Job Posting Title:Director of Development, Major Gifts
----Hiring Department:Texas Memorial Museum
----Position Open To:All Applicants
----Weekly Scheduled Hours:40
----FLSA Status:Exempt from FLSA
----Earliest Start Date:Aug 01, 2026
----Position Duration:Expected to Continue
----Location:UT MAIN CAMPUS
----Job Details:Purpose To serve as the Director of Development, Major Gifts, on the museum's development team. The museum seeks a seasoned fundraising professional to identify and cultivate new donor prospects with a capacity of $100,000+. Reporting to the Director of Development, the position holds a critical role advancing Texas Science & Natural Museum's strategic priorities through fundraising.
Responsibilities - Build and carry an active portfolio of 40-60 well-qualified prospective donors with a capacity of $100,000+ and solicit gifts to support operations, capital projects, education programs, and endowments through pledged and planned monetary gifts. Engage in strategy, identification, qualification, cultivation, relationship building, and closing of major gifts to support the museum's priorities.
- Participate in goal setting, proposal preparation, strategy development, and stewardship as required for donors in the managed portfolio and as requested.
- Successfully and consistently deliver funding proposals with a focus on engaging new donors and building contributed revenue that is available within the fiscal year as well as building endowment funding.
- Maintain an understanding of the museum's priorities, vision, and mission. Effectively work with, communicate with, and collaborate with leadership and other staff to develop funding opportunities to reach annual budgetary and long-term goals. Work collaboratively, proactively, and in a professional, service-oriented manner with all departments and development staff to further goals and mission of the museum.
- Utilize fundraising databases and prospecting tools. Maintain appropriate electronic documentation on a timely basis, including engagement activities, proposal tracking, contact reports, donor strategies, and forecasting.
- Work collaboratively and proactively with Texas Development and development colleagues within the College of Natural Sciences to align and advance the museum's fundraising efforts. Leverage relationships with development officers across the university to explore and/or strengthen fundraising opportunities for the museum. Participate in professional development opportunities to create and nurture a culture of philanthropy within Texas Science & Natural History Museum and its constituencies.
- Performs related duties as assigned. May work on assigned projects.
Required Qualifications - Bachelor's Degree and minimum of 5+ years experience in major gift fundraising
- Proven success in developing and executing full-cycle donor strategies
- Strong emotional intelligence, intellectual curiosity, and strategic thinking
- Excellent communication skills (written, verbal, interpersonal).
- Effective project management and problem-solving abilities, thrives under pressure
- Collaborative and independent work style; able to engage across teams
- Proficient in CRM platforms such as VIP, Salesforce, or similar applications
- Willingness and ability to travel to engage with prospects and donors
- Demonstrated discretion, integrity, and professionalism in all interactions
- Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate
Preferred Qualifications - 10+ years in major gift fundraising
- Prior experience at UT or in a large, complex academic research university environment
- Background in fundraising within a museum or educational organization
- Graduate degree and/or Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) certification
Salary Range $115,000+ depending on qualifications
Working ConditionsHybrid position
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 that ALL Required 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 questions presented 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.
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