Senior Development Director for Network Hospitals

Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation (HMHF or the Foundation) – the dedicated fundraising arm and philanthropic engine of Houston Methodist – seeks a strategic and entrepreneurial Senior Director of Development for Network Hospitals at an exciting moment of transformation and growth for both the hospital system and its fundraising enterprise. Reporting to the Associate Chief Development Officer (ACDO) for Network Hospitals, Alicen Swift, the Senior Director will provide leadership and oversight for development activity and performance across three of the seven network hospitals: Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital (The Woodlands), out of which this role is based; Houston Methodist Willowbrook (Willowbrook); and Houston Methodist Cypress (Cypress). As Houston Methodist embarks on a groundbreaking billion-dollar-plus comprehensive campaign, and with patient volume steadily increasing among these network hospitals, the Senior Director will serve as a key leader on the development team with responsibility for driving alignment, consistency, and philanthropic results across these locations through effective team leadership and personal fundraising success.

Founded in 1919, Houston Methodist exists today as an independent academic medical center and market leader in Houston, the state of Texas, and beyond. The institution has grown significantly over the last two decades, providing the highest-end care that is unparalleled in terms of safety and quality, as well as robust teaching and research initiatives, which are further strengthened by affiliations with Weill Cornell Medical College, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Texas A&M University, Rice University, and MD Anderson Cancer Center, among others. Houston Methodist hospitals are located throughout the Greater Houston area. Each campus is staffed by highly trained specialists who provide the most advanced treatments and offer the best follow-up care possible. As clinical care, education, and research continue to grow across Houston Methodist, philanthropy will fuel the institution’s remarkable trajectory of success in becoming one of the highest ranking academic medical centers in the country.

To this end, the Senior Director will oversee a growing team of three direct reports across The Woodlands, Willowbrook, and Cypress hospitals, providing leadership, coaching, and accountability to elevate philanthropic performance and optimize growth opportunities for increased support. This position serves as the dedicated fundraising partner to the CEO and Senior Vice President of Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital, David Bernard, and works closely with Woodlands’ hospital leadership, physicians, and volunteers to advance strategic philanthropic priorities. Unlike fundraising roles aligned to a single clinical specialty area, this position offers responsibility across the full spectrum of The Woodlands’ service lines, including cancer, cardiovascular care, orthopedics, neurosciences, and more. This individual will maintain a focused yet comprehensive portfolio of major gift prospects and donors, anchored at The Woodlands, and is responsible for qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship to strengthen and grow the philanthropic pipeline. As a leader, the Senior Director will be responsible for aligning regional fundraising efforts across The Woodlands, Willowbrook, and Cypress with Houston Methodist’s broader campaign and advancement strategies.

The successful candidate will possess at least five years of successful and progressive fundraising experience. People management experience is preferred, along with a track record of success in an academic medical center or large, complex university setting. The selected candidate must demonstrate an understanding of fundraising best practices and bring a proven skillset to develop and build a sustainable major gifts pipeline and program. This individual will have personal success in cultivating and stewarding donors at the six- and seven-figure levels and will bring proficiency in leveraging data and systems to inform strategy. Critical to success will be the credibility, maturity, and sophistication necessary to effectively engage with clinical leaders, physicians, and hospital executives. In leading and developing a growing team of gift officers for their respective network hospitals, this individual will ideally possess a track record of or proven ability to mentor, manage, and elevate the work of fellow frontline fundraisers, along with an ability to set clear performance expectations to promote a high-achieving and accountable team environment.

Rachel Ellenport and Nicole Poe are leading this search with Caroline Corry.

Houston Methodist Hospital is an Equal Opportunity Employer. HMH will not engage in discrimination against, or harassment of, any person employed or seeking employment with Houston Methodist Hospital on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, status as a protected veteran, or other characteristics protected by law.