Discovery Officer

Job no: R-0000003722 Position Title: Discovery Officer Faculty or Staff: Staff Full Time or Part Time: Full time In-Person, Hybrid, or Remote: Hybrid Minimum Starting Rate of Pay: $69,637.00 Rate of pay commensurate with experience Start Date: 11/16/2026 Job Description: Mount Holyoke seeks a Discovery Officer, a new and pivotal frontline fundraising position on Mount Holyoke’s Development team. We are seeking a skilled communicator and relationship builder. In this role, you will manage a dynamic portfolio of approximately 500 alums and constituents, with a focus on graduates of the last 25 years.

You will leverage email, phone, text, social media, and video to deliver highly personalized outreach that deepens engagement and increases giving. A core function of this role is managing discovery workflows to uncover new prospects and strengthen the College’s major gift pipeline. Reporting to and working closely with the Director of Discovery, the Discovery Officer must thrive in a fast paced environment, be comfortable soliciting gifts, and demonstrate independence and motivation to meet goals. The ideal candidate will possess outstanding communication skills, passion for Mount Holyoke’s mission, and a steadfast commitment to inclusive fundraising practices.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Actively manage a portfolio of approximately 500 prospects, focusing on alums from the last 25 years, with consistent and personalized outreach. Implement customized engagement strategies to increase donor participation, retention, and giving. Manage outreach to identify and qualify new major gift prospects supporting pipeline development. Execute clearly defined goals with an emphasis on securing virtual meetings with prospective donors and increasing giving. Develop an in-depth understanding of Mount Holyoke’s priorities, opportunities, and the MHC Forward Strategic Plan to inform meaningful donor conversations.

Collaborate across the entire College Relations team to ensure a donor-centered experience. Track and monitor data to identify trends and opportunities for program evolution. Required Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree 1-2 years experience of managing relationships with donors, clients, or customers Exceptional interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills. Proven ability to manage a high volume of work in a fast-paced environment. Strong customer service orientation with the ability to work diplomatically with a wide range of internal and external partners High ethical standards and discretion as this role requires working with confidential and sensitive information.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with a CRM or donor database Experience in fundraising, nonprofit organizations, or volunteer management. Hiring Range: $69,637 - $78,342 Full Job Description What We Offer: 403(b) Retirement Plan (College contributes 9% of salary) Comprehensive medical, dental and vision insurance Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Disability and Leave…

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