Position Overview:

Merrimack College seeks a dynamic and experienced fundraising professional to serve as the Executive Director of Major and Principal Gifts. Reporting to the Senior Vice President for Institutional Advancement and CMO, this individual will lead and manage the College’s frontline major gift fundraising efforts and serve as a senior member of the Office of Development and Alumni Relations (ODAR).

The Executive Director is responsible for cultivating, soliciting and stewarding a personal portfolio of major and principal gift prospects, while also overseeing and supporting a team of frontline fundraisers working toward major and principal gift goals. This leader will drive strategy, accountability and collaboration within the team to achieve fundraising goals in support of the College’s priorities and comprehensive campaign, Together We Rise.

Primary Responsibilities: Serve as the senior leader for major gift fundraising, setting strategy and driving results across the frontline fundraising team.

Manage a personal portfolio of major and principal gift prospects ($50K+), advancing relationships and securing significant philanthropic support.

Provide direct supervision, coaching and support to a team of major gift officers and other frontline fundraisers.

Develop and implement metrics and accountability structures for frontline fundraising staff.

Partner with the Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement & CMO on strategy development and campaign planning to advance institutional priorities.

Collaborate with senior leaders across ODAR, including donor relations, annual giving, prospect research, alumni engagement and stewardship.

Work closely with senior leaders and faculty across the College as well as trustees and volunteers to advance donor engagement and institutional fundraising.

Ensure best practices in moves management, pipeline development and donor-centric relationship building.

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree required.

Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive experience in development, with demonstrated success in major gift fundraising.

Experience managing and mentoring a team of fundraisers with measurable results.

Deep understanding of fundraising principles, moves management, and campaign strategy.

Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust, establish credibility, and engage stakeholders at all levels—including senior leadership and executive-level alumni.

Proven ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies, including alumni, students, parents, and institutional partners.

Demonstrated success in independently developing and executing creative strategies and moving management plans to advance major gift prospects.

Excellent verbal, written, and organizational skills.

Collaborative, adaptable, and proactive—capable of thriving in a fast-paced, goal-driven environment.

Technologically proficient, with strong skills in Google Workspace and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access).

Willingness and ability to travel and work evenings and weekends, as needed.

Valid, unrestricted U.S. driver’s license with an insurable driving record, maintained throughout employment.

Prior experience in higher education fundraising strongly preferred.

Knowledge of the higher education landscape and enthusiasm for Merrimack’s mission and values.

Application Materials Should Include: Resume

Cover letter stating motivation and interest in the position, citing experience relevant to the qualifications and including experience with, and commitment to, our Catholic Augustinian mission and our values.

This position is subject to the successful completion of a criminal background check.

Working Conditions

This is an on-campus position as employees are essential in order to provide a fully on-campus, residential college experience for our students and the community.

Statement on Our Mission

Merrimack College is a Catholic Augustinian institution of higher education committed to building an accepting and respectful community. Our mission is to enlighten minds, engage hearts and empower lives and is inspired by our Catholic faith and the Augustinian tradition of seeking truth through inquiry and dialogue.

Merrimack College seeks candidates who understand, respect, and can contribute to Merrimack’s Catholic and Augustinian mission. All candidates should describe in their application how they will foster a culture that supports our mission.

About Merrimack College

The only Catholic, Augustinian institution of higher education in New England, Merrimack College is a private, independent, coeducational institution with more than 4,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students from 43 states and 42 countries. The College features more than 100 career-focused undergraduate, professional and graduate programs, all taught by exceptional faculty who are passionate about their subject and student success. The College has six schools: Graduate School of Counseling and Social Work, School of Arts and Sciences, School of Engineering and Computational Sciences, School of Nursing and Health Sciences, School of Education and Social Policy, and the Girard School of Business. The College’s suburban 240-acre campus is approximately 25 miles north of Boston in the towns of North Andover and Andover, Massachusetts. Merrimack is a Master’s Colleges and Universities/Larger Programs (M1) institution in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Merrimack is one of the fastest growing educational institutions in the country and has steadily climbed up in the U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of Best Colleges, ranking 33rd in the Regional Universities North category in 2024. Merrimack is a NCAA Division I athletic institution.

Merrimack College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.