Development Director Jobs in Kentucky
Development Director jobs in Kentucky are concentrated in nonprofit management, higher education, healthcare, and the arts, with strong demand at both the senior director and executive-level fundraising tiers. Louisville, Lexington, and Frankfort are the most active hiring metros, anchored by employers such as the University of Kentucky, Norton Healthcare, and the Louisville Orchestra. Grant writing, major gift cultivation, and capital campaign leadership are the most sought-after specialties across the state. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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About the Role
We are seeking a senior commercial business development leader to identify, shape, and secure large-scale workforce funding opportunities that drive enrollment growth. This role requires an established network of senior decision-makers and influencers across government, workforce development, economic development, education, and the private sector to create access to new funding opportunities.
The ideal candidate understands where workforce investment is headed, can position ed2go in conversations before opportunities are formally defined, and has a proven track record of personally originating and securing large-scale funding partnerships.
What You'll Do Here
- Identify, shape, and secure workforce funding opportunities with seven-figure revenue potential or the ability to expand funded enrollment across partners, markets, or states.
- Leverage existing relationships with senior decision-makers and influencers in governor's offices, state government, workforce and labor leadership, economic development, and public-private partnerships to create access to funding opportunities.
- Anticipate workforce investment priorities and position ed2go in discussions before funding programs or opportunities are formally established.
- Lead opportunities from origination through relationship development, negotiations, agreements, and activation.
- Develop funding partnerships involving state-funded programs, public-private initiatives, employer-backed coalitions, and other workforce investment models.
- Build and advance a pipeline of funding opportunities, evaluating revenue potential, scalability, and alignment with business priorities.
- Represent ed2go in executive discussions, negotiations, and industry forums to strengthen relationships and originate opportunities.
- Collaborate with Government Affairs and teams across Cengage and ed2go to navigate policy considerations, coordinate engagement with key decision-makers, and activate secured funding partnerships.
- Provide senior leadership with insights into workforce funding trends, emerging opportunities, and market risks.
Skills You Will Need Here
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent related experience.
- 10+ years of experience in workforce funding, economic development, public-private partnerships, government-related business development, or a related field, including direct experience developing sophisticated funding opportunities.
- Deep knowledge of workforce funding and how investment priorities and decisions are shaped at the state and national levels.
- An established network of senior decision-makers and influencers across government, workforce and labor, economic development, and public-private partnerships, with proven ability to harness those relationships to create opportunities.
- Proven success personally originating, developing, and securing large-scale workforce funding partnerships or initiatives with significant commercial or funding impact.
- Experience identifying and shaping opportunities before they become formal programs, procurements, or broadly available market opportunities.
- Experience leading complex, long-cycle business development efforts involving senior executives, government leaders, and multiple decision-makers.
- Strong commercial judgment, negotiation, communication, and relationship-building skills, including the ability to navigate political considerations and competing interests.
-
Ability to travel up to 50%.
Preferred Qualifications
- Advanced degree or equivalent experience in business, public policy, economic development, workforce development, education, or a related field.
- Experience developing funding initiatives involving government, education, economic development, employers, and private-sector partners.
- Experience working with Government Affairs on state or national initiatives.
Cengage is committed to working with broad talent pools to attract and hire strong and most qualified individuals. Our job applicants are considered regardless of any classification protected by applicable federal, state, provincial or local laws.
Cengage is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities including during our job application process. If you are an applicant with a disability and require reasonable accommodation in our job application process, please contact us at accommodations.ta@cengage.com.
About Cengage
Cengage, a global education technology company serving millions of learners, provides affordable, quality digital products and services that equip students with the skills and competencies needed to be job ready. For more than 100 years, we have enabled the power and joy of learning with trusted, engaging content, and now, integrated digital platforms. We serve the higher education, workforce skills, secondary education, English language teaching and research markets worldwide. Through our scalable technology, including MindTap and Cengage Unlimited, we support all learners who seek to improve their lives and achieve their dreams through education.
Compensation
At Cengage, we take great pride in our commitment to providing a comprehensive and rewarding Total Rewards package designed to support and empower our employees. Click here to learn more about our Total Rewards Philosophy.
The full base pay range has been provided for this position. Individual base pay will vary based on work schedule, qualifications, experience, internal equity, and geographic location.
In this position, you will be eligible to participate in the company’s variable Sales incentive compensation program.
Target Variable Compensation:
85,000.00 USD Annual: Individual Targetannually
Actual incentive earnings are not guaranteed and may be more or less than the target amount based on achievement of performance goals and the terms of the applicable incentive compensation plan.
About the Role
We are seeking a senior commercial business development leader to identify, shape, and secure large-scale workforce funding opportunities that drive enrollment growth. This role requires an established network of senior decision-makers and influencers across government, workforce development, economic development, education, and the private sector to create access to new funding opportunities.
The ideal candidate understands where workforce investment is headed, can position ed2go in conversations before opportunities are formally defined, and has a proven track record of personally originating and securing large-scale funding partnerships.
What You'll Do Here
- Identify, shape, and secure workforce funding opportunities with seven-figure revenue potential or the ability to expand funded enrollment across partners, markets, or states.
- Leverage existing relationships with senior decision-makers and influencers in governor's offices, state government, workforce and labor leadership, economic development, and public-private partnerships to create access to funding opportunities.
- Anticipate workforce investment priorities and position ed2go in discussions before funding programs or opportunities are formally established.
- Lead opportunities from origination through relationship development, negotiations, agreements, and activation.
- Develop funding partnerships involving state-funded programs, public-private initiatives, employer-backed coalitions, and other workforce investment models.
