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Development Director Jobs in Springfield, MA (NOW HIRING)

Playful Minds Llc

Director

Longmeadow, MA · On-site

$46K - $63K/yr

Strong knowledge of child development * Strong understanding of, and commitment to, best practices ... Recruit, hire, train and direct highquality educators * Implement onboarding of new hires, in ...

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Development Director information

See Springfield, MA salary details

$40.4K

$92.1K

$154.5K

How much do development director jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for development director in Springfield, MA is $92,062.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $69,800.00 and $108,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a Development Director do?

A Development Director is responsible for overseeing fundraising and resource development efforts within an organization, typically a nonprofit. They create and implement strategies to secure financial support, manage donor relationships, lead fundraising campaigns, and often supervise development staff. Their goal is to ensure the organization has the funding needed to achieve its mission and objectives. Development Directors also work closely with executive leadership and the board of directors to align fundraising goals with the organization's overall strategy.

What jobs pay 500,000 a year in the US?

Development Directors in large organizations or corporations can earn $500,000 or more annually, especially with bonuses, profit sharing, and extensive experience. High-level executive roles such as Chief Development Officer or similar senior leadership positions in nonprofit or corporate sectors also have the potential for such compensation, often requiring advanced skills, strategic planning, and a strong network.

How much money should a development director raise?

A development director's fundraising goals vary depending on the organization size and sector, but they typically aim to raise several million dollars annually for nonprofits or large projects. Success often depends on skills in donor relations, strategic planning, and use of fundraising tools. Setting realistic targets aligned with organizational needs is essential for effective performance.

What Does a Development Director Do?

A development director is responsible for fundraising strategies and initiatives to help promote the business and operations of nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and hospitals. As a development director, your job duties include reaching out to potential benefactors, maintaining relationships with existing donors, devising new strategies for fundraising, and organizing fundraising events. These events may consist of benefit concerts, dinners, parties, and special events. Collaborating with company management is also a regular part of your job. Depending on the organization, your exact duties may vary.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Development Director, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Development Director, you need expertise in fundraising strategy, donor relations, and nonprofit management, often supported by a relevant degree or CFRE certification. Familiarity with donor management systems (like Salesforce or Raiser’s Edge) and CRM platforms is typically required. Exceptional communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills set top performers apart in this role. These abilities are crucial for driving organizational growth, securing funding, and building lasting partnerships essential to the nonprofit’s mission.

How does a Development Director typically collaborate with other departments to achieve organizational goals?

A Development Director frequently works cross-functionally with teams such as marketing, finance, and program management to align fundraising strategies with organizational objectives. This collaboration often involves coordinating on campaigns, sharing donor insights, and ensuring consistent messaging across platforms. Strong communication and teamwork skills are essential, as the Development Director serves as a bridge between departments to maximize impact and foster a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization.

What does a Director of Development do?

A Director of Development oversees fundraising efforts, builds relationships with donors, and develops strategies to support an organization’s financial growth. They often manage a team, coordinate campaigns, and utilize tools like CRM systems to track progress, ensuring the organization meets its funding goals.

What is the difference between Development Director vs Fundraising Manager?

AspectDevelopment DirectorFundraising Manager
Primary FocusOversees overall fundraising strategies, donor relations, and development initiativesExecutes specific fundraising campaigns and manages donor outreach
ResponsibilitiesStrategic planning, team leadership, major gift cultivationEvent planning, donor communication, campaign execution
CredentialsBachelor’s or Master’s in Nonprofit Management, Fundraising, or related fields; experience in leadership rolesBachelor’s degree; experience in fundraising or development roles often preferred
Work EnvironmentNonprofit organizations, charities, educational institutionsNonprofit organizations, charities, fundraising agencies

The Development Director typically holds a strategic leadership role, overseeing the entire development department and long-term fundraising goals. In contrast, the Fundraising Manager focuses on executing specific campaigns and managing day-to-day donor activities. Both roles require similar credentials and work in similar environments, but the Development Director has broader responsibilities and higher-level oversight.

Is being a BDM a stressful job?

A Business Development Manager (BDM) role can be stressful due to targets, client negotiations, and workload management. Success often depends on strong communication, time management, and resilience, with some roles involving high-pressure environments and performance metrics.
More about Development Director jobs
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What cities near Springfield, MA are hiring for Development Director jobs? Cities near Springfield, MA with the most Development Director job openings:
Development Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Development Director job openings in Springfield, MA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 82% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $92,062 per year, or $44.3 per hour.

