Senior Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (UT MD Anderson), ranked #1 in the nation for cancer care and one of the largest cancer centers in the world, seeks a deeply experienced and relationship-driven philanthropic leader for the role of Senior Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer (CPO). Having publicly launched the largest philanthropic campaign in the institution’s 84-year history, the CPO will bring together philanthropic support from around the world to complete the $2.5 billion goal and advance the institution’s mission to end cancer. Under the CPO’s leadership, Only Possible Here, The Campaign to End Cancer positions UT MD Anderson to expedite breakthroughs and rapidly improve treatments, elevate the patient experience, and expand the institution’s reach to more patients than ever before. UT MD Anderson’s iconic brand and strong market position further propel the institution’s aspirations and impact as not only the nation’s leading cancer center but also a global philanthropic cause movement.

Philanthropy is essential to UT MD Anderson’s mission, signature priorities, and continued growth as the institution accelerates dramatically in year-over-year fundraising production. It is also a top priority for President Peter WT Pisters, M.D., M.H.C.M., who allocates significant time and resources to philanthropic work in partnership with the CPO. To that end, the CPO will be a highly visible institutional leader who serves on the President’s Executive Leadership Team (ELT), attends all regular executive meetings and strategy retreats, and maintains a close working relationship with Dr. Pisters and ELT colleagues. In partnership with the President, the CPO will drive the fundraising strategy and execution for UT MD Anderson and will play a pivotal role in strategic planning and decision-making for the institution. To ensure optimal constituent engagement and campaign performance across a large complex enterprise, the CPO will maintain a reporting line to the Executive Vice President (EVP) of Institutional Advancement. The CPO will lead a team of 200 professionals who raised a monumental $509 million in the last fiscal year.

The ideal candidate will have at least 10 to 15 years of senior-level management experience in a complex organization (preferably in academic medicine, clinical and basic research, and/or a university environment); a track record of success securing and stewarding principal gifts at the eight- and ideally nine-figure levels; the interpersonal and leadership skills required to motivate a large, matrixed team, especially during times of change; the ability to engage key leaders in the fundraising process; and a personal commitment to UT MD Anderson’s mission, core values, and impact with a servant leadership approach.

Rachel Ellenport and Jack Gorman are leading this search with Grace Zakim and Lisa Clayton.