The Advancement Entity / Development Office (Health Sector) is currently looking for a Major Gifts Officer reporting to the Director of Development, Health Sector. This is a central position that requires presence on both Beirut and Byblos campuses, with occasional commuting to LAU Medical Centers.
Role Summary
The Major Gifts Officer (MGO) will serve as the frontline fundraiser for the School of Pharmacy (SOP) and the Alice Ramez Chagoury School of Nursing (SON), LAU Medical Center–Rizk Hospital (LAUMC-RH) and LAU Medical Center- Saint John Hospital (LAUMC-SJH). S/he will work closely with the deans, faculty, hospital leadership, physicians, and clinical teams to identify funding priorities and engage donors in support of scholarships, research, clinical training, community health initiatives, patient care, medical education, infrastructure, and innovation.
The MGO will also collaborate closely with hospital staff and build relationships with physicians and department heads, both as fundraising partners and as potential donors themselves.
The MGO will manage a portfolio of major gifts prospects and play a key role in advancing LAU’s capital campaign priorities.
Main Duties & Responsibilities
- Serves as the primary fundraiser for the assigned school(s) / LAU Medical Centers
- Works with the Director of Advancement to develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy and execute cultivation and solicitation strategies in collaboration with hospital leadership and staff
- Builds and manages a portfolio of major gifts prospects and donors, with an expectation of conducting a number of targeted meaningful visits and interactions annually
- Proactively expands the prospect pipeline through research, networking, alumni engagement, and creative discovery strategies
- Develops and implements comprehensive cultivation and solicitation strategies for each prospect, moving donors through the pipeline toward high commitments
- Identifies, qualifies, and cultivates new major gift prospects through strategic discovery efforts, alumni engagement of physicians and department heads as both fundraising advocates and donor prospects, and referrals
- Closes a target figure of gifts within a set time frame
- Conducts a minimum number of target donor meetings annually (in-person and virtual)
- Builds meaningful long-term relationships with donors through strategic engagement and personalized outreach
- Works with deans, faculty, hospital leadership, department heads and physicians to develop tailored fundraising strategies
- Secures gifts in support of scholarships, labs, public health initiatives, patient care, equipment, capital improvements, and clinical programs
- Prepares customized proposals, donor briefings, and stewardship materials tailored to individual donor interests and institutional priorities
- Partners with the stewardship team to ensure timely and meaningful donor recognition
- Maintains ongoing relationships with donors post-gift to encourage continued engagement and future support
- Collaborates with Advancement Communications to develop compelling narratives and impact reports
- Represents LAU at internal and external events, including alumni gatherings and campaign activities
- Contributes to campaign planning and messaging for the schools and medical centers
- Maintains accurate records in Raiser’s Edge NXT, including contact reports and prospect plans
- Tracks and reports on fundraising metrics and progress toward individual goals
- Travels domestically and internationally to meet with prospects and donors as needed
- Performs other duties pertinent to this job as assigned by the direct supervisor
Minimum Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree; a background in Biological Sciences, Healthcare or Public Health is strongly preferred
- Minimum 4 years of experience in frontline fundraising and in cultivating and closing major gifts, preferably in a hospital, academic or a health-related sector
- Experience in campaign fundraising is a plus
- Strong communicator, a relationship-builder, and someone who understands the healthcare landscape and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in advancing public health and can translate impact into compelling donor opportunities
- Familiarity with CRM systems (preferably Raiser’s Edge NXT)
- Strong MS Office skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills, with ability to engage effectively with high-net-worth individuals and diverse stakeholders
- Effective verbal and written communication skills in English and Arabic
- Donor-centered mindset
- Collaborative, adaptable, and highly organized
- Ability to prioritize and handle/manage multiple tasks/projects
Work Schedule
The standard work schedule for this position is Monday through Friday, with possible/ occasional attendance after hours and/or during weekends/holidays to ensure business continuity and support. The role involves regular travel, collaboration across multiple time zones, and field visits as part of operational responsibilities.
Interested candidates should email their CVs with a letter of interest outlining the applicant’s relevant experience to ramzi@globalexecutivesearchservices.com, specifying the job title in the subject line.
CVs should include the exact month and year while listing the candidate’s professional experience and educational background.
Closing date for accepting applications is Monday, October 12, 2026.
No applications will be accepted after this date, and only shortlisted candidates will be notified.
Candidates must have attained the age of majority and satisfy all legal requirements to lawfully reside and work in Lebanon, in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations of the Republic of Lebanon.
The Lebanese American University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
