Executive Director for Advancement, Regional Programs

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

Reporting to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for University Programs, the Executive Director for Advancement, Regional Programs will design and execute a strategic fundraising program for the Regional Advancement Program team that meets short-term goals and sets the team up for long term sustainability. The Executive Director will cultivate and steward a portfolio of six- and seven-figure relationships and will manage and grow a team of high-caliber fundraisers who are responsible for expanding the prospect pipeline. The Executive Director will be part of a core group of chief development officers across the frontline team who are developing and executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy at a critical moment in Mizzou's fundraising campaign as part of one of the largest fundraising team at MU. The University of Missouri is in Columbia, Missouri. Residency in the Columbia, Missouri area is strongly preferred. A hybrid (campus/remote) arrangement may be considered within the Missouri/Midwest region.

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.

Over the next decade, the University of Missouri will undergo a transformation through a comprehensive strategy to enhance the university’s research and education missions through a $1.5 billion long-term investment. MizzouForward will use existing and new resources to recruit new tenure and tenure-track faculty, enhance staff to support the research mission, build and upgrade research facilities and instruments, augment support for student academic success, and retain faculty and staff through additional salary support. MizzouForward supports an exciting future for the University of Missouri. With this plan, expectations will be raised and needed resources will be provided that will allow the university to attain greater heights of excellence that benefit Mizzou faculty, staff, students, and the State of Missouri.

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.

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.

A bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least seven years of progressively responsible fundraising and managerial experience building a sophisticated advancement program, preferably within 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/1253.