Culinary Research Development Jobs in Seattle, WA

Salary: $100,000.00 - $105,000.00 Annually
Location : 3000 NE 4th Street Renton, WA
Job Type: Exempt
Job Number: 26-E0004
Department: Foundation
Opening Date: 07/23/2026
Closing Date: 8/16/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Position
Renton Technical College is seeking a Director of Development to advance the Foundation's mission and strategic priorities. In partnership with the Foundation team, this position will focus on key areas including fostering industry and community partnerships, developing student support grants, event sponsorships, and strengthening donor communication and stewardship. The Director will develop and implement strategies, campaigns, and engagement activities that deepen relationships, expands external networks, and secures contributions. This includes planning and implementing the annual giving campaign to support scholarships, student grants, and employee engagement.
The Director of Development will also provide leadership, direction, and supervision to the Scholarship & Grants Manager, ensuring the effective administration of scholarship and grant programs, alignment of donor intent with award distribution, compliance with Foundation and College policies, and achievement of Foundation goals related to student support and donor stewardship.
This is a full-time, and exempt position reporting to the Executive Director of the Foundation. The salary range for this position is $100,000 - $105,000 annually. The priority consideration date is August 16, 2026.
Renton Technical College, located southeast of Seattle, has provided quality education in a variety of occupations for over 75 years. Our professional-technical certificate and degree programs offer entry and mid-level training in the areas of allied health, trades, and industry, culinary, business, technology, and automotive. Our outstanding college & career pathways program with classes in adult basic education, English as a second language, and GED preparation is available to those who need additional preparation before entering a training program and for those who simply wish to improve their math and English skills. Career Education and apprenticeships degrees round out our offerings.
Key Responsibilities / Essential Functions Include
Fundraising and Development

• Develops and executes an annual giving solicitation plan for the fiscal year that includes fundraising strategies aimed at donors, industry and business partners, employees and retirees, in support of scholarships and direct student support grants.
• Cultivates, solicits and stewards donors and prospects through targeted appeals and campaigns, individual meetings, and written appeals.
• Manages a portfolio of annual giving prospects and helps qualify prospective donors.
• Plans appropriate next steps for leadership annual giving prospects which may include personally soliciting a gift, personalized engagement, or recommending the Executive Director or Board members cultivate the relationship.
• Manages and serves as the contact for all annual giving campaigns and stewardship activities and events.

Events and Industry Relations

• Develop sponsorship strategies to secure financial support for foundation events that support scholarships, programs, and initiatives.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward corporate sponsors, community partners, and industry stakeholders, and ensure fulfillment of sponsorship agreements.
• Build and manage a sponsorship pipeline, including prospect research, outreach, proposal development, and closing sponsorship commitments.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for event sponsors and industry partners and work collaboratively with the Board Events Committee to achieve event goals.

Donor Communication and Analysis

• Develop marketing plans for donor acquisitions and renewals through e-solicitations and direct mail. This includes writing and editing appeal content and overseeing mailing procedures.
• Supports efforts with the design and implementation of the Foundation marketing and communications including newsletters, collateral material, web content, social media, and annual reports.
• Supports the gift acknowledgement and donor engagement process with donor database management activities.
• Analyzes data to identify prospective donors for appeals and special projects, reports on and track campaigns, and generates a variety of reports to track donors and giving.
• Monitors data trends in annual donor activities to build and maintain donor retention and donor database.
• Provide donor reports demonstrating the impact of their investment on students and programs.

Operational Logistics

• Provides direct supervision to the Scholarship & Grants Manager, including training, coaching, performance management, and professional development.

• Serves as an active and collaborative team member, participating in College and Foundation events and responding to inquiries and questions for fundraising support.
• Support the College's mission by creating a learning and work environment of mutual respect and fairness, while encouraging creative and critical thinking. Contribute to the appreciation of diversity and foster a climate of multicultural understanding.
• Keeps current with the College's priorities and initiatives and represents the College and Foundation in a positive fashion.
• Communicate professionally and effectively, both orally and in writing, with college employees, departments and outside stakeholders.
• Perform other related projects and assignments as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Experience with persons from diverse backgrounds such as sexual orientation, racial, ethnic, religious, linguistic, gender, age, socio-economic, physical and learning abilities, and a commitment to an inclusive and equitable working / learning environment.
• Minimum three years of demonstrated professional fundraising experience and success in annual, or major giving, or corporate events and partnership development programs.
• Strong knowledge of fundraising principles and techniques, including donor management and donor stewardship best practices.
• Knowledge of marketing and communication strategies related to donor acquisition, retention, and engagement. This includes dynamic storytelling abilities (public speaking, written, and digital) to effectively connect the community with college programs.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills, and solicitation acumen. Ability to steward a diverse portfolio of donors and prospects.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for creating compelling appeals, donor correspondence, newsletters, presentations, and campaign messaging.
• Experience with data analysis and reporting to interpret donor trends, track campaign performance, and inform fundraising strategies.
• Ability to manage a donor portfolio and advance appropriate next steps for cultivation, solicitation, or referral to leadership.
• Ability to design and execute donor engagement and stewardship events that strengthen donor relationships and retention.
• Demonstrated ability to use judgment and discretion in donor interactions and confidential information.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, Outlook, and SharePoint.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative advancement team in support of fundraising efforts.
• Demonstrated ability to promote universal design and accessibility. Proficiency in (or ability to learn within 6 month of hire) the production of accessibly content, whether print or electronic.
• Ability to represent the college in a positive and professional manner, while using tact, discretion and courtesy.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Non-Profit Leadership, or another related field.
• Credentialed as a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) or other recognized fundraising credential.
• Demonstrated experience serving in volunteer leadership or management roles through nonprofit Boards or civic organizations.
• Proficiency using standard CRM and donor database platforms such as Bloomerang and Raisers Edge.
• Experience working in a 501(c)(3) public charity organization within an institution of higher learning.

