Associate and/or Senior Associate Director, Philanthropic Partnerships, Cancer Programs

Job description

The University of Virginia Health Development Office within the External Relations department seeks an Associate Director or a Senior Associate Director, Health Development Partnerships to join our collaborative, high-achieving team and help advance philanthropic priorities across UVA Health.
This is an exciting opportunity to work at the intersection of healthcare, philanthropy, research, and relationship management within a leading academic medical center. The individual in this role will serve as a strategic partner to physicians, faculty, clinical and research leaders, and administrators, helping connect their work and priorities with meaningful opportunities for philanthropic support.
The Health Development Partnerships team plays a critical role in developing the front end of UVA Health’s philanthropic pipeline. Through strong relationships with faculty and providers, the team identifies and qualifies prospective donors, facilitates appropriate grateful patient referrals, develops strategies for donor engagement, and partners with frontline development officers to advance philanthropic relationships.
The position will be assigned to a specific area of UVA Health, such as Cancer Programs, and will develop a deep understanding of the clinical, research, and educational priorities within that portfolio. The successful candidate will translate complex clinical and scientific concepts into compelling opportunities for philanthropic engagement while helping physicians and faculty participate effectively in the fundraising process.
The Associate Director or Senior Associate Director will report to the Executive Director of Development, Cancer Programs.
Responsibilities:
Build Strategic Partnerships
• Establish and maintain trusted relationships with physicians, faculty, clinical and research leaders, Department Chairs, Division Chiefs, administrators, and other UVA Health leaders within assigned areas.
• Develop a strong understanding of the clinical, research, and educational priorities of assigned programs, departments, centers, and service lines.
• Serve as a strategic connector between UVA Health and University External Relations, ensuring that information, resources, and opportunities are effectively shared to advance philanthropic priorities.
• Develop strategies that strengthen faculty and provider engagement and contribute to a culture in which philanthropy is viewed as an integral part of UVA Health’s mission.
• Work closely with frontline development officers and colleagues across University External Relations to advance donor relationships and fundraising priorities.
• Collaborate with Development, Donor Relations and Stewardship, Communications, Gift Planning, Annual Giving and Engagement, Corporate and Foundation Relations, Gift Accounting, Analysis and Decision Support, and other University Advancement partners as appropriate.

Develop the Philanthropic Pipeline
• Partner with physicians, providers, faculty, and frontline development officers to identify, qualify, and refer grateful patients, families, and other prospective donors.
• Work within established HIPAA-compliant processes and institutional protocols to appropriately use authorized patient information for philanthropic prospect identification and engagement.
• Evaluate available prospect and patient information to identify potential grateful patient prospects and determine appropriate next steps for research, cultivation, and engagement.
• Develop thoughtful strategies for prospect referrals, including timing, coverage, follow-up, and coordination with development officers and providers.
• Facilitate introductions and connections between prospective donors, faculty, physicians, researchers, and UVA Health leaders.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of prospect, provider, faculty, and partnership activity in Salesforce and other appropriate systems.

Advance Donor Engagement
• Partner with frontline development officers and faculty to develop individualized strategies for engaging prospective and current donors.
• Gather and prepare information that enables development officers and faculty to have meaningful and informed conversations with donors.
• Facilitate donor meetings, site visits, presentations, and other experiences that connect donors with UVA Health’s people, programs, discoveries, and priorities.

Support Faculty and Provider Engagement
• Coach and prepare physicians, faculty, and staff to participate effectively and appropriately in donor engagement and development activities.
• Provide guidance, talking points, sample communications, and other resources to help faculty and providers engage with prospective and current donors.
• Help faculty and providers understand the role they play in healthcare philanthropy and the importance of meaningful, donor-centered relationships.
• Serve as a knowledgeable resource on grateful patient engagement and appropriate interactions with prospective and current donors.
• Work with faculty and administrators to understand priorities and translate them into clear philanthropic opportunities.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the strategic priorities of UVA Health Development.

