Development Director Jobs in Wisconsin
Development Director jobs in Wisconsin draw steady demand from the state's robust nonprofit sector, higher education institutions, and healthcare systems, with openings at every level from associate director to chief development officer. Milwaukee, Madison, and Green Bay anchor the market, where employers such as the University of Wisconsin System, Froedtert Health, and United Way of Greater Milwaukee consistently hire development professionals. The most in-demand specialties are major gifts, corporate and foundation relations, and annual giving campaign leadership. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing a competent, ethical, and diverse legal profession. We develop and deliver high-quality assessment products, services, and research that support state courts and licensing authorities in evaluating the readiness of aspiring lawyers.
NCBE is committed to fostering a collaborative, mission-driven environment with competitive salaries, comprehensive benefits, flexible scheduling, and professional development opportunities. NCBE’s headquarters is based in Madison, Wisconsin, a dynamic community with exceptional amenities.
The Associate Director of Assessment Development oversees the creation of content and the construction of assessment forms for one or more of NCBE’s assessment programs, with a main focus on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination. The associate director may manage staff editors who work with subject matter experts to draft items, select items for use on assessment forms, and create other related materials, including for grading, study aids and licensing, marketing, and training. This person works closely with the Director of Assessment Development and the psychometric team to ensure that the items and assessments achieve appropriate levels of quality in terms of fairness, reliability, and validity. The associate director also works closely with many departments including operations (printing, publishing, accessibility, and administration), IT (item banking, delivery), and psychometrics (design, scoring, analysis and reporting). This role serves as a key resource on content matters to NCBE stakeholders, both internally and externally, on the program. The associate director is specialized in a measurement component (e.g., selected response doctrinal measurement, performance assessments, integrated assessments) aligned with the program they oversee.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Works with psychometric staff to ensure that NCBE’s assessments are in compliance with professional standards for educational testing.
- Oversees development of assessment content including items, forms, grading material, study aids, technical documentation, and other materials.
- Advises on measurement specialization across programs and contributes expertise as required.
- Assists with recruitment of subject matter experts and ensures appropriate training, including for drafting and review committees.
- Collaborates with the operations team on the development of production schedules, implementation of security procedures for assessment materials, and appropriate staff/resource allocation to ensure efficient, high-quality services, problem resolution, and on-time delivery of materials.
- Ensures adherence to existing NCBE policies and procedures, updates as needed, and manages policies and procedures that meet the highest standards of quality, security, accuracy, and efficiency for content development and construction of assessments.
- Encourages process improvement by staff and promotes a mindset that fosters continuous quality improvement.
- Participates in research and contributes to the design and development of new NCBE programs, processes, products, or services.
- Assists with inquiries or complaints regarding assessment content.
- May manage staff in the day-to-day performance of their jobs.
- Develops and provides presentations for meetings, conferences, workshops, and seminars.
- Travel to committee meetings or conferences is expected.
Qualifications:
- Graduate of an ABA-approved law school and admitted to the bar in at least one jurisdiction.
- At least 10 years of significant professional legal experience with a demonstrated knowledge of professional responsibility law and a willingness to develop additional expertise in the relevant subject-matter.
- Ability to develop working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including subject matter experts.
- Proficiency in MS Word and Excel.
- High level of organizational and time management skills.
- Ability to travel to meetings across the U.S. and Canada.
- This position is typically promoted from within the organization; managerial experience in test development is preferred.
The Associate Director of Assessment Development may work remotely. NCBE will consider applicants from the following states: FL, IA, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, NE, NJ, NM, NV, OK, PA, WA, and WI.
This position may include up to 10% travel for meetings with committees and/or vendors, and/or for conferences, workshops, and/or outreach.
Mission
NCBE promotes fairness, integrity, and best practices in admission to the legal profession for the benefit and protection of the public. We serve admission authorities, courts, the legal education community, and candidates by providing high-quality
- assessment products, services, and research;
- character investigations; and
- informational and educational resources and programs.
EEO Statement
NCBE is proud to be an equal employment opportunity organization. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all applicants and employees regardless of their race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, military service, protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.
Please note that applicants may be contacted via email throughout the hiring process. We suggest that you add BambooHR (@bamboohr.com and @app.bamboohr.com) to your Approved/Safe Sender list so that email notifications are delivered to your inbox and not marked as spam.
See All 46 Development Director Jobs in Wisconsin
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Find Development Director JobsDevelopment Director Jobs by City in Wisconsin
Where Wisconsin roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Development Director Job Market in Wisconsin
A snapshot from current Wisconsin openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring


Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Automotive
- Technology & Software
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
What Wisconsin Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in development director jobs across Wisconsin.
- Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, communications, business, or a closely related field
- Demonstrated success managing fundraising campaigns and meeting annual revenue goals
- Experience with donor database systems such as Raiser's Edge or Salesforce Nonprofit
- Proven ability to cultivate and steward major gift donors and corporate sponsors
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for grant writing and board presentations
- Familiarity with Wisconsin's philanthropic community, foundations, and corporate giving landscape
Development Director Jobs in Wisconsin: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a development director in Wisconsin?
Most development directors in Wisconsin follow a path that begins with a bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, communications, public administration, or a related field, often supplemented by the Certified Fund Raising Executive credential offered through CFRE International. Wisconsin employers place strong weight on progressive fundraising experience, typically gained through roles as a development coordinator or major gifts officer at a Wisconsin nonprofit, university, or hospital foundation before moving into a director-level position.
Which companies hire development directors in Wisconsin?
Companies currently hiring development directors in Wisconsin include Marquette University, Spano Pratt, and Johnson Controls, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Wisconsin's large nonprofit sector, anchored by hospital foundations, university advancement offices, and social service agencies, means hiring is spread across Milwaukee, Madison, and mid-size cities like Appleton and Racine.
Which Wisconsin cities have the most development director jobs?
Milwaukee, Madison, and Hudson have the most development director openings in Wisconsin. Milwaukee leads because of its concentration of major hospital systems, arts organizations, and social service nonprofits, while Madison's market is driven by the University of Wisconsin System and a dense cluster of advocacy and policy organizations, and Green Bay's openings reflect its growing healthcare and community foundation sector.
Are there remote development director jobs in Wisconsin?
Yes, but they're less common than in purely analytical fields, since development directors spend meaningful time meeting donors, attending events, and building in-person relationships. About 76% of development director openings tied to Wisconsin are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with remote flexibility more likely for grant writing, prospect research, and communications-focused roles than for major gifts or community engagement positions.
How can I get hired as a development director in Wisconsin with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry point is a development coordinator or annual fund associate role at a Wisconsin university advancement office, hospital foundation, or United Way chapter, where you build donor management and campaign skills directly. Large employers like the University of Wisconsin System and Advocate Aurora Health regularly hire entry-level development staff. Earning the CFRE credential or completing a graduate certificate in nonprofit management at institutions like Marquette University strengthens candidacy significantly for candidates without a long fundraising history.
Where can I find and apply to development director jobs in Wisconsin?
You can find and apply to development director jobs in Wisconsin on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers across the state. Search the listings, find the roles that fit your background and goals, and apply directly to the ones that match your experience.
See All 46 Development Director Jobs in Wisconsin
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