Senior Executive Director of Development for Major Gift Strategy

The University of Texas at Austin•Austin, UT

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Executive Director of Development for Major Gift Strategy serves on Texas Development’s Fundraising Vertical at The University of Texas at Austin. The role collaborates with colleagues, leaders, and faculty across campus to set, track, and drive principal-gift strategy. The successful candidate manages three or more managers of fundraisers, raises funds at the major and principal gift levels, and carries a small personal portfolio to model fundraising expectations. The position develops major-gift band strategy, sets and tracks year-over-year fundraising targets, translates institutional targets into expectations for Chief Development Officers and the President’s Office, and works with managers and Prospect Research & Management on goal setting. It oversees solicitation planning, proposal forecasting, pipeline reviews, and donor strategy, while coordinating with GIFT Operations, Prospect Research & Management, and learning and development colleagues. The role also serves on a Metrics Refresh Task Force and performs additional duties as assigned. This position is based on the UT Main Campus in Austin, Texas. The standard schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., on site, with possible additional hours during peak periods and special events. Frequent travel to visit prospects and donors is required. The role works in standard office conditions in a shared office environment and involves repetitive keyboard use at a workstation. The position is expected to continue, and the earliest start date is immediately.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree; relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.
At least 3–5 years as a successful manager of major-gift or principal-gift fundraisers and/or programs.
At least 6–8 years of experience closing $1M+ gifts year over year, with demonstrated ability to execute full-cycle donor strategy and quickly move high-capacity prospects through a principal-giving strategy.
High degree of emotional intelligence.
Demonstrated tenacity, adaptability, and earned trust across campus.
Ability to drive results.
Highly effective written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
Ability to think strategically and creatively with an entrepreneurial mindset while working well under pressure.
Project management skills.
Ability to work independently and collaborate across teams.
Experience with VIP, Raiser’s Edge, or a similar CRM.
Ability to travel frequently to visit prospects and donors.
Ability to use discretion and maintain integrity and professionalism.
Must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis for any employer without sponsorship.
Regular and consistent attendance is required.

Nice To Haves

10+ years of fundraising, management, and/or program management experience.
Experience working in a large-scale, complex academic research university.
Knowledge of UT Austin policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

Develop the major-gift band strategy in collaboration with development leadership.
Set year-over-year fundraising growth targets, track progress, and maintain responsibility for achieving band goals.
Build on prior fundraising results and identify pipeline development opportunities.
Translate institutional fundraising targets into major-gift band expectations for Chief Development Officers and the President’s Office.
Work with managers and Prospect Research & Management (PRM) on goal setting for the band.
Monitor planned major-gift solicitations and coach gift officers toward solicitation success in partnership with fundraiser managers.
Deliver a consolidated proposal forecast using consistent stage definitions across contributing officers and colleges, schools, and units.
Explain forecast variances and risks, and recommend band-level actions to fundraising leadership across campus.
Lead regular pipeline reviews with key development teams, developing action plans with owners and deadlines.
Review visits, prospect engagement, proposals, and closures with development stakeholders to identify trends and gaps.
Partner with GIFT Operations and PRM to identify gaps in proposal quality, moves management, portfolio coverage, and stewardship.
Coordinate donor strategy and warm handoffs when opportunities move between gift bands.
Partner with the learning and development team to develop gift-officer training focused on principal-giving strategies and activities.
Manage senior fundraisers who manage principal- and major-gift fundraisers across colleges, schools, and units.
Carry a small personal portfolio and model fundraising expectations.
Serve on a Metrics Refresh Task Force to determine future metric expectations for major-gift officers.
Perform additional duties as assigned.