Senior Director of Development and Planned Giving

  • Main Campus, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
  • Advancement
  • Regular Full-Time Staff
  • Opening at: Aug 11 2026 - 09:00 CDT
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VP Area: Advancement

Department: Advancement

FLSA Status: Exempt

Benefit Eligibility: Yes

Position Summary:

The Senior Director of Development and Planned Giving manages a portfolio of alumni, friends, corporations, and foundations to raise funds for the university in pursuit of the university’s strategic fundraising priorities. The Senior Director is also responsible for all phases of the university’s gift planning strategy, including marketing, donor cultivation, and closing planned gift agreements.

This position reports to the AVP for University Development and supervises assigned fundraisers.

Minimum Qualifications:

  • A minimum of seven years of progressive and direct experience in fundraising and/or planned giving in a higher education environment is required.
  • A suitable combination of education and experience may be substituted for minimum requirements.
Job Duties:
  •  Demonstrate an attitude and behavior that reflects the values and mission of the division and University.
  • Work collaboratively with volunteers, members of the University Advancement team, and university leadership (academic and administrative) to cultivate and solicit donors for the university’s priorities, including future campaign initiatives.
  • 75-100 major gift or planned gift donors/prospective donors to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward connecting donors’ interest with the needs and priorities of the university.
  • Solicit five and six figure gifts for the university
  • Take Lead on funding priority campaigns and projects that are identified by campus leadership
  • Lead the university's planned giving program by serving as the point-person for estate giving, and other forms of deferred gifts as well as the promotion of charitable bequests, trusts, and other planned giving vehicles.
  • Lead the planned giving marketing strategy, including developing e-newsletters, brochures, and other collateral to educate donors on planned giving opportunities and the needs of the University.
  • Collaborate with estate planning professionals and legal experts to facilitate planned gift arrangements.
  • Facilitate a required average minimum of 15-20 OCU-oriented, substantial, personal visits per month and adhere to a set of performance metrics tracking visits, proposals, and booked proposals for major gifts and planned gifts.
  • Develop and engage a travel schedule to meet with alumni and donors based on assignments in alignment with strategic goals.
  • Work closely with the Works closely with Assistant Vice President for Develop to establish clear fundraising targets and metrics for success.
  • Utilize data and research to identify potential major and planned giving donors and continually update and refine the prospect pool.
  • Create and manage a robust donor pipeline to ensure a consistent flow of qualified prospects.
  • Develop and implement stewardship strategies to ensure that donors receive appropriate recognition and appreciation for their support.
  • Foster long-term relationships with donors and engage them in the life of the university.
  • Meet key metrics including dollars raised, planned gifts closed, and number of meaningful personal contacts made while building and advancing strong relationships with the university for current and prospective donors.
  • Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and donor-centricity within the team.
  • Embrace key values of the University’s advancement program—passion for OCU, partnership with donors, perpetual support for OCU and a people-centered approach—and demonstrate support for them through professional interactions and activities.
  • Actively and continuously learn about the practices of fundraising and the institution through internal and external professional development opportunities, relationships, and independent study. - (Essential)

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

  • Ability to cultivate interpersonal relationships with a wide variety of university (and adjacent) constituents.
  • Knowledge of fundraising and planned giving principles and techniques including successful solicitation of gifts, awareness of and experience with the gift cycle, and donor bill of rights.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to work collaboratively and successfully with colleagues, prospects/donors, faculty, administrators, and volunteers to achieve common goals.
  • Strong written and oral communication skills and ability to translate internal information to an external audience, deliver effective presentations, contribute to persuasive communications, etc.
  • Proficiency in common software programs and applications.
  • Knowledge of and commitment to the role OCU’s diverse academic programs as well as higher education in general play in our society today as well as in the future.
  • Ability to think strategically, critically and creatively.
  • Ability to work independently while also comfortable working in a collaborative, dynamic environment; adaptable to change and self-motivated.
  • Consistently embody a professional, energetic, enthusiastic, ethical attitude and behaviors.
  • Ability to travel (including the ability to ensure transportation to donor appointments and meetings at a variety of off-campus locations) in addition to working evenings and weekends as needed to accomplish job responsibilities and fulfill the mission of the department and the university.
  • Commitment to handle confidential matters with discretion.
  • Ability to cultivate interpersonal relationships with a wide variety of university (and adjacent) constituents.
  • Knowledge of fundraising and planned giving principles and techniques including successful solicitation of gifts, awareness of and experience with the gift cycle, and donor bill of rights.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to work collaboratively and successfully with colleagues, prospects/donors, faculty, administrators, and volunteers to achieve common goals.
  • Strong written and oral communication skills and ability to translate internal information to an external audience, deliver effective presentations, contribute to persuasive communications, etc.
  • Proficiency in common software programs and applications.
  • Knowledge of and commitment to the role OCU’s diverse academic programs as well as higher education in general play in our society today as well as in the future.
  • Ability to think strategically, critically and creatively.
  • Ability to work independently while also comfortable working in a collaborative, dynamic environment; adaptable to change and self-motivated.
  • Consistently embody a professional, energetic, enthusiastic, ethical attitude and behaviors.
  • Ability to travel (including the ability to ensure transportation to donor appointments and meetings at a variety of off-campus locations) in addition to working evenings and weekends as needed to accomplish job responsibilities and fulfill the mission of the department and the university.
  • Commitment to handle confidential matters with discretion.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions:

  • Work is primarily indoors, but requires the incumbent to be in an outdoor environment when traveling between campus buildings or off campus.
  • Standard office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • Attendance at evening and weekend events is required; flexible work schedule may be required.
  • Off-campus, state and regional travel is required.
  • Incumbent will be exposed to frequent noise caused by telephones and office machines.

Apply Now!

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