Vice President of Advancement

ABOUT QUEENS UNIVERSITY OF CHARLOTTE

Founded in 1857, Queens University of Charlotte is a small, private, masters-level university focused on tailoring dynamic experiences for students in and outside of the classroom. Nationally recognized for undergraduate programs in international and interdisciplinary education, Queens blends the best of liberal arts learning with professional preparation and community engagement. With a history of innovation and legacy of strong leadership, Queens is building on significant momentum to position itself among the new forerunners of American higher education. In July 2022, Queens officially made the transition to NCAA Division I, highlighting the university’s commitment to excellence and bolstering their national profile. Incoming student deposits for Fall 2023 are currently up 30 percent from the year before.

THE POSITION

The Vice President of Advancement reports to the President and serves as a member of the university’s Senior Leadership Team. This position is responsible for designing and implementing a successful, comprehensive development strategy that supports Queens’ mission, vision, and values and aligns with its strategic framework. The position provides strategic and administrative oversight for all activities related to advancement and fundraising including the identification, cultivation, resource development, and solicitation of transformational, annual, planned, and major gifts. They oversee six direct reports, including the Associate Vice President of Advancement, the Senior Director of Engagement and Giving, the Director of Advancement Operations, the Associate Vice President of Corporate and Special Programs, the Executive Director of the Gambrell Center, and the Chief of Staff.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Vice President of Advancement will have the following primary responsibilities:

• Partner with the President around the university’s strategic philanthropic direction.
• Obtain new revenue funds for the organization through the acquisition of gifts, donations, and grants. Work with the President, Board, and staff to implement a strategic plan to cultivate new major donor relationships and maximize the capacity of existing donors.
• Provide leadership to a high-performing Advancement team; manage, coach, and mentor team members to achieve aspirational yet attainable goals and advance their career development.
• Work with the Chief Financial Officer to design Advancement budgets that align with the University’s financial priorities; develop and implement a strategic fund development plan with clear short-term and long-term goals, objectives, and timelines.
• Ensure each function within the Advancement department achieves agreed upon goals and maximizes opportunities for growth.
• Engage and encourage Deans, faculty, and staff to create fundraising projects aligned with the institution’s strategic priorities and initiatives.
• Build the profile of the organization by acting as a liaison with donors, foundations, corporations, and the public.
• Oversee the visioning and execution of the University’s efforts to further increase Queens’ connection to the city of Charlotte’s business, civic, and philanthropic communities; foster these relationships to both increase revenue and enrich Queens University’s academics and programs.
• Provide executive leadership to further the Development division’s purposes through sound administrative management and stewardship practices; direct the development of effective donor recognition programs.
• Report quarterly on effectiveness of fund development programs, using clear metrics and data.

QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate will possess most of the following qualifications:

• A genuine passion for education and a commitment to the mission, vision, and values of Queens University of Charlotte.
• A minimum of ten years progressively responsible professional experience, to include leadership roles in development or advancement; experience in higher education would be an advantage.
• Experience leading multi-year campaigns.
• Strategic understanding of transformational philanthropy and proven ability to convey this understanding in a compelling way.
• Demonstrated track record in major gift solicitation and donor cultivation.
• Proven success in building productive, long-term relationships with senior administrators, staff, faculty, boards, volunteers, and donors; a flexible, collaborative, and creative leader who brings exceptional skills as an active listener and consensus builder.
• Persuasive writing and verbal skills, including public speaking.
• Proven ability to hire, develop, train, mentor, and lead strong fundraising teams in a collaborative, team-oriented approach, with a strong commitment to promoting an inclusive and equitable work environment.
• Ability to develop and manage both revenue and expense budgets.
• Comfort and familiarity with advancement technology and donor database management software, ideally Slate.
• Willingness and ability to travel when needed.
• A Bachelor’s degree is required; a Master’s degree would be an advantage.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The salary range for this position is $220,000 to $260,000. Queens University of Charlotte offers a wide range of benefits including medical, dental, vision, health savings account, flexible spending accounts, tuition reimbursement, life insurance, 403(b) retirement plan, relocation reimbursement, generous PTO and holiday schedule, and summer Fridays.