Development Director Jobs in Ohio
Development Director jobs in Ohio are in steady demand, concentrated in nonprofit fundraising, higher education, healthcare systems, and community development organizations, with openings at every level from associate to senior director. Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati anchor the largest share of hiring, home to institutions like Nationwide Children's Hospital, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and United Way affiliates with persistent development teams. Grant management, major gifts strategy, and corporate partnership development are the specialties Ohio employers seek most consistently. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 77+ Development Director jobs
This is not a job where someone hands you a checklist.
I own three growing businesses in Summit County, and I need a right hand. Someone who can take an idea from me on Monday and have it moving by Friday, without me checking in on it. Someone who lives and breathes AI and knows that every business heading into 2027 will be AI first or left behind. If you are a builder, a self-starter, and the kind of person who figures it out instead of waiting to be told, keep reading.
WHO WE ARE
- AK Renovations: A full-service residential remodeling company. Kitchens, baths, basements, additions, and whole-home renovations across Summit County. Over 25 years in business, built on craftsmanship, transparent pricing, and no surprises.
- Hometown Builders Club: A tech-enabled home advisory and membership company launching now. We give homeowners a complete picture of their home, a plan for its future, and a network of vetted local trade partners to get the work done.
- A commercial property venture: Contractor lease space, new buildings, and a topsoil screening operation.
All three are growing at the same time, and all three are being built AI first. That is why this role exists.
WHAT YOU WILL OWN
1. Growth. Your biggest job is building and running business development and marketing across all three businesses.
- Build the marketing engine from the ground up: websites, social media, email, local advertising, content, and lead generation
- Launch Hometown Builders Club in the local market and build its referral relationships with realtors and trade contractors
- Fill the pipeline for AK Renovations and turn more leads into signed projects
- Find tenants and partners for the commercial property
- Track what is working, cut what is not, and report the numbers
2. The AI operating system. We are building one AI-driven system that runs everything: marketing, lead handling, client communication, proposals, project tracking, bookkeeping support, and reporting. You will build it and run it.
- Design and build AI workflows and automations across all three businesses using tools like Claude, ChatGPT, Zapier, and whatever comes next
- Set up and manage our CRM and connect it to everything else so no lead falls through the cracks
- Use AI to produce marketing content, proposals, and client communication at a pace a traditional team could not match
- Stay on top of the AI landscape as it changes month to month, test new tools fast, and bring the ones that work into the business
- Train the rest of the team to work AI first
3. Structure and compliance. You will help me run the businesses day to day.
- Build the systems, processes, and workflows that let us scale without chaos
- Keep us compliant: licensing, insurance, permits, contracts, and filings across all entities
- Manage vendors, agencies, and outside contractors
- Take projects off my plate and see them through to done
WHO YOU ARE
- A true operator. You execute. You do not need to be managed, reminded, or babysat.
- An AI expert. Not someone who has tried ChatGPT a few times. Someone who uses AI tools every day, builds automations with them, and keeps up with what changed this month.
- A self-starter who sees what needs to happen and does it
- Creative. You come up with ideas, not just carry them out.
- A problem solver who brings solutions, not just problems
- Organized enough to juggle three businesses without dropping balls
- A clear, confident communicator with homeowners, contractors, realtors, and vendors
WHAT YOU BRING
- 5+ years in marketing, business development, operations, or running a business
- Hands-on, provable experience building with AI tools: automations, agents, content systems, or AI-driven workflows
- Proof that you have built something from scratch: a campaign, a program, a system, a department, or a company
- Experience with CRMs, social media, and digital marketing tools
- Experience in home services, construction, real estate, or local small business is a big plus
WHAT YOU GET
- A seat next to the owner and real influence on how three businesses grow
- Freedom to build things your way
- Base salary plus performance-based profit sharing. When the businesses win, you win.
- A front-row seat to building an AI-first company from the ground up
- Room to grow as the companies grow
- A local, family-run team that does good work and treats people right
If you need step-by-step direction to do your best work, this is not the right fit. If you have been waiting for the chance to build something and own the results, I want to hear from you.
Pay: $90,000.00 - $120,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Referral program
- Retirement plan
Application Question(s):
- Describe an AI automation or workflow you built and use regularly. What tools did you use and what does it do?
- What changed in the AI world in the last 60 days that you think matters for a small business, and why?
- Do you have at least 5 years of experience in marketing, business development, or operations?
- You are handed a business with no marketing and no systems. What are the first three things you do in your first 30 days?
- Can you work on-site in the Cuyahoga Falls area?
Work Location: In person
See All 77 Development Director Jobs in Ohio
Find roles in Ohio that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Development Director JobsDevelopment Director Jobs by City in Ohio
Where Ohio roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Development Director Job Market in Ohio
A snapshot from current Ohio openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Construction & Real Estate
- Law & Legal Services
- Investment & Asset Management
What Ohio Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in development director jobs across Ohio.
- Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, communications, public administration, or a closely related field
- Demonstrated fundraising experience with major gifts, grants, or capital campaigns
- Proven ability to build and manage donor relationships across individual, corporate, and foundation sources
- Experience leading or supervising a development team or direct reports
- Proficiency with donor management software such as Raiser's Edge, Salesforce Nonprofit, or similar platforms
- Strong written communication skills for grant proposals, donor correspondence, and case statements
Development Director Jobs in Ohio: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a development director in Ohio?
Most development directors in Ohio enter the field through a bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, communications, public administration, or a related area, then build experience as a development associate, grant writer, or major gifts officer. Ohio does not require a state-issued license for this role. Earning a Certified Fund Raising Executive credential strengthens candidacy significantly. Many Ohio nonprofits and healthcare foundations promote from within, so starting in a coordinator or annual fund role at an Ohio organization is a common path.
Which companies hire development directors in Ohio?
Employers hiring development directors in Ohio right now include The Ohio State University, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Total Extended Care Services, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Ohio's dense concentration of health systems, universities, and community foundations means development director roles turn over consistently across the state.
Which Ohio cities have the most development director jobs?
Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati have the most development director openings in Ohio. Columbus leads because of its large university, hospital, and statewide nonprofit infrastructure, while Cleveland and Cincinnati draw volume from major health systems, arts institutions, and regional foundations that maintain active development departments year-round.
Are there remote development director jobs in Ohio?
Yes, though they are less common than in purely desk-based fields, since development directors rely on in-person donor cultivation and board engagement. About 52% of development director openings tied to Ohio are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting a middle ground. Grant writing, prospect research, and donor communications are the functions most often performed remotely within otherwise hybrid arrangements.
How can I get hired as a development director in Ohio with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a development coordinator or annual fund associate role at an Ohio nonprofit, university, or hospital foundation, where you build direct fundraising experience before moving into director-level work. Large Ohio employers like hospital foundations and statewide United Way chapters regularly hire for these entry positions. A Certified Fund Raising Executive candidate designation, grant writing samples, or volunteer experience managing a fundraising event strengthens applications considerably when paid experience is limited.
Where can I find and apply to development director jobs in Ohio?
You can find and apply to development director jobs in Ohio on Migrate Mate, which lists current Ohio openings across nonprofits, health systems, universities, and community organizations. Find roles that fit your experience and location and apply directly through each listing.
See All 77 Development Director Jobs in Ohio
Find roles in Ohio that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Development Director Jobs