Executive Director of Development

The University of North Texas (UNT) seeks a strategic, collaborative, and aspirational fundraising leader to serve as the next Executive Director of Development (ED) for the G. Brint Ryan College of Business (Ryan College of Business or the College). The ED is presented with a unique opportunity to further elevate and enhance the most productive development operation across UNT’s academic units, partnering closely with Dean Marilyn Wiley to steward the College’s fundraising operation into its next era of success. The role becomes available at a particularly exciting time as Dean Wiley prepares to unveil and promote a new strategic plan to further establish the Ryan College of Business as a steadfast leader for transformational business scholarship and agile education programs that prepare graduates for rewarding careers and life experiences. 

One of the largest business schools in the nation, the Ryan College of Business has been preparing global business leaders and scholars in an intellectually stimulating and engaging community through preeminent teaching, research, and service since its founding in 1946. The College’s renowned faculty, many of whom make up the world’s most cited researchers, provide opportunities for more than 9,000 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students to connect with some of the best educators in the business world, enabling them to expand worldviews and opportunities. Prestigious college rankings further illustrate the top-tier education that Ryan College students receive, including being among the top 100 full-time MBA programs in the nation. These rankings, combined with cutting-edge degrees such as the only four-year aviation logistics program in Texas, illustrate the world-class education that students earn and from which alumni benefit. 

Fundraising at the College has grown significantly in recent years, increasing philanthropic revenue nearly tenfold in five years, and is well-positioned to continue its upward trajectory under the exceptional leadership and vision of the next ED. As the chief development officer for the College, the ED will engage the dean and academic leaders, serving as a chief strategist on all fundraising and engagement matters. The ED will lead and mentor a staff of six to eight fundraising and engagement professionals, with opportunities to fill some key vacancies, and ensure the team’s success in driving the strategic growth of the program. 

With a direct reporting line to the Assistant Vice President of College and Unit Development (AVP), who was recently promoted from the role of ED, and a dotted reporting line to the dean, this individual will be both a leader and collaborator among the cadre of college-based chief development officers as well as a contributing member of the dean’s senior leadership team. This individual will also liaise with and steward a dedicated group of advisory board members on behalf of the College. The ED will forge critical relationships with college- and unit-based development peers, with University Advancement colleagues, and with campus partners across UNT to leverage philanthropic engagement opportunities, particularly at the principal and transformational gift levels, to benefit the College’s future goals and aspirations. As it relates to the impending strategic plan, the ED will possess superb communication skills and a proven track record of translating strategic priorities into compelling cases for support. 

With at least seven years of experience in successful development programs and three years of managerial experience, the ideal candidate will possess strong strategic planning, leadership, and motivational skills, as well as a keen understanding of best practices in fundraising and a comprehensive knowledge of all major development functions. The successful candidate will be an exceptional fundraiser with a demonstrated track record of significant personal success in donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship at major and principal gift levels. With the drive, ambition, and doggedness to grow the effectiveness of a high-performing development program, the next ED will possess the ability to articulate the vision and mission of an academic program and its leaders, resulting in a sustainable and steady increase in philanthropic revenue. The selected candidate must possess extraordinary interpersonal skills, the political savvy to navigate a complex academic enterprise, and the desire and ability to build bridges and strong collaborative relationships with all members of an operation across a university and a diverse body of alumni and constituents. The successful candidate will possess and embrace the values of the Ryan College of Business, including integrity, fairness, respect, transparency, inclusiveness, innovation, and excellence. A bachelor’s degree is required; an advanced degree is preferred.

Rachel Ellenport is leading this search with Nicole Poe, Sarah Watkins, and Rebecca Lyons. 

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