Director, Development

INSEAD is seeking a Director, Development (Europe) to join our Advancement Department. This is a full-time, permanent position, based on our Europe Campus in Fontainebleau, France. A hybrid working model is in place – 3 days on campus, 2 days from home.

About the Job

Reporting to the Executive Director, Development, you will lead INSEAD's major gifts fundraising strategy across Europe, driving revenue growth, strengthening donor engagement and building a sustainable pipeline of philanthropic support for the School's strategic priorities. You will combine hands-on fundraising excellence with regional leadership, personally cultivating and securing transformational gifts while shaping the overall fundraising approach across Europe. As a visible ambassador for INSEAD, you will work closely with alumni, donors, volunteers, faculty and senior leadership to maximise philanthropic impact and build long-term support for the institution.

Your role within the team

• Own and manage a personal portfolio of high-potential Europe-based prospects.


• Personally close major gifts in the €50K–€1M range, delivering ambitious individual revenue targets in support of institutional priorities.


• Build and sustain a robust prospect pipeline, ensuring consistent progression and long-term revenue growth across the donor lifecycle.


• Identify, qualify, and advance the next generation of top European prospects.


• Develop and execute tailored solicitation strategies aligned with donor interests and institutional priorities.


• Undertake regular travel across Europe to engage donors, deepen relationships, and accelerate philanthropic outcomes.


• Lead and influence the Europe fundraising team, ensuring strong regional performance and accountability for fundraising outcomes. Manage and develop the team, including recruitment, coaching, and performance management.


• Work in close partnership with the Executive Director to support regional strategy and pipeline performance, ensuring donor relationships are managed effectively.


• Fully integrate an end-to-end Europe fundraising strategy and ensure strong collaboration across the Europe team, including key fundraising volunteers, INSEAD Board representatives, colleagues and local alumni associations to maximise fundraising outcomes.


• Collaborate closely with global Advancement colleagues, faculty, senior leadership and volunteers to deliver a coordinated and integrated fundraising approach.


• Represent INSEAD at events and engagement activities across the region.


• Maintain accurate and timely CRM records, ensuring high standards of data quality, planning and reporting.


• Drive effective coordination across fundraising stages, ensuring seamless prospect movement, communication and data sharing from Annual Giving through to Principal Gifts and stewardship.

The Ideal Candidate Profile

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced training in philanthropy, non-profit management, or related fields an advantage. An MBA or equivalent global experience is a plus.


• Minimum 10 years’ experience in face-to-face gifts fundraising or senior-level stakeholder relationship management, ideally within an educational institution.


• Demonstrated success closing gifts of €50K+ (or equivalent complex deal-making in commercial or non-profit settings).


• Proven track record of portfolio management, pipeline development, and consistent delivery against revenue targets.


• Strong understanding of the European fundraising landscape, with experience engaging senior donors, volunteers and board-level stakeholders across diverse markets and cultures.


• Exceptional storytelling and communication skills, with the ability to articulate INSEAD’s mission and translate it into compelling philanthropic cases.


• Ability to build trusted, long-term relationships with donors and stakeholders, proactively anticipating their interests and aligning them with INSEAD’s strategic priorities to deliver meaningful philanthropic outcomes.


• Ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder gift processes involving faculty, leadership, volunteers and external partners.


• Able to consistently deliver at the highest standard, demonstrate sound judgement and integrity, and take full ownership of ambitious goals in a complex, international environment.


• Proven track record in team leadership, volunteer management and/or end-to-end development strategy ownership.


• Excellent written and oral communication skills.


• Passionate about understanding stakeholder needs and building trusted, long-term relationships that create meaningful outcomes.


• Excel at delivering high-quality engagement experiences and aligning donor interests with institutional priorities.

Kindly submit your application along with a CV in English.