Department: Development
Reports to: Head of School
Status: Full-Time, Exempt
Start Date: When filled

Overview

University Child Development School (UCDS) located in Seattle, Washington is an independent school serving 390+ Infant/Toddler, Early Elementary (Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten, and Kindergarten) and Elementary (1st through 5th grade) students. In addition, the UCDS education institution comprises the UCDS Graduate School of Education. UCDS uniquely serves to prepare teachers, educate children, and develop innovations in curriculum and teaching. UCDS’s unique design as a place where both teachers and children learn, where early career teachers develop their practice, and where experienced teachers research and design curriculum, gives rise to its innovation. The Master of Education program is the evolution of UCDS’ deep history of developing and supporting exceptional educators.

The Opportunity

The Director of Development and Community Engagement at UCDS will lead all aspects of the Development Office, overseeing fundraising, alum relations, and volunteer coordination to support the school’s mission and values. This role is central to building a culture of philanthropy. Reporting directly to the Head of School and working closely with the Board of Trustees, the Director will build strategic and data-driven approaches to foster UCDS’s financial health, establish long-term donor relationships, and build community connections.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

UCDS aspires to be a welcoming learning community with a deep commitment and appreciation for diversity in all forms. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are central values at UCDS. From our youngest to our oldest students, we strive to help them develop a worldview that identifies, understands, and values diversity in race, ethnicity, gender, religion, ability, and more. We weave opportunities for these meaningful conversations, experiences, and learning throughout students’ days. Over the past few years, UCDS has continued to refine our approach and review our DEIB programming to continue to improve the ways we support students, parents, and employees by bringing an equity lens to academic and operational systems across the school. 

We encourage members of marginalized communities, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, as well as members of other underrepresented groups, to apply and potentially become a part of our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive educational environment.

UCDS encourages students to stretch, reflect, collaborate, and think expansively—enriching their educational growth and ensuring they thrive in school and beyond. UCDS sets individualized curriculum goals, as well as high expectations for every student, and inspires them to go beyond self-imposed limits.

We cultivate reflective, collaborative, skillful thinkers who ignite positive change in their communities. From our youngest to our oldest students, we strive to help everyone develop a worldview that identifies, understands, and values diversity in race, culture, gender, religion, ability, and more. Teachers make a thousand choices a day—both big and small, explicit and implicit—and with each of these, our goal is to expand and deepen students’ understanding of self and others. We strive to engage our students in authentic and meaningful conversations, experiences, and learning that help them recognize that while there is so much work left to do, they have the tools, strategies, and resources to make a difference.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Strategic Fundraising and Campaign Leadership:
  • Build and design a giving landscape in alignment with the UCDS strategic plan
  • Design and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies that align with UCDS’s goals.
  • Lead capital campaign effort with a deep understanding to address the UCDS’s to address space constraints.
  • Build data-informed strategies to effectively engage and steward donors at all levels, while continually assessing the effectiveness of fundraising efforts.
• Donor Engagement and Relationship Management:
  • Cultivate and maintain relationships with major donors and community stakeholders, including corporate and foundation partnerships, to strengthen support for UCDS.
  • Develop and execute strategic donor cultivation plans that support both immediate and long-term giving, while focusing on expanding the donor base and re-engaging recurring donors.
• Collaboration and Communications:
  • Partner with admissions, marketing, and communications to create and deliver compelling messaging around UCDS’s mission and help align key messages with UCDS’s broader development goals.
• Data-Driven Development Management:
  • Utilize CRM and Veracross system with data insights to manage donor relations, report on contributed income, and adjust strategies based on data-driven outcomes.
  • Leverage a data mindset to monitor and optimize development activities, ensuring alignment with financial objectives and maximizing donor impact.
• Leadership and People Management:
  • Supervise the Development team, fostering a collaborative and growth-focused work environment. 
  • Engage and coordinate with cross-functional teams to maximize volunteer efforts and develop community-building initiatives that resonate with the UCDS mission.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education and Experience: At least 5 years of experience in development, with a focus on capital campaigns and community-centric initiatives. Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s preferred. 
• Strategic and Analytical Skills: Strong strategic mindset with experience in using data to inform fundraising plans, donor engagement, and campaign feasibility.
• People Management and Collaboration: Proven experience leading teams, working with senior leadership, and effectively engaging donors and community members.
• Communication and Donor Relations: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to develop donor engagement strategies.
• Commitment to DEI: Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, with the ability to apply these principles to all development activities.

 Preferred Qualifications 

• Innovative Development Methods: Knowledge of, and willingness to, implement new, creative, and engaging methods for fundraising. 
• Capital Campaign Expertise: Direct experience in managing and implementing successful capital campaigns.
• Technical Proficiency: Familiarity with donor management software and ability to analyze financial and engagement reports.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $100,000-130,000 depending on degree/experience.

The school offers a generous and comprehensive benefits package to benefits-eligible employees subject to the discretion of the Head of School, which includes:

• Employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Health Savings Account with employer contribution
• Flexible Spending Account
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with available employer matching
• Paid sick leave
• Employer-paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Employer-paid Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program for employees and their dependents
• Wellness benefit is to be used on items or services that promote wellness
• Professional Development opportunities
• Free parking

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying for this position, click the “Apply Now” button to submit a resume and a detailed cover letter addressing interest in this position and qualifications. 

Non-Discrimination Policy
University Child Development School is an Equal Opportunity Employer dedicated to promoting diversity in the workplace and to seeking a diverse and broad spectrum of qualified candidates. Except as required by law, UCDS is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and equal opportunity for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, religion, creed, political ideology, color, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetic information, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, ancestry, presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, HIV or Hepatitis C, marital status, familial status, parental status, honorably discharged veteran or military status, application for military service, use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, or any other status protected by applicable law. UCDS will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law.

All applicants for UCDS employment, both paid and volunteer positions, are subject to criminal background checks.