Associate Chief Advancement Officer

Amherst College

Amherst College, located in Amherst, MA and one of the nation’s leading liberal arts colleges, announces an exciting opportunity for three experienced Advancement professionals to join its accomplished, highly functioning team. Renowned for its dedicated faculty, open curriculum, generous financial aid policies, and scenic 1,000-acre campus, Amherst offers a bachelor’s degree in 39 majors across the arts, natural and social sciences, and humanities. For the past several years, more than 45 percent of Amherst’s students have identified as domestic students of color, plus 9 percent international students. Amherst is one of the few truly need blind colleges in the nation: students are admitted without regard to their financial situations, and each admitted student is guaranteed financial aid equal to their financial need. The College’s financial aid packages are consistently among the most generous in the nation, including a policy of not packaging loans with financial aid awards. These policies have made Amherst the most economically diverse among its peer universities and colleges.

Amherst College is committed to recruiting candidates from historically marginalized or underrepresented backgrounds and identities, as well as individuals whose prior experience demonstrates leadership in equity, diversity, and inclusion. 

Associate Chief Advancement Officer

Reporting to the Chief Advancement Officer, the Associate Chief Advancement Officer (ACAO) will provide strategic leadership in the division’s work to create and manage an effective infrastructure that supports the College’s fundraising and alumni engagement activities. The ACAO will join a highly functioning team and will oversee the Director of Advancement Communications; the Senior Director of Constituent Programs (including the Amherst Fund and Alumni and Parent Programs); and the Director of Advancement Operations, as well as overseeing budget for Advancement. Additionally, the ACAO will maintain close relationships with the Director of Leadership Giving and the Director of Prospect Management and Strategy. 

The ACAO is responsible for strengthening the division’s diversity, equity, and inclusion goals, facilitating cross-departmental projects, and representing the CAO when needed. The ACAO is a key administrative liaison with several campus departments including Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Institutional Research, Registrar, Provost/Dean of Faculty, Loeb Center, Athletics, and Communications. The ACAO will further serve as a strategic partner and chief of staff to the CAO, leading the division to enhance infrastructure and systems to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness and managing a large staff and diverse set of programs, both in day-to-day operations and in support of Promise, the Campaign for Amherst’s Third Century.

Amherst College has retained Jack Gorman of Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in this recruitment. To apply, please visit https://www.imsearch.com/search-detail/S7-978.