Assistant Vice President for Colleges, Schools, and Units

Assistant Vice President for Colleges, Schools, and Units

Benefits of working at VCU

All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU's robust benefits package that includes: comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, generous tuition benefit, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more. Learn more about VCU's benefits here.

Job Code
Deputy Development Officer 1-3

Recruitment Pool
VCU Employees Only

Posting Number
req6996

Unit
Development MBU

Department
Development & Alumni Relations

Department Website Link
support.vcu.edu

Location
VCU

Address
111 N. 4th Street, Richmond, VA 23219 USA

Duties & Responsibilities

At Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), we are UNlike any other. With more than 300,000 students, faculty and staff, we are a mix of attitudes, styles and stories. Inclusion is our heartbeat and it drives us to tackle difficult challenges others can't. Or won't. Focused on impact, we pursue a future that is built by us rather than preserving a past that's been left to us. We are home to creativity, teaching, discovery and healing, and we prove everyday that different works. VCU offers employees work flexibility, a generous leave package, career paths for advancement, competitive pay, and an opportunity to do mission-driven work. To explore our benefits further, please visit https://hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/benefits/university-and-academic-professional-benefits/. So if you're interested in blazing trails, then you too can be UNstoppable here.

The mission of VCU's Office of Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) is to maximize philanthropic support by engaging stakeholders with all VCU schools, programs and campuses as one development and alumni relations community. We implement best practices and efficient strategies to achieve a comprehensive development program.

Virginia Commonwealth University seeks an experienced development professional to fill the role of Assistant Vice President for Colleges, Schools, and Units. Reporting to the Senior Associate Vice President for Development, Colleges, Schools and Units (CSUs), the AVP will have primary oversight for a portfolio of development teams on the Monroe Park campus and will work with senior leaders from across the institution and colleagues across DAR to maximize philanthropic support for the university's strategic priorities.

In this role you will:

• Directly supervise and provide managerial oversight of several CSUs on the Monroe Park campus, including the College of Humanities and Sciences, L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, School of Education, School of Social Work, and VCU Libraries.
• Recruit, hire, and onboard lead development officers; coach and mentor fundraising professionals to maximize success in achieving individual and CSU-based annual fundraising targets;
• Develop and manage annual operating plans of assigned CSUs; oversee implementation of the annual operating plan process for the entire CSU structure;
• Assist university leaders/units without a dedicated fundraiser with emerging fundraising needs/queries, as appropriate;
• Assume interim LDO duties when a vacancy occurs within the CSU structure;
• Nurture productive and trusting working relationships with deans and academic directors to develop and support mission-critical priorities;
• Uphold university-wide standards for annual fundraiser achievement;
• Maintain a portfolio of 30-40 interdisciplinary major and principal gift donors that support the strategic needs of the university;
• Inform and engage academic leadership on major donor activities, including all cultivation work as well as specific gift activities that involve assigned schools and colleges;
• Execute comprehensive campaign activities, projects, and fundraising goals as directed by the Senior Associate Vice President of Development for Colleges, Schools, and Units;
• Champion a comprehensive, one-university fundraising strategy;
• Manage special projects aimed at supporting long-term fundraising success for CSUs.

As a team member, you will:

• Maintain and encourage trusting and respectful professional relationships within the team and throughout DAR and VCU
• Practice appreciative leadership and an outward mindset across teams of varying talents and backgrounds
• Collaborate with peers and stakeholders to instigate and support holistic change in strategy, systems and business processes
• Work in a fast-paced, performance-based professional environment
• Align with DAR's core purpose and values

Qualifications

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or the equivalent combination of education, training and experience
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in increasingly responsible roles in advancement within a large, complex institution
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff and student environment or commitment to do so as a university professional at VCU
• Demonstrated experience closing principal and major gifts at an institution of higher education
• Demonstrated experience working for an academic leader and successfully executing their fundraising strategy
• Ability to develop in partnership, robust metrics programs that incentivize collaboration and performance
• Demonstrated knowledge of the principles, ethics and practices of successful fundraising including campaign leadership or management experience
• An outgoing and positive personality, strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative working style
• Strong written, oral, and data-analysis skills
• Coaching skills that are consistent with bringing out the best in staff and instilling pride and ownership in a team effort
• Familiarity with technology, software, and digital tools to communicate and engage with others
• Demonstrated ability to execute objectives and goals aligned to the mission of a complex, urban university and the ability to persuasively represent its goals to multiple constituents
• Ability to plan and execute travel for donor visits that may include overnight trips

Preferred qualifications:

• Advanced degree in a related field and significant related experience
• Management experience leading strategy in a complex organization
• Campaign and principal gift planning experience in higher education
• Ability to successfully, routinely, and collaboratively close gifts of $1M+
• CFRE certification

FLSA
University Employee

Job FTE
1

Exemption Status
Exempt

Restricted Position
No

E-Class
UF - University Employee FT

Job Category
University Employee

ORP Eligible
Yes

Salary Range
$200,000 or commensurate with experience

Compensation Type
Salaried

Target Hire Date
5/1/2025

Contact Information for Candidates

Izzy Kane
irkane@vcu.edu

Documents Needed to Apply
A resume and cover letter are required for consideration.