Senior Associate Director of Gift Planning

Position Summary

The Senior Associate Director will manage a portfolio of planned giving prospects and develop a comprehensive solicitation and stewardship strategy for the portfolio and any assigned liaison relationships. They will also increase the University's ability to accept deferred and outright gifts of non-cash assets.

Responsibilities

• Work with fundraisers across Grounds on all types of planned gifts, including bequests, beneficiary designations, life income gifts, and outright gifts of non-cash assets.
• Provide timely, accurate advice and expertise to the University’s fundraising community, its donors, and professional advisors.
• Perform research and analysis on questions relating to planned giving and advise colleagues of relevant issues.
• Work closely with donors and their advisors to structure lifetime and testamentary plans to benefit the University.
• Create and implement cultivation structures that include prospect strategies, development and preparation of written materials, design and implementation of cultivation events, direct solicitation, and solicitation in tandem with volunteers and other staff.
• Mentor and develop Gift Planning and other development officers in gift planning knowledge.
• Periodic in-office presence to conduct in-person meetings and educational programming for the University’s fundraising community.
• Travel as needed to assist with and carry forward new and existing gift conversations.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Some experience in finance, law, or estate planning
• Valid driver’s license

Preferred Qualifications

• Eight years of fundraising experience, including five years of direct planned giving experience
• Track record of demonstrating a high degree of initiative, flexibility and the skills to shape and be shaped by an evolving position
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, a high degree of personal integrity, and attention to detail
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to interact effectively with major gifts prospects, fundraising colleagues, academic leaders, faculty, alumni, and volunteers
• Prior experience in legal practice and/or higher education gift planning fundraising

Physical Demands

This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. This position requires the ability to travel frequently on behalf of the University and participate in occasional evening and weekend responsibilities.

Salary Range

The anticipated hiring range is $95,000 - $117,000, commensurate with education and experience.

Position Type & Work Location

This is an exempt-level, benefited position. Learn more about UVA benefits. This is a restricted position, which is dependent on funding and is contingent upon funding availability. UVA External Relations offers a flexible and hybrid workplace. All team members must have access to and maintain a secure home office environment with high-speed internet service and work collaboratively with others using a variety of technologies and tools. This hybrid position offers some flexibility for remote work, although frequent in-person presence in our office building in Charlottesville, VA, on UVA Grounds, or at event venues is required.

About UVA And The Community

To learn more about UVA and in the Charlottesville area, visit UVA Life and Embark CVA.

Application Timeline

Application review will begin after July 31, 2026.

Contact For Additional Information

Please contact April Sibiski, Director of Staff Success, at April.Sibiski@virginia.edu for questions about the position. For questions about the application process, please contact Jon Freeman, jf2sw@virginia.edu.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.