Senior Director of Development Communications, Office of Development, Dell Medical School

Job Posting Title:

Senior Director of Development Communications, Office of Development, Dell Medical School

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Hiring Department:

Dell Medical School

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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:

AUSTIN, TX

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Job Details:

General Notes

Bold pursuits in health and sciences are launching from The University of Texas at Austin. Dell Medical School is the realization of one community’s hope for better health.

 

Dell Medical School is the newest of 18 colleges and schools at UT Austin and the first new medical school at a top-tier Association for American Universities research university in nearly 50 years. Today, the school is fully enrolled, with a rapidly growing clinical enterprise at UT Health Austin and a new approach to health innovation that harnesses the university’s vast research expertise.

 

Becoming the world’s highest-impact public research university in the world is the vision of the university’s 10-year strategic plan, Change Starts Here . Tackling health and well-being through transformative, interdisciplinary research is one of the key components of this plan.

 

In August 2023, The University of Texas Systems Board of Regents announced a $2.5B commitment to create the University of Texas Academic Medical System. Which will include a new UT owned sub-specialty hospital and a new MD Anderson Cancer Center.  Combined with UT campus and Dell Medical School’s established reputation for research and medical education, the new medical center will position UT and Austin as a national leader and premier destination for health care.  As part of the project, Dell Medical School has committed to raising $500M in private philanthropy.

 

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to capture the attention of generous philanthropists and our community ready to invest in shaping the future of medical education, care and research.

Responsible for executing upon that vision and measure progress, as well as oversee the production of fundraising proposals, development communications materials and content, and development communications strategy for Dell Medical School.

Purpose

Reporting to the Executive Director for Development Operations & Strategic Initiatives at Dell Medical School, this position will lead and execute communications strategies that drive all fundraising initiatives, including the $500M University of Texas Medical Center fundraising campaign, and shares the impact of philanthropy on the school’s dynamic mission. Supervising a team of development writers and editors, designer, and digital strategist, this position will conceive a broad vision for external communications to build and strengthen relationships with donors . This role will create and advance long- and short-term strategies, and annual development communications plans.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the development team’s communication strategy and vision in collaboration with Dell Med development leadership, Dell Medical School’s communications and UT Health Austin’s marketing teams, and other senior leadership.

• Lead the development of innovative and bespoke University of Texas Medical Center campaign materials and other Dell Medical fundraising materials, proposals, cases for support, landing pages, video production including campaign videos, and more.

• Collaborate with Dell Medical School’s Associate Vice President of Development, Executive Director of Development for Principal Gifts, Executive Director of Development Operations & Strategic Initiatives and other senior leaders to plan and create key campaign-related communications, including the campaign identity, web presence, case statements, and kick-off events.

• Identify and help deploy new communication-related technologies and strategies that contribute to larger fundraising effort.

• Supervise a team of 6-8 direct reports — highly skilled communications strategists and experts in proposal writing, editing, case development, digital strategy, and graphic design.

• Develop measurable, strategic goals for the development communications team.

• Liaise with Texas Development advancement and communications teams to ensure cohesive, donor-focused health communications that are in alignment with the vision and mission set forth by the medical school dean and senior vice president for medical affairs.

• Develop content strategy and framework for all development communications in alignment with Dell Medical School’s communications and UT Health Austin’s marketing teams.

• Proactively partner with Dell Medical School’s communications and UT Health Austin’s marketing teams to strategically include donor-messaging, stories and giving opportunities within their external and internal communications.

• Guide content development and review all content strategies and plans for annual giving acquisition campaigns and events programming and scripting in partnership with team leads to ensure alignment with development communications plan and strategies.

• Serve as project lead for transformational proposals, cases and other materials in collaboration with Dell Medical School, UTMC and development leadership.

• Manage development communications budget.

• Other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree and eight years of experience in developing and leading fundraising or marketing communications strategy for a large institution of higher education, nonprofit or corporate office within the health sciences. Experience conceiving and executing a vision for using communications to build and strengthen relationships with prospective and existing donors. Comfortable working with C-suite leaders and high-capacity donors. Demonstrated willingness to advocate energetically for high standards, reflecting the high stakes of a successful fundraising campaign and the larger University’s expectations. Experience managing a creative team, preferably in a higher education and/or health sciences environment. Strong oral, written and interpersonal communication skills. Familiarity with AP Style. Demonstrated ability to show tenacity, manage multiple tasks and handle pressure under tight schedules and work as a team member. Proven relationship-building skills as well as interpersonal, communication and organizational skills. Ability to creatively and resourcefully problem-solve. High level of professionalism and customer service. Proficient in MS Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and Excel. Strong attention to detail; extremely organized. Integrity, professionalism and collegiality are highest personal values. Proven self-starter capable of making sound, ethical, independent judgments. Personal and professional confidence, accompanied by a sense of humor and empathy toward others. Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

Passion for health care, research, education and community impact. More than ten years leading development communications or marketing communications strategy for a large institution of higher education, nonprofit or corporate office within the health sciences. Demonstrated experience interacting with key university constituents, alumni and donors as well as with university administrators, deans, faculty and staff in providing good client and customer service. Proficiency in University of Texas policies, rules and procedures

Salary Range

$115,000 + depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

• May work around standard office conditions.

• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation.

Required Materials

• Resume/CV

• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor

• Letter of interest

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded.  Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

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Employment Eligibility:

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

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Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. This position has the option to elect the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) instead of TRS, subject to the position being 40 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

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Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

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Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer , complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

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Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

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Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form.  You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States.  Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment.  Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

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E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English) [PDF]
• E-Verify Poster (Spanish) [PDF]
• Right To Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right To Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

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Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031 .

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.