Job Description
Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Gift Planning, the Senior Director of Gift Planning will work with the alumni and friends of the university having the greatest potential to leave significant bequests and other deferred gifts and complex outright gifts to the university. Through management of a portfolio of roughly 65-80 prospects and through working closely with college and university program development officers, the Senior Director of Gift Planning will focus on donors having the capacity to make bequests, deferred, and current gifts of $500,000+ in support of endowment, capital projects, and current operations. The University is gearing up for significant opportunity in the years ahead, as the number of prospective planned gift donors is projected to rise significantly. Gift Planning will be a central part of this anticipated growth. This senior role offers the chance to achieve significant professional success at a leading university in a highly regarded college-town atmosphere.
Additionally, the Senior Director of Gift Planning will:
• Travel, on average, five to eight days per month to cultivate, solicit, steward, and identify prospects for the broad range of university priorities.
• Make at least 60 significant contacts with prospects annually.
• Cultivate and solicit a portfolio of donors with a capacity to make a commitment of at least $500,000.
• Close $7,500,000 in gifts per year using a three-year rolling average.
• Work closely with Directors of Development, Assistant Deans of Advancement, Deans, department heads, program and center directors to develop and implement cultivation and solicitation strategies in support of their programs.
• Develop liaison relationships with the College of Engineering, Pamplin College of Business, and the Department of Athletics, working closely with their staff to identify and cultivate planned giving opportunities in those areas.
• Assist with efforts to provide other Advancement colleagues with appropriately tailored training in order to help all of the division identify planned gift opportunities.
Required Qualifications
Master's or professional degree in a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience in charitable gift planning, trusts and estates, accounting, or wealth management; or a Bachelor's degree with substantial related experience comparable to an advanced degree.
Demonstrated ability for closing high six- and seven-figure gifts.
Demonstrated knowledge of legal, estate, tax, financial, and gift planning concepts.
Demonstrated strong communication, organizational, analytical and interpersonal skills.
Demonstrated ability to work as a team member within a multifaceted organization requiring collaboration, teamwork, and communication.
Preferred Qualifications
Demonstrated knowledge of Virginia Tech, its history, its operations, its current priorities, and its alumni.
Demonstrated fundraising experience in gift planning at a large university or other large charitable organization.
Demonstrated significant related experience, which includes law practice, accounting, financial planning, trusts and estates, or gift planning.
JD degree, CPA or CFP designation preferred.
Overtime Status
Exempt: Not eligible for overtime
Appointment Type
Regular
Salary Information
$170,000 - $180,000
Hours per week
40+
Review Date
August 16th, 2026
Additional Information
• Must have criminal background check, must have a driver's license check.
• Reports to the Assistant Vice President for Gift Planning.
• This position requires occasional travel and work hours that includes evenings/weekends.
• Lifting < 20 lbs
• Sitting
• Standing
• Reaching
• Repetitive motion
The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.
