EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The University seeks an accomplished advancement executive to serve as Vice President forInstitutional Advancement, a cabinet-level position reporting directly to the president and serving as a key member of the university’sexecutive team. The Vