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Assistant Vice President for Development

Employer
Central Washington University
Location
Ellensburg, Washington State
Salary
Depending on experience, from $139,100-$160,651 annually plus the awesome CWU benefits.
Posted Date
Jan 28, 2025
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Central Washington University is recruiting an Assistant Vice President for Development to join our University Advancement team in Ellensburg, Washington or Seattle, Washington. This role is an important member of our team as they enhance the vision for the University. The role is a campus-based position, which means you get to see the lives you are impacting. We're offering a salary, depending on experience, from $139,100 - $160,651 annually plus the awesome CWU benefits.

Who we are:

We are a team of individuals committed to Changing Students' Lives. No matter what job, each of us plays a part in supporting and empowering our students to fulfill their dreams.  

Working in higher education provides career growth and career choice. Think of a university campus like a mini city, operating across 380 acres. You'll find diverse academics, libraries, athletics and sporting events, full service and quick serve dining, conferences and events from small to large, recreation centers, housing, health services, police and public safety for the campus population of ~10,000 students.

Central Washington University has been named a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Top Producing Institution for the 2022-2023 academic year.  In addition, for the seventh time in eight years, CWU is a recipient of the prestigious Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. Come join us on our journey to encourage, inspire, and create spaces where all identities thrive on campus.

Tour our campus in Ellensburg here. www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjdhOegDa9A

What we offer:

Our investment in you begins the day you join our team, a healthy and successful future for you is important to us. We offer medical, dental, life and disability insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, tuition assistance for you and your dependents, discounts across town, an employee assistance program for individualized counseling, and a wellness incentive program. Learn more: Benefits, Perks, and Leave.

The Role:

The Assistant Vice President for Development (AVPD) provides vision, leadership, and management for all facets of fundraising including leadership annual giving, mid-level giving and major gifts, and directors of planned, corporate and foundation giving. In addition, the AVP is expected to understand all aspects of the Advancement Services portfolio and some elements of the Financial Services portfolio to ensure that there is full integration between the fundraising team and the operational/financial management areas of University Advancement and the CWU Foundation. The AVP is responsible for the strategic oversight and implementation of key campaign management functions. The AVP works directly with donors and prospects, sometimes staffing the president, provost, other university leaders and volunteer board leaders in donor interactions. The AVP sets quantitative and qualitative standards of operation and performance for the team and manages performance against these standards. The position works closely with and coaches Deans and other university leaders to develop fundraising priorities and strategies to engage, cultivate and solicit donors around these priorities.  As such the AVP is expected to understand, work with and develop a sophisticated and nuanced knowledge of all parts of the university where philanthropic support can make an impact, including academic units, athletics, and student success functions. This position is an active and collaborative member of the University Advancement leadership team and works closely with senior staff and the Vice President to facilitate increased levels of departmental communication, efficiency, and effectiveness.  The AVP is a recognized leader of the CWU development program by university colleagues, donors, and volunteer board members. All employees are expected to support CWU's commitment to diversity and to bring and support inclusion into the university environment. 

Job Duties

Planning, Strategy, and Integration

  • Responsible for the overall planning, development, and implementation of a fully functioning fundraising strategy for the university, including staffing, training, coaching, and development of all relevant staff, including leadership annual giving, mid-level, major gift development officers and directors of planned, corporate and foundation giving.
  • Oversee all fundraising outcomes assessment and program evaluation.
  • Be responsible for meeting team fundraising and revenue goals on an annual basis.
  • Oversee specific Campaign management functions, including
    • reporting on progress and timelines, volunteer committee staffing, liaison with external counsel and internal campus engagement around the campaign.
  • Participate as a member of the Advancement leadership group in shaping departmental strategies, policies, procedures and culture.
  • Maintain an active presence in professional networks, understand best Advancement practices and ensure that CWU is positioned to implement and adopt best practices when possible and appropriate.

Frontline Fundraising

  • Manage a portfolio of major and leadership gift prospects and donors and engage in the cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of these prospects and donors.
  • Staff university and volunteer leaders, including president and board members, in donor interactions.
  • Work collaboratively with staff across Advancement and the university to maximize philanthropic impact for CWU and for our donors.
  • Work closely with volunteers to engage new and existing donor prospects.
  • Be responsible for meeting personal fundraising and revenue goals on an annual basis.

Supervisor Duties 

  • Actively engages in recruitment, hiring and onboarding staff.
  • In partnership with university leadership as appropriate, clearly define expectations, set goals, and ensure accountability for staff utilizing all institutional performance tools. 
  • Ensures employees have necessary resources. 
  • Oversees and directs the work of staff; serves as mentor, coach, and leader, and resolves complaints or issues.
  • Promotes professional development opportunities. 
  • Develops and fosters supportive working relationships, motivation, and engagement. 
  • Communicates information to staff on an ongoing basis to influence staff engagement and to be a part of a larger community. 
  • Takes corrective action in a timely manner.
  • Recognizes and rewards employees for good performance. 
  • Schedules employee work hours/shifts; monitor hours worked; approve payable time and absence requests. 
  • Adjusts leadership style as needed to achieve results.
  • Recognizes value of and promotes diverse workforce. Values and encourages diverse perspectives, creativity, and teamwork.
  • Actively work to maintain an equitable and inclusive workplace and promote a culture of mutual respect, collegiality, and collaboration.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree AND progressively responsible experience in donor and/or alumni relations. 
  • Demonstrated organizational and leadership skills.  
  • Demonstrated experience and success in major gift fundraising, soliciting and closing six and seven figure gifts.
  • Demonstrated understanding of how philanthropy can impact the future of an organization
  • Demonstrated commitment to inclusion and/or experience working with students and/or co-workers from a wide range of abilities, backgrounds and experiences.
  • Program development and/or program management experience. 
  • OR applicable combination of education and/or experience which demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position (applicable experience = 7 yrs. frontline fundraising or 10 yrs. combined with transferable skill such as sales).

