Senior Director, Principal Gifts

The Senior Director, Joint Philanthropy Strategy & Program Management plays a critical leadership role in advancing philanthropic initiatives that support Kinder Children's Cancer Center, a joint venture between UT MD Anderson and Texas Children's Hospital. This role serves as the dedicated strategic and operational partner to philanthropy leadership, leading cross-functional collaboration, supporting organizational governance, and driving the successful execution of fundraising initiatives across both institutions. The Senior Director provides strategic consultation, executive communications support, and operational leadership to advance shared philanthropic objectives.

Responsibilities

• Stakeholder Engagement
  • Develop and sustain collaborative relationships that support successful joint fundraising and operational alignment across UT MD Anderson and Texas Children's Hospital while fostering trust, transparency, and effective communication.
  • Build trusted working relationships with philanthropy leadership, gift officers, executive leadership, physicians, legal counsel, finance, compliance, marketing, research administration, and operational partners.
  • Serve as the subject matter expert for philanthropy-related inquiries, coordination, and communication involving Kinder Children's Cancer Center philanthropy.
  • Facilitate collaboration among stakeholders with differing institutional perspectives while maintaining focus on shared fundraising goals and donor experience.
  • Promote consistent communication and coordination across both philanthropy organizations.
  • Serve as a strategic advisor to gift officers and fundraising teams by providing timely guidance, information, and operational leadership related to joint fundraising activities.
  • Represent the philanthropy division with professionalism, diplomacy, and sound judgment in matters involving the joint venture.
  • Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, responsiveness, and donor-centered decision-making.
• Strategic Initiatives
  • Lead implementation and coordination of strategic initiatives supporting joint philanthropy operations for Kinder Children's Cancer Center.
  • Serve as the central point of integration for philanthropy initiatives involving UT MD Anderson, Texas Children's Hospital, and Kinder Children's Cancer Center.
  • Manage enterprise projects supporting joint fundraising operations, governance processes, data sharing, donor stewardship, and operational infrastructure.
  • Engage cross-functional working groups involving philanthropy, legal, finance, compliance, marketing, research administration, information technology, and clinical leadership.
  • Develop and maintain project plans, implementation timelines, action items, status reports, and executive dashboards.
  • Monitor organizational progress, identify implementation barriers, and facilitate resolution of cross-functional issues.
  • Manage preparation of materials supporting executive meetings, Joint Philanthropy Team discussions, Board presentations, and leadership communications.
  • Ensure consistency of messaging, fundraising content, operational documentation, and organizational communications related to Kinder Children's Cancer Center.
  • Facilitate organizational improvements that strengthen collaboration, operational effectiveness, and fundraising performance.
  • Oversee follow-through on executive decisions, Board actions, and strategic priorities related to the joint philanthropy program.
• Consultation With Critical Evaluation
  • Provide strategic consultation and subject matter expertise supporting the philanthropic partnership between UT MD Anderson and Texas Children's Hospital.
  • Serve as the primary subject matter expert on governance, fundraising operations, donor engagement, institutional agreements, and joint venture processes.
  • Advise philanthropy leadership, executive leaders, gift officers, and institutional partners regarding fundraising strategies, operational policies, donor coordination, and organizational priorities.
  • Interpret and communicate operational implications of philanthropy agreements, governance decisions, fundraising policies, and joint venture processes.
  • Maintain institutional knowledge related to fundraising strategies, governance decisions, operational processes, and historical context to ensure continuity across leadership transitions.
  • Provide consultation regarding fundraising practices, joint venture procedures, prospect coordination, and operational questions while engaging industry consultants as needed.
• Self-Managing Professional
  • Demonstrate initiative, creativity, problem-solving, and strategic leadership in support of philanthropy and organizational priorities.
  • Evaluate complex fundraising opportunities requiring coordination across both institutions and recommend approaches aligned with donor intent, institutional priorities, and joint venture objectives.
  • Identify operational challenges and recommend practical solutions that improve collaboration, fundraising effectiveness, and donor experience.
  • Develop executive briefings, strategic analyses, Board reports, presentations, and recommendations that support executive leadership and Board decision-making.
  • Maintain accountability for strategic execution, stakeholder alignment, risk mitigation, and achievement of transformational priorities.
  • Support principal gift opportunities and partner with gift officers on coordinated philanthropic strategies across both institutions.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree (required). Master's Degree (preferred).
• Twelve years of direct fundraising experience and four years of supervisory experience.
• Must pass pre-employment skills test as required and administered by Human Resources.

Pay

Minimum $105.77/hour - Midpoint $120.67/hour - Maximum $135.58/hour

Schedule

Full-time, remote work within Texas. Typical work schedule: Days.

Benefits

• Employer-paid medical coverage starting day one for employees working 30+ hours/week, plus optional group dental, vision, life, AD&D, and disability insurance.
• Accruals for PTO and Extended Illness Bank, plus paid holidays, wellness, childcare, and other leave options.
• Tuition Assistance Program after six months of service and access to extensive wellness, fitness, and employee resource groups.
• Defined-benefit pension through the Teachers Retirement System, voluntary retirement plans, and employer-paid life and reduced salary protection programs.

Why Us?

This position offers the opportunity to lead high-impact philanthropic initiatives that support innovative pediatric cancer care, research, and program development. The role provides significant exposure to executive leadership, institutional strategy, major fundraising initiatives, and transformational partnerships while offering the flexibility of a remote work environment and opportunities for professional growth within a world-renowned cancer center.