San Marcos, TX
Texas State University
Associate Vice President, DevelopmentPosting Number: 2026429
Location: San Marcos
Department: VP for University Advancement
Recruitment Type: Open Recruiting
Job Type: Full-Time
Monthly Salary: Commensurate with experience
Job Category: Exempt
Required Qualifications:- Bachelors degree from an accredited institution required.
- Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in nonprofit or higher education fundraising, with a substantial portion in front-line major gift work.
- Demonstrated record of personally closing principal and major gifts, with evidence of gifts at the six-figure level or above.
- Prior supervisory or team leadership experience, including accountability for the performance of other gift officers or advancement staff.
- Experience working within a CRM-driven fundraising environment, with demonstrated use of portfolio metrics and pipeline data to manage performance.
Preferred Qualifications:- Masters degree or equivalent advanced degree.
- Ten or more years of experience specifically within higher education advancement.
- Experience managing a development team during a period of organizational growth, restructuring, or campaign launch.
- Familiarity with Texas higher education or with major university advancement operations.
- Experience as a direct participant in a comprehensive campaign at the $100 million level or above.
- Experience with principal gift strategies and donor engagement at the seven-figure or above level.
- Comprehensive knowledge of major and principal gift fundraising principles, practices, and methodologies.
- Strong working knowledge of moves management, portfolio management, and pipeline development.
- Demonstrated ability to build and sustain relationships with high-capacity donors, including individuals, corporate representatives, and foundation officers.
- Ability to analyze fundraising data and use metrics to drive program decisions and staff accountability.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce and present formal briefings, proposals, and reports.
- Ability to exercise sound independent judgment and to act as an institutional representative in the absence of the VPUA.
- Demonstrated ability to manage, coach, and develop professional staff.
- Familiarity with advancement CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce/Ascend, Ellucian Advance, or comparable platforms).
- Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously and meet deadlines in a fast-paced institutional environment.
Job Description:The Associate Vice President of Development (AVP) serves as the senior development officer within University Advancement, reporting directly to the Vice President for University Advancement (VPUA). The AVP is responsible for the strategic leadership and operational management of the universitys development program, encompassing principal gifts, major gifts, planned giving, and corporate and foundation engagement.The AVP maintains a personal portfolio of principal gift prospects while providing direct oversight of the development team, including supervision of frontline gift officers and unit directors. The position functions as the VPUAs primary deputy for development operations and serves as a senior spokesperson for the universitys fundraising program with donors, volunteers, and institutional leadership.This position operates within the framework of UA 3.0, the universitys multi-year advancement transformation initiative, and is accountable for the execution of that frameworks performance standards, portfolio management protocols, and gift officer accountability structures.
University Advancement at Texas State University employs approximately 60 staff and is organized into functional units covering development, alumni engagement, donor engagement, and strategic operations. Current annual philanthropic production is approximately $30 million, with a stated institutional goal of $50 million or more.
The development function includes multiple primary business units: Principal and Planned Giving; Corporate and Foundation Engagement; and Major Gifts and Campaigns. The AVP has supervisory authority over the leadership and staff of each unit.The AVP of Development exercises direct supervisory authority over development unit leaders and may supervise senior gift officers depending on the organizational structure. Indirect supervisory responsibility extends to all gift officers and development support staff within the supervised units.Job Duties:The following duties are representative of the work performed in this position. Other duties may be assigned as institutional needs require.
A. Development Strategy and Program Leadership- Partner with the VPUA to set annual and multi-year development strategy, including goal-setting, portfolio allocation, and campaign planning.
- Oversee the day-to-day management of the development program, ensuring alignment with the UA 3.0 framework and adherence to established performance standards.
- Lead regular pipeline reviews, portfolio audits, and team accountability meetings.
- Develop and implement principal gift strategy, including identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans for the universitys highest-capacity prospects.
- Serve as a primary advisor to the VPUA and university President on donor strategy for principal and transformational gift prospects.
- Coordinate development activity with alumni engagement, donor relations, communications, and other advancement units to ensure integrated, donor-centered programming.
B. Frontline Fundraising- Carry and actively manage a portfolio transformational gift prospects, with gift asks typically at the six-figure level and above.
- Execute all stages of the major and principal gift cycle: discovery, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
- Maintain documented contact activity, moves management records, and solicitation timelines within the universitys CRM system.
