Chief Development Officer

About the role

The University of Southern California seeks an accomplished advancement leader to serve as Chief Development Officer (CDO) for the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work.

Reporting to the Dean of the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, with a dotted-line relationship to the Vice President, Health Sciences Advancement, the CDO serves as the School’s senior fundraising executive and leads all aspects of its comprehensive development program. The CDO is responsible for planning, organizing, developing, implementing, and executing short- and long-term strategies to secure major, principal, and transformational gifts from individuals, alumni, foundations, corporations, and other philanthropic partners.

Working closely with the Dean, Board of Councilors members, faculty, staff, volunteers, Health Sciences Advancement colleagues and university leadership, the CDO advances the school’s strategic priorities through philanthropy. The position oversees fundraising strategy, donor engagement, stewardship, volunteer management, development operations, and staff leadership while serving as a key ambassador for the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School and USC.

The successful candidate will maintain an active portfolio of leadership and principal gift prospects and will be expected to personally secure significant philanthropic investments that advance the school’s highest priorities. The CDO will also recruit, develop, mentor, and retain a high-performing advancement team while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and donor-centered engagement.

The CDO will be expected to build a pipeline of seven- and eight-figure philanthropic opportunities and play a leading role in positioning the school for future university-wide campaign initiatives and transformational fundraising efforts.

Opportunity

The USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work offers an exceptional opportunity to advance one of the nation's leading schools of social work and a recognized leader in improving health and social outcomes for individuals, families, and communities.

Nationally recognized for excellence in behavioral health, military social work, telehealth innovation, workforce development, health equity, aging, child welfare, juvenile justice, homelessness, responsible artificial intelligence, and community-based solutions, the school addresses society's most pressing challenges through pioneering research, innovative education, and meaningful community partnerships.

Working collaboratively with distinguished faculty, researchers, practitioners, university leadership, the School's Board of Councilors, Central Advancement, and Health Sciences Advancement colleagues, the Chief Development Officer (CDO) will lead comprehensive fundraising efforts that advance the school's strategic priorities.

Through the cultivation and stewardship of philanthropic partnerships, the CDO will secure philanthropic investments that support groundbreaking research, innovative academic programs, scholarships and student stipend programs, faculty excellence, and community engagement initiatives that expand opportunity and improve health and well-being.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School seeks a strategic and mission-driven development leader who combines exceptional fundraising expertise with a deep appreciation for the ways social work drives meaningful health and social impact.

The successful candidate will bring demonstrated success securing major and principal gifts, leading comprehensive fundraising programs, managing high-performing teams, and cultivating relationships with sophisticated donors and stakeholders. We welcome candidates with advancement leadership experience across higher education, academic health systems, health affairs, community health organizations, foundations, social impact organizations, public service institutions, and other mission-driven sectors.

The strongest candidates understand that they are fundraising around human outcomes, systems change, health equity, behavioral health, workforce development, community impact, and social determinants of health. They can position social work not simply as an academic discipline, but as an essential driver of healthier individuals, stronger communities, and improved outcomes across populations.

The ideal candidate is a development leader who understands how social work improves health outcomes, advances behavioral health, strengthens communities, addresses structural barriers to well-being, and supports the broader health ecosystem. They possess the ability to translate these impacts into compelling philanthropic opportunities that resonate with foundations, community leaders, advocates, alumni, grateful patients, and other donors committed to social change and community impact.

