Director Veterinary Biomedical Science Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Position Summary

The Associate Director of Development’s primary responsibility is to identify, cultivate and solicit donors capable of making $50,000+ gifts in support of selected programs within the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences including the Johnson Family Equine Hospital, Orthopedic Research Center, Equine Reproductive Laboratory, and Translational Medicine Institute. The Associate Director of Development will manage a portfolio of major gift prospects, and present comprehensive proposals that match the fundraising priorities of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Examples include, but are not limited to: soliciting gifts to establish endowed scholarships and professorships, as well as naming opportunities for related buildings and research centers.

Position Information

• Position Title: Associate Director of Development, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
• Organization Name: Colorado State University Foundation
• Reports To: Assistant Vice President of Advancement 
• Employment Type: Full-time
• FLSA Status: Exempt
• Location: Fort Collins
• Salary Range: $75,000 - $90,000 annually
• Priority Consideration Date: 7/16/26

Organizational Overview

Located in the beautiful town of Fort Collins, Colorado, Colorado State University is a premier land-grant institution with world-class programs in education, outreach, and research. CSU has a student body of over 34,000 students, 7,400 employees, 258,000 living alumni, and annual research expenditures exceeding $498 million.

The College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Science’s (CVMBS) faculty and staff are nationally- and world-renowned in veterinary teaching (ranked #3 in the nation) and scientific research and teaching including animal cancer, oncology, infectious diseases, radiology, environmental health, equine programs, biomedical and clinical sciences, and veterinary diagnostics. The faculty and staff have a strong reputation of being committed and invested in student success, approaching education, research, and service with the mindfulness and impact that is essential to a robust student experience. They believe that the strength of this commitment enables our students to be prepared to tackle the world’s most formidable issues, positively influencing far-reaching outcomes, while achieving professional success. Alumni frequently comment about the unique academic environment in which they received their education and how it influenced their success as professionals.

The Colorado State University Foundation is in the midst of exciting growth as the University Advancement division of CSU transitions to the Foundation. This merger will allow us to more effectively serve our donors, alumni, and stakeholders with a unified structure, strengthen accountability, and build the capacity to scale our fundraising enterprise. With one of the leading development teams in the country, we most recently achieved our highest fundraising year to date in 2025, and our most successful Day of Giving in dollars raised in 2026.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Determine capacity and interest of a prospective donor to make a major or planned gift to CVMBS. 
• Write, prepare, and present persuasive proposals that match the donor’s interests with the College’s fundraising priorities. Proposals should be comprehensive and include a major outright gift ($50,000+) and planned gift (bequest) solicitations. 
• Solve donor-related issues that arise quickly and effectively, understanding when to engage leadership or faculty partners. 
• Increase the involvement of faculty (both current and retired) in the development process in order to expand the number of people making philanthropic efforts on CSU’s behalf.
• Work with faculty, administrative leaders, and central development staff to ensure we maximize the philanthropic support of our donors, and work to build a long-term pipeline of new major gift prospects.
• Manage budget for travel, events, and donor engagement activities.
• Provide a proactive customer-service mindset with internal and external audiences.
• Responsible for managing a portfolio of approximately 60-80 donors and prospective donors, and creating successful cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for them.
• Maintain a high degree of confidentiality and adhere to the policies and procedures for accepting, recording and acknowledging gifts.
• Must be able to travel 25% of the time, including overnight and occasional weekends. 

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
• Minimum of 5 years of experience as a development officer or major gifts officer in an institution of higher education or non-profit OR equivalent experience in a complex organization such as sales, banking, business development, client management, or marketing
• Demonstrated success in face-to-face solicitation, cultivation, and closing multiple gifts at $50,000 or more OR demonstrated success in securing contracts and/or other complex transactions of this size
• Ability to travel in and out of state and work non-standard hours, including early mornings, evenings and weekends
• A demonstrated ability to engage and effectively communicate with diverse audiences
• Must have a valid driver’s license, the ability to obtain a driver’s license, or access to a licensed driver by the employment start date

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) certification or master’s degree
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Proven ability to successfully identify and build relationships and connect donor/client interests with opportunities in a complex organization
• Demonstrated knowledge of facets of fundraising, such as annual fund, corporate and foundation relations, planned giving, stewardship, major gift fundraising, etc.
• Ability to problem solve and adapt to rapidly changing situations and successfully manage multiple complex projects from start to finish
• Ability to work cross-functionally with academic and administrative leaders in a collaborative environment to conceive and implement innovative ideas
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and experience working in a CRM or other relational database such as Salesforce, Advance or Raiser’s Edge.
• Experience working in a Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences College. 

To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter indicating your qualifications for this role to: CSUF_hiring@mail.colostate.edu

We are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, vision and retirement plans; generous paid time off; and a robust Employee Assistance Program. 

CSU Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) it is our policy to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability unless such accommodation would cause undue hardship.