- Represent the university in donor meetings, campus visits, and cultivation events.
- Achieve annual personal fundraising goals as established in coordination with the VPUA.
C. Team Leadership and Personnel Management- Provide direct supervision to development unit directors and, as applicable, senior gift officers.
- Establish and monitor performance expectations for all development staff, including leading indicators (contact activity, visits, proposals) and lagging indicators (dollars raised, gifts closed).
- Conduct regular individual meetings with direct reports; deliver timely and substantive performance feedback.
- Identify training and professional development needs; support skill development across the team.
- Participate in hiring decisions for development staff positions; contribute to onboarding for new gift officers.
- Address performance issues through appropriate institutional channels in coordination with HR.
D. Administrative and Operational Oversight- Manage and monitor the development program budget in coordination with the VPUA and Strategic Operations.
- Ensure accurate and timely data entry, CRM maintenance, and gift documentation across the development team.
- Prepare and present regular program performance reports to the VPUA and institutional leadership.
- Support board and volunteer engagement in fundraising, including preparation of briefings and materials for board committee meetings.
- Maintain compliance with institutional gift acceptance policies and applicable legal and ethical standards.
Additional Information to Applicants:This position is based on the Texas State University campus in San Marcos, Texas. On-site presence is required. The role involves moderate travel, including in-state travel for donor meetings and campus events, and periodic national travel for conferences, prospect visits, and campaign-related activity. Work is performed primarily in a standard office environment. Extended hours, including evening and weekend availability, may be required during campaign periods, major events, or critical donor engagements. Physical demands are consistent with standard office work, with the ability to travel by car and air as required.
The position holder must have the ability to leverage approved generative AI tools to draft, edit, and summarize routine communications, while exercising professional judgment and adhering to university privacy and data security policies.Job Open Date: 04/01/2026
Job Close Date: Open Until Filled: Yes
Normal Work Days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Normal Work Hours Start: 8:00AM
Normal Work Hours End: 5:00PM
Posting Notices:Legal and Required Notices:Texas State University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and equal opportunity for all persons regardless of race, sex, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal or state law in employment, educational programs, and activities and admissions.
Employment with Texas State University is contingent upon the outcome of record checks and verifications including, but not limited to, criminal history, driving records, education records, employment verifications, reference checks, and employment eligibility verifications.In accordance with federal law, all new employees must complete the Form I-9 and provide acceptable documentation verifying their identity and authorization to work in the United States. Texas State University participates in E-Verify, and employment is contingent upon the successful verification of work authorization. Employees are required to maintain valid work authorization to satisfy the conditions of Form I9 at all times during their employment and the university makes no implicit or explicit promises to financially support visa or permanent residency applications.Quicklink: https://jobs.hr.txstate.edu/postings/56613For a detailed description of this position and to apply, visit
https://jobs.hr.txstate.edu/postings/56613 or call (512) 245-2557 or visit our office at 601 University Dr., J.C. Kellam Bldg., Suite 340.
About Texas State and San Marcos:Texas State University is a emerging research institution located in the burgeoning Austin-San Antonio corridor and in the beautiful Texas Hill Country. It is the largest of eight campuses in the Texas State University System and one of the 75 largest universities in the country, with over 38,000 students and approximately 4,000 faculty and staff
Texas State is located in San Marcos, a growing community of over 50,000 people located about half way between Austin and San Antonio. Texas State enjoys a setting that is unique among Texas universities. The beauty of the crystal-clear San Marcos River and the stately cypress and pecan trees on the campus add to the charm of the university's picturesque setting. Our location on the banks of the San Marcos River provides outdoor recreational activities throughout the year.
Why work @ Texas State? Amazing health insurance: various coverage options starting your first day of employment for full-time employees with Texas State paying 100% of the employee premium and 50% for your dependents!
Generous paid time off: vacation, holidays, sick days and many more!
Excellent work life balance resources: mother and family-friendly resources in addition to a comprehensive FREE wellness program
Great professional development opportunities: choose from a variety of workshops, training, online learning and even access educational leave opportunities and reimbursement for academic courses
An inclusive Bobcat community: join our many social networks offered on and off-campus
Retirement peace of mind: TRS pension, retirement plans and voluntary saving options with generous employer contributions
By joining the Texas State Bobcat team, youll be a part of one of the most beautiful, diverse, and growing universities in the nation.
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