Chief Development Officer, College of Fine Arts

Company: University of Texas at Austin
Location: Austin
Posted on: May 17, 2025

Job Description:

Job Posting Title:Chief Development Officer, College of Fine Arts----Hiring Department:College of Fine Arts----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:PurposeReporting to the Dean, the Chief Development Officer (CDO) for the will play an essential leadership role in advancing overall fundraising for the College and, in doing so, position the College to contribute significantly to the What Starts Here capital campaign at UT Austin.The CDO for the College of Fine Arts will work closely with the Dean to plan, lead, manage and grow all aspects of fundraising and comprehensive development initiatives for the College. Successful candidates will have a demonstrated track record of engaging donors in the arts space, a proven ability to bring creativity, curiosity, and boldness to the role, and comfort working within a complex organization.Responsibilities

• Maintain an understanding of university priorities and the College of Fine Arts' vision and mission.
• In coordination with the Dean, develop and coordinate both fundraising and alumni relations strategies. Sustain and oversee the work of Development personnel, ensuring strategic and tactical coordination.
• Build and carry an active portfolio of 75-100 prospective donors.
• Engage in qualification, strategy development, relationship building and closing of planned and principal gifts for the College of Fine Arts.
• Create robust and highly proactive major and planned giving programs, growth of corporate and foundation funding whereby progress can be measured quantitatively.
• Consistently produce at least $5,000,000 per year.
• Work collaboratively and proactively with Texas Development to further the fundraising efforts of the College of Fine Arts. Create and nurture a culture of philanthropy within the College and its constituencies.
• Serve as a member of the Dean's leadership team and be involved with the strategic planning and achievement of the College of Fine Arts' mission. Develop a comprehensive major gift development plan in collaboration with the Dean, Department Heads, and Unit Directors to identify key initiatives for private funding.
• Establish and maintain strong and mutually beneficial relationships with external contacts and constituents on behalf of the College.
• Manage all components of the College's Advisory Council, particularly as they relate to major gift activity involving volunteers.
• Assist where appropriate with the planning of major donor functions, including donor recognition and stewardship events.
• Manage all components of the College's gift administration, gift acknowledgement, and pledge management.
• Establish and communicate fundraising goals, provide leadership, and manage and mentor staff on major and planned gift cultivation and solicitation strategies, and providing regular performance evaluations for the College of Fine Arts development team.
• Be responsible for planning, budget and strategic direction of customized and comprehensive fundraising plans, oversight and successful achievement of goals and oversight of the implementation and management of all development activities, including timelines, budget, staff, and outside counsel.
• Travel throughout the United States and around the globe, representing the College and building relationships with its donors, prospects, and alumni.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 and skills to strategically grow and manage a successful team.
  • Exemplary written and oral communications skills.
  • High degree of emotional intelligence and ability to successfully engage faculty and staff throughout the College of Fine Arts as well as colleagues across campus.
  • Experience with a comprehensive campaign in a complex setting such as higher education.
  • Intellectual curiosity and desire to appreciate, understand, and advance the academic pursuits of the college to donors, and the general public.
  • Ability to think strategically and creatively and work well under pressure.
  • Capable of working independently, while also engaging in collaboration between teams.
  • Highly organized, collaborative, and collegial.
  • Ability to travel throughout the United States to engage prospects and donors.
  • Successful candidate must live in or be willing to relocate to the Austin, Texas area.Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.Preferred Qualifications
    • Master's degree or higher
    • Experience in higher education fundraising, coupled with the ability to connect with faculty and researchers and effectively communicate their areas of research to donors.
    • Knowledge of the Texas and national arts and culture ecology and economy.
    • Experience in arts and culture philanthropy.Driving RequiredThis job requires a class "C" operator's driver's license. The applicant selected must provided 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 RangeOPENWorking Conditions
      • 100% On-Campus
      • Prolonged screen time
      • Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation
      • Use of manual dexterity.Required Materials
        • Resume/CV
        • 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
        • Letter of interestAbout the College of Fine ArtsFounded in 1937, The College of Fine Arts educates artists, scholars and future arts educators in a context that emphasizes artistic excellence, advanced technology, cultural range and best professional practices. The college places a high priority on research and the creation of new work through five academic departments-the Butler School of Music, the Department of Art and Art History, the Department of Theatre and Dance, the Department of Design, the Department of Arts and Entertainment Technologies. The college also runs major public facing operations providing arts experiences to the entire campus, Austin, and central Texas communities. These include Texas Performing Arts, the university's arts presenting organization, and Landmarks, the university's public art program. Academic units are similarly public facing and offer a robust calendar of public programming showcasing the work of our students, faculty, and artists from across the globe across a complex of stages and exhibition spaces. A comprehensive visual and performing arts college, we offer degree concentrations from the B.A. to the Ph.D. in a broad range of disciplines. Having recently completed a strategic plan process, The College of Fine Arts seeks to sustain and expand its national leadership in arts and design research, creative practice, and pedagogy. We seek to advance knowledge of creativity that is expansive in its definition, interdisciplinary in its approach, and intentional about its broader impact. We embrace the spirit of community and collaboration as we move towards these goals.About The University of Texas at AustinWhat starts here changes the world.The University of Texas at Austin, founded in 1883, ranks among the 40 best universities in the world with top national programs across 19 colleges and schools. By creating educational opportunities for all and leading cutting-edge research at scale, the University fosters positive social change, technological advancement, and economic progress showing the world that change really does start here.Following our 10-year strategic plan, UT will become the world's highest-impact public research university, unleashing knowledge, opportunity and innovation from the heart of Texas.Learn more about UT's and .Why Join Texas Development?The University of Texas at Austin is on the front lines of the future: sparking the imagination, driving discovery and transforming lives. And it's only possible because generous supporters believe in the power and promise of our state's flagship university to change the world.Together, through one of the largest fundraising efforts in our state's history, we will support our people, amplify the unmatched potential of our place, and lead innovation through world-changing pursuits. With nearly $5 billion raised over the past six years, Texas Development is quickly becoming one of the best fundraising programs in higher education.Texas Development is a dynamic community of more than 450 fundraising professionals across the Forty Acres. We strive to reach the highest levels of achievement and success in all that we do by creating meaningful and powerful experiences for our donors.Join us and .BenefitsThe University provides a that includes insurance and retirement benefits in addition to other programs and services.
          • Competitive health benefits (Employee premiums covered at 100%; family premiums at 50%)
          • Vision, dental, life, and disability insurance options
          • Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
          • Teachers Retirement System of Texas (a defined benefit retirement plan)
          • Additional voluntary retirement programs: tax sheltered annuity 403(b) and a deferred compensation program 457(b)
          • Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses
          • Training and conference opportunities
          • Tuition assistance
          • Athletic ticket discounts
          • Access to UT Austin's libraries and museums
          • Free rides on all UT Shuttle and Capital Metro buses with staff ID cardTexas Development supports growth by offering professional development opportunities that help every team member accomplish their goals, enrich their skill set and deepen their engagement with UT.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 ,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 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:
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            • [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 .The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.

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