Chief Development Officer - fundraiser

As our Chief Development Officer,

you will have the opportunity to :

• Lead and grow a high-powered fundraising team and model collaboration and innovation for the foundation.
• Champion the foundation’s fundraising model and add depth and insights to the strategic vision of the foundation.
• Lead by example actively engage, solicit and steward a portfolio and serve as a player- coach for teammates and colleagues.
• Earn and enhance strategic partnerships with university leadership, faculty and staff, to position their work optimally in the philanthropic market.
• Fully engage in all areas of team and talent management, recruiting, on-boarding, coaching, evaluating and growing team members.
• Adopt a team of teams approach, fostering collaboration, transparency, accountability, a donor-centric mindset and passionate professionalism.
• Discover, inspire, invite, and engage high priority prospects, considering individual desires and interests as well as the university’s needs and priorities.
• Create customized funding opportunities based on strategic objectives of the Foundation, University, and the interests of the donor.
• Identify, inspire, and recruit faculty champions with big transformational ideas to engage and partner in the philanthropic strategic planning process to drive funding opportunities and achieve excellence.
• Demonstrate strategic business plan development and project management skills applying the understanding to cross-collaborative efforts.
• Provide a comprehensive donor or project plan for high impact initiatives or principle gift level donors.
• Translate contextual and academic ideas, objectives and information into relatablemessages.
• Provide development leadership for unit / college and participate in team based fundraising efforts that advance the mission and strategic vision of college / unit.
• Collaborate with the appropriate stakeholders to determine funding priorities and potential funding sources for various programmatic needs, scholarships, faculty support, big ideas, transformative initiatives, and building needs.
• Serve as content expert and contact, addressing inquiries regarding fund-raising policies and procedures.

Requirements :

• Bachelor’s degree or any equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum 5+ years of fundraising or other related experience with demonstrated history of success in relationship-driven or high external outreach industry.
• Strong written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills including excellent listening, relationship-building, and customer service including the ability to respond to internal and external constituents with tact, diplomacy and discretion.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality across a variety of situations and involving a variety of constituents (including Foundation leadership, team members, prospects, donors, and University leadership).
• Flexibility to travel extensively including evenings, overnight and weekends and the ability to visit donors in offices, residences, or other agreed locations.
• A valid Texas driver license and good driving record must be maintained as a requirement of the position.

Desired Qualifications :

Master’s degree.

Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE ) or other comparable certification