Minimum Requirements
• Bachelor’s degree.
• At least four years of relevant experience in healthcare, working with faculty, fundraising, or a related field.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships based on trust and respect with a diverse range of constituents, including healthcare providers, health leaders, research faculty, administrators, donors, prospects, and development colleagues.
• High emotional intelligence, empathy, and the ability to relate effectively to providers who are delivering patient care.
• Sound judgment and the highest ethical standards, particularly when working with confidential donor and patient information.
• Strong listening, analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and project management skills.
• Demonstrated initiative, ownership, and ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and achieve goals.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a complex, matrixed environment and adapt to changing priorities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to translate complex scientific and clinical concepts for a lay audience.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Experience using databases to maintain and review donor and prospect information, contacts, solicitations, and proposals.
• Commitment to cultural sensitivity and to fostering an environment that values and respects diverse perspectives and experiences.
• Ability to travel and work occasional evenings and weekends.

Preferred Qualifications
• Strong understanding of healthcare, philanthropy, higher education, healthcare philanthropy, and relationship management.
• Knowledge of current best practices in grateful patient fundraising.
• Previous experience in or familiarity with an academic medical center or healthcare environment.
• Experience working in a collaborative or matrixed organization.
• Experience developing and implementing strategies for specific programs, departments, centers, or service lines.

Associate Director and Senior Associate Director Levels
This position will be filled at either the Associate Director or Senior Associate Director level , depending on the successful candidate’s experience, knowledge, and competencies.
Candidates considered for the Associate Director level will typically have at least four years of relevant experience and demonstrated success building collaborative relationships, managing multiple priorities, and using data and relationship management systems to support philanthropic activity.
Candidates considered for the Senior Associate Director level will typically have at least seven years of relevant experience, a demonstrated track record of managing high-level relationships toward organizational goals, and experience developing and implementing strategies for specific programs or portfolios.
Why Join UVA Health Development?
UVA Health Development is a collaborative, mission-driven team committed to advancing philanthropy that strengthens patient care, research, and education across UVA Health.
Our team members work alongside physicians, faculty, researchers, development professionals, and University leaders to connect donors with opportunities that can make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients and families and in the future of healthcare.
We value collaboration, professionalism, responsiveness, continuous learning, and mutual support. We believe strong fundraising depends on strong teams, and every member of our organization contributes to that success.
This position offers an opportunity to build meaningful relationships across UVA Health, develop expertise at the intersection of healthcare and philanthropy, and contribute directly to the University’s philanthropic priorities.
Physical Demands
This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.
Salary Range
• The anticipated hiring range for the Associate Director, Health Development Partnerships is $75K – $85K , commensurate with education and experience.
• The anticipated hiring range for the Senior Associate Director, Health Development Partnerships is $85K – $95K , commensurate with education and experience.

Position Type & Work Location
• This is an exempt level, benefited position. Learn more about UVA benefits .
• This is a restricted position, which is dependent on funding and is contingent upon funding availability.
• Due to the nature of this position, this position will need to maintain a regular presence in Charlottesville, Virginia, with intermittent work in UVA Health Development office locations.

About UVA and the Community
To learn more about UVA and in the Charlottesville area, visit UVA Life and Embark CVA .
Additional Requirements
• Background checks will be conducted on all new hires prior to employment.
• This position will not consider candidates who require immigration sponsorship now or in the future.
• The successful candidate will be required to complete a health screen.

How to Apply
Please apply online , by searching for requisition number R0088250 . Complete an application with the following documents:
• Resume
• Cover Letter

Upload all materials into the resume submission field. You can submit multiple documents into this one field or combine them into one PDF. Applications without all required documents will not receive full consideration.
Reference Check Process
Reference checks will be completed by UVA’s third-party partner, SkillSurvey, during the final phase of the interview. Five references will be requested, with at least three responses required.
Contact
• For additional information about the position, please contact Sandi Hall, Senior Associate Director for Staff Success, at [email protected] .
• For questions about the application process, please contact Daniel Strong, Senior HR Recruitment Specialist, at [email protected] .

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Click here to read more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.
The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment .