Senior Associate Vice President & Chief Development Officer

University of Texas at Austin•Austin, TX

43d

About The Position

To help realize the bold vision of UT Medicine, the inaugural Senior Associate Vice President and Chief Development Officer (SAVP/CDO) will lead a next-generation philanthropic enterprise supporting Dell Medical School and UT Medicine. Reporting to Dr. Claudia Lucchinetti, Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs and Dean of Dell Medical School, the VP/CDO will serve as a core member of her senior leadership team and shape the development strategy for UT Medicine. At the heart of this opportunity is a bold and urgent challenge: to generate $500M in philanthropic support as Phase I of a historic, multi-billion-dollar campaign to construct and sustain the UT Austin Medical Center (UTMC) by 2030 and beyond. This is a transformational opportunity for a strategic, innovative, and mission-driven fundraising leader to join UT Medicine at a defining moment in its growth-from an ambitious medical school to an integrated academic medical system that will redefine healthcare delivery, research, and education in Austin, Central Texas and beyond. The Senior Associate Vice President and Chief Development Officer (SAVP/CDO) will have a rare, career-defining opportunity to build and lead a world-class advancement program that reflects UT Medicine's values, fuels its mission, and inspires transformational investment. With a new tertiary hospital under construction and UT Medicine taking shape, the SAVP/CDO will design and drive a comprehensive philanthropic strategy to advance clinical care, research, and education, positioning Dell Medical School and UT Medicine as national leaders in academic medicine. This leader will scale and modernize the development operation into a high-performing, data-driven program. From launching a robust grateful patient strategy to forging cross-campus partnerships and unlocking interdisciplinary philanthropy, the SAVP/CDO will bring bold vision, fundraising expertise, and a collaborative spirit to this dynamic environment. Success will require building strong relationships with clinical and academic leaders, earning trust with physicians and researchers, and turning their work into compelling philanthropic opportunities that inspire donors. At a university with over half a million living alumni and growing national prominence, the S/CDO will align strategies with Texas Development and campus partners while prioritizing a robust grateful patient pipeline to diversify and expand transformational giving. The ideal candidate will have at least 12 years of leadership experience in complex development environments, with a track record of success in healthcare and academic medicine fundraising. They will be a strategic architect and trusted advisor-agile, forward-thinking, and ready to galvanize a growing philanthropic community in support of one of Texas's most important healthcare initiatives. The SAVP/CDO will help write the next chapter of UT Medicine, creating a culture of philanthropy that fuels its impact for decades to come.

Requirements

Deep institutional appreciation and the ability to effectively articulate the mission, excellence, and strategic relevance of UT Austin, Dell Medical School and UT Medicine to a broad audience.
A demonstrated ability to scale an emerging development program, growing revenue, building infrastructure, and creating a high-performance culture.
Political savvy and the ability to collaborate seamlessly with senior academic, clinical, and administrative leadership, leveraging their time and voice to maximize philanthropic potential.
A persuasive and compelling communicator, with the capacity to translate complex scientific and clinical concepts into accessible narratives for donors and stakeholders.
A transparent, approachable, and empowering leadership style, with a strong track record of recruiting, mentoring, and retaining exceptional talent.
Decisive, entrepreneurial, and comfortable leading through ambiguity; able to balance long-term vision with immediate goals and opportunities.
Deep knowledge of grateful patient fundraising, donor privacy and compliance (e.g., HIPAA), and the unique dynamics of development in academic medicine.
Familiarity with emerging technologies and data platforms-such as AI, analytics, and machine learning-to inform strategy and optimize fundraising outcomes.
Financially astute, with a strong sense of operational efficiency and a commitment to maximizing the impact of resources.
Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred.
Expertise in donor strategy, campaign planning, pipeline development, and stewardship-grounded in metrics, accountability, and philanthropic best practices.
Minimum of 12 years of progressive development leadership experience, with demonstrated success in healthcare or academic medicine strongly preferred.
Experience serving on a senior leadership team and contributing at the strategic level in a complex, matrixed organization.
Proven ability to lead transformational fundraising efforts, including capital campaigns and programmatic initiatives, with direct experience securing eight-figure gifts from individuals, foundations, and corporations.

Responsibilities

Build a Scalable, Strategic, and Sustainable Development Enterprise
Serve as the architect of a fully integrated advancement operation aligned with the institutional goals of UT Medicine and the immediate fundraising priorities of the capital medical center campaign.
Craft a compelling and unifying case for support-one that connects the mission of UT Medicine with community needs and national impact, galvanizing philanthropic support from the Central Texas region and beyond.
Deepen relationships with existing donors and launch strategic efforts to grow a robust pipeline of principal and transformational gift prospects.
Assess and refine internal structures, systems, and workflows to ensure efficiency, transparency, and long-term sustainability, supported by data analytics, clear goals, and measurable outcomes.
Strategic Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement
Serve as a trusted advisor and strategic partner to the Dean, guiding her philanthropic engagement and helping position UT Medicine as a top national priority among prospective donors and institutional stakeholders.
Actively engage faculty, clinical, and administrative leaders as ambassadors for philanthropy-equipping them with tools, messaging, and confidence to inspire support for their departments, programs, and patients.
Play a key leadership role on both the Dean's and Vice President for Development's senior teams, aligning fundraising strategy with broader institutional goals and ensuring UT Medicine is fully represented in university-wide development planning.
Lead a high-performing, donor-centric fundraising operation that drives results across the full giving spectrum, with an emphasis on grateful patient philanthropy, principal and transformational gifts, and programmatic investments.
Personally manage and steward a portfolio of transformational gift prospects, serving as a lead strategist and ambassador for UT Medicine.
Design and deliver a best-in-class donor experience-blending personalized stewardship, cutting-edge digital engagement, and thoughtful recognition strategies that reflect the institution's values and ambitions.
Build strong internal collaboration between fundraising, communications, and marketing teams to tell powerful stories of impact and opportunity.
Team Development & Organizational Culture
Inspire and lead a growing team of fundraising professionals, cultivating a high-performance culture grounded in purpose, trust, innovation, and inclusion.
Recruit and retain top-tier talent while building a clear organizational structure that supports professional development and operational excellence.
Establish and track key performance indicators, creating an environment that celebrates achievement while supporting creativity and thoughtful risk-taking.
Promote a work culture that values authenticity, collaboration, and shared purpose-where every team member understands their role in advancing one of the most important academic medical initiatives in the country.