Chief Development Officer for the School of Law

The University of Texas at Austin
retirement plan
United States, Texas, Austin
101 East 27th Street (Show on map)
Jan 15, 2025
Job Posting Title: Chief Development Officer for the School of Law ---- Hiring Department: School of Law ---- Position Open To: All Applicants ---- Weekly Scheduled Hours: 40 ---- FLSA Status: Exempt ---- Earliest Start Date: Immediately ---- Position Duration: Expected to Continue ---- Location: UT MAIN CAMPUS ---- Job Details: General Notes Reporting to and working closely with the Dean, the Chief Development Officer for the School of Law will play an essential leadership role in advancing the Law School's ambitious fundraising and alumni relations program, as an essential part of the School's larger strategy to become the nation's premier public law school. The Chief Development Officer will lead a large and talented group of gift officers and alumni relations specialists, implementing the School's comprehensive-and highly-successful-strategy for fundraising and relationship building. In doing so, the successful candidate will be supported by a university development program that is well-resourced and on the rise by every measure. The University of Texas School of Law already is among the top programs in America, perennially ranked in the top 10% of all law schools and the top five public law schools. It is the premier program for more than 1,000 miles in any direction, and it aims to become the best public law school in the country by the time of its 150th anniversary in 2033. The Law School provides world-class education and outcomes for students without the degree of cost associated with other top national programs. Texas Law has an extraordinary faculty with a strong scholarly reputation, and it has led the way in the experiential teaching revolution thanks to its impressive and vast array of clinics. The University of Texas School of Lawenjoys a vibrant, congenial environment that values kindness and mutual respect. Critically, we have an enthusiastic and engaged alumni population currently estimated to include more than 27,000 living graduates.The next Chief Development Officer will be walking into a well-established organization that has enjoyed record-setting success recently and is likely to exceed those levels in the near future. The successful candidate will be an exceptional fundraiser, a kind colleague, and a talented team leader. They will have a high level of emotional intelligence, will be a collaborative, steady, organized, and experienced leader with demonstrated success closing six- and seven-figure-plus gifts. They will work very closely with the Dean of the School. Purpose The Chief Development Officer is the lead officer for the Law School's fundraising and alumni relations efforts. This officer works closely with the Dean to plan, lead, and grow all aspects of those efforts, and manages a large team to implement them. This officer's personal role in fundraising focuses on donors with a capacity of $1,000,000 and above. Responsibilities In coordination with the Dean, develop and coordinate both fundraising and alumni relations strategies. Sustain and oversee the work of Development and Alumni Relations personnel, ensuring strategic and tactical coordination. Carry an active portfolio of 75-100 prospective donors, solicit gifts, advise the Dean, and conduct prospect management meetings with the Dean. Within 12 months of start date, consistently produce -no less than $5,000,000 per year. Create robust and highly proactive major and planned giving programs, whereby progress can be measured quantitatively. Be responsible for meeting quantifiable goals, including especially successful major and principal gift solicitation. Work collaboratively and proactively with University Development to further the fundraising efforts of the School of Law. Create and nurture a culture of philanthropy within the School of Law and its constituencies. Provide insights and strategic leadership for the Dean to achieve the School of Law's mission. Establish and maintain strong and mutually beneficial relationships with external contacts and constituents on behalf of the School of Law. Manage and oversee Alumni Relations and Development Office and staff, including a team of gift officers, including major, principal, and planned gift officers; administrative staff; and an alumni relations team. Make staffing recommendations to administration. Provide training, supervision, and evaluation of staff; allocate and communicate duties, responsibilities, annual objectives, and performance measures for all department staff. Manage the Office's budget both tactically and strategically. Establish and communicate fundraising goals, provide leadership on major and planned gift cultivation and solicitation strategies and provide regular performance evaluations. Collaborate with School of Law executive leadership in pursuit of strategic priorities. Other related responsibilities as assigned. Required Qualifications Bachelor's Degree 7+ years of experience as a development professional Proven track record of closing six- and seven-figure-plus gifts Ability to build significant relationships with new and existing donors Ambition to strategically grow an individual philanthropy team Exemplary written and oral communications skills and a high degree of emotional intelligence Experience with a comprehensive campaign in a complex educational setting Ability to think strategically and creatively and work well under pressure Capable of working independently, while also engaging in collaboration between teams Experience managing or leading a development team. Highly organized, collaborative, collegial and intelligent Ability to travel throughout the United States to visit prospects and donors Successful candidate must live in or be willing to relocate to the Central Texas area Preferred Qualifications J.D. Salary Range OPEN Working Conditions May Work around standard office conditions. Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation, use of manual dexterity. Lift and move standard office files and supplies. Wear appropriate office attire; accept supervision. Work hours may include occasional evenings, weekends and some holidays during peak periods to meet deadlines. Domestic and occasional international travel expected. Required Materials Resume/CV 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor Letter of interest Importantfor 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 in to 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: The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university's company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following: E-Verify Poster (English) [PDF] E-Verify Poster (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). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided 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.