Development Director Jobs in California
Development Director jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in nonprofit fundraising, higher education, healthcare systems, and arts and culture organizations, with openings at every level from associate development director through chief development officer. The heaviest hiring is in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, where anchor institutions like the University of California system, Kaiser Permanente, and Cedars-Sinai maintain persistent demand for major gifts, institutional giving, and planned giving specialists. Individual giving strategy and capital campaign leadership are the most sought-after specialties in California listings. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Overview
The Business Development Director leads efforts to build client relationships and develop business opportunities. This role combines client communication, sales negotiation, team leadership, and cross-functional collaboration to support sustainable business growth. The position suits a strategic, relationship-focused professional who can guide business development activities and work effectively with clients and internal teams.
Duties
- Manage business development activities and client relationships.
- Communicate with clients to understand needs and maintain engagement.
- Lead sales negotiations and advance business opportunities.
- Collaborate across functions to coordinate development efforts.
- Guide team members and support effective team leadership.
- Your impact: Strong client relationships help clients and teams work toward productive business outcomes.
Qualifications
- Demonstrated capability in business development management.
- Strong relationship management and client communication skills.
- Ability to lead teams and collaborate across functions.
- Effective sales negotiation and professional communication skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and CRM systems.
Pay: $230,000.00 - $270,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Cell phone reimbursement
- Dental insurance
- Disability insurance
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Paid parental leave
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Prescription drug insurance
- Professional development assistance
- Referral program
- Relocation assistance
- Sabbatical
- Tuition reimbursement
Work Location: Hybrid remote in San Francisco, CA 94105
Overview
The Business Development Director leads efforts to build client relationships and develop business opportunities. This role combines client communication, sales negotiation, team leadership, and cross-functional collaboration to support sustainable business growth. The position suits a strategic, relationship-focused professional who can guide business development activities and work effectively with clients and internal teams.
Duties
- Manage business development activities and client relationships.
- Communicate with clients to understand needs and maintain engagement.
- Lead sales negotiations and advance business opportunities.
- Collaborate across functions to coordinate development efforts.
- Guide team members and support effective team leadership.
- Your impact: Strong client relationships help clients and teams work toward productive business outcomes.
Qualifications
- Demonstrated capability in business development management.
- Strong relationship management and client communication skills.
- Ability to lead teams and collaborate across functions.
- Effective sales negotiation and professional communication skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and CRM systems.
Pay: $230,000.00 - $270,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Cell phone reimbursement
- Dental insurance
- Disability insurance
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Paid parental leave
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Prescription drug insurance
- Professional development assistance
- Referral program
- Relocation assistance
- Sabbatical
- Tuition reimbursement
Work Location: Hybrid remote in San Francisco, CA 94105
See All 472+ Development Director Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Development Director JobsDevelopment Director Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Development Director Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Gilead Sciences13
- Revolution Medicines8
- AbbVie7
- EPAM Systems7
- University of California Berkeley6
Top Industries Hiring
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals21
- Technology & Software6
- Staffing & Recruiting5
- Electronics & Hardware5
- Consulting & Professional Services5
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in development director jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in communications, nonprofit management, public administration, or a related field
- Proven experience managing major gifts, planned giving, or capital campaigns
- Demonstrated ability to cultivate and steward relationships with major donors and foundations
- Familiarity with California's philanthropic landscape, including community foundations and regional grantmakers
- Experience with donor management platforms such as Salesforce Nonprofit, Raiser's Edge, or Blackbaud
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for grant writing, appeals, and board presentations
Development Director Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a development director in California?
Most development directors in California follow a path that begins with a bachelor's degree in communications, nonprofit management, or a related field, followed by several years in development associate or major gifts officer roles within California nonprofits, universities, or healthcare systems. California has no state-issued license for fundraising professionals, but the Certified Fund Raising Executive credential is widely recognized by California employers and signals professional credibility. Large institutions in the UC and CSU systems frequently hire from within their development departments, making entry-level development coordinator roles a reliable starting point.
Which companies hire development directors in California?
Employers hiring development directors in California right now include Gilead Sciences, Revolution Medicines, and AbbVie, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's density of large nonprofits, research universities, and integrated health systems means hiring is spread across multiple sectors rather than concentrated in a single industry.
Which California cities have the most development director jobs?
Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego account for the greatest concentration of development director openings in California. Los Angeles and San Francisco drive volume through their large nonprofit ecosystems, major research universities, and prominent arts and healthcare institutions, while San Diego's concentration of biomedical research organizations and military-connected nonprofits sustains consistent demand in that market as well.
Are there remote development director jobs in California?
Yes, though they are less common than in purely analytical roles, since development directors regularly attend donor events, board meetings, and community functions in person. About 65% of development director openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting a sector that has embraced flexible scheduling for research, writing, and stewardship tasks. Planned giving and grant writing responsibilities are the portions of the role most likely to be performed remotely.
How can I get hired as a development director in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is securing a development coordinator or development associate role at a California nonprofit, community foundation, or university, then building toward a director title over several years. The University of California system, Stanford Health Care, and large community foundations across the state regularly post entry-level development positions that provide hands-on campaign and donor management experience. Earning the Certified Fund Raising Executive credential early signals commitment to the profession and gives candidates without years of experience a competitive edge in the California market.
Where can I find and apply to development director jobs in California?
You can find and apply to development director jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across nonprofit, healthcare, education, and arts sectors. Find roles that fit your experience and specialty, then apply directly to each employer through the listing.
See All 472+ Development Director Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Development Director Jobs