Key Responsibilities will include the following

• Lead the planning, implementation, and execution of comprehensive fundraising and stewardship strategies in support of the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School’s mission and strategic priorities.
• Secure major, principal, and transformational gifts from individuals, alumni, foundations, corporations, and other philanthropic partners.
• Partner with the Dean, faculty, and university leadership to identify funding priorities and develop philanthropic opportunities aligned with institutional goals.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward prospective and current donors while expanding and strengthening the School’s donor pipeline.
• Represent the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School to donors, alumni, foundations, corporations, community leaders, volunteers, advocates, and other key stakeholders.
• Translate complex research, community-based initiatives, workforce development programs, and policy-focused efforts into compelling cases for philanthropic investment.
• Build relationships with philanthropic partners interested in behavioral health, health equity, community impact, workforce development, vulnerable populations, and systems-level change.
• Plan and direct donor visits, engagement opportunities, and special events that advance fundraising objectives.
• Collaborate with university partners to develop donor communications, fundraising materials, impact stories, and stewardship initiatives.
• Encourage and support faculty engagement with foundations, community partners, and corporate organizations and facilitate philanthropic proposals when appropriate.
• Develop and oversee the annual development budget and ensure effective stewardship of resources.
• Recruit, mentor, and lead development staff, fostering a collaborative, high-performing, and inclusive team culture.
• Establish goals, monitor progress, provide coaching and feedback, and empower staff and volunteers through active communication and leadership.
• Maintain awareness of legal, regulatory, and policy developments affecting philanthropy and higher education advancement.
• Promote a workplace culture where all employees are valued, value others, and have the opportunity to contribute through their ideas, words, and actions in accordance with the USC Code of Ethics.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Eight (8) years of professional experience within university advancement/development setting
• Experience in planning development efforts in support of institutional and departmental strategies, and managing and leading goal-oriented teams
• Experience in academic and/or higher education development, collaborating with prominent faculty, and working understanding of university research units
• Demonstrated track record of success securing major gifts and meeting fundraising goals
• Exceptional communication, networking, and relationship-management skills, with demonstrated success engaging and influencing diverse stakeholders, including faculty, alumni, volunteers, donors, and high-net-worth individuals.
• Knowledge of human resources processes, with experience in mediation, negotiation, staff development, and teaching/training staff
• Demonstrated experience developing communication plans, instructional materials and related content, and with conducting in-person meetings
• Experience applying policies and procedures, writing legal and technical documents, and at assembling, organizing, and conceptualizing numerical data in spreadsheets, databases, reports, and presentations
• Lead/guidance skills, with the ability to manage, balance and prioritize different tasks and projects for various projects
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills
• Knowledge of risk management and liability issues affecting higher education

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree - 10 years of professional experience within university advancement/development setting
• Experience with donor/development management systems (e.g., Salesforce, DonorPerfect, Raiser’s Edge NXT, eTapestry, Bloomerang, easyTithe)
• Demonstrated understanding, strong insight, and experience in development and/or fundraising in the Los Angeles and Greater Southern California region

Required Documents and Additional Information

Resume and cover letter required (may be submitted as one attachment).

• This is an exempt position with a hybrid work schedule.
• On-site work is expected at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work during normal operating hours, after hours, and on weekends as needed.
• Some travel for events, training, and conferences to maintain skills and knowledge is required.

Pay and benefits

The annual base salary range for this position is $200,000-$250,000. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer alignment, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

To support faculty and staff well-being, USC provides benefits-eligible employees with a broad range of benefits and perks to help protect their and their dependents’ health, wealth, and future. These benefits are available as part of the overall compensation and total rewards package.

The University of Southern California is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Minimum Experience: 8 years

• Minimum Skills: Experience in planning development efforts in support of institutional and departmental strategies, and managing and leading goal-oriented teams.
• Experience in academic and/or higher education development, collaborating with prominent faculty, and working understanding of university research units.
• Demonstrated track record of success securing major gifts and meeting fundraising goals.

Exemplary interpersonal skills for communicating for “cold calling,” developing relationships with all types of students, staff and alumni, and being particularly sensitive to varied, sophisticated, high-net worth individuals and groups. Knowledge of human resources processes, with experience in mediation, negotiation, staff development, and teaching/training staff.

Demonstrated experience developing communication plans, instructional materials and related content, and with conducting in-person meetings. Experience applying policies and procedures, writing legal and technical documents, and at assembling, organizing, and conceptualizing numerical data in spreadsheets, databases, reports, and presentations.

• Lead/guidance skills, with the ability to manage, balance and prioritize different tasks and projects for various projects.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Knowledge of risk management and liability issues affecting higher education.

Preferred Skills

Experience with donor/development management systems (e.g., DonorPerfect, Raiser’s Edge NXT, eTapestry, Bloomerang, easyTithe). Demonstrated understanding, strong insight, and experience in development and/or fundraising in the Los Angeles and Greater Southern California region.

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Additional information

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