WORKING CONDITIONS:
Working hours are generally aligned to business hours, Monday - Friday. Occasional evening and weekend work is required. Work is mostly sedentary in nature, performed in an office environment. Frequent use of a computer and exposure to terminal screens is required. Work and meetings may take place across campus or off site. May drive/travel to meetings, trainings, conferences, and/or college events. This is mostly an in-person/on-campus position; remote work may occur as business permits.
Terms of Employment
In the interest of providing a healthy, safe and secure educational and work environment, and in order to meet the requirements of federal legislation, it is the policy of Renton Technical College to maintain an alcohol and drug-free workplace for our employees and students.
The person hired is required to provide authorization for employment in the United States. All offers of employment are contingent to background checks, including employment and required degree/credential verification. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform successfully in the position. Finalists are required to complete the Sexual Misconduct Disclosure form as required under RCW 288.112.080. Post offer, pre-employment criminal background checks are also required.
For questions regarding this position contact recruiting@rtc.edu
EEO STATEMENT: Renton Technical College provides equal opportunity in education and employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color national origin, age, perceived or actual physical or mental disability, pregnancy, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, creed, religion, honorably discharged veterans or military status, or use of a trained guide dog or service animal, as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act and ADA Amendment Act, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Violence Against Women Re-authorization Act and Washington State Law Against Discrimination, Chapter 49.60 RCW and their implementing regulations. The following college official has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies: Title IX / EEO Coordinator, Lesley Hogan, Vice President of Human Resources 3000 NE 4th Street Renton, WA 98056 (425)235-7873,
Jeanne Clery statement: Notice of Availability of Annual Security and Fire Safety Report: In compliance with Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act of 1998, and as a part of the College's commitment to safety and security on campus, Renton Technical College reports the mandate information about current campus policies concerning safety and security issues, the required statistics, and other related information for the past three (3) calendar years. Renton Technical College's Annual Safety and Fire Report is available online at: For information on how to access the RTC Daily Crime Log follow this link:
We acknowledge that RTC sits uninvited on the ancestral land of the Puget Salish people, including the Duwamish, Suquamish, Snoqualmie, Tulalip, and Muckleshoot Nations. We are grateful to the original inhabitants of this land, upon which we gather and dialogue. We also acknowledge our increasingly virtual world, in which RTC's work is done across multiple indigenous lands, in some cases, away from Puget Salish territories. We thank the original caretakers of our local lands and waters, who are still here.
Beyond acknowledgment, we each have an obligation to learn about and support our local tribes. Find out how on our resources page, which includes scholarships for Indigenous students.
2026 Employee Benefits Summary
Coverage begins the first day of the month following the date of hire. If the date of hire is the first working day of the month, coverage begins immediately. Spouse or same-sex domestic partner, and dependent children are eligible for coverage. Eligible employees at Renton Technical College (RTC) receive a generous benefits package in addition to their paycheck, including:
Medical Insurance
Employees pay a portion of their medical care cost through payroll deduction. The employee premium is based on the choice of plan and coverage for lawful spouses, same-sex domestic partners, and dependent children. more information can be found by visiting www.hca.wa.gov/pebb
2026 Employee Monthly Contribution by Family Tier
PEBB medical Plans
Employee
Employee & Spouse
Employee & Child(ren)
Employee & Family
Kaiser Permanente NW Classic
$256
$512
$448
$704
Kaiser Permanente NW CDHP
$58
$116
$102
$160
Kaiser Permanente WA Classic
$141
$282
$247
$388
Kaiser Permanente WA CDHP
$25
$50
$44
$69
Kaiser Permanente WA Sound Choice
$102
$204
$179
$281
Kaiser Permanente WA Value
$150
$300
$263
$413
UMP Classic
$145
$290 <