Liberal Arts Director of Development (Donor Engagement and Stewardship)

The University of Texas at Austin • Austin, UT

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Liberal Arts Director of Development manages and executes activities across the full donor engagement process to identify, engage, and steward alumni, parents, and donors for the College of Liberal Arts. The role leads day-to-day operational oversight and strategic planning for a comprehensive alumni engagement and donor stewardship program, working with college leadership and colleagues across the university. It supervises staff responsible for targeted communications, annual giving, campaigns, programmatic stewardship, and individual stewardship plans.

The director develops measurement systems and metrics, oversees alumni engagement and donor stewardship tracking, and supports a culture of philanthropy and continuous improvement. The role leads affinity-group engagement and coordinates local, regional, virtual, and in-person events, including an annual stewardship event. It also builds resources and guidance for philanthropic stakeholders, cultivates relationships between prospective donors and areas of interest in the college, and addresses sensitive donor and constituent complaints and issues.

This is a 40-hour-per-week, exempt position located at the UT main campus. The position is expected to continue. Travel and work outside regular hours may be required when needed. The listed salary is $85,000 and above, depending on qualifications.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree; relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.
• At least five years of experience in higher education fundraising.
• At least two years of supervisory experience.
• Highly effective written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Outstanding project management skills.
• Excellence in collaborative teamwork, problem analysis and solving, and customer service.
• High attention to detail and accountability.
• Ability to use discretion and maintain integrity and professionalism.
• High proficiency with computer applications, including CRMs and Microsoft Office.
• Excellent organizational skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to travel and work outside regular hours when needed.

Nice To Haves

• Frontline gift officer experience.
• Master’s degree.
• Working knowledge of UT Austin’s policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operational oversight, collaborative and strategic planning, development, coordination, and implementation of a comprehensive alumni and donor engagement and stewardship program.
• Partner with leadership to identify top stewardship prospects and initiatives.
• Manage and develop direct reports focused on targeted communications, annual giving activities, campaigns, programmatic stewardship, and individual stewardship plans.
• Create systems of measurement and metrics to support continuous improvement.
• Supervise alumni engagement and donor stewardship tracking.
• Promote continuous improvement in stewardship practices and a culture of philanthropy.
• Support effective communication, ensure perspectives are heard, and surface and address conflict.
• Build collaborative relationships that value others’ emotions, input, and curiosity.
• Communicate with and incorporate input from the Frontline Team.
• Collaborate with colleagues and students across the College of Liberal Arts and the University to shape the vision for stewardship.
• Develop resources and guidance for internal and external philanthropic stakeholders on communications, annual giving and campaigns, stewardship, individual stewardship plans, and affinity-group plans.
• Work with stakeholders to collect and curate data for metrics reporting and advancement.
• Lead affinity-group engagement strategy and execution, using data and recording activity in the CRM.
• Connect prospective donors with areas of interest and engagement in the College.
• Create metric-driven goals and strategies for local and regional events and oversee their execution with the COLA events director and development teams in UDO and other CSUs.
• Manage an annual stewardship event in partnership with the COLA Director of Events.
• Plan and facilitate virtual and in-person stewardship gatherings.
• Direct and oversee stewardship-specific activities at events.
• Engage with donors and constituents regarding sensitive complaints and issues.
• Demonstrate initiative and interest in professional development, including for direct reports.

Benefits

• The university offers an benefits package; specific benefits are described on the university benefits websites.
• The position is eligible for the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the stated hours and duration conditions, with the option to elect the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) if the stated conditions are met.
• Professional development resources are referenced for College of Liberal Arts staff.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager