Assistant Athletic Director, Development

Online applications must be received before 11:59pm on:

September 20, 2026

If a date is not listed above, review the Applicant Instructions below for more details.

Available Title(s):

1522-NN_ADMINPRO - Director of Development 4, 1523-NN_ADMINPRO - Director of Development 5

Business Title:

Assistant Athletic Director, Development

Employee Type:

Admin. Professional

Position Details:

The Opportunity:

Washington State University Athletics, Cougar Athletic Fund, is hiring two positions for an Assistant Athletic Director of Development, each at either the Director of Development 4 or Director of Development 5 level. The positions may be based in either Pullman, WA, or Seattle, WA.

In the role as either a Director of Development 4 or 5, you will be responsible for supporting unit fundraising goals by planning and conducting outreach designed to promote constituent understanding of a unit’s activities and research with the aim of cultivating donors and raising money. These efforts may include, but are not limited to annual giving, major gift development, and planned gift identification and advancement. Extensive travel in Washington State, the Pacific Northwest, and elsewhere is required.

A Director of Development 4 secures 12 - 16 major gifts or pledges, opens a minimum of 20 solicitations, and has a minimum annual fundraising goal of $1,000,000.

A Director of Development 5 manages a portfolio of 75 - 100 donors, secures 12 - 16 major gifts or pledges, opens a minimum of 20 solicitations, and has a minimum annual fundraising goal of $2,000,000. They also close a third of their major gifts at $250,000 or higher.

Additional Information:

This is a full-time (100% FTE), permanent position. Overtime eligibility will be determined based on final salary placement.

Monthly Salary: Commensurate with experience and qualifications

Director of Development 4:

Pullman: $6,012.09 - $8,750

Seattle: $6,493.05 - $9,697.96

Director of Development 5:

Pullman: $6,733.54 - $9,666.67

Seattle: $7,272.22 - $10,848.94

In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate’s current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position.

Benefits: WSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation, optional supplemental retirement accounts; training and development; and employee tuition waiver. For additional information, please review the detailed Summary of Benefits offered by WSU for AP staff and Total Compensation.

Required Qualifications:

Director of Development 4:

• Bachelor's degree and five (5) years of progressively responsible relevant experience, which includes three (3) years of full-time fundraising experience, demonstrated success in proposal writing and submission, evidence of ability to plan and execute a fund drive (i.e. responsibility for a project from conception to realization), demonstrated success in face-to-face solicitations of gifts of $50,000 or more OR comparable experience. Comparable experience includes progressively responsible full-time consultative sales in real estate, industrial equipment, vehicles, custom services, or bulk commodities, which include long term relationships between salespeople and clients, which includes negotiating the terms and conditions of individual sales with customers, program oversight and management, clearly defined goals and objectives, and a demonstrated track record of sales success. A Master’s degree in a related field may be substituted for up to one (1) year of the required experience.

• Experience demonstrating strong interpersonal skills in establishing and maintaining internal and external relationships.

• Demonstrated ability to cultivate, develop and steward client/donor relationships

• Understanding of proposal development and writing, fundraising and/or client development principles and techniques; project management skills; and relevant event planning/management. 

• Demonstrated success in proposal writing and submission.

• Must have, or be able to obtain by time of hire, a valid driver’s license and meet requirements in accordance with SPPM 7.10 and departmental driving standards.

• Evening and weekend work required.  

Director of Development 5:

• Bachelor’s degree and six (6) years of progressively responsible relevant experience, which includes four (4) years of full-time fundraising experience, demonstrated success in proposal writing and submission, evidence of ability to plan and execute a fund drive (i.e. responsibility for a project from conception to realization), demonstrated success in face-to-face solicitations of gifts of $50,000 or more OR comparable experience. Comparable experience includes progressively responsible full-time consultative sales in real estate, industrial equipment, vehicles, custom services, or bulk commodities, which include long term relationships between salespeople and clients, which includes negotiating the terms and conditions of individual sales with customers, program oversight and management, clearly defined goals and objectives, and a demonstrated track record of sales success. A Master’s degree in a related field may be substituted for up to one (1) year of the required experience.

• Experience demonstrating strong interpersonal skills in establishing and maintaining internal and external relationships.

• Demonstrated ability to cultivate, develop and steward client/donor relationships

• Understanding of major gift proposal writing, fundraising and/or client development principles and techniques; project management skills; and relevant event planning/management.

• Demonstrated success in major gift proposal writing and submission.

• Must have, or be able to obtain by time of hire, a valid driver’s license and meet requirements in accordance with SPPM 7.10 and departmental driving standards.

• Evening and weekend work required.

Preferred Qualifications:

Director of Development 4:

• Fundraising experience closing major gifts of $100,000 and above. 

• Evidence of ability to plan and execute a fundraising project from conception to realization. 

• Experience engaging faculty and translating their research into layman terms for prospective donors.

• Experience with alumni/donor database applications.

Director of Development 5:

• Fundraising experience closing major gifts of $250,000 and above.

• Evidence of ability to plan and execute a fundraising project from conception to realization.

• Experience articulating athletic department and/or higher education philanthropic priorities in a compelling manner for prospective donors. ·

• Experience with alumni/donor/ticket database applications.

• Advanced Degree.

Position Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for work visa sponsorship

About Department/College/Area/ Campus - cougarathleticfund.com/

Area/College: Athletics, Intercollegiate
Department Name: Cougar Athletic Fund
Location: Pullman, WA or Seattle, WA

Application Instructions: Applicants must upload the following required documents to their online application. Application materials should clearly communicate how the applicant meets all required qualifications and additional requirements.

1) Resume
2) Cover Letter

External candidates, upload all documents in the “Application Document” section of your application.
Current WSU Employees (internal candidates), before starting your Workday application, please use these instructions to update your education and experience in your worker profile in Workday. Internal candidates, upload all documents in the “Resume/Cover Letter” section of your application.

Documents may be submitted as one file or separate files. Applicants are encouraged to upload as a PDF, if possible.

Reference contact information will be requested later in the recruitment process through Workday.

Background Check: This position has been designated by the department to require a background check because it requires access to children or vulnerable adults as defined by RCW 74.34, engages in law enforcement, requires security clearance, interacts with WSU students in a counseling or advising capacity, has access to personal identifying and/or financial information, unsupervised access to university buildings/property, or other business-related need. A background check will not be completed until an initial determination of qualification for employment has been made.

Time Type:

Full time

Position Term:

Washington State University encourages all qualified candidates to apply, including members of the military and veterans, and persons with disabilities.

WSU employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

WSU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resource Services: 509-335-4521 (v), Washington State TDD Relay Service: Voice Callers: 1-800-833-6384; TDD Callers: 1-800-833-6388, 509-335-1259(f), or [email protected].

Notice of Non-Discrimination

In matters of admission, employment, housing or services, or in the educational programs or activities it operates, WSU does not discriminate or permit discrimination by any member of its community against any individual on the basis of sex, race, color, national or ethnic origin, physical disability, mental disability, sensory disability, use of a trained service animal, age, religion, creed, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, honorably discharged veteran, member of the military, or immigration or citizenship status except as authorized by federal or state law, regulation, or government contract.

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More information, resources, and contact information are available here: https://ccr.wsu.edu/notice-of-nondiscrimination/