Executive Director for Advancement, Foundation Relations (Remote)

The Aspen Leadership Group is proud to partner with University of Missouri in the search for an Executive Director for Advancement, Foundation Relations.

Reporting to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for University Programs, the Executive Director for Advancement, Foundation Relations will lead and manage Mizzou’s Foundation Relations team with a mission to support faculty and other research investigators through charitable research grant and contract support for identified research priorities and themes across the institution. The Executive Director will work in conjunction with the various constituency-based advancement officers, deans, department chairs, faculty, and staff to maximize gift and grant support at the major gift level from both national and regional foundations. Furthermore, the Executive Director will collaborate with departments within the university to determine best practices and develop policies and guidelines for the university's external grants management process. A remote arrangement will be considered (with a minimum of four trips per year to the Columbia, Missouri campus).

Since 1839, and as Missouri’s only state-supported member of the Association of American Universities, the University of Missouri (MU) has been engaged in groundbreaking research and comprehensive academics that define its strength as a higher education institution. Today, MU supports 31,103 students in 300+ degree programs, including 97 undergraduate majors, 96 master’s degrees, 69 doctoral degrees, and over 70 certificates. Students work side by side with some of the world’s best faculty to advance the arts and humanities, the sciences, and the professions. At MU, scholarship and teaching are driven daily by a commitment to public service—the obligation to produce and disseminate knowledge that will improve the quality of life in the state, the nation, and the world. MU’s NCAA Division I Athletics program in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) has 550 student-athletes across 20 sports. There are 344,000 MU alumni living around the world, 185,000 of which remain in the state of Missouri, maintaining MU’s positive impact globally and locally.

MU commits to acting ethically, welcoming differences, and exchanging ideas openly. University leaders demonstrate commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion by ensuring each individual, regardless of background, experiences, and perspectives, is supported at MU. In the past eight years, the university created the Division of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity, hired a Chief Diversity Officer to lead the new division, and established mandatory diversity training for those responsible for hiring. As part of its student accessibility efforts, in 2021, MU invested over $167 million in student scholarships and awards, allowing nearly half of all MU students to graduate without debt.

On the heels of record retention and enrollment growth amidst unprecedented challenges facing higher education in 2020, the University of Missouri jumped 15 spots in the U.S. News & World Report list of top national universities, rising to 124 in the publication’s newest rankings of more than 380 public and private institutions. MU also moved up five spots, from No. 90 in 2020 to No. 85, among the Best Value Schools— a measure of colleges that offer the best value for students getting need-based financial aid. Additionally, the university climbed 13 spots to No. 86 among the Best Colleges for Veterans.

Mizzou Advancement emphasizes talent acquisition and professional development in service to its overall mission of enhancing private support of the University of Missouri. As a result, the division continues to attract top talent from around the country. Comprising 180 staff members with a presence across the United States and around the world, Mizzou Advancement announced the $1.3 billion Mizzou: Our Time to Lead campaign in October 2015. At its conclusion in 2020, it was the most successful philanthropic campaign in the university’s history, at over $1.4 billion.

A bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least ten years of experience including four years of foundation relations experience or comparable work with foundations, preferably in higher education, is required for this position. All applications must be accompanied by a cover letter and résumé. Cover letters should be responsive to mission of University of Missouri as well as the responsibilities and qualifications presented in the prospectus.

The salary range for this position is $120,000 to $150,000 annually.

To apply for this position, visit: https://opportunities.aspenleadershipgroup.com/opportunities/1215.