Senior Director Of Business Development Jobs in California
Senior Director Of Business Development jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in technology, life sciences, enterprise software, and defense, with demand at every level from senior manager to C-suite adjacent leadership. The heaviest hiring happens in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where companies like Salesforce, Alphabet, and Qualcomm maintain large commercial development teams. The most sought-after specialties are strategic partnerships, enterprise sales expansion, and go-to-market leadership across SaaS and biotech sectors. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 25+ Senior Director Of Business Development jobs











Description
UCLA Health is among the most comprehensive and advanced health care systems in the world. Together, UCLA Health and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA strive every day to be a model that redefines the standard of excellence in health care. UCLA’s hospitals are consistently ranked among the top in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, and it is our integrated mission to provide state-of-the-art patient care, train top medical professionals, and support pioneering research and discovery. The UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (UCLA Health JCCC) is the hub of all cancer activity on campus and throughout the communities. As one of six major research themes within UCLA Health, the goal of UCLA Health JCCC is to develop and foster visible concentrations of excellence in basic and interdisciplinary cancer research and patient care at UCLA. The Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation/UCLA is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit within UCLA that was started after WWII dedicated to empowering research and advancing patient care solely at UCLA, and manages the philanthropy for the UCLA Health JCCC and many of its members across numerous departments, divisions, and schools.
Reporting to the Executive Director of Development for the UCLA Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation, and working closely with senior administration, the Senior Director of Development UCLA Jonsson Cancer Foundation will design, implement, and manage a robust major gifts program to assigned priority areas in cancer to attract private support. In conjunction with the Executive Director of Development, the Senior Director of Development will establish goals and objectives for assigned areas and develop and execute strategies for fundraising, stewardship, cultivation, and communications. This individual will also be responsible for developing annual operating plans and evaluating progress toward goals. The Senior Director of Development will personally cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift donors and manage a portfolio of major gift prospects, with a focus on six- and seven-figure gifts, as well as lead professional and support staff. UCLA is dedicated to bringing greater equity to our workplace and offers a very competitive total rewards package.
Salary: $8,808.33 - $19,541.67 monthly
Qualifications
Required:
- Bachelor’s Degree
- 7+ years of progressive significant, relevant, successful experience in fundraising, with an emphasis on grateful patient fundraising and major gift experience and/or prior professional experience in a related field such as sales, marketing, or business development or related experience or training.
- 7+ years of proven track record in development program or comparable program planning and management with a strong understanding of major gift fundraising, preferably in an academic medical school setting.
- 7+ years of skill in developing and implementing successful strategies for the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of individuals, corporations, and foundations.
- Outstanding organizational skills and proficiency in prioritizing assignments to complete work in a timely manner and on deadline.
- Exceptional interpersonal skills to interact effectively with donors, volunteers, academic leaders, faculty, and staff.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Strong experience participating in strategic planning.
- Ability to render mature judgments, tolerate ambiguity, and navigate and be effective in complex environments.
- Ability to work evenings and weekends as required.
- Successful track record of building a culture of philanthropy and strong partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Experience leading and managing staff in collaborating to integrate individual department priorities to maximize philanthropic support.
- Ability to serve as relationship manager for key major donors and prospects in assigned areas.
- Proven record of establishing close working relationships with departmental and division leadership; becoming thoroughly familiar with activities and research interests in order to develop accurate and compelling case statements, gift opportunities, and appropriate linkages with prospective donors.
Preferred:
- Experience working in a highly matrixed organization.
- Prior experience in healthcare or higher education is preferred.
See All 25 Senior Director Of Business Development Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsSenior Director Of Business Development Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Senior Director Of Business Development Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Astera Labs2

- California State University2

- City of Hope2

- Saviynt2

- Adobe1

Top Industries Hiring
- Electronics & Hardware9
- Technology & Software6
- Education5
- Consulting & Professional Services3
- Science & Research3
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in senior director of business development jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or a related field from an accredited institution
- Seven or more years of progressive business development or enterprise sales leadership experience
- Demonstrated ability to build and close complex multi-million-dollar partnerships or contracts
- Experience leading cross-functional teams across product, marketing, legal, and finance departments
- Strong network within at least one major California industry such as technology, life sciences, or media
- Proficiency with CRM platforms and data-driven pipeline forecasting in a high-growth environment
Senior Director Of Business Development Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a senior director of business development in California?
Reaching senior director level in California typically requires a bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or a related field, often supplemented by an MBA from a California institution such as UCLA Anderson, USC Marshall, or UC Berkeley Haas. No state-issued license is required for this role. Most professionals reach this level after a decade of progressive experience in sales, partnerships, or strategy, often within California's technology, life sciences, or media industries.
How much do senior director of business developments make in California?
Senior director of business developments in California earn a median of about $134,910 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $64,430 for the lowest 10% to over $300,580 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire senior director of business developments in California?
Employers hiring senior director of business developments in California right now include Astera Labs, California State University, and City of Hope, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's concentration of technology headquarters, biotech firms, and entertainment companies makes it one of the most active states for senior commercial leadership hiring year-round.
Which California cities have the most senior director of business development jobs?
The cities with the most senior director of business development openings in California are San Jose, San Francisco, and Irwindale. The distribution reflects where California's major commercial headquarters are clustered, with San Francisco drawing technology and SaaS companies, Los Angeles anchoring media, entertainment, and consumer brands, and San Diego concentrating life sciences and defense-driven business development roles.
Are there remote senior director of business development jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields, since business development at this level is relationship-driven and strategic rather than tied to a fixed site. About 8% of senior director of business development openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting how common distributed commercial leadership has become. Partnership strategy, enterprise deal management, and market expansion planning are the functions most likely to be offered on a fully remote basis.
How can I get hired as a senior director of business development in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a business development representative or account executive role at a California technology or life sciences company, building toward a manager position before targeting director-level openings. Large California employers such as Salesforce, Google, and major biotech firms run structured associate and new-graduate commercial programs that develop foundational deal and partnership skills. An MBA from a California business school also accelerates the path by opening rotational and leadership development programs unavailable to candidates without an advanced degree.
Where can I find and apply to senior director of business development jobs in California?
You can find and apply to senior director of business development jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across industries and metro areas. Search the available roles, identify the ones that match your background and target sector, and apply directly through each listing.
See All 25 Senior Director Of Business Development Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Jobs