Development AVP Tufts Medical Center

About Tufts Medicine:

Tufts Medicine is a leading integrated health system bringing together the best of academic and community healthcare to deliver exceptional, connected and accessible care experiences to consumers across Massachusetts. The health system is the principal teaching affiliate for Tufts University School of Medicine. The strong relationship between Tufts Medicine and Tufts University School of Medicine is evident in our governance, academic and research structure. Tufts Medicine is comprised of the following clinical entities:

* Tufts Medicine Professional Group (TMPG)

* Tufts Medicine Integrated Network (TMIN)

* Tufts Medical Center

* Lowell General Hospital

* MelroseWakefield Hospital, Lawrence Memorial Hospital of Medford

* Tufts Care at Home

Job Overview

The AVP of Development at Tufts Medical Center will serve as a senior leader within Tufts Medicine's advancement organization, responsible for shaping and executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy that supports the institution's mission of clinical excellence, research, and education. Reporting to the Chief Development Officer of Tufts Medicine and working in close collaboration with the President of Tufts Medical Center, this individual will oversee a high-performing team and act as a key liaison to the TMC Board of Trustees, building and strengthening relationships to drive philanthropic growth.

This is a pivotal role for a visionary and strategic fundraising professional with a deep commitment to the mission of urban academic healthcare. The AVP of Development will be charged with elevating the development program through bold idea generation, major and principal gift cultivation, and collaborative partnerships across the organization. A track record of leading successful campaigns, building strong donor and clinician engagement, and developing high-functioning teams will be essential to advancing Tufts Medical Center's philanthropic impact and long-term sustainability.

Job Description

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree (e.g., MBA, MPA, or related) preferred.

2. Ten (10) years of progressively responsible development experience, including leadership roles in major and principal gift fundraising.

3. Proven success in securing six-, seven-, and eight-figure gifts from individual donors, foundations, or corporations.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Master's degree in business (MBA), public administration (MPA), or in a related field.

2. Significant experience in an academic medical center or healthcare-related institution, with a deep understanding of the tripartite mission: clinical care, research, and education.

Duties and Responsibilities: The duties and responsibilities listed below are intended to describe the general nature of work and are not intended to be an all-inclusive list. Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned.

1. Manages and inspires a high-performing development team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

2. Leads and executes the development strategy for Tufts Medical Center, in alignment with the broader goals of Tufts Medicine and its Academic Health Enterprise.

3. Builds and maintains strong relationships with major donors, trustees, and key stakeholders, with a focus on cultivating and soliciting major and principal gifts.

4. Partners closely with the Chief Development Officer of Tufts Medicine and the President of Tufts Medical Center to set fundraising priorities and align development goals with institutional strategy.

5. Serves as a strategic advisor and development partner to the Tufts Medical Center Board of Trustees, supporting their engagement in fundraising and philanthropic advocacy.

6. Drives the creation and packaging of "big ideas" that reflect the mission and ambitions of the medical center, in collaboration with clinical, academic, and research leaders.

7. Oversees donor engagement, stewardship, and recognition strategies, ensuring an exceptional experience across the giving lifecycle.

8. Supports the development and execution of major fundraising initiatives and campaigns, including capital, endowment, and comprehensive campaigns.

9. Ensures compliance with fundraising ethics, data integrity, and gift policies, and contribute to continuous process improvement.

10. Actively participates in cross-institutional development planning within Tufts Medicine to promote integration and shared success across the system.

11. Represents Tufts Medical Center in the community, at events, and with partners to promote philanthropic support and institutional visibility.

Physical Requirements:

1. Professional office environment with typical office requirements such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, etc.

2. This is largely a sedentary role, which involves sitting most of the time, but may involve movements such as walking, standing, reaching, ascending / descending stairs and operate office equipment.

3. Frequently required to speak, hear, communicate, and exchange information

4. Ability to see and read computers displays, read fine print, and/or normal type size print and distinguish letters, numbers, and symbols.

5. Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

6. Ability to work in confined or open environments.

7. Ability to work independently or in a team environment.

Skills & Abilities:

1. Strategic Campaign Leadership: Proven success designing and executing complex, multi-year fundraising initiatives (e.g., capital, and comprehensive campaigns), with a focus on major and principal gifts.

2. High-Performing Team Management: Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and build accountability across a high-functioning team while fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence.

3. Academic Medical Center Experience: Deep understanding of fundraising within academic medical centers or complex nonprofit healthcare systems, including working with faculty, researchers, and clinical leaders.

4. Stakeholder Engagement & Relationship Building: Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust and credibility across diverse stakeholder groups-physicians, trustees, donors, scientists, and executives.

5. Transformational Philanthropy & Idea Development: Track record of developing bold philanthropic concepts that resonate with donors and result in transformational gifts.

6. Board & Volunteer Engagement: Experience supporting and leveraging Boards of Trustees or similar volunteer leadership, including creating cultivation and solicitation strategies.

7. Inclusive & Community-Oriented Philanthropy: Experience leading efforts that promote inclusive donor engagement, with a deep commitment to serving inner-city communities and addressing health equity.

8. Storytelling & Communication: Ability to translate complex clinical and academic priorities into compelling philanthropic narratives and donor-facing materials.

9. Data-Driven Fundraising Strategy: Familiarity with CRM platforms and fundraising analytics to drive donor segmentation, pipeline development, and campaign planning.

10. Adaptability & Emotional Intelligence: High degree of self-awareness, cultural competency, and resilience; able to lead through change and build consensus in a dynamic environment.

Job Profile Summary

This role focuses on raising critical philanthropic funds for Tufts Medicine from individuals, corporations, and foundations. This includes critical functions such as development operations (reporting, gift and fund management, database administration, prospect development), corporate & foundation engagement, development communications, engagement with clinicians, patients, and individual donors, case development, and activities that support these functions. In addition, this role focuses on performing one or more of the following Development Leadership duties: Identifies donors and motivates donors to make gifts to the organization. Cultivates relationships with donors, maintains donor database, develops donor communication, participates in special events, and acknowledges gifts. May be responsible for developing and managing planned giving programs. A management role that supervises employees focusing on tactical, operational activities within a specified area, with the majority of time spent overseeing area of responsibility, planning, prioritizing and/or directing the responsibilities of employees. Goal achievement is typically accomplished through performance of direct and/or indirect reports. A senior director level role that typically manages multiple teams led by senior managers and managers and directors. Responsibilities typically include: ownership of short to mid-term (1-3 years) strategy execution and operational direction in alignment with parent/independent organization objectives, decisions have a serious impact on the overall success or failure on area of accountability, and interacts with executive leadership and others concerning matters of significance to the organization.