Senior Director of Development for Strategic Initiatives

University of Texas at Austin

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The University of Texas at Austin is a leading global university with a strong commitment to excellence and innovation. The Texas Development team is a dynamic community of over 500 fundraising professionals dedicated to creating meaningful donor experiences and supporting the university's mission. This role is crucial in advancing the university's strategic plan by identifying and cultivating transformative gift opportunities.

Requirements

• 5-7 years of experience working in a related role.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Business Administration, Nonprofit Management, Communications).
• Experience working with university senior leadership on strategic planning or organizational strategy.
• Experience managing cross-functional team project or initiatives.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling presentations and proposals.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders and build strong relationships.
• Must be eligible to work in the United States on a full-time basis for any employer without sponsorship.
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States.
• Resume/CV
• Three work references with contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
• Letter of Interest

Nice To Haves

• 10 years of experience working in a related role.
• Experience working with university leadership on the Change Starts Here initiatives.
• Familiarity with fundraising, development or related fields.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate biweekly Transformational Giving meeting agendas and outline actionable next steps for the leadership team, serving as a key connector across the UDO fundraising team and the CSU campus partners.
• Work with the Transformational Giving Leadership Team in determining fundraising priorities related to transformational gift conversations and assist the Transformational Giving on transformational gifts strategy and developing playbooks for all Transformational and Presidential gift prospects.
• Track and follow-up on key next steps and action items for donors to ensure timely execution.
• Collaborate with UDO leadership to identify intersections between UT’s strategic plan priorities and fundraising needs and operationalize within Texas Development.
• With the guidance from Executive Director for Campus Partnerships, advance strategic planning and content development for high-priority university initiatives, connecting UT’s strategic plan priorities to actionable fundraising opportunities within Texas Development.
• Work with Transformational Giving Leadership Team to build and maintain an accessible database to track $5M+ open, closed, and pending proposals, enabling the fundraising team to conduct informed weekly reviews and maintain real-time visibility into the transformational giving pipeline.
• Support the Transformational Giving Leadership Team in crafting proposal content, presentations, SWOT analysis, and talking points for donor conversations.
• Drive strategic planning contributions across fundraising teams, supporting goal setting and execution while leading content development for university priorities.
• Work with Donor Relations team to help determine next steps for Stewardship of Transformational and Presidential Prospects throughout the year.
• Collaborate in developing a TG-specific toolkit, including standardized templates and practical checklists based on proven models.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive benefits package that includes insurance and retirement benefits in addition to other programs and services.
• Professional development opportunities

What This Job Offers

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