Senior Executive Director of Gift and Estate Planning

Job Posting

Title:

Senior Executive Director of Gift and Estate Planning ----

Hiring Department:

University Development Office ----

Position Open To:

All Applicants ----

Weekly Scheduled

Hours:

40 ----

FLSA Status:

Exempt from FLSA ----

Earliest

Start Date:

Aug 31, 2026 ----

Position Duration:

Expected to Continue ----

Location:

AUSTIN, TX ----

Job Details:

General Notes

About The University of Texas at Austin

What starts here changes the world.

The University of Texas at Austin, founded in 1883, ranks among the best universities in the world. With 76 programs ranked in the top 10, UT Austin is the #1 public university in Texas and the #7 public university in the nation.

Like the state it calls home, The University of Texas at Austin is a bold, ambitious leader supporting more than 55,000 students, 4,750 faculty, 15,000 staff and top national programs across 18 colleges and schools. Amid the backdrop of Austin, Texas, a city recognized for its creative and entrepreneurial spirit, the University provides a place to explore countless opportunities for tomorrow's artists, scientists, athletes, doctors, entrepreneurs and engineers.

Learn more about UT's mission and values and leadership .

Why Join Texas Development?

The University of Texas at Austin is a thriving hub of learning and discovery that anchors our city and enables excellence and innovation on the highest level. And it's only possible because generous supporters believe in the power and promise of our state's flagship university to change the world. With more than $6 billion raised in the What Starts Here campaign, Texas Development is quickly becoming one of the best fundraising programs in public higher education.

Texas Development supports growth by offering professional development opportunities that help every team member accomplish their goals, enrich their skillset and deepen their engagement with UT.

Benefits

The University provides a competitive benefits package that includes insurance and retirement benefits in addition to other programs and services.

Purpose

Serve as the strategic leader of the Gift and Estate Planning team, setting direction and building organizational capacity for planned giving at The University of Texas vide executive-level guidance to donors, prospects, advisors, and colleagues, while driving the vision, strategy, and performance of the team responsible for securing significant charitable gifts.

Responsibilities

Own the strategic and operational leadership of the Gift and Estate Planning team, setting the vision and annual priorities that drive an average of $ in planned gift each year. Lead, develop, and hold accountable a leadership team of 12 direct reports, building a high-performing culture of collaboration and results.

Manage the Gift Planning Advisory Board and its two meetings a year and continue the development of a new committee of volunteer advisors and support an increase in gifts of business interests.

Direct the estate realization process in partnership with UT System leadership, establishing clear standards and serving as the authoritative voice on process and procedure for the broader Texas Development community.

Lead the strategic deployment of the Gift and Estate Planning team's footprint across colleges, schools, and units, shaping how the function scales to deliver dedicated support university-wide and integrating teams under a unified strategic approach to prospect identification, networking, and pipeline development.

Set strategic direction for discovery and solicitation approaches across the team, providing executive analysis and judgment on the strategies used to close planned gifts.

Elevate organizational capability by leading education and training initiatives for development colleagues university-wide and shaping the strategy for special events and the marketing of planned giving.

Drive goal-setting and long-range strategy for the entire Gift Planning team. Partner with Prospect Research, Marketing and Communications, and Stewardship to maintain a cohesive strategic model that builds and sustains a pipeline of donors annually documenting estate plans.

Maintain a standard for donor engagement documentation, ensuring substantive contacts are captured and reviewed to sharpen team strategy and performance.

Lead solicitations both personally and in partnership with volunteers and academic leadership, modeling the gift-closing strategy expected across the team. Partner with faculty, colleagues, and university staff in strategic prospect research and proposal development.

Model individual excellence while leading the team, building and carrying a