Job Posting Title:
Director of International Advancement - Middle East
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Hiring Department:
University Development Office
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Position Open To:
All Applicants
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Weekly Scheduled Hours:
40
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FLSA Status:
Exempt
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Earliest Start Date:
Oct 01, 2025
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Position Duration:
Expected to Continue
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Location:
AUSTIN, TX
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Job Details:
General Notes
About The University of Texas at Austin
What starts here changes the world.
The University of Texas at Austin, founded in 1883, ranks among the 40 best universities in the world with top national programs across 19 colleges and schools. By creating educational opportunities for all and leading cutting-edge research at scale, the University fosters positive social change, technological advancement, and economic progress showing the world that change really does start here.
Following our 10-year strategic plan, UT will become the world’s highest-impact public research university, unleashing knowledge, opportunity and innovation from the heart of Texas.
Learn more about UT’s mission and values, leadership and Change Starts Here strategic plan.
Why Join Texas Development?
The University of Texas at Austin is on the front lines of the future: sparking the imagination, driving discovery and transforming lives. And it’s only possible because generous supporters believe in the power and promise of our state’s flagship university to change the world.
Together, through one of the largest fundraising efforts in our state’s history, we will support our people, amplify the unmatched potential of our place, and lead innovation through world-changing pursuits. With nearly $5 billion raised over the past six years, Texas Development is quickly becoming one of the best fundraising programs in higher education.
Texas Development is a dynamic community of more than 450 fundraising professionals across the Forty Acres. We strive to reach the highest levels of achievement and success in all that we do by creating meaningful and powerful experiences for our donors.
Join us and change the world.
Benefits
The University provides a competitive benefits package that includes insurance and retirement benefits in addition to other programs and services.
Texas Development supports growth by offering professional development opportunities that help every team member accomplish their goals, enrich their skillset and deepen their engagement with UT.
Purpose
Charged with guiding, and implementing advancement activities for high-potential constituencies, to drive the engagement, and fundraising strategy of the University of Texas at Austin in the Middle East, primarily Saudi Arabia and the Emirates.
Responsible to identify, cultivate, and engage high-profile, high capacity individual philanthropic prospects in the region. Develop and implement plans for curated engagement of prospects and solicit and raise philanthropic support focusing on major and principal gift donors. This position reports to a Senior Director of Advancement and partners closely with academic and unit teams across the University.
Responsibilities
Alumni and Donor Engagement
Travel to the assigned regions 3-4 times per fiscal year.
Identify opportunities for selected alumni to maintain strong connections and encourage their involvement, advocacy, investment, and impact in university activities.
Represent the university in engagement opportunities that will elevate its branding in the region and will advance philanthropic opportunities.
Strengthen the volunteer leadership pipeline for members from or advocating for the region of coverage in advisory councils/boards.
Collect and share regional intelligence gathering, trend analysis, and strategic planning tailored to region of coverage.
Lead at least one meaningful high-level event with top constituents in the region and support university-wide programming when needed.
Fundraising and Stewardship
Build and carry an active portfolio of 40-80 prospective donors.
Engage in qualification, strategy development, relationship building and closing of major gift(s) at $100,000+ for The University of Texas at Austin.
Within 24 months of start date, consistently produce $2,000,000-$5,000,000 per year.
Participate in goal setting, proposal preparation, strategy development, and stewardship as required for donors in the portfolio.
Successfully and consistently deliver funding proposals to prospective and current donors.
Maintain appropriate electronic documentation on a timely basis, including engagement activities, proposal tracking, contact reports, donor strategies, and forecasting in VIP.
Record timely reports, letters, proposals, or gift agreements following a donor contact.
Corporate and Industry Relations
Collaborate with supervisor of Corporate and Industry Relations teams to leverage and redirect strategic partnerships with international corporations that may result from the regional work and can provide sponsorship and funding for university research or programs, connections for faculty, experiential learning of jobs for students, or philanthropy.
Campus Partnerships
In coordination with the international advancement leaders, redirect alumni/prospects with Texas Global for topics related to the nurturing of academic partnerships with foreign universities, research institutions, etc. that arise from the advancement work.
In coordination with the international advancement leader, support connections with TexasExes, the alumni association, to maximize opportunities for engagement and impact through their initiatives.
Effectively work with, communicate with, and collaborate with faculty, academic leaders, and other development staff to develop campus-wide engagement and funding opportunities and reach goals.
Work collaboratively, proactively, and in a professional, service-oriented manner with all University development officers to further the development goals of the University.
Ensure the international advancement efforts in the region align seamlessly with the team's overall strategy.
Serve as a regional expert and advisor to international advancement on philanthropic opportunities and risks in the region of coverage.
Other Duties as Assigned
Other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree.
Demonstrated ability to execute sophisticated engagement programming and successful full-cycle donor strategy.
High degree of emotional intelligence.
Demonstrated ability to show tenacity and be nimble.
Ability to drive results.
Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills.
Ability to think strategically and creatively and work well under pressure.
Project management skills.
Ability to travel frequently to visit prospects and donors.
Ability to use discretion and maintain integrity and professionalism.
Proven experiences demonstrating cultural competency.
Comfort working across time zones and cultures.
Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.
Preferred Qualifications
Regional Expertise and Cultural Fluency.
Arabic language skills or experience working with Arabic-speaking stakeholders is a strong asset.
Familiarity with philanthropic customs, donor expectations, and cultural protocols.
Experience developing and executing strategic plans for international advancement, including prospect research, pipeline development, and cross-functional collaboration with alumni relations, communications, and institutional donor relations.
Salary Range
$120,000+ depending on qualifications
Working Conditions
Works in standard office conditions, in a shared office environment, with repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation
Some evening and weekend hours may be required during peak periods and special events.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work for any employer in the United States. This position is not eligible for sponsorship of work visas.
This position has a preference for candidates based in or near Austin, Texas. However, we welcome remote applicants based who have convenient access to major airports, enabling regular travel to key regions relevant to the role.
Required Qualifications
Applications must include:
Resume/CV
Letter of interest
Three work references with contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.
Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.
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Employment Eligibility:
Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.
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Retirement Plan Eligibility:
The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. This position has the option to elect the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) instead of TRS, subject to the position being 40 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.
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Background Checks:
A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.
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Equal Opportunity Employer:
The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.
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Pay Transparency:
The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.
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Employment Eligibility Verification:
If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.
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E-Verify:
The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:
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Compliance:
Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.
The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.
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