Position Summary

The Senior Associate Director will be responsible for managing a portfolio of planned giving prospects and developing a comprehensive solicitation and stewardship strategy for the portfolio and any assigned liaison relationships. The Senior Associate Director will increase the University's ability to accept deferred and outright gifts of non-cash assets in a timely and professional manner. They will help donors and their advisors consider and understand charitable gift options that involve some level of tax, legal, or financial planning.

The successful candidate will have a deep understanding of planned giving vehicles and strategies, as well as knowledge of charitable gift and tax laws and experience with deferred and outright gifts of non-cash assets. The individual holding this position will partner with planned giving fundraisers and major and principal gift fundraisers across UVA to increase philanthropic support for the University of Virginia at the highest levels. This partnership will include integrating gift planning programs with other development functions by educating development colleagues about planned giving, coordinating with colleagues on planned and blended giving strategies, and conducting joint donor visits. This position reports to the Executive Director of Gift Planning.

Responsibilities

• Work with fundraisers across Grounds on all types of planned gifts, including bequests, beneficiary designations, life income gifts, and outright gifts of non-cash assets.
• Provide timely, accurate advice and expertise to the University's fundraising community, its donors, and professional advisors. Perform research and analysis on questions relating to planned giving and advise colleagues of relevant issues. Work closely with donors and their advisors to structure lifetime and testamentary plans to benefit the University.
• Develop prospect portfolios of potential individual donors, cultivating and soliciting gifts primarily for $100,000 and above.
• Cultivate relationships and assist in planning major outright and deferred gifts to the University.
• Create and implement cultivation structures that include prospect strategies, development and preparation of written materials, design and implementation of cultivation events, direct solicitation, and solicitation in tandem with volunteers and other staff.
• Travel as needed to assist with and carry forward new and existing gift conversations.
• Mentor and develop Gift Planning and other development officers in gift planning knowledge.
• Periodic in-office presence to conduct in-person meetings and educational programming for the University's fundraising community.
• Other duties as assigned.

Strong candidates for this role will have the ability to effectively operate in a decentralized fundraising environment and will possess a deep knowledge of planned giving strategies.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree
• Experience: Some experience in finance, law, or estate planning.
• Valid driver's license

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience: Eight years of fundraising experience, including five years of direct planned giving experience.
• Track record of demonstrating a high degree of initiative, flexibility and the skills to shape and be shaped by an evolving position.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, a high degree of personal integrity, and attention to detail.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to interact effectively with major gifts prospects, fundraising colleagues, academic leaders, faculty, alumni, and volunteers.
• Prior experience in legal practice and/or higher education gift planning fundraising.

Physical Demands

This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. This position requires the ability to travel frequently on behalf of the University and participate in occasional evening and weekend responsibilities.

Salary Range

• The anticipated hiring range is $95,000 - $117,000, commensurate with education and experience.

Position Type & Work Location

This is an exempt-level, benefited position. Learn more about UVA benefits .

• This is a restricted position, which is dependent on funding and is contingent upon funding availability.
• UVA External Relations offers a flexible and hybrid workplace. All team members must have access to and maintain a secure home office environment with high-speed internet service and work collaboratively with others using a variety of technologies and tools.
• This hybrid position offers some flexibility for remote work, although frequent in-person presence in our office building in Charlottesville, VA, on UVA Grounds, or at event venues is required.

About UVA and the Community

To learn more about UVA and in the Charlottesville area, visit UVA Life and Embark CVA .

Application Timeline

Application review will begin after July 31, 2026

How to Apply

Please apply online , by searching for requisition number R0085712. Complete an application with the following documents:

• Resume

• Cover Letter

Upload all materials into the resume submission field. You can submit multiple documents into this one field or combine them into one PDF. Applications without all required documents will not receive full consideration.

Reference Check Process

Reference checks will be completed by UVA's third-party partner, SkillSurvey, during the final phase of the interview. Five references will be requested, with at least three responses required.

Contact

• For additional information about the position, please contact April Sibiski, Director of Staff Success, at [email protected].

• For questions about the application process, please contact Jon Freeman, [email protected] .

Job Profile
J1066 - Gift Planning Professional 2

Career Stream and Level
Professional-P2