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Development Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Development Manager

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$80K - $88K/yr

Development Manager Salary: $80,000.00-$88,000.00 per year (plus excellent benefits) Reports to: Director of Development and Communications Status: Full-Time, Exempt (1.00 FTE) Community Youth Center ...

Development Manager

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$80K - $88K/yr

Development Manager Salary: $80,000.00-$88,000.00 per year (plus excellent benefits) Reports to: Director of Development and Communications Status: Full-Time, Exempt (1.00 FTE) Community Youth Center ...

Development Manager Regular Full-Time Professional San Diego, CA, US 6 days ago Requisition ID: 1151 POSITION SUMMARY The Development Manager serves in a revenue-generating capacity within the ...

The Development Manager applies professional judgment to keep these functions mission-aligned and integrated with broader donor cultivation and stewardship strategy. With administrative support ...

The Development Manager cultivates new relationships while strengthening relationships with current supporters through growth and stewardship. Working collaboratively with the Development team ...

Development Manager

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$80K - $90K/yr

The Development Manager applies professional judgment to keep these functions mission-aligned and integrated with broader donor cultivation and stewardship strategy. With administrative support ...

Development Manager

Orange, CA · On-site

$59K - $154K/yr

Development Manager Location: LA/OC Area (Remote) Reports to: Director, Development Wage Category: Exempt/FT Competency Level: 1-Individual Contributor WHO WE ARE Fueled by passion and urgency, the ...

Development Manager Contractor · ONE805 · Santa Barbara County Reports to the Chief Executive Officer About ONE805 ONE805 is a Santa Barbara County nonprofit supporting local fire and law ...

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Showing results 1-20

Development Manager information

See California salary details

$32.6K

$76.4K

$131.3K

How much do development manager jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for development manager in California is $76,424.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $57,700.00 and $89,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Development Manager, you need strong project management skills, leadership abilities, and experience in software development, often backed by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with Agile methodologies, project management tools like Jira or Trello, and relevant certifications such as PMP or ScrumMaster are typically required. Excellent communication, problem-solving, and team-building skills help you motivate teams and manage stakeholder expectations. These skills ensure successful project delivery, high team performance, and alignment with organizational goals.

What are some common challenges a development manager faces when leading cross-functional teams?

Development Managers often encounter challenges in aligning team members from diverse backgrounds, such as developers, QA engineers, and product managers, towards a shared project vision. Effective communication is crucial, as misunderstandings can lead to delays or missed requirements. Additionally, balancing competing priorities—like tight deadlines versus code quality—requires strong negotiation and problem-solving skills. Successful Development Managers foster open collaboration and continuously adapt their leadership style to support team cohesion and productivity.

How much do development managers make in the US?

Development managers in the US typically earn an average salary between $90,000 and $150,000 annually, depending on experience, industry, and location. Senior roles or those in high-demand sectors may offer higher compensation, often including bonuses and benefits. Strong leadership, project management skills, and technical knowledge are important for higher earning potential.

What degree do you need to be a development manager?

A development manager typically holds a bachelor's degree in fields such as business administration, management, computer science, or related areas. Many also pursue advanced degrees like a master's in business administration (MBA) to enhance leadership and strategic skills. Relevant experience and strong project management skills are also important for this role.

What do you do as a development manager?

A development manager oversees software or product development teams, manages project timelines, allocates resources, and ensures that development goals are met. They coordinate between stakeholders, facilitate communication, and often use project management tools to track progress and maintain quality standards.

What is the role of a development manager?

A development manager oversees software or product development teams, coordinating projects, managing resources, and ensuring timely delivery of solutions. They often collaborate with stakeholders, set project goals, and utilize project management tools to meet organizational objectives.

What are the most commonly searched types of Development jobs in California?

The most popular types of Development jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Development Manager jobs?

Cities in California with the most Development Manager job openings:

Infographic showing various Development Manager job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 86% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $76,424 per year, or $36.7 per hour.

Development Manager

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$80K - $88K/yr

Full-time

Posted 13 days ago


Job description

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

The Community Youth Center of San Francisco (CYC) provides the youth of our city a sense of belonging and vital tools and experiences to succeed in life. Our services include academic support and college counseling, job placement and employment training, substance use and violence prevention education, crisis intervention and mediation, leadership development, technology and computer training. Our mission is to encourage a diverse population of high-need young people to explore their full potential through academic, career, family, and community life.


Title: Development Manager

Salary: $80,000.00-$88,000.00 per year (plus excellent benefits)

Reports to: Director of Development and Communications

Status: Full-Time, Exempt (1.00 FTE)


Community Youth Center of San Francisco uplifts and strengthens young people, families, and communities through culturally grounded, youth-centered programs. As CYC enters the next phase of its strategic plan, the organization is strengthening its development infrastructure, expanding individual and institutional giving, and building a more integrated approach to fundraising, storytelling, events, and donor engagement.

