Position #: 016572-00

Position Title: Associate Vice President for Institutional Advancement

Department: Office of Institutional Advancement

Reports to: Vice President for Institutional Advancement

Location: South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, South Carolina

Position Summary

South Carolina State University is searching for an experienced, inspiring and mission-driven leader to serve as Associate Vice President for Institutional Advancement (AVP) for (IA).

Under the leadership if Col (Ret) Alexander Conyers, SC State’s 13th president, the University has set goals for SC State to build a best-practices advancement operation in anticipation of entering the planning stages of what will be the University’s inaugural comprehensive fundraising campaign.

As a senior leader for Institutional Advancement, the AVP will have the opportunity to build and inspire a major gifts team that has the opportunity to capitalize on the relatively untapped philanthropic potential of alumni, friends and corporate partners.

The AVP role offers the successful candidate an incredible leadership opportunity at a critical time in South Carolina State University’s history. The IA team is planning for substantial growth, including plans to add 4 new fundraising positions over the next two years. The AVP will build and grow a dynamic and innovative major gift fundraising team by hiring, training and coaching a team of major gift fundraisers.

As a member of IA’s executive leadership team, the AVP will play a key role in shaping strategy and organizational culture. The AVP will work closely with the vice president for IA to help coordinate all principal giving efforts and play an integral role in planning and implementing SC State’s next comprehensive fundraising campaign.

The successful candidate will work with campus partners, including SC State’s president, the provost, the deans of SC State’s colleges and schools and the athletic director – all of whom are energized to be actively engaged and involved and who look forward to partnering with Institutional Advancement to shape their fundraising priorities and approach to donor engagement.

Primary Responsibilities

Leadership & Program Success

The Associate Vice President for Advancement will:

• Provide onboarding, leadership, coaching and effective supervision of the staff members in all areas of major giving, including school/program-based giving, gift planning, corporate and foundation relations, while also maintaining a close relationship with the athletics fundraising team;
• Identify funding priorities and goals for each of the constituent areas and central fundraising units;
• Instill fundraising best practices among staff and help to communicate these best practices to the deans, department chairs and other academic leaders;
• Work with assigned staff members to develop business plans and annual goals, track monthly and quarterly progress and conduct annual performance evaluations;
• Provide insight to help set the division’s annual fundraising goals and achieve a significant increase in major gift fundraising productivity for the institution;
• Meet division-wide performance metrics and goals as agreed upon with the vice president for Institutional Advancement;
• Lead staff in an aggressive program of donor identification and qualification in order to build a substantial pool of prospective donors;
• Work with staff to help coach deans and other academic leaders in the art of developing and articulating a compelling vision for their areas of responsibility;
• Build strong relationships among the academic and administrative leadership, the faculty, and external constituents, including donors, alumni and community leaders, with the goal of increasing the visibility of SC State for potential donors;
• Encourage and coordinate professional development opportunities for assigned staff; and
• The AVP will develop and maintain a small portfolio of high-value donor prospects.

Administrative Leadership

The Associate Vice President for Advancement will

•Serve as an active member of the vice president’s executive leadership team;

•Work in collaboration with the Vice President for IA to manage, motivate, and steward donors to aid in meeting fundraising goals;

•Maintain a positive relationship with volunteer partners;

•Maintain a positive and collaborative relationship with Sc State Athletics, and all other university constituents;

•Collaborate with leaders of other Institutional Advancement units to achieve a teamwork atmosphere.

QUALIFICATIONS

A bachelor’s degree and at least 7 years of fundraising experience are required for this position, preferably working in a complex organization or university setting with five or more years of supervisory experience.

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

1. A progressive record of professional success and compelling leadership skills that are collaborative and inclusive;

2. The highest level of integrity, accountability, and trustworthiness;

3. The willingness to be flexible;

4. Innovation and the ability to apply emerging trends and best practices to best fit SC State’s needs;

5. The ability to foster an empowered, inspired and positive culture for staff;

6. A sense of urgency and a clear set of priorities with the ability to adapt to changing circumstances;

7. Outstanding interpersonal skills and political savvy, with the ability to navigate a complex environment and understand and relate effectively with diverse constituents;

8. Success managing a fundraising department - experience working on a campaign is preferred;

9. Experience in leading, managing and supervising advancement professionals who are successful fundraisers;

10. Experience in initiating high-level gift and grant discussions with corporate, foundation and individual donor prospects;

11. Experience in recruiting, motivating and supporting volunteers to build and expand the development network; and

12. Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to communicate in a clear, consistent and transparent manner to create shared goals and understanding.

13. Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

14. Knowledge of higher education fundraising practices and trends preferred.

15. Familiarity with fundraising databases and CRM systems.

16. Commitment to the mission and values of South Carolina State University.

To Apply:

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and application that can be found at South Carolina State University - Recent Jobs (scsu.edu). Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Priority Deadline to apply is Friday, June 21, 2024.