Position Summary

Join San Diego State University as the Associate Athletic Director, Aztec Club and play a key role in advancing philanthropic support for SDSU Athletics. This position leads the day-to-day operations of the Aztec Club, with a focus on leadership annual giving, donor cultivation and stewardship, and programs that strengthen engagement with alumni, former student-athletes, fans, and supporters.

Working closely with Athletics Development and University Relations and Development, you’ll oversee key annual giving programs, build relationships with donors, manage donor benefits and engagement strategies, and supervise the Assistant Director, Aztec Club.

Key Responsibilities:

• Fundraising & Donor Development
  • Cultivate, solicit, and steward leadership annual donors, including members of the Football and Men’s Basketball Director’s Cabinet.
  • Develop strategies to increase donor giving, engagement, and retention.
  • Cultivate former student-athletes and identify prospective major gift donors for the Athletics Development team.
  • Work toward established annual fundraising goals and metrics.
• Aztec Club & Annual Giving
  • Lead the day-to-day operations and activities of the Aztec Club.
  • Oversee annual giving programs, including the annual fund, student-athlete recruitment and retention fund, and sport excellence funds.
  • Manage donor benefits, priority points, giving communications, online giving pages, and related annual fund initiatives.
  • Partner with the Athletic Ticket Office and other campus teams to coordinate donor benefits and giving requirements.
• Leadership & Team Management
  • Supervise and support the Assistant Director, Aztec Club.
  • Establish priorities, deadlines, and workflows in coordination with Athletics Development leadership.
  • Collaborate with development colleagues on annual plans, fundraising goals, and donor strategies.
  • Support the overall management and priorities of the Athletics Development unit.
• Athletics & Community Engagement
  • Represent SDSU Athletics at donor, community, and university events.
  • Participate in evening and weekend events that support donor cultivation, stewardship, and engagement.
  • Support evolving Athletics initiatives, including NIL-related efforts.
  • Collaborate with campus partners and advocate for the needs and interests of SDSU student-athletes.

What We’re Looking For:

We’re looking for an experienced fundraising or sales professional who enjoys building relationships, developing donor strategies, and leading annual giving programs.

Experience in areas such as the following is especially valuable:

• Annual giving, fundraising, development, or relationship-based sales
• Donor cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and retention
• Developing and growing donor or client relationships
• Collegiate athletics or higher education advancement
• Fundraising systems such as Ticketmaster, Salesforce, Paciolan, or Ellucian
• Supervising or providing direction to staff
• Developing and executing fundraising plans and goals

The position requires a bachelor’s degree and a minimum of three to five years of successful fundraising and/or sales experience.

Why Join Us?

• Build support for Aztec Athletics – Develop relationships with donors and supporters who are invested in SDSU Athletics and its student-athletes.
• Lead the Aztec Club – Help guide annual giving, donor engagement, stewardship, and benefits for a key part of Athletics Development.
• Work directly with donors – Build relationships with alumni, former student-athletes, fans, and community supporters.
• Collaborate across Athletics and Advancement – Work alongside Athletics leadership, development professionals, ticketing, University Relations and Development, and other campus partners.

Position Information

• This is a full-time, at-will role, offering comprehensive benefits.
• Position is designated exempt under FLSA and is not eligible for overtime compensation.
• Standard SDSU work hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but may vary based on operational needs (Ability to travel and attend off-campus appointments and events. Evening, weekend, and other work outside of normal business hours is required to support events and departmental needs).
• The individual hired for this role will work at the SDSU Experience Center in Mission Valley, San Diego.

Department Summary

University Relations and Development (URAD) shares the university’s vision and mission underscored in the SDSU strategic plan. Units of URAD work together to create enduring relationships with alumni, parents, donors, students and the community to generate private support for SDSU students, faculty and a diverse number of programs. URAD handles a range of services encompassing stewardship, events, gift administration, communications and more. The departments of Development, SDSU Alumni, Planned and Annual Giving, Special Events and Donor Relations, Marketing and Communications, Financial Management, Data Management, Prospect Research and Management and Operations are making a tangible difference in the lives of more than 40,000 students.

