Department: Development
Reports to: Head of School
Status: Full-Time, Exempt
Start Date: August 10, 2026
All UCDS employees are expected to embody the school’s mission to design a culture of inquiry essential to meaningful learning; cultivate reflective, collaborative, skillful thinkers who ignite positive change in their communities; and engage diverse perspectives in an ongoing effort to shape and share our innovative education model.
Overview
University Child Development School (UCDS) located in Seattle, Washington is an independent school serving 390+ Infant/Toddler, Early Elementary (Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten, and Kindergarten) and Elementary (1st through 5th grade) students. In addition, the UCDS education institution comprises the UCDS Graduate School of Education. UCDS uniquely serves to prepare teachers, educate children, and develop innovations in curriculum and teaching. UCDS’s unique design as a place where both teachers and children learn, where early-career teachers develop their practice, and where experienced teachers research and design curriculum, gives rise to its innovation. The Master of Education program is the evolution of UCDS’ deep history of developing and supporting exceptional educators.
The Opportunity
The Director of Development and Community Engagement at UCDS will lead all aspects of the Development Office, including donor relations, frontline fundraising and major gifts, alumni relations, and volunteer coordination in support of the school’s mission and values. This role is central to building a strong culture of philanthropy across faculty, staff, and the broader school community. Reporting directly to the Head of School and working closely with the Board of Trustees, the Director will develop and implement strategic, data-informed approaches to strengthen UCDS’s financial sustainability, deepen long-term donor relationships, and expand community engagement.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Strategic Fundraising and Campaign Leadership
- Build and shape a comprehensive giving strategy aligned with the UCDS strategic plan.
- Design and execute integrated fundraising strategies to support institutional priorities.
- Lead capital campaign efforts from feasibility through execution, serving as both lead
- Strategist and solicitor (portfolio size and campaign goal to be determined).
- Develop data-informed strategies to engage and steward donors at all levels, continuously assessing and refining fundraising effectiveness.
Donor Engagement and Relationship Management
- Cultivate and steward relationships with major donors and key community stakeholders, including corporate and foundation partners.
- Design and implement strategic donor engagement plans that support both immediate and long-term giving goals.
- Expand the donor base while strengthening retention and re-engagement of existing supporters.
Collaboration and Communications
- Partner with admissions, marketing, and communications teams to develop compelling, mission-aligned messaging.
- Ensure consistency and alignment of development communications with broader institutional goals.
Data-Driven Development Management
- Utilize Veracross to manage donor relationships, track contributed revenue, and inform strategy.
- Apply data insights to prepare monthly reports, monitor performance, guide decision-making, and optimize development outcomes.
Leadership and People Management
- Supervise and support the Development team, fostering a collaborative, high-performing, and growth-oriented culture. Working with a team of 2 direct reports: Assistant Director of Development, Development and Event Manager.
- Engage cross-functional teams and volunteers to strengthen community-building efforts aligned with the UCDS mission and related to development department events.
Qualifications
- Experience implementing innovative and creative fundraising strategies.
- Demonstrated success leading capital campaigns.
- Proficiency with donor management systems and financial reporting tools.
Compensation & Benefits
Salary starts at $140,000 depending on degree/experience.
The school offers a generous and comprehensive benefits package to benefits-eligible employees subject to the discretion of the Head of School, which includes:
- Employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Health Savings Account with employer contribution
- Flexible Spending Account
- 403(b) Retirement Plan with available employer matching
- Paid sick leave
- Employer-paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
- Employer-paid Life Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program for employees and their dependents
- Wellness benefit is to be used on items or services that promote wellness
- Professional Development opportunities
- Free parking
How to Apply
If you are interested in applying for this position, click the “Apply Now” button to submit a resume and a detailed cover letter addressing interest in this position and qualifications.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging
UCDS aspires to be a welcoming learning community with a deep commitment and appreciation for diversity in all forms. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are central values at UCDS. From our youngest to our oldest students, we strive to help them develop a worldview that identifies, understands, and values diversity in race, ethnicity, gender, religion, ability, and more. We weave opportunities for these meaningful conversations, experiences, and learning throughout students’ days. Over the past few years, UCDS has continued to refine our approach and review our DEIB programming to continue to improve the ways we support students, parents, and employees by bringing an equity lens to academic and operational systems across the school.
We encourage members of marginalized communities, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, as well as members of other underrepresented groups, to apply and potentially become a part of our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive educational environment.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement
UCDS is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals with disabilities. We will provide reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job unless doing so would cause an undue hardship. Physical requirements and job duties listed in this posting are essential to the role. If you believe you need an accommodation to perform these functions, we encourage you to apply and discuss potential accommodations with our team.
If you require accommodation during the application or hiring process, please contact Lauryn Mascareñaz, Director of Organizational Development & Personnel at laurynm@ucds.org.
Notice of Nondiscrimination
UCDS strives to provide equal opportunity to all employees. The school’s policy is not to discriminate in employment based on race, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, creed, age, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran or military status or any other status protected under applicable local, state or federal law. The School is committed to administering employment decisions, including hiring, promotions, compensation benefits, transfers, layoffs, return from layoffs, terminations, training, sabbaticals, tuition assistance, and other programs, without regard to an employee’s protected status.
All applicants for UCDS employment, both paid and volunteer positions, are subject to criminal background checks.