Job Description

General Summary: 

The Advancement Office at the University of Massachusetts Boston seeks a seasoned professional to join its dynamic and growing development and alumni engagement team.

The Senior Proposal Writer for Principal & Leadership Gifts is a senior level fundraising position reporting to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Principal & Leadership Gifts. The Senior Proposal Writer plays a critical role in

advancing the university’s ambitious fundraising goals by developing compelling, customized written materials that inspire six- and seven-figure philanthropic investments from individual donors and select foundations and corporations. The position is part of a high-performing advancement team with a mission of access, academic excellence, and community impact.

Working closely with the Vice Chancellor, the development communications team, principal and major gift officers, academic leaders, and subject matter experts across the institution, the Senior Proposal Writer is responsible for the research, development, writing, and editing of high-level proposals, concept papers, meeting materials, and other strategic communications in support of fundraising priorities. The ideal candidate is a persuasive and adaptable writer with exceptional intellectual curiosity and the ability to translate complex academic and research topics into clear, compelling cases for support.

Given the importance of the solicitations this position supports, this dynamic new colleague will collaborate with the Chancellor, the Provost, Deans, and other university leaders.

Examples of Duties: 

• Proposal Development: Lead the writing and editing of high-quality proposals and related solicitation materials (e.g., concept notes, donor briefings, gift agreements) for individual donors, with an emphasis on gifts of $100,000 to $1,000,000. Tailor messaging to connect donor goals with university priorities.
• Research & Strategy: Collaborate with principal and major gift officers to understand donor motivations and align written content with broader solicitation strategies. Conduct interviews with faculty, senior administrators, and program staff to gather necessary content and context.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Serve as a liaison between University Advancement and academic units, research centers, and student support programs to surface compelling philanthropic opportunities across a wide range of disciplines and initiatives.
• CFR Support: Provide proposal writing and editing support for select corporate and foundation relations (CF&R) submissions, as needed, in collaboration with the CF&R team.
• Content Development: Contribute to the creation of a library of reusable content and templates for fundraising communications. Maintain a working knowledge of key university initiatives, funding priorities, and programmatic strengths.
• Project Management: Manage multiple complex writing projects simultaneously, balancing deadlines and stakeholder input to deliver high-quality materials in a timely manner
• Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications: 

• Master’s degree, preferably in communications, journalism, or a related field.
• At least 10 years of professional writing experience, including experience drafting complex proposals or development communications in a university, nonprofit, or foundation setting.
• Demonstrated ability to write clearly, persuasively, and quickly on a wide range of topics.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships and collaborate with faculty, administrators, and development colleagues.
• Proven project management skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong research and interview skills; comfortable navigating complex academic subject matter.

Preferred:

• Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree valued.
• Experience working in a public research university or a large, private nonprofit organization.
• Familiarity with fundraising principles and donor-centric writing.

Supervision Received:

The Senior Proposal Writer for Principal & Leadership gifts reports directly to the Assistant Vice Chancellor of Principal & Leadership Gifts.

Supervision Exercised:

This is not a management position, but there is potential to hire and supervise student employees.

Application Instructions: 

Please apply online with your resume, cover letter and list of three professional references.

Review of candidates will begin following the application closing date. 

Only Internal candidates in the Professional Staff Bargaining Unit will be considered during the first 10 business days of the posting.  All other candidates will be considered after that period. 

Salary Ranges for the appropriate Pay Grade can be found at the following link: 

Grade: 34              

This is an exempt union position. 

All official salary offers must be approved by Human Resources.

UMass Boston is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact HRDirect@umb.eduor 617-287-5150.

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