Director, Athletic Development/Senior Associate Athletics Director

Boston College Introduction

Founded in 1863, Boston College is a Jesuit, Catholic university located six miles from downtown Boston with an enrollment of 9,484 full-time undergraduates and 5,250 graduate and professional students. Ranked 35 among national universities, Boston College has 888 full-time and 1,281 FTE faculty, 2,711 non-faculty employees, an operating budget of $1.4 billion, and an endowment in excess of $3.5 billion.

Job Description

As we enter the third year of the public phase of Soaring Higher: the Campaign for Boston College, we invite you to join our community. Driven by our mission in ways that advance the university for years to come, priority areas for this $3B comprehensive campaign include Financial Aid, Academics, and Student Life.

Based on a fundamental Jesuit tenet of developing the whole person, University Advancement is large enough to benefit from many campus resources, yet small enough to be agile and creative in supporting all associates. With an average tenure of close to 10 years at Boston College, our 250-person centralized organizational structure offers a variety of roles across fundraising, alumni relations, operations, and communications and engagement.  We invest in the professional growth of every staff member through individual and team-based programs. Likewise, we aim to attract the very best, seeking team members who are as ambitious and as committed to our team as we are. We value a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging while actively promoting team members who contribute to the success of University Advancement.

See below the current opportunity to begin (or return to!) your Boston College experience!

Job Description:

The Director for Athletic Advancement/Senior Associate Athletics Director for Advancement (herein referred to as “The Director”) serves as the Chief Advancement Officer for the Department of Athletics, responsible for setting the strategic direction for all fundraising for this department, including all 31 varsity athletics programs, capital projects, and the newly launched BC Athletics $400M campaign as part of Soaring Higher: the campaign for Boston College. The Director reports directly to the Vice President of Development with a day-to-day, dotted line reporting relationship to the William V. Campbell Director of Athletics.

The Director is responsible for managing and assessing a wide range of development programs and activities to achieve the ambitious fundraising goals of the Department and the University. These programs and activities include principal gift strategy, major gifts, annual & leadership giving, stewardship, volunteer engagement, communications, participation, and donor relations/events. The Director will oversee a staff of 11 full-time advancement professionals with the potential to grow once fully deployed. As Director/Senior Associate Athletics Director for Development, this individual will serve on the William V. Campbell Director of Athletics Executive Leadership Team and the Vice President for Development’s Executive Leadership Team. In this role, the Director will work in close partnership with leaders across the Department of Athletics, Capital Planning, and University Advancement, including the Office of the Senior Vice President, the Alumni Association, Schools & Programs, Major and Principal Giving, Leadership & Annual Giving, and Planned Giving. Operating within Boston College’s centralized advancement structure, the Director and their team will collaborate with more than 100 colleagues across principal, major, parent, planned, leadership, and annual giving, all aligned in advancing the University’s athletic fundraising priorities.

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Boston College Introduction

Founded in 1863, Boston College is a Jesuit, Catholic university located six miles from downtown Boston with an enrollment of 9,484 full-time undergraduates and 5,250 graduate and professional students. Ranked 35 among national universities, Boston College has 888 full-time and 1,281 FTE faculty, 2,711 non-faculty employees, an operating budget of $1.4 billion, and an endowment in excess of $3.5 billion.

Job Description

As we enter the third year of the public phase of Soaring Higher: the Campaign for Boston College, we invite you to join our community. Driven by our mission in ways that advance the university for years to come, priority areas for this $3B comprehensive campaign include Financial Aid, Academics, and Student Life.

Based on a fundamental Jesuit tenet of developing the whole person, University Advancement is large enough to benefit from many campus resources, yet small enough to be agile and creative in supporting all associates. With an average tenure of close to 10 years at Boston College, our 250-person centralized organizational structure offers a variety of roles across fundraising, alumni relations, operations, and communications and engagement.  We invest in the professional growth of every staff member through individual and team-based programs. Likewise, we aim to attract the very best, seeking team members who are as ambitious and as committed to our team as we are. We value a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging while actively promoting team members who contribute to the success of University Advancement.

See below the current opportunity to begin (or return to!) your Boston College experience!

Job Description:

The Director for Athletic Advancement/Senior Associate Athletics Director for Advancement (herein referred to as “The Director”) serves as the Chief Advancement Officer for the Department of Athletics, responsible for setting the strategic direction for all fundraising for this department, including all 31 varsity athletics programs, capital projects, and the newly launched BC Athletics $400M campaign as part of Soaring Higher: the campaign for Boston College. The Director reports directly to the Vice President of Development with a day-to-day, dotted line reporting relationship to the William V. Campbell Director of Athletics.

