Chief Development Officer for the School of Law

Job Posting Title:

Chief Development Officer for the School of Law

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Hiring Department:

School of Law

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

Exempt

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Earliest Start Date:

Immediately

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue

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Location:

UT MAIN CAMPUS

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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 Law enjoys 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.