Chief Executive Officer

The Aspen Leadership Group is proud to partner with the New Mexico State University Foundation in the search for a Chief Executive Officer.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer will provide visionary leadership that advances system-wide fundraising priorities, including specific annual and unit targets and other institutional advancement strategies to ensure long-term support for the institution’s mission. The CEO will develop and nurture a culture of philanthropy that embraces all institutional and community stakeholders while enhancing and expanding its impact among alums and donors. The CEO will provide prudent and responsible management of the assets of the New Mexico State University Foundation that ensure its long-term sustainability. The CEO will demonstrate a proven effective and inspiring leadership track record in aligning and inspiring employees across work streams to accomplish Foundation goals and deliver upon its mission.

Founded in 1888, New Mexico State University is the state’s oldest institution and New Mexico’s flagship land-grant University. It is designated as a Hispanic-Serving and space-grant institution and serves a truly diverse population. Approximately 30 percent of NMSU students are first-generation college students, and over 60 percent are Hispanic. NMSU is among the best in the nation at moving students from the lowest income tier to the top. It has four campuses, a satellite learning center in Albuquerque, cooperative extension offices in all 33 counties of New Mexico, and 12 agriculture research and science centers.

The New Mexico State University Foundation is a privately governed, independent nonprofit organization that supports New Mexico State University. The Foundation consistently strives for trust, accountability, and excellence in its constituent relationships by promoting the values of fiduciary duty, leadership, teamwork, and the highest standard of ethics among its employees and volunteers. The Foundation is committed to upholding and preserving public and private trust while at the same time protecting the privacy of donors and the confidentiality of its competitive strategies.

The NMSU Foundation raises $20M annually with 17K donors and aims to increase to $40-50M per year to grow the Foundation’s assets to surpass the $1B mark in the next five years. The most recent capital campaign, Aggie Discovery! ended in 2019, raising over $125M. The Foundation plans to launch its next capital campaign in approximately three years. To achieve this new level of support and growth, the Foundation Board has invested significant resources to expand staffing, plan big, and elevate the overall program. The successful candidate will bring a collaborative, strength-based leadership approach that engages the Board, Foundation team, and the University community in growing the philanthropic ambitions of the Foundation.

The New Mexico State University Foundation will consider candidates with a broad range of diverse backgrounds. A bachelor's degree and at least ten years of successful leadership experience in a senior management capacity within a higher education fundraising organization is required. All applications must be accompanied by a cover letter and résumé. Cover letters should be responsive to the mission of the New Mexico State University Foundation and the responsibilities and qualifications presented in the prospectus.

The salary range for this position is $380,000 to $420,000 annually. The New Mexico State University Foundation offers a generous comprehensive package of benefits, including incentive compensation, a 15.15% non-elective employer contribution, and 36 days of paid time off annually.

To apply for this position, visit: https://opportunities.aspenleadershipgroup.com/opportunities/1284.