Director of Donor Communications – UTHealth Houston

UTHealth Houston is seeking a Director of Donor Communications
to support the fundraising efforts of the Office of Development and
lead a team of writers. The Office of Development advances the
mission of UTHealth Houston by seeking and securing philanthropic
support for its programs in service to students and the community.
This is a new position that will report directly to the Senior
Director of Development Communications, and this position will be
instrumental in ensuring that messaging is persuasive and
reflective of UTHealth Houston’s mission, impact, and funding
needs.

The Director of Donor Communications will serve as both a
content creator and project manager, overseeing written projects
including major gift proposals, annual giving solicitations, donor
relations projects, and event materials. The incoming Director
should have experience with various writing styles, including
technical, creative, emotive, and persuasive writing. The Director
will ensure all materials produced by the Donor Communications team
are donor-centric and reflect the university’s brand standards.

Candidates should have at least seven years of experience in
communications, fundraising, or a related role as well as at least
two years of management experience. The ideal candidate will be
creative, possess strong critical thinking skills, and have an
innate ability to prioritize and handle multiple ongoing projects.
Candidates must possess strong interpersonal and communications
skills as the position will require building effective
relationships and working closely with leadership, faculty, and
staff.

To learn more about the opportunity or nominate a colleague,
please contact UTHealth Houston’s Office of Executive Recruitment
at execrecruit@uth.tmc.edu.

Key Accountabilities:

1. Creates persuasive and impactful written content, including
cases for support, philanthropy impact stories, annual giving
solicitations, and major gift proposals. Tailors content to
resonate with diverse donor segments and effectively convey the
university’s mission and impact. Acquires content from subject
matter experts, writes persuasively and follows team workflows and
processes.

2. Collaborates closely with the development team, faculty, and
leadership to gather insights and information for creating
compelling donor-centric communications. Builds strong
relationships with internal stakeholders to ensure accurate
representation of projects and impact.

3. Serves as a key contributor for developing and implementing a
comprehensive written donor communication strategy that aligns with
the university’s fundraising goals. Identifies key messaging,
target audiences, and communications channels to effectively convey
the impact and importance of university programs to potential and
existing donors.

4. Provide meticulous editing and proofreading for written
materials, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and alignment with
established messaging and style guidelines.

5. Ensures consistency and alignment of development communication
materials with the organization’s brand guidelines and messaging.
Upholds a cohesive and impactful brand image across all
donor-facing communications.

6. Employs data analytics to assess the effectiveness of written
communication strategies. Leverages insights to refine messaging
and optimize donor engagement efforts.

7. Manages Human Resources activities for direct reports in regards
to: recruiting and selection; hiring and termination, training,
development, mentoring, counseling, performance evaluations, and
salary planning.

8. Responsible for the design, execution and effectiveness of a
system of internal controls which provides reasonable assurance
that operations are effective and efficient, assets are
safeguarded; financial information is reliable and compliant with
applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures.

9. Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Certification/Skills:

• Exceptional writing prowess, with a proven ability to craft
  compelling and persuasive narratives that resonate with donor
  audiences.
• Experience managing and leading a team of communications
  professionals.
• Strategic mindset and proficiency in developing and executing
  communication strategies.
• Strong project management acumen, including the ability to lead
  multiple projects, meet deadlines, and collaborate effectively
  across teams.
• Exceptional attention to detail and an accomplished editor and
  proofreader.
• Experience with data analytics, CRM systems, and digital
  communication tools.
• Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to interface
  professionally with faculty and staff.
• Exhibits required job knowledge.
• Demonstrates personal effectiveness and accountability.
• Delivers quality student, patient and customer services.
• Exhibits teamwork and collaboration.
• Exemplifies strong ethics, integrity and respect for
  others.
• Adheres to all work environment, health, safety and compliance
  standards.
• Leads and develops others.
• Sets vision, strategy and priorities for areas of
  responsibility.

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Communications, English, Technical
Communications or a related field required. Master’s Degree in
Communications, English, Technical Communications or a related
field preferred. 

Minimum Experience:

Seven (7) years in communications, fundraising, or a related
role with a minimum of two years of management experience
required. 

Physical Requirements:

Exerts up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10
pounds frequently and/or a negligible amount constantly to move
objects.

Security Sensitive:

This job class may contain positions that are security sensitive
and thereby subject to the provisions of Texas Education Code §
51.215

Residency Requirement:

Employees must permanently reside and work in the State of
Texas.