Preferred Qualifications

  • Working knowledge of Raiser's Edge software. 
  • Master's degree. 
  • Experience working in a higher education setting and working with campus leadership. 
  • A record of promoting inclusivity in the work environment. 
  • Ability to incorporate multicultural perspectives and issues into everyday conversations.

Competencies

  • Accountability/Dependability: Accepts responsibility for quality of own work; acknowledges and corrects mistakes. Shows up on time, meets standards, deadlines and work schedules.
  • Judgement: Makes timely, informed decisions. Analyzes options and determines appropriate course of action.
  • Teamwork: Promotes cooperation and mutual support to achieve goals. Encourages participation and mutual support.
  • Adaptability/Flexibility: Responds positively to changing business needs and responsibilities. Adapts approach and methods to achieve results; recovers quickly from setbacks and finds alternatives. Commitment to
  • Diversity: Recognizes the value of diversity and helps create environment that supports and embraces diversity.

Don't meet every single requirement? At CWU we're dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway. This may be the job for you!

Pay, Benefits, & Work Schedule Salary: This position has a minimum annual salary of $117,549 and maximum annual salary of $182,202. The Hiring Department's expected hiring range is $139,100 - $160,651. In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the hiring range is based on the candidate's current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position.  

Eligible employees may receive a five percent (5%) premium pay if assigned to a permanent duty station in King County, Washington. 

Schedule/Appointment: Monday - Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm (1 hour lunch) with some weekend and evenings / May be based out of Ellensburg, WA or Seattle, WA  

Working Conditions: Work is performed in an office setting and includes frequent travel via car and/or airplane. Position must be able to meet the physical demands of remaining at a desk/computer workstation for extended periods of time, using repetitive arm, hand and finger movements. Some stooping, bending, crouching, lifting, walking, carrying, or moving of objects and other movements may be required. Weekend and evening work is required as needed. 

Benefits: CWU offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical and dental insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, life and disability insurance, along with vacation and sick leave plans depending on employment classification. For additional information please visit Benefits, Perks, and Leave

An employee of CWU may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program if the employee has student loans. To learn more, visit: https://ofm.wa.gov/state-human-resources/public-service-loan-forgiveness-program.

How To Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the on-line application and attach:

  • A detailed cover letter clearly demonstrating how your education and experience: (a) meet the required (and, as applicable, preferred) qualifications, and (b) demonstrate the ability to perform the responsibilities as described by the posting; and  
  • Resume including work history, education, training.   
  • Screening Begins: February 10, 2025

**Priority will be given to applications received by the screening date. Incomplete applications may not be considered.

Contact Information

Please contact Human Resources at hr@cwu.edu or 509-963-1202 if you require technical assistance with the on-line application process. 

Conditions of Employment Background Check/Reference Check Process:

Prior to employment, final candidate(s) will be required to sign a Sexual Misconduct disclosure in pursuant to RCW 28B.112.080 and submit to a background check. All information obtained through background investigations will be strictly confidential and revealed only to those required to have access.

Notice to Prospective Employees:

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Statement

Central Washington University is an EEO/AA/Title IX Institution. Central Washington University's policies and practices affirm and actively promote the rights of all individuals to equal opportunity in education and employment. Discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, age, marital status, disability, or status as a protected veteran is prohibited. The university provides an internal procedure for reporting discrimination and affords protection against retaliation for participating in the complaint process. Central Washington University complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and executive orders including when soliciting bids and in the fulfillment of all contracts with governmental agencies. Direct related inquiries to Civil Rights Compliance, 202 Barge Hall, Ellensburg, WA 98926-7501; Telephone 509-963-2050; or email crc@cwu.edu.

DEI Statement

Justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion are all core to CWU's mission, vision and values to increase access to higher education for everyone regardless of identity. At CWU we work to ensure everyone's voice is not only heard but recognized and valued. We consistently strive to provide a safe, welcoming, and forward-thinking institution for all employees, students, and community members.

Reasonable Accommodations

Central Washington University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment. Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodations for a qualified individual with a disability. If you need assistance or accommodation in applying because of a disability, please contact Human Resources at HR@cwu.edu or call 509-963-1202. This job announcement and other material on this site will be made available in alternate formats upon request to an individual with a disability.

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act)

For the Central Washington University Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (i.e. Clery Report) which includes statistics about reported crimes and information about campus security policies, available online here or call CWU Police and Parking Services at 509-963-2959 for a paper copy.

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