Senior Director Gift Estate Planning

University of Houston; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Houston seeks a senior development professional to lead the Gift and Estate Planning program for an assigned college, integrating annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, corporate support, and stewardship.

You will manage a personal portfolio of major and principal gift prospects, collaborate with academic and university leadership, and oversee budget and staff while expanding donor relations and alumni engagement across the college and university.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• 5-7 years of professional fundraising or related experience.
• Ability to interact with the public.
• Deep knowledge of gift planning arrangements.
• Ability to develop relationships with donors and leadership.
• Documented success in securing deferred gifts.
• Ability to manage multiple projects.
• Advanced writing skills.
• Education or experience may substitute for each other.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior member of the Gift and Estate Planning team, providing expertise in deferred and complex gift matters.
• Participate in marketing strategies with internal/external partners.
• Identify, cultivate, and solicit current and prospective donors.
• Manage a personal portfolio of major and principal gift prospects.
• Plan and implement planned giving strategies with donors and officers.
• Provide technical guidance to staff on estate planning options.
• Collaborate with finance, legal and advancement teams to enhance gift planning operations.
• Maintain knowledge of gift planning methods and serve as SMEs for internal staff.
• Promote positive donor relations and stewardship.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor relations

Strategic planning

Communications

Proposal writing

Stakeholder management

Education

Baccalaureate degree

Job description

Provides leadership and daily oversight of an integrated program encompassing development and alumni relations for an assigned college, including budget administration, allocation of resources, and supervision of staff.

1. Develops, implements, and directs a comprehensive development program for an assigned college, including annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, corporate and foundation support, and stewardship.

2. Collaborates with the dean to establish fundraising goals and priorities for the college.

3. Identifies and communicates a case for support based on college priorities and determines strategies to further amplify the college's and university's goals and mission with key constituencies.

4. Develops strategies to strengthen awareness of and ties to the college within University and external communities.

5. Develops and implements individual strategies for a portfolio of major gift donor prospects; cultivates, solicits and stewards these donor prospects.

6. Provides expertise on advancement matters to the college and engages academic leadership, faculty, staff, other development officers and volunteers in advancement activities as appropriate.

7. Establishes and implements an alumni relations strategy for the college by identifying alumni and industry interests and corresponding engagement opportunities within the college and university.

8. Administers budget and allocates resources within the college's development and alumni relations programs, including the supervision of staff.

9. May oversee other advancement activities for the college, including special events and communications.

10. Performs other job-related duties as required.

MQ: Requires a thorough understanding of both theoretical and practical aspects of an analytical, technical or professional discipline; or the basic knowledge of more than one professional discipline. Knowledge of the discipline is normally obtained through a formal, directly job-related 4-year degree from a college or university or an equivalent in-depth specialized training program that is directly related to the type of work being performed.

Requires a minimum of seven (7) years of directly job-related experience.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as a senior member of the Gift and Estate Planning team, providing expertise in deferred and complex gift matters.
• Participate in the creation and implementation of marketing strategies, with internal and external partners and vendors.
• Identify, cultivate, and solicit current and prospective donors.
• Manage a personal portfolio of major and principial gift prospects.
• Plan, coordinate, and implement planned giving strategies with donors and development officers to structure lifetime, blended and deferred gift arrangements.
• Provide technical expertise, guidance and supervision to system staff on estate planning options.
• Collaborate with finance, legal and advancement teams to enhance gift planning operations and support fundraising efforts.
• Maintain current knowledge of gift planning methods. Serve as subject matter expert for internal staff.
• Promote positive donor relations and stewardship.

QUALIFICATIONS

• An earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university or equivalent years of relevant experience.
• 5-7 years of professional fundraising or related experience.
• Demonstrated ability to interact with the public in a wide variety of settings.
• Deep knowledge of gift planning arrangements and industry best practices.
• Demonstrated ability to develop strong relationships with all constituencies including donors, senior leaders, direct reports, employees, volunteers, board members, and community and business leaders.
• Documented history of success in facilitating, closing and securing deferred gifts.
• Ability to manage multiple projects at once.
• Demonstrated advanced writing skills that produce clear, accurate, and detailed communications.
• -Department is willing to accept education in lieu of experience.
• -Department is willing to accept experience in lieu of education.

All positions at the University of Houston-System are security sensitive and will require a criminal history check.

The University of Houston System and its universities are Equal Opportunity Institutions. Everyone is encouraged to apply.