Chief Advancement Officer, College of Fine Arts

Aspen Leadership Group is proud to partner with Carnegie Mellon University in its search for a Chief Advancement Officer, College of Fine Arts.

Reporting to the Dean of the College of Fine Arts with a secondary reporting line to the Associate Vice President for Development, the Chief Advancement Officer will help lead the effort to develop the philanthropic support that will enable CMU and its academic units to fulfill their potential and continue their ascent. The Chief Advancement Officer will partner with the Dean of the College of Fine Arts to set a strategic advancement vision for the college, with oversight of a broad range of unit-level advancement functions encompassing major gifts, donor relations, annual giving, events, alumni and constituent engagement, and management of the unit’s advisory board. The Chief Advancement Officer also will serve as a member of the Dean’s leadership team. The Chief Advancement Officer will be a senior leader within the Division of University Advancement and serve as a member of the CMU Advancement Leadership Council.

The Chief Advancement Officer will manage the advancement staff assigned to their academic unit and will carry a portfolio of the unit’s top prospects, executing cultivation and solicitation strategies and securing major, leadership, and principal gifts. They also will be responsible for identifying, refining, and articulating their unit’s fundraising needs, communicating those needs to internal and external audiences, and generating excitement for the Dean’s top priorities while ensuring that frontline fundraisers across the university are equipped to advocate for their vision.

The Chief Advancement Officer is key to integrating college level advancement operations with centrally based advancement programs and resources. The Chief Advancement Officer will collaborate with fundraisers across CMU’s schools, colleges, and centrally based units to develop cultivation and engagement strategies to achieve maximum impact across the institution. The Chief Advancement Officer will also partner closely with Advancement Information Services to define, measure, and report on their unit’s success.

Carnegie Mellon University is a global, research-intensive university with more than 14,000 students, more than 120,000 alumni, and approximately 5,000 faculty and staff. In 2023, U.S. News & World Report ranked CMU #24 among national universities, #4 in terms of Most Innovative Schools, and in 2024, Times Higher Education World University ranked CMU as #24 among global research universities in the world. Many of CMU’s seven schools and colleges and their departments maintain top national and international rankings in computer science, computer engineering, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, engineering, business, drama, art, and music, among others. CMU is also one of a small number of academic institutions in the nation boasting a fully-fledged Federally Funded Research and Development Center, the Software Engineering Institute. CMU’s confluence of scholarly excellence, robust federal and industry interface, and heritage of innovation has consistently placed it among the world’s most dynamic and impactful research institutions.

Carnegie Mellon University is a richly varied community, united in the pursuit of excellence with a wealth of perspectives, identities, backgrounds, and cultures. CMU is committed to fostering an environment where all members of the community have a sense of belonging. This commitment drives its pursuit of creating a space where every voice can be heard. The university seeks to cultivate diverse populations and perspectives and promote equity and inclusion.

The College of Fine Arts (CFA) was one of the first comprehensive arts teaching institutes in the United States. Quickly, Carnegie Mellon University’s CFA became one of the nation’s—and the world’s—leaders in architecture, art, design, drama, and music. Today, CFA alumni make a difference in their fields daily. Well into its second century, CFA continues to set the standards for excellence in professional education within a top-tier research university setting. Every day, students, faculty, and staff bring a special energy to Carnegie Mellon, the region, the nation, and the world with projects and performances of beauty and power. The entire university takes great pride in the creative contributions of CFA students, faculty, staff, and alumni to the arts, architecture, and design in America and around the world.

The five schools within the College of Fine Arts at Carnegie Mellon University are all nationally ranked. The School of Architecture is ranked in the top 10 in nine of twelve focus areas by Designintelligence, as well as ninth nationwide for “Most Hired from Architecture Schools” and eleventh among accredited B.Arch. programs in the nation. U.S. News and World Report ranked the School of Art top for “Program in Time-Based and New Media” and listed the school’s MFA Program as seventh in the country. The School of Design has been ranked a top five school by the same publication for over a decade. The School of Drama is the oldest drama school in a U.S. university setting, having been founded in 1914. CFA alumni have won 142 Emmy Awards and 58 Tony Awards. Fiske Guide to Colleges and Universities has named the School of Music as a top ten music school in the nation.

Carnegie Mellon University seeks a Chief Advancement Officer, College of Fine Arts with advanced knowledge of and experience with major gift fundraising and capital campaigns; demonstrated success in developing and managing relationships with deans, volunteer leadership, and major donors and prospects; and management experience including the ability to lead and inspire teams to achieve goals. A bachelor's degree is required for this position. A master’s degree or equivalent combination of training and experience is preferred. At least 10 years of progressively responsible development experience is required for this position; experience leading and supervising teams for at least three to five years is preferred. Experience in a campaign environment is desirable. All applications must be accompanied by a cover letter and résumé. Cover letters should be responsive to the mission of Carnegie Mellon University as well as the responsibilities and qualifications stated in the position prospectus.

Carnegie Mellon University is committed to the inclusion of all qualified candidates. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, or participating in the selection process, please contact Michael Carver at michaelcarver@aspenleadershipgroup.com.

To apply for this position visit: https://opportunities.aspenleadershipgroup.com/opportunities/1426.