Associate Director of Venture Development for the Institute for Applied Life Sciences

UMass Amherst

Amherst, MA • On-site

Other

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description

Title: Associate Director of Venture Development for the Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS)

Executive Area: Research and Engagement

College/School/MBU: Institute Applied Life Science

Department: Institute Applied Life Science

Work Location: Amherst

Schedule:Full time

Work Arrangement:Hybrid

Job Summary

Reporting to the Director of IALS Venture Development, the Associate Director of Venture Development for the Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS) manages and facilitates IALS Venture Development operations and collaborations within IALS, within the University innovation ecosystem, and with external parties including venture mentors, alumni, experts, investors, and representatives of industry organizations, companies, and federal agencies.

Essential Functions

Manages the operational planning and implementation for established IALS Venture Development programs and resources including (1) the Business Innovation Fellows program, (2) Startup Law, Intellectual Property Law, and Mentor Office Hours, (3) Startup Know-How educational speakers and training workshops and (4) the IALS Venture Development web presence.
Oversees the week-to-week development of specific pre-startups and startups as assigned, including supervision of small Business Innovation Fellows teams and their work (market assessments and landscapes, competitive analyses, financial modeling, identification of funding sources, draft pitch decks and backgrounders).
Serves as a navigator and knowledgeable resource for IALS Venture Development pre-startups and startups. Recommends, connects and arranges services for faculty and student founders to advance their early-stage ventures. Communicates key concepts with respect to startup development including milestones, differentiation strategy, and the importance of unmet customer needs.
Works with the Director, IALS Venture Development and other members of the IALS Leadership team to manage the Business Innovation Fellows (up to 25 MBA Fellows and 2 undergraduates).
Works with the Director, IALS Venture Development and other members of the IALS Leadership team to design, develop, and implement new programs.
Works with the Director, IALS Venture Development and other members of the IALS Leadership team to build awareness of and interest in pre-startups and startups through news stories, web content, social media, and events directed towards key campus and external audiences.
Works with the Director, IALS Venture Development and other members of the IALS Leadership team to cultivate faculty, postdoctoral fellows and graduate student interest in the creation of applied science and technology startups based on campus research.
Represent IALS Venture Development to operationalize collaborations with other venture development organizations and resources within and beyond the University.
Works with the Director, IALS Venture Development and other members of the IALS Leadership team to define objectives and strategic goals in order to build and contribute to a translational research culture at the University by developing, implementing, and aggregating metrics of success, helping to create and administer new programs, and helping to identify key alignment areas between IALS strategic goals and the campus strategic plan.
Collects, maintains and analyzes statistics to (1) measure the impact of IALS Venture Development, (2) inform ongoing improvement, and (3) inform the develop of new programs and resources.

Other Functions

Participates in IALS Venture Development collaboration in the Manning IALS Seed Grants program. Works with the Translational Seed Awards Program Manager and the IALS Director of Finance and Operations to support the Translational Seed Grant process.
Collaborates with IALS Director Venture Development and others on the IALS Leadership team on strategic relationship management efforts with the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, MassBio, and MassVentures and other organizations within the innovation ecosystem
Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree and five (5) plus years of experience in a startup, research and development, venture accelerator or similar environment, or related experience, or an Associate's degree and seven (7) plus years of experience.
Exceptional oral and written communication skills.
Demonstrates the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, Power Point, OneDrive, MS Teams) and Adobe Acrobat, including advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel.
Familiar with the use of Google Drive and G-Suite applications (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, Calendar) to facilitate collaborations.
Ability to work accurately with many forms of data and generate relevant reports when necessary. Demonstrated attention to detail.
Excellent problem-solving skills and judgment.
Ability to communicate and coordinate with other University departments (including stakeholders at all levels, and especially faculty and students) effectively.
Exceptional organizational and analytical skills.
Familiarity with concepts of entrepreneurship, innovation, economic development, and university startups.

Preferred Qualifications

MBA, advanced degree in a STEM discipline, or JD.
Familiarity with the University, regional, Massachusetts, and U.S. innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems.
Familiarity with basic aspects of life science areas.
Familiarity with basic aspects of intellectual property.
Familiarity with dilutive and non-dilutive funding vehicles relevant to university startups.
Experience in commercialization / venture development based on university research.

Working Conditions

Work is primarily performed in an indoor university environment and involves lifting and transporting materials or equipment and general physical activity, including prolonged standing, walking, or assuming low postures.

Work Schedule and Work Arrangement

Monday - Friday, 9 am - 5 pm.
This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee's work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position falls within the Professional Staff Union, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the Professional Staff Union collective bargaining agreement.

Salary Information

Pay Grade:PSSAP Grade 29

Click here to view the Professional Staff hiring ranges.

Special Instructions for Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references.

This position will remain open for the time period required by any applicable collective bargaining agreement and will continue until a suitable candidate pool is identified. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early.

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