The Director is responsible for managing and assessing a wide range of development programs and activities to achieve the ambitious fundraising goals of the Department and the University. These programs and activities include principal gift strategy, major gifts, annual & leadership giving, stewardship, volunteer engagement, communications, participation, and donor relations/events. The Director will oversee a staff of 11 full-time advancement professionals with the potential to grow once fully deployed. As Director/Senior Associate Athletics Director for Development, this individual will serve on the William V. Campbell Director of Athletics Executive Leadership Team and the Vice President for Development’s Executive Leadership Team. In this role, the Director will work in close partnership with leaders across the Department of Athletics, Capital Planning, and University Advancement, including the Office of the Senior Vice President, the Alumni Association, Schools & Programs, Major and Principal Giving, Leadership & Annual Giving, and Planned Giving. Operating within Boston College’s centralized advancement structure, the Director and their team will collaborate with more than 100 colleagues across principal, major, parent, planned, leadership, and annual giving, all aligned in advancing the University’s athletic fundraising priorities.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead a comprehensive and coordinated fundraising program to grow major and principal gift support for Boston College Athletics, with a focus on increasing both the number and level of donors.
• Sustain annual fundraising momentum for Athletics at $35–45 million, including growth of the Flynn Fund (Athletics’ annual fund) to $12 million annually.
• Manage an individual portfolio of major and principal gift prospects, with an emphasis on gifts of $500,000 and above, and secure $4–8 million in new commitments each year.
• Direct and support the William V. Campbell Director of Athletics in the strategic solicitation of high-level prospects.
• Serve as the primary liaison between Athletics and University Advancement fundraising teams.  Lead strategy development and provide training for annual, leadership, major, and principal gift officers to advance Athletics fundraising priorities across regions.
• Identify and qualify leadership, major, and principal gift prospects, and closely collaborate with appropriate Advancement colleagues to develop and implement customized strategies that maximize gift potential.
• Represent Athletics Advancement in long-range capital planning efforts, ensuring alignment with the Senior VP of University Advancement and the VP of Development on campaign priorities and capital projects.
• Collaborate with the Director of Athletics, Vice President for Development, and other Athletics administrators to articulate funding priorities and communicate the department’s campaign case to internal and external audiences.
• Serve as a member of the Athletics Department’s senior leadership team and advise on alumni engagement and development strategy. Oversee the Sport Liaison Program supporting 31 varsity teams.
• Represent Boston College Athletics and University Advancement at key regional and national events.
• Manage the Athletics Development team, including goal setting, performance evaluation, training, and mentorship. Ensure operational excellence through effective administrative support and coordination.
• Maintain expertise in athletics fundraising by actively participating in ACC Development meetings and other professional networks and associations.
• Support Boston College’s commitment to equity and inclusion in daily work, hiring practices, and alumni engagement.
• Reflect and advance Boston College’s mission as a top-tier, athletically competitive Jesuit Catholic university.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The salary range for this position is $171,600 - $214,500 with the final salary based on various factors, including the candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies, experience, and internal equity considerations.

Requirements

The Director must bring at least ten years of progressively responsible leadership experience in college athletic development and a proven record of sound, strategic decision-making. The role involves regular, close interaction with University leaders, donors, and other internal and external stakeholders, requiring exceptional interpersonal skills and a commitment to high-level constituent engagement.

Successful candidates will:

• Exhibit maturity, intellectual agility, and humility, enabling productive partnerships across the Boston College community, particularly within University Advancement.
• Show uncompromising integrity, diplomacy, and the ability to engage persuasively with high-level constituents, including those connected to the Athletic Department.
• Possess a deep appreciation of Boston College’s Jesuit, Catholic mission and culture, and the insight to craft advancement strategies that honor and extend this tradition worldwide.
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to creating an inclusive and respectful workplace where all individuals are recognized for their contributions and supported in their success.

This position requires a proven leader who can inspire confidence, deliver results, and exemplify the values that define Boston College. The ideal candidate is a collaborative team player, highly motivated and deeply committed to the advancement of higher education. An appreciation for Jesuit, Catholic education and a strong alignment with the mission and values of Boston College are essential.

A bachelor’s degree is required, as are strong verbal and written communication skills.  Significant travel, evening, and weekend work is required to be successful. A valid driver’s license is required.

Must be a team player who is highly motivated and dedicated to the goals of advancing higher education and have an appreciation for Jesuit Catholic education and the goals and values of Boston College.

The office of University Advancement supports the mission of Boston College by promoting a culture of inclusion that values each individual. Our recruiting practices support that commitment to build teams reflecting our community; students, alumni, parents and friends of Boston College.

Closing Statement

Boston College offers a broad and competitive range of benefits depending on your job classification eligibility:

• Tuition remission for Employees
• Tuition remission for Spouses and Children who meet eligibility requirements
• Generous Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Low-Cost Life Insurance
• Eligibility for both University-Funded 401k and Employer-Sponsored 403b Retirement Plans
• Paid Holidays Annually
• Generous Sick and Vacation Pay
• Additional benefits can be found on https://www.bc.edu/employeehandbook

Boston College conducts pre-employment background checks as part of the hiring process.

Boston College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of any legally protected category, including disability and protected veteran status. Boston College's Notice of Nondiscrimination can be viewed at https://www.bc.edu/nondiscrimination.

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