Our fundraising success can be credited to the university’s goal of building a world-class university campus, research center, and multi-use stadium in Mission Valley to serve higher education, the public good, and the community’s goals and aspirations.

SDSU has been recognized several times for its exceptional development program by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). With the support of loyal donors and in collaboration with SDSU’s visionary faculty and staff, the university cultivates lifelong relationships with more than 500,000 alumni, friends, and community members—advancing SDSU’s mission for generations to come.

The Department of Athletics, utilizing the services of over 150 employees, is responsible for the intercollegiate athletics program at San Diego State University. Currently, there are 18 sport programs, approximately 425 student-athletes, and 17 offices in the department. The offices include the following: The Aztec Club, Administration, Athletic Medicine, Business Office, Compliance, Corporate Sales, Development, Equipment, Event Management/Facilities and Operations, Human Resources, Information Technology, Marketing, Media Relations, Strength and Conditioning, Student-Athlete Academic Support Services, Ticket Office, and Video.

For more information regarding the University Relations and Development department, click here

For more information regarding the Athletics department, click here

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree.
• Minimum of three years of successful fundraising and/or sales experience.

Key Qualifications

• Ability to travel and attend off-campus appointments and events. Evening, weekend, and other work outside of normal business hours is required to support events and departmental needs.
• Demonstrated knowledge of NCAA, conference, and University rules, with a proven commitment to compliance, institutional control, ethical conduct, and timely reporting of violations.
• Preferred:
• Master's degree in a related field.
• Fundraising software experience (TicketMaster, Salesforce, Paciolan and/ or Ellucian).
• Demonstrated annual fund success in dollars raised and number of donors.
• Fundraising experience in a large, complex university or athletics.
• Demonstrated experience in upgrading of donors.

Licenses/Certifications Required

Valid California Driver’s License or the ability to obtain one within 30 days of hire.

Compensation and Benefits

At San Diego State University, we value our team members and offer a competitive salary that reflects your qualifications and experience. But that’s just the beginning! Our exceptional benefits package is designed to support your well-being and work-life balance:

• Generous Leave Benefits: Enjoy 15 paid holidays, 24 vacation days, and 12 sick days per year.
• Retirement Security: Benefit from a CalPERS defined benefit pension plan, with reciprocity with the UC Retirement Plan, plus retiree healthcare benefits.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Access a variety of health, dental, and vision plans at no or low cost to you.
• Educational Opportunities: Take advantage of the California State University system fee reduction program for yourself or a qualified dependent.
• Voluntary Benefits: Opt into additional benefits like Auto & Home Insurance, Life and Disability Insurances, a Legal Plan, Pet Insurance, and the ScholarShare 529 Plan for college savings.

The expected hiring salary for this position ranges from $70,000 to $83,000 annually.

SDSU Values

At SDSU, our diversity gives us power and benefits every single member of our community. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU provides equal opportunity for all in education and employment. We encourage all members of our community to purposefully learn from one another through open and respectful dialogue and responsible engagement. We strongly preserve the right to free expression and encourage difficult conversations that help lead to improved individual and community learning and cohesion.

Principles of Community

At San Diego State University, we are a community of diverse individuals who have and represent many perspectives, beliefs, and identities. This diversity lends our community strength, and we commit to creating and sustaining an inclusive and intellectually vibrant environment that benefits all members of our university.

SDSU’s Principles of Community is an aspirational statement that is intended to evolve over time. The statement reflects the ideals we are encouraged to uphold in our interactions with one another.

Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment

All university programs and activities are open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, San Diego State University (SDSU) provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities.

Supplemental Information

Apply by October 21, 2026, to ensure full consideration. Applications submitted after this date will be reviewed on an as-needed basis, and the position will remain open until filled.

The person holding this position is considered a ‘mandated reporter’ under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

San Diego State University is not a sponsoring agency for staff or management positions (e.g., H-1B visa). Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Offers of employment are contingent upon the presentation of documents that demonstrate a person's identity and authorization to work in the United States, which are consistent with the provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act.

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily and is required for employment. SDSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current SDSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

SDSU is a smoke-free campus. For more information, please click here.

Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who request an accommodation by contacting Livia Peeples at lpeeples@sdsu.edu.