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

The Development Manager is a key member of CYC’s Development and Communications team and will support the organization’s next stage of fund development growth. Reporting to the Director of Development and Communications, the Development Manager will help manage donor systems, support individual giving and major donor cultivation, coordinate fundraising campaigns and events, develop donor-facing materials, and strengthen the internal infrastructure needed to grow contributed revenue.

This role is designed for a development professional who can operate with initiative, structure, and follow-through. The Development Manager will work closely with the Director of Development and Communications, Executive Director, program staff, finance team, and communications colleagues to ensure that CYC has the donor information, fundraising assets, reports, and engagement systems needed to deepen relationships with current and prospective supporters.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Individual Giving and Donor Pipeline Management

The Development Manager will strengthen CYC’s individual giving program by managing the systems and activities that drive donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.

  • Maintain and manage a donor and prospect pipeline, including current donors, lapsed donors, new prospects, event attendees, sponsors, and community supporters.
  • Prepare the Director of Development and Communications and Executive Director for donor meetings, including briefing materials, donor histories, talking points, follow-up notes, and next-step tracking.
  • Facilitate the Executive Director’s engagement with higher-capacity donors, including individuals with the potential to give at the $10,000+ level, through preparation, tracking, and follow-through.
  • Draft and manage donor correspondence, acknowledgment letters, follow-up emails, pledge reminders, and stewardship updates.
  • Segment donors by giving level, interest area, geography, relationship owner, and engagement history to inform cultivation and outreach.
  • Execute annual giving, year-end giving, and targeted donor campaigns.
Development Systems, Data, and Reporting

The Development Manager will strengthen CYC’s development operations by maintaining accurate, current, and actionable donor data, reports, and systems that inform fundraising decisions.

  • Maintain accurate and up-to-date records in CYC’s donor database/CRM, including donor, prospect, sponsorship, pledge, and gift information.
  • Generate regular development reports for the Director of Development and Communications, Executive Director, and leadership, including pipeline status, donor activity, campaign progress, revenue projections, and follow-up need.
  • Maintain moves management tracking across individual donors, sponsors, foundations, and other supporters.
  • Improve internal systems for gift processing, acknowledgment, tracking, and reconciliation with finance.
  • Partner with finance and administrative staff to ensure accurate recording of donations, sponsorships, restricted gifts, and event revenue.
  • Develop dashboards or simple reporting tools that enable the Development and Communications team to monitor progress against goals.
Fundraising Materials and Donor-Facing Assets

The Development Manager will develop and maintain the practical materials CYC needs to advance donor conversations, sponsorships, and fundraising campaigns.

  • Draft and update donor-facing materials such as one-pagers, donor decks, sponsorship packets, campaign briefs, and impact summaries.
  • Gather and organize stories, participant examples, data, photos, and program updates from staff into a maintained library of fundraising language, program descriptions, impact statistics, boilerplate copy, and donor-ready stories for use in fundraising materials.
  • Partner with communications staff, consultants, or vendors to ensure donor materials are visually polished, accurate, and aligned with CYC’s voice and brand.
  • Develop materials that communicate CYC’s broader story across programs, communities, and youth leadership work.
Events, Sponsorships, and Campaign Execution

The Development Manager will manage key fundraising and sponsorship activities connected to CYC’s annual fundraising efforts and smaller donor cultivation opportunities.

  • Execute planning and implementation of fundraising events, donor briefings, cultivation gatherings, and stewardship events.
  • Identify and cultivate sponsors by developing outreach lists and packets and managing sponsorship materials, benefits, tracking, acknowledgments, and fulfillment.
  • Partner with event staff, program teams, and communications colleagues to ensure events are aligned with fundraising goals.
  • Manage post-event donor follow-up, data entry, revenue tracking, and stewardship.
  • Execute assigned development functions for the annual gala or major fundraising event, including donor and sponsor tracking, guest follow-up, and fundraising reporting.
Grants and Institutional Fundraising

While the Director of Development and Communications will continue to lead CYC’s grants and institutional fundraising strategy, the Development Manager will manage the project execution and administrative infrastructure necessary to strengthen grant readiness and reporting.

  • Manage CYC’s grant and funder stewardship calendar, including deadlines, attachments, internal workflows, and tracking of funder requirements, reporting dates, and stewardship activities in partnership with program and finance staff.
  • Gather program data, stories, budgets, and supporting materials for proposals and reports.
  • Maintain a library of grant language, organizational documents, program descriptions, and standard attachments.
  • Partner with program and finance staff to ensure timely submission of grant reports.
Cross-Functional Partnership with Programs and Communications

The Development Manager will serve as a bridge between development, programs, and communications, ensuring fundraising materials reflect current program work and CYC’s evolving strategic direction.

  • Build and maintain relationships with program leads to understand CYC’s programs, outcomes, youth stories, and community impact, and translate this work into clear, compelling, and ethical donor-facing language.
  • Translate program work into donor-facing language that is clear, compelling, and accurate.