Senior Director for Development Events, University Events and Experience

Fundraising Event Strategy and Donor EngagementLead concept development and annual planning for a portfolio of fundraising and donor engagement events aligned with Texas Development priorities and university fundraising goals.Partner with advancement leaders to define each events audience, objective, desired donor action, key messages, and measures of success to develop segment-appropriate experiences.Design board and council meetings, cultivation of gatherings, campaign and principal-gift experiences, giving-society programs, donor recognition events, stewardship experiences, and regional or international engagements that advance donor strategy as assigned.Apply knowledge of the donor journey and moves management to ensure events support identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, retention, and renewed or increased giving.Board Engagement, Advancement Partnership and Portfolio LeadershipServe as the senior events partner for assigned boards and councils, volunteer leadership groups, giving societies, campaign initiatives, and priority donor constituencies.Collaborate with central and unit-based fundraisers, donor relations, stewardship, annual giving, principal and major gifts, planned giving, corporate and foundation relations, advancement communications, prospect development, and executive offices.Build integrated event briefs that document donor and prospect audiences, relationship context, host and leadership roles, engagement objectives, program strategy, briefing needs, follow-up ownership, budget, timeline, and success measures.Guide executive and volunteer participation, including agendas, talking points, donor briefings, seating and interaction strategy, recognition, protocol, and pathways for meaningful engagement.Manage a complex event portfolio, establish priorities, balance resources, identify risks early, and ensure project remain aligned with fundraising strategy, institutional standards, and donor expectations.Team Leadership and Staff DevelopmentSupervise one to two direct reports responsible for event planning and execution, providing clear direction, coaching, and day-to-day leadership.Set performance expectations, establish priorities, assign work, monitor progress, and ensure staff deliverables meet fundraising objectives, donor experience standards, timelines, and budgets.Conduct regular check-ins and performance evaluations, provide timely feedback, recognition, accountability, and support for professional development.Build team capacity through cross-training, documented processes, effective delegation, and shared standards for donor-centered event strategy, planning, and execution.Event Planning, Production and Donor ExperienceDirect end-to-end planning and on-site execution, including venues, budgets, contracts, catering, travel and hospitality, accessibility, technical production, staffing, security, transportation, gifts, recognition, and contingency planning.Create donor-centered guest journeys from invitation through post-event follow-up, ensuring every touchpoint is personalized, mission-aligned, and appropriate to the donor relationship.Develop distinctive event concepts and experiential approaches that translate fundraising objectives, donor audiences, institutional priorities, and brand into sophisticated, memorable experiences.Lead site visits, production meetings, rehearsals, run-of-show development, speaker and executive preparation, live event operations, and post-event debriefs.Select, contract, and direct external partners while maintaining university procurement, risk, accessibility, brand, and financial stewardship requirements.Coordinate timely handoffs and follow-up with fundraising partners, including attendance and engagement information, donor feedback, next-step participation, audience composition, engagement, relationship progression, donor experience, budget, and other agreed measures; apply findings to future strategy and portfolio decisions.Resea ch trends and best practices in higher education advancement, philanthropy, board and volunteer engagement, donor relations, hospitality, and experiential events.Additional duties as assigned.Salary Range$110,000+ depending on qualifications