Sr. Director of Development - Communications

Summary:

To lead the development communications function in the Office of Development and Alumni Relations.  The timely production of quality development materials such as proposals, case statements and stewardship reports will effectively enhance the advancement efforts to secure funding for university initiatives while ensuring clarity, creativity and consistency among UTMB's communications to its current and prospective donors.

Scope: By providing written communications to support the university's fundraising priorities, this position will have an impact on clinical, educational, community outreach and research activities across the UTMB campus.

Responsibilities:

• Collects information, writes and edits proposals to seek gifts or grants from private foundations, individuals and corporations and letters in support of such applications for the signatures of the UTMB President and the Chief Development Officer.  Maintains a system for tracking the status of proposals.

• Develops and edits case statements and other documents describing key university priorities and other materials for overall university and priority fund raising initiatives.  This involves meeting with executives, directors and investigators of the University to develop and define the needs of the institution and the proposed projects.

• Provides editorial support for the university’s annual giving and reunion giving efforts. This includes the drafting of direct mail appeals for alumni annual giving and the production of communication pieces on class reunion giving projects.

• Participates in the development of appropriate content for web-based communications and serves on the team designing and approving of the web based content associated with development, annual fund and alumni programs. 

• Serves as a member of the Development Management Team, a group of senior leadership in the department that provides direction on the department’s activities, sets departmental goals and plays a key role in prospect management.

• Coordinates the production of various other communications pieces in support of UTMB fund raising activities and programs, including presentations for the president, the vice president for Development and Alumni Relations and other staff and volunteers; remarks and speeches for fund raising events.

• Supervises development writers whose responsibilities include the preparation of acknowledgement letters for the president’s signature, the development of press releases and other materials for university publications and the drafting of funding proposals.

• Adheres to internal controls established for department.

• Performs related duties as required.
   

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing or Communications plus eight (8) years related experience.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Four years of direct experience producing fundraising communications materials (including funding proposals for individuals, corporations and foundations) in a higher education or academic health environment.