Please submit a cover letter with your resume and application to be considered for this role. 

The University of New Mexico Foundation is seeking a visionary and strategic leader to serve as Executive Director of Development, Gift Planning. This is a unique opportunity to lead a high-impact team and shape the future of philanthropic giving at UNM. If you’re passionate about legacy giving, thrive in a collaborative environment, and want to make a lasting difference in higher education, we invite you to explore this role.

What We Seek 

We’re looking for a dynamic leader who:

• Can inspire and guide a talented team while driving strategic growth in planned giving.
• Is passionate about building productive relationships with donors, university colleagues and professional advisors.
• Thrives in a collaborative, mission-driven environment and enjoys working across departments and with university leadership.
• Is a persuasive communicator and skilled presenter, able to engage diverse audiences with clarity and confidence.
• Has a strategic mindset and can translate vision into action through data-driven decision-making and innovative stewardship.

The ideal candidate may also bring:

• Experience structuring and closing blended gifts (outright and deferred).
• Ability to create a network of estate planning attorneys and financial advisors.
• Comfort and skill in presenting to large groups of donors, advisors, and colleagues.
• A track record of engaging donors from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Familiarity with university-wide funding priorities and higher education fundraising.

Compensation Salary Range:

Salary is negotiable.

Note: Salary range is estimated, and actual salary will be determined after consideration of the selected candidate's experience and qualifications, and application of any approved geographic salary differential.

Why Join the Foundation:

The UNM Foundation is an active, diverse, creative, and inclusive community.

We offer the opportunity to work collaboratively with a group of highly motivated, mission-driven, and results-oriented development professionals and administrators.

We offer a broad set of competitive benefits including healthcare options, ongoing professional development, educational opportunities, unlimited flexible paid leave, paid holidays, a wellness program, exceptional retirement contributions, and much more.

The role of great public, research-intensive universities has never been more critical. In addition to generating advanced research and educating future leaders through nationally ranked academic programs, UNM impacts lives and communities worldwide. The UNM Foundation staff is central to this equation, and we invite you to apply and be part of a movement changing lives for generations to come.

Benefits:

• 403(b)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday, Hybrid/Remote Options Available
• Weekend availability
• Office Hours are 8am to 5pm.

Work Location: 

700 Lomas Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102

Accessibility: 

The University of New Mexico Foundation is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. If you are interested in applying for employment with us and need special assistance or an accommodation to use our website or to apply for a position, please contact Gretchen Doyle, Senior Associate Vice President of Human Resources, at 505-313-7647. 

This employer participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

To be successful in this role, candidates must have:

• Proven success securing planned gifts of $1 million or more.
• Deep understanding of planned giving vehicles and the ability to communicate them effectively.
• Experience managing and mentoring staff in a complex organizational setting.
• Strong interpersonal, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Familiarity with planned giving software (e.g., Crescendo or PG Calc) and planned giving marketing vendors.
• Ability to analyze financial, estate, and tax documents in consultation with legal and financial professionals.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute long-term strategic plans for planned giving programs.
• Knowledge of laws, regulations, and best practices related to estate and trust giving.

About The University of New Mexico Foundation

The UNM Foundation, Inc., located in Albuquerque, N.M. Our mission is to successfully raise, invest, and steward gifts through long-term partnerships with donors. As an IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, the Foundation provides donors the opportunity and appropriate tax advantages for supporting University projects and programs. All fund-raising and investment activities of the Foundation are limited to benefiting The University of New Mexico. The Foundation assets and earnings are distributed to colleges, departments and programs of the University per donor directions.

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