External Relations at the University of Virginia (UVA) is seeking a highly qualified Associate Director of Development to join our Health Development UVA Health Children's team.

UVA's advancement community is respected for its effective, results oriented, and resourceful professionals. It includes a robust central advancement organization, 12 schools, and more than 25 University-related programs. We offer a wide range of career opportunities and an outstanding environment for professional growth.

About UVA Health Children's

More than 138,000 children receive care at UVA Health Children's each year, 70% of them from outside Charlottesville. For six consecutive years, U.S. News & World Report has ranked it the #1 children's hospital in Virginia. Nine specialties are nationally ranked: Behavioral Health, Diabetes & Endocrinology, Gastroenterology & GI Surgery, Neonatology, Nephrology, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, Pulmonology & Lung Surgery, and Urology.

The program includes a pediatric inpatient hospital within an adult hospital, along with ambulatory clinics across a wide range of specialties. Our status as an academic medical center strengthens our clinical care mission through research, education, and training. It is one of the University's highest-priority fundraising areas.

About the Role

Reporting to the Director of Development, UVA Health Children's, you will manage a growing portfolio within one of the institution's most dynamic pediatric healthcare enterprises. Your work will directly support family-centered patient care, innovative research, and emerging priorities across UVA Health Children's, the Department of Pediatrics, and pediatric divisions within other departments.

You will partner closely with physicians, researchers, faculty, and leaders to shape and fund priorities across the enterprise.

Responsibilities

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward prospects and donors in support of the mission and priorities of UVA Health Children's.
• Create and implement a transparent, intentional donor strategy that moves prospects along the development continuum and raises existing donors to higher levels of support. Emphasize discovery work that builds the major gift pipeline.
• Manage a pipeline of philanthropic proposals, aligning donor interests with priorities in clinical excellence, research, and the education of the next generation of medical and research professionals.
• Partner with the Director of Development to design and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy for assigned departments, divisions, and priorities across patient care, research, education, and community support. Engage multiple prospect populations, including patient families, community members, UVA friends and alumni, and others.
• Review HIPAA compliant patient data for physicians in assigned programs to identify potential major gift prospects for further research and cultivation, and ensure discipline around patient philanthropy processes.
• Maintain a consistent presence within assigned departments and programs to build partnerships with faculty and staff and promote a culture of philanthropy.
• Train and coach faculty and staff on philanthropic principles and tactics so they are prepared to contribute positively to development activities and donor relationships.
• Develop an informed layperson's understanding of assigned clinical areas and research and act as a translator between faculty and prospects or donors to strengthen communication.
• Collaborate with UVA Health Development Office (UVAHD) colleagues to ensure alignment and synergy, working in a donor-centric way to advance UVA Health broadly.

Qualities of the Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a collaborative, solution-oriented professional with excellent interpersonal skills and exceptional oral and written communication across varied audiences. They are results-oriented, understand major gift fundraising principles, and serve as a trusted philanthropic advisor to prospects, donors, and faculty partners.

They are highly organized, detail-oriented, and efficient. They engage professionally with donors, volunteers, and stakeholders, maintain confidentiality and discretion with sensitive information, and apply strong critical thinking to solve problems, prioritize tasks, and adapt to shifting priorities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Minimum of 3 years of fundraising experience, with a consistent record of securing gifts of $50,000+.
• Experience and demonstrated ability to build genuine, philanthropically focused relationships and strategically move a pipeline of proposals from the planning stage, through solicitation and stewardship.
• Ability to use a database to maintain and review records and reports such as donor data, prospect contacts, solicitations and proposals.
• Ability to hold oneself accountable to goals and metrics.
• Proven ability to navigate complex interpersonal dynamics with high emotional intelligence and professionalism.
• Strong communication skills and ability to articulate mission and priorities.
• Valid driver’s license.

Preferred Qualifications

• 3 years of major gift fundraising experience, with a consistent record of securing gifts of $100,000+.
• Experience in grateful patient philanthropy programs and/or work within an academic medical center.
• Track record of soliciting and closing planned gifts, including estate gifts and other planned giving vehicles.

Physical Demands

This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling both regionally and some distance to attend meetings, and programs.

Salary Range

The anticipated hiring range is $80K – 90K / year, commensurate with education and experience.

Position Type & Work Location

• This is an exempt level, benefited position. Learn more about UVA benefits.
• This is a restricted position, which is dependent on funding and is contingent upon funding availability.
• Although this position is eligible to work hybrid, the incumbent should live within a reasonable driving distance of Charlottesville to facilitate frequent visits to UVA Grounds.

About UVA and the Community

To learn more about UVA and in the Charlottesville area, visit UVA Life and Embark CVA.

Application Timeline

Application review will begin after October 14, 2026.

Additional Requirements

• Background checks will be conducted on all new hires prior to employment.
• This position will not consider candidates who require immigration sponsorship now or in the future.
• The successful candidate will be required to complete a health screen.

How to Apply

Please apply online, by searching for requisition number R0088240. Complete an application with the following documents:

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Upload all materials into the resume submission field. You can submit multiple documents into this one field or combine them into one PDF. Applications without all required documents will not receive full consideration.

Reference Check Process

Reference checks will be completed by UVA’s third-party partner, SkillSurvey, during the final phase of the interview. Five references will be requested, with at least three responses required.

Contact

For additional information about the position, please contact Sandi Hall, Senior Associate Director for Staff Success, at eym5wh@virginia.edu.

For questions about the application process, please contact Jon Freeman, HR Recruitment Specialist, at jf2sw@virginia.edu.

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.