Description
Salary Range:
Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications
About SMU
SMU’s more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University’s small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.
SMU serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students through eight degree-granting schools: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Cox School of Business, Lyle School of Engineering, Meadows School of the Arts, Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Dedman School of Law, Perkins School of Theology and Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies.
SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem – paired with entrepreneurial drive – creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.
Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU’s relationship with Dallas – the dynamic center of one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions – offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.
SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.
About the Department:
Development and External Affairs (DEA) supports SMU by securing funding for University priorities; by promoting meaningful involvement in the life and work of the University; by heightening international, national, state and local awareness of SMU; and by supporting the enrollment of a diverse and able student body.
DEA comprises the offices of Office of the Senior Vice President, Annual Giving and Alumni Relations, Development Services, Program Services and Donor Relations, Marketing and Communications, Principal and Major Gifts, and School and Project Development.
SMU continues to leverage the benefits from the largest fundraising campaign in its history to achieve dramatic increases in academic quality and impact.
About the Position:
This position is a hybrid role, combining both in-office and remote work.
The Director of Research and Prospect Management manages a team of research and prospect management professionals to support the major and principal giving initiatives of SMU.
The position collaborates with the President, VP, AVP of Principal Gifts, and AVP of School and Project Development to guide and resource portfolios of prospects with giving potential for university transformational gifts ($10 million plus) and respond directly and promptly to their prospect inquiries.
The role will maximize team resources to ensure a vigorous prospect identification, rating and that the research program maintains a pipeline of high potential prospects in support of SMU's personal solicitation teams.
The role also serves as a subject matter expert for the Research and Prospect Management functions in the CRM and data warehouse and data visualization initiative.
The position will enlist a well-developed national network of experts to ensure that DEA maintains best practices and an appropriately talented team in this vital area.
Essential Functions:
Provide personal portfolio and research support to the President, Senior Vice President, and AVP of Principal Gifts in order to help maximize our fundraising results with the university's highest potential fundraising prospects. Provide strategy recommendations regarding the assignment, alignment with funding initiatives, and moves management of the $1 million dollar plus portion of our pyramid.
Recruit, train, manage and support a team of talented research and prospect management professionals appropriate to provide excellent support for one of the top 50 private university fundraising teams. Coach, mentor, and set priorities in a highly dynamic environment.
Analyze the evolving information needs of the front-line fundraising team with regard to research and prospect management information and design, test, document, and support new capabilities in the CRM and reporting and data visualization tools. Engage with external resources to ensure current knowledge of new resources to extend our capabilities.
Participate actively in Apra, AASP, and other international organizations which position you as a national leader in Research and Prospect Management so as to aid in the recruitment of top talent, identification of training opportunities, and analysis of new trends, and tools so as to drive the optimizing of SMU's prospect potential appropriate to our nationally prominent level of results.
Lead the strategic planning, annual plans of action, performance reviews, and budgeting required to align unit capabilities with the university aspirations for fundraising. Collaborate with peers on the Development Services leadership team to identify and support cross-team opportunities
This position is on call to top university administration regarding prospect information and should be responsive promptly even outside of standard business hours.
Qualifications
Education and Experience:
A Bachelor’s degree is required. Master's preferred.
A minimum of seven years of professional work experience in development research and prospect management is required.
A minimum of three years of work experience managing a team of research and prospect management professionals is required.
Experience in a top-tier, private higher education setting is strongly preferred. Comprehensive campaign experience is strongly desired.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills. Strong public speaking and presentation skills are essential to effectively collaborate with the fundraising team.
Candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Must also have strong organizational, planning, and time management skills. A strong focus on attention to detail and strong project management skills are essential. Previous training in project management is preferred.
Candidate must demonstrate knowledge of or the ability to understand and articulate ethics as it is defined in the Apra Statement of Ethics. A strong commitment to confidentiality and professionalism to handle confidential information with discretion is essential.
Candidate must have a strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite. Must also have experience with a large scale non-profit CRM software and with prospect research software tools. Experience with Salesforce is preferred. Knowledge of predictive modeling and data visualization software desired.
Physical and Environmental Demands:
Sit for long periods of time
Deadline to Apply:
The position is open until filled.
Priority consideration may be given to submissions received by July 20, 2026
EEO Statement:
SMU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression.
Benefits:
SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefits. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.
SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.
The value of learning at SMU isn't just about preparing our students for the future. Employees have access to a wide variety of professional and personal development opportunities, including tuition benefits.
Requirements
Qualifications
Education and Experience:
A Bachelor’s degree is required. Master's preferred.
A minimum of seven years of professional work experience in development research and prospect management is required.
A minimum of three years of work experience managing a team of research and prospect management professionals is required.
Experience in a top-tier, private higher education setting is strongly preferred. Comprehensive campaign experience is strongly desired.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills. Strong public speaking and presentation skills are essential to effectively collaborate with the fundraising team.
Candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Must also have strong organizational, planning, and time management skills. A strong focus on attention to detail and strong project management skills are essential. Previous training in project management is preferred.
Candidate must demonstrate knowledge of or the ability to understand and articulate ethics as it is defined in the Apra Statement of Ethics. A strong commitment to confidentiality and professionalism to handle confidential information with discretion is essential.
Candidate must have a strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite. Must also have experience with a large scale non-profit CRM software and with prospect research software tools. Experience with Salesforce is preferred. Knowledge of predictive modeling and data visualization software desired.
Physical and Environmental Demands:
Sit for long periods of time
Deadline to Apply:
The position is open until filled.
Priority consideration may be given to submissions received by July 20, 2026