- Build and advance a pipeline of funding opportunities, evaluating revenue potential, scalability, and alignment with business priorities.
- Represent ed2go in executive discussions, negotiations, and industry forums to strengthen relationships and originate opportunities.
- Collaborate with Government Affairs and teams across Cengage and ed2go to navigate policy considerations, coordinate engagement with key decision-makers, and activate secured funding partnerships.
- Provide senior leadership with insights into workforce funding trends, emerging opportunities, and market risks.
Skills You Will Need Here
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent related experience.
- 10+ years of experience in workforce funding, economic development, public-private partnerships, government-related business development, or a related field, including direct experience developing sophisticated funding opportunities.
- Deep knowledge of workforce funding and how investment priorities and decisions are shaped at the state and national levels.
- An established network of senior decision-makers and influencers across government, workforce and labor, economic development, and public-private partnerships, with proven ability to harness those relationships to create opportunities.
- Proven success personally originating, developing, and securing large-scale workforce funding partnerships or initiatives with significant commercial or funding impact.
- Experience identifying and shaping opportunities before they become formal programs, procurements, or broadly available market opportunities.
- Experience leading complex, long-cycle business development efforts involving senior executives, government leaders, and multiple decision-makers.
- Strong commercial judgment, negotiation, communication, and relationship-building skills, including the ability to navigate political considerations and competing interests.
-
Ability to travel up to 50%.
Preferred Qualifications
- Advanced degree or equivalent experience in business, public policy, economic development, workforce development, education, or a related field.
- Experience developing funding initiatives involving government, education, economic development, employers, and private-sector partners.
- Experience working with Government Affairs on state or national initiatives.
Cengage is committed to working with broad talent pools to attract and hire strong and most qualified individuals. Our job applicants are considered regardless of any classification protected by applicable federal, state, provincial or local laws.
Cengage is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities including during our job application process. If you are an applicant with a disability and require reasonable accommodation in our job application process, please contact us at accommodations.ta@cengage.com.
About Cengage
Cengage, a global education technology company serving millions of learners, provides affordable, quality digital products and services that equip students with the skills and competencies needed to be job ready. For more than 100 years, we have enabled the power and joy of learning with trusted, engaging content, and now, integrated digital platforms. We serve the higher education, workforce skills, secondary education, English language teaching and research markets worldwide. Through our scalable technology, including MindTap and Cengage Unlimited, we support all learners who seek to improve their lives and achieve their dreams through education.
Compensation
At Cengage, we take great pride in our commitment to providing a comprehensive and rewarding Total Rewards package designed to support and empower our employees. Click here to learn more about our Total Rewards Philosophy.
The full base pay range has been provided for this position. Individual base pay will vary based on work schedule, qualifications, experience, internal equity, and geographic location.
In this position, you will be eligible to participate in the company’s variable Sales incentive compensation program.
Target Variable Compensation:
85,000.00 USD Annual: Individual Targetannually
Actual incentive earnings are not guaranteed and may be more or less than the target amount based on achievement of performance goals and the terms of the applicable incentive compensation plan.
See All 24 Development Director Jobs in Kentucky
Find roles in Kentucky that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Development Director JobsDevelopment Director Jobs by City in Kentucky
Where Kentucky roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Development Director Job Market in Kentucky
A snapshot from current Kentucky openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What Kentucky Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in development director jobs across Kentucky.
- Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, business, communications, or a related field required
- Five or more years of progressively responsible fundraising or development experience
- Demonstrated success managing major gift portfolios and donor relationships
- Experience with capital campaigns, grant writing, and planned giving programs
- Proficiency with donor management software such as Raiser's Edge or Salesforce Nonprofit
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for board and community engagement
Development Director Jobs in Kentucky: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a development director in Kentucky?
Most development directors in Kentucky move into the role after building experience in fundraising, grant writing, or program management within the nonprofit, healthcare, or higher education sectors. While Kentucky does not require a state-issued license for this role, earning the Certified Fund Raising Executive credential strengthens candidacy significantly. Kentucky employers typically look for candidates who have managed donor portfolios, led annual fund campaigns, and worked with volunteer boards.
Which companies hire development directors in Kentucky?
Employers hiring development directors in Kentucky right now include American Heart Association, VIPS, and YMCA, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Kentucky's robust nonprofit sector, major university systems, and regional healthcare networks are among the most consistent sources of development director openings across the state.
Which Kentucky cities have the most development director jobs?
Louisville, Lexington, and Bowling Green have the most development director openings in Kentucky. Louisville leads because of its dense concentration of large nonprofits, hospital systems, and arts and cultural institutions, while Lexington's activity is driven by the University of Kentucky and a growing philanthropic community, and Frankfort benefits from state government-adjacent agencies and advocacy organizations.
Are there remote development director jobs in Kentucky?
Yes, but they are less common than in purely desk-based fields, since development directors are expected to meet donors, attend events, and work closely with boards in person. About 63% of development director openings tied to Kentucky are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting that some organizations accommodate flexible arrangements. Grant writing and donor communications functions are the parts of the role most often performed remotely.
How can I get hired as a development director in Kentucky with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is to start as a development associate, annual fund coordinator, or grants administrator at a Kentucky nonprofit or university. Organizations like the Community Foundation of Louisville, United Way of Greater Louisville, and regional hospital foundations regularly hire entry-level development staff and promote from within. Building a portfolio of successful grant applications and volunteering with local charity boards also signals readiness to move into a director role.
Where can I find and apply to development director jobs in Kentucky?
You can find and apply to development director jobs in Kentucky on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across the state. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience level and preferred location, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 24 Development Director Jobs in Kentucky
Find roles in Kentucky that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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