Assistant Dean of Development (0465U), Social Science Dean's Office - #83591

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty and staff.

As a world-leading institution, Berkeley is known for its academic and research excellence, public mission, diverse student body, and commitment to equity and social justice. Since our founding in 1868, we have driven innovation, creating global intellectual, economic and social value.

We are looking for applicants who reflect California's diversity and want to be part of an inclusive, equity-focused community that views education as a matter of social justice. Please consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, Principles of Community, and Strategic Plan.

At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups (staff organizations). Our goal is for everyone on the Berkeley campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing all of our full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities. Find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley.

Departmental Overview

The Division of Social Sciences within the College of Letters & Science is the largest academic division on campus, with an annual budget of approximately $170M, 277 permanent faculty FTE, and undergraduate enrollment which averages 30,000 per semester. It is also among Berkeley's most heterogeneous divisions, with faculty studying every dimension of the human experience. Its academic departments include African American studies, anthropology, demography, economics, ethnic studies, geography, gender and women's studies, history, linguistics, political science, psychology and sociology. The Division is also home to the Interdisciplinary Social Sciences Programs which includes Political Economy, Global Studies, Cognitive Science, and Master of Computational Social Science programs, the Social Science Matrix, D-Lab, and several related research units. This diversity offers scholars and students an unparalleled opportunity to range far and wide in their search for solutions to individual, social, and global problems, thus creating a complex development landscape.

Position Summary

The Assistant Dean of Development, Social Sciences leads an advancement team to develop, deliver, and measure outcomes of integrated fundraising programs for the College of Letters and Science and the Division of Social Sciences. The position reports to the Associate Vice Chancellor, Constituent Programs in University Development and Alumni Relations (UDAR) with dotted line reporting to the Dean of Social Sciences. The incumbent manages a fundraising, alumni relations, and communications program with six professional and support staff, while coordinating a set of shared resources related to stewardship, research and alumni relations.

The Assistant Dean is responsible for the full range of development and other external relations functions, including establishment of campaign priorities and strategy, events, volunteer management, robust travel and visit schedules, and related communications. The Assistant Dean cultivates and solicits a personal portfolio of ~80 major gift and principal gift prospects; develops complex proposals, often involving multiple academic leaders and faculty members, sometimes from multiple divisions or units; conceptualizes related programs and events; directs external relations establishes a strategic plan for meeting annual fundraising goals and growing the overall advancement engagement; and partners with the dean and other academic leaders to pursue major and principal gifts through direct and consistent donor engagement. This position is expected to raise at least $10M annually. Importantly, the position collaborates closely with UDAR and campus units, including partnering with the Principal Gifts and Strategic Initiative, Major Gifts, and Office of Gift Planning teams. Often these collaborations center on the most important philanthropic relationships to the campus and involve faculty and senior campus leadership, including the Chancellor and Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: 01/27/2026.

Responsibilities

Provide dynamic leadership of a comprehensive fundraising and marketing/communications program for the Division of Social Sciences, including creating, implementing, and evaluating strategies to meet stated goals and objectives.

• Build an infrastructure that supports short-and long-term goals to expand endowment and philanthropic support for the Division and the College of Letters & Science, as well as The Office of Research, faculty and other central entities.
• Design and implement a coordinated identification and qualification program for the engagement of new donors; leverage the network of existing donors to identify new individual and institutional prospects capable of making seven and eight figure commitments.
• Ensure collaboration and coordination with key partners across the university--most notably Principal Gifts and Strategic Initiatives, the Office of Research, and the Goldman School of Public Policy.
• Provides expert guidance to the Dean of Social Sciences on the full range of complex development programs and the development of academic initiatives that will have relevance to donors, industry and state government.
• Developing programs and initiatives includes responsibility for other external relations functions, such as events, volunteer coordination and management, donor relations and stewardship, and other marketing related activities.

Manages a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects, some of whom are the University's highest level donors, and the strategies that inform their experience as donors.

• Includes identification, cultivation and solicitation of donors and donor prospects. Includes staffing the Dean of Social Sciences, high level volunteers, faculty leaders, including the EVCP and the Chancellor on donor visits and high-level solicitations.
• Conceptualizes and writes complex proposals for major and principal gifts, developing case statement language and gift opportunities.
• Manages own portfolio of ~80 prospects in a highly complex fundraising program, with a personal fundraising goal of $10M, and a team program comprising the full range of development programs and including responsibility for other external relations functions, such as events, volunteer coordination and management, donor relations and stewardship, and other marketing related activities.

Manages the full range of development programs and other external relations functions such as volunteer outreach, development related communications, and events.

• Serves as a strategic thought partner to the Dean and Division leadership on highly complex philanthropic opportunities that include multiple stakeholders including external partners and donors, faculty both within the division and across campus, and campus deans.
• Ensures collaboration with other units where donor/alumni overlap to create a positive and coordinated donor experience.

The incumbent recruits, trains, and mentors a development team of frontline fundraisers, as well as non-fundraising professionals, and administrative support.

• Leads collaborative annual planning and goal-setting process to engage and involve all team members in each year's priorities, initiatives and plans.
• Leads regular team planning meetings within the Division and coordinates on a regular basis with chief development officers in units across campus.

Ensures consistent review of progress against key initiatives; design, analysis and development of annual plan.

• Frequent collaboration with colleagues in UDAR--working closely with prospect development, office of gift planning, major gifts, principal gifts and strategic initiatives, and events and marketing teams.

Required Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of all aspects of fundraising, donor and public relations including advanced knowledge of applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, etc.
• Excellent knowledge of and/or can quickly learn the campus, its achievements, vision, mission, goals, objectives, applicable policies, infrastructure and current issues of concern and knowledge of issues of concern for higher education, generally.
• Understanding of scientific concepts that are relevant to the division.
• Excellent knowledge of leadership/management concepts, procedures, techniques and best practices.
• Excellent leadership/management skills to select, train, mentor, evaluate and motivate staff.
• Advanced written, oral and interpersonal communications skills, including excellent political acumen skills, to build and maintain effective working relationships within all organizational levels and with outside constituencies.
• Excellent skills in meeting predetermined goals and objectives, including securing gifts and meeting fundraising goals.
• Advanced strategic planning, critical thinking, analytical, problem-solving, persuasion/negotiation skills and marketing skills.
• Bachelor's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training.

Salary & Benefits

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The full salary range for this position is $138,200.00 - $271,200.00. The expected hiring salary range is $200,000.00 - $250,000.00.

• This is a full-time (40 hours/week), career position that is eligible for UC Benefits.
• This is an exempt monthly-paid position.

How to Apply

• To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

Other Information

• This is not a visa opportunity. This position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.

Conviction History Background

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

Misconduct

SB 791 and AB 810 Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy

UC Anti-Discrimination Policy

Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.