Senior Director of Development

The University of Texas at Austin; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Texas at Austin Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center seeks a Senior Director of Development to lead a comprehensive fundraising program and drive a major capital campaign. The role focuses on securing significant philanthropic support through major gifts and principal gifts, while guiding strategy and staff development.

Reporting to university advancement leadership, you will cultivate high-capacity donors, manage a team, and expand the donor pipeline to support the Center's

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and significant frontline fundraising experience.
• Proven success securing major gifts, including multiple commitments at or above $1M.
• Experience leading or playing a senior role in a capital campaign.
• Demonstrated ability to execute successful full-cycle donor strategy.
• Experience managing and developing professional staff within a fundraising program.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the Wildflower Center’s comprehensive development program, including major gifts, principal gifts, annual giving, corporate and foundation relations, and planned giving.
• Lead the execution of a capital campaign, including campaign strategy, case development, prospect identification, and volunteer leadership engagement.
• Manage a portfolio of high-capacity donors and prospects; personally cultivate, solicit, and steward gifts at the $1M+ level.
• Supervise, mentor, and evaluate development staff, establishing performance expectations and fostering a collaborative, high-performing team culture.
• Work closely with advisory council members, campaign volunteers, and university advancement leadership to strengthen philanthropic engagement and expand the donor pipeline.
• Collaborate with Wildflower Center team members to develop compelling funding opportunities and case statements aligned with strategic initiatives and capital priorities.

Job description

General Notes

The University of Texas at Austin Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is committed to inspiring the conservation and cultivation of native plants through its gardens and programs. The Wildflower Center is the state botanic garden of Texas, a treasured Austin gem, and a national leader in the field of native plant education, gardening, sustainable landscapes, land restoration, plant conservation and research. It is home to the largest living collection of Texas native plants, welcomes 300,000 visitors annually, has over 18,000 member households and reaches more than 2 million people per year through its popular native plant database. The Center envisions thriving, native plant landscapes everywhere that nurture wildlife, uplift communities, and ensure ecological resilience for generations.

Job Posting Title

Senior Director of Development

Hiring Department

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Position Open To

All Applicants

Weekly Scheduled Hours

40

FLSA Status

Exempt from FLSA

Earliest Start Date

Immediately

Position Duration

Expected to Continue

Location

JOHNSON WILDFLOWER CENTER

Job Details

General Notes

The University of Texas at Austin Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is committed to inspiring the conservation and cultivation of native plants through its gardens and programs. The Wildflower Center is the state botanic garden of Texas, a treasured Austin gem, and a national leader in the field of native plant education, gardening, sustainable landscapes, land restoration, plant conservation and research. It is home to the largest living collection of Texas native plants, welcomes 300,000 visitors annually, has over 18,000 member households and reaches more than 2 million people per year through its popular native plant database. The Center envisions thriving, native plant landscapes everywhere that nurture wildlife, uplift communities, and ensure ecological resilience for generations.

Purpose

The Senior Director of Development serves as the chief fundraising officer for the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and is responsible for the strategic direction, management, and execution of a comprehensive development program in alignment with the Wildflower Center’s advancement priorities. This position plays a key leadership role in the planning and execution of a major capital campaign, with responsibility for securing significant philanthropic support through major and principal gifts.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the Wildflower Center’s comprehensive development program, including major gifts, principal gifts, annual giving, corporate and foundation relations, and planned giving.
• Lead the execution of a capital campaign, including campaign strategy, case development, prospect identification, and volunteer leadership engagement.
• Manage a portfolio of high-capacity donors and prospects; personally cultivate, solicit, and steward gifts at the $1M+ level.
• Supervise, mentor, and evaluate development staff, establishing performance expectations and fostering a collaborative, high-performing team culture.
• Work closely with advisory council members, campaign volunteers, and university advancement leadership to strengthen philanthropic engagement and expand the donor pipeline.
• Collaborate with Wildflower Center team members to develop compelling funding opportunities and case statements aligned with strategic initiatives and capital priorities.
• Ensure accurate tracking, reporting, and forecasting of fundraising activity using university and Wildflower Center systems; monitor and report progress toward annual and campaign goals.
• Represent the Wildflower Center in university-wide advancement initiatives and external stakeholder engagements.
• Other responsibilities/functions as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and significant experience in frontline fundraising, preferably in a higher education or complex nonprofit environment.
• Demonstrated success in securing major and principal gifts, including multiple commitments at or above the $1M level.
• Proven experience leading or playing a senior role in a capital campaign, including strategy, donor engagement, and gift closure.
• Demonstrated ability to execute successful full-cycle donor strategy.
• Experience managing and developing professional staff within a results-oriented fundraising program.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence high-level donors and stakeholders.
• Ability to think strategically while executing tactically in a fast-paced, goal-driven environment.
• Ability work well under pressure.
• Project management skills.
• Capable of working independently, while also engaging in collaboration between teams.
• Ability to travel frequently to visit prospects and donors.
• Ability to use discretion and maintain integrity and professionalism.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree.
• Experience within a public research university or similarly complex institutional advancement structure.
• Familiarity with botanic gardens or similar conservation, environmental, or mission-driven organizations.
• Campaign experience and experience with fundraising in an academic and/or non-profit environment.
• Experience with VIP or other similar CRM.
• Knowledge of UT Austin policies and procedures.

Driving Required

This job requires a class “C” operator’s driver’s license. The applicant selected must provide a current three year driving record from the current state of residence. If not currently a Texas resident, a Texas driver’s license must be obtained within 30 days of becoming a Texas resident. Employees who are required to have a CDL are subject to drug and alcohol testing (pre-employment, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, random, return-to-duty, and follow-up drug and alcohol testing).

Salary Range

OPEN, Commensurate with experience and consistent with university guidelines.

Working Conditions

• Standard office environment
• Regular travel throughout Texas and the U.S. and evening/weekend work required to meet with donors and support events.
• This position is based in Austin, Texas.
• Must be eligible to work in the United States on a full-time basis for any employer without sponsorship.
• May work in extreme temperatures for outdoor events.
• May stand for extended periods of time.

Work Shift

• Flexible schedule to meet work related goals.
• Evenings, weekends and holidays when required for mission related events.

Required Materials

• Resume/CV
• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor.
• Letter of interest

Important

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure thatALLRequired Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers

As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled into your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questionspresented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

Employment Eligibility

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

Retirement Plan Eligibility

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. This position has the option to elect the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) instead of TRS, subject to the position being 40 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Background Checks

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Pay Transparency

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

Employment Eligibility Verification

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

E-Verify

• E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

Compliance

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and be notified to provide resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031. The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.