH). This is a newly created position designed to drive major, principal, and planned gift fundraising efforts through the development of best-practice programs that engage and inspire donor support.

Reporting to the Vice President for Institutional Advancement, the EDOD serves as a strategic thought partner and senior leader, collaborating closely with colleagues across Institutional Advancement and leadership from MUSC Children’s Health, the Department of Pediatrics, MUSC Research, and other key stakeholders.

The Executive Director is responsible for planning, managing, and implementing a robust fundraising strategy aligned with institutional priorities. The EDOD manages a portfolio of donors with an assigned fundraising goal and provides strategic oversight to ensure alignment between philanthropic goals and MUSC Children’s Health priorities. This position also supervises a Major Gifts Officer and Business Operations Manager. The EDOD along with the Business Operations Manager, staffs the MUSC Children’s Health Advisory Board developing donor approach strategies with the Board to increase donors and donated dollars.

Entity

University Medical Associates (UMA) Only Employees and Financials

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub-Type​

Regular

Cost Center

CC005438 UMA OTHR PAY MUSCF - Institutional Advancement

Pay Rate Type

Salary

Pay Grade

Health-35

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Work Shift

Job Description

Responsibilities:

Fundraising – 50%

• Maintain a personal portfolio of 80+ major, principal, and planned gift prospects with an individual fundraising goal of $15–$20 million annually.
• Build and sustain relationships with key partners, board members, and grateful patient families to maximize donor referrals and engagement.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward new and existing donors using personalized engagement strategies and proposals.
• Leverage analytics, research, and prospect management tools to inform outreach and track performance against KPIs.
• Model ethical fundraising practices and donor-centric strategies aligned with the unique dynamics of academic medicine.

Collaborate on institution-wide campaigns and high-level fundraising priorities, including complex gift strategies and blended giving opportunities.

Strategy and Management – 30%

• Serve as the strategic lead in partnership with Institutional Advancement leadership to define and implement a philanthropic vision for MUSC Children’s Health.
• Develop fundraising strategies and annual/long-term operational plans to grow major and principal gifts and enhance donor engagement.
• Collaborate with the VPIA, clinical and academic leadership, research teams, and advisory board to identify fundraising priorities and develop related cases for support.
• Ensure alignment of Children’s Health fundraising strategies with overall institutional goals and philanthropic best practices.
• Lead cross-functional strategy sessions to assess opportunities, track progress, and ensure long-term sustainability of the giving program.
• .

Collaboration and Communication – 10%

• Serve as the key liaison between MUSC Children’s Health and Institutional Advancement to ensure coordinated strategy and messaging.
• Partner with Deans, Department Chairs, and faculty to identify opportunities and integrate philanthropy into clinical and academic goals.
• Work with stewardship and communications teams to craft donor-facing materials, impact reports, and recognition experiences.
• Support the development of proposals and case statements tailored to top institutional priorities and high-level prospects.
• Ensure clear, timely communication and alignment across teams on strategy, dono

  Responsibilities:

  Fundraising – 50%

• Maintain a personal portfolio of 80+ major, principal, and planned gift prospects with an individual fundraising goal of $15–$20 million annually.
• Build and sustain relationships with key partners, board members, and grateful patient families to maximize donor referrals and engagement.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward new and existing donors using personalized engagement strategies and proposals.
• Leverage analytics, research, and prospect management tools to inform outreach and track performance against KPIs.
• Model ethical fundraising practices and donor-centric strategies aligned with the unique dynamics of academic medicine.

• Collaborate on institution-wide campaigns and high-level fundraising priorities, including complex gift strategies and blended giving opportunities.

  Strategy and Management – 30%

• Serve as the strategic lead in partnership with Institutional Advancement leadership to define and implement a philanthropic vision for MUSC Children’s Health.
• Develop fundraising strategies and annual/long-term operational plans to grow major and principal gifts and enhance donor engagement.
• Collaborate with the VPIA, clinical and academic leadership, research teams, and advisory board to identify fundraising priorities and develop related cases for support.
• Ensure alignment of Children’s Health fundraising strategies with overall institutional goals and philanthropic best practices.
• Lead cross-functional strategy sessions to assess opportunities, track progress, and ensure long-term sustainability of the giving program.
• .

• Collaboration and Communication – 10%

• Serve as the key liaison between MUSC Children’s Health and Institutional Advancement to ensure coordinated strategy and messaging.
• Partner with Deans, Department Chairs, and faculty to identify opportunities and integrate philanthropy into clinical and academic goals.
• Work with stewardship and communications teams to craft donor-facing materials, impact reports, and recognition experiences.
• Support the development of proposals and case statements tailored to top institutional priorities and high-level prospects.
• Ensure clear, timely communication and alignment across teams on strategy, donor engagement, and institutional priorities.

• Team Management – 10%

• Directly supervise a major gift officer and the SJCH Business Operations Manager, overseeing hiring, onboarding, coaching, and performance management.
• Establish clear goals and performance expectations for team members; monitor progress and provide ongoing feedback and support.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and mission-driven team culture grounded in accountability and continuous improvement.
• Provide mentorship in fundraising strategy, donor management, and solicitation planning to develop talent and maximize results.
• Staff the MUSC Children’s Health Advisory Board in partnership with the Business Manager, providing guidance on development strategy and board engagement.

• Position Requirements

• Ability to secure major, principal, and planned gifts using best practices in moves management from qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with and earn the respect of faculty, scientists, physicians, and senior administrators.
• Exceptional analytical, oral, and written communication skills.
• Strong people skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Capable of prioritizing tasks and working independently, while also collaborating with cross-functional teams to address requests from various departments and individuals
• Demonstrated ability to manage sensitive and confidential matters with discretion and professionalism.
• r engagement, and institutional priorities.

Team Management – 10%

• Directly supervise a major gift officer and the SJCH Business Operations Manager, overseeing hiring, onboarding, coaching, and performance management.
• Establish clear goals and performance expectations for team members; monitor progress and provide ongoing feedback and support.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and mission-driven team culture grounded in accountability and continuous improvement.
• Provide mentorship in fundraising strategy, donor management, and solicitation planning to develop talent and maximize results.
• Staff the MUSC Children’s Health Advisory Board in partnership with the Business Manager, providing guidance on development strategy and board engagement.

Position Requirements

• Ability to secure major, principal, and planned gifts using best practices in moves management from qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with and earn the respect of faculty, scientists, physicians, and senior administrators.
• Exceptional analytical, oral, and written communication skills.
• Strong people skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Capable of prioritizing tasks and working independently, while also collaborating with cross-functional teams to address requests from various departments and individuals
• Demonstrated ability to manage sensitive and confidential matters with discretion and professionalism.

Additional Job Description

Training and Education

• Bachelor's degree and 8-10 years of progressive experience in fundraising within an academic research institution or complex healthcare development organization, with a preference of Children’s Hospital experience.
• Strong understanding of major gift fundraising and grateful patient programs.
• Proven experience managing gift officers in a performance metric-driven environment.
• Successful track record of cultivating, soliciting, and securing seven- and eight-figure gifts.
• Creative, professional, and entrepreneurial mindset.
• Experience in writing and communications within higher education or nonprofit sectors preferred.
• Familiarity with Blackbaud or other donor management software.

If you like working with energetic enthusiastic individuals, you will enjoy your career with us!

The Medical University of South Carolina is an Equal Opportunity Employer. MUSC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, age, sex, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected veteran status, family or parental status, or any other status protected by state laws and/or federal regulations. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment based upon applicable qualifications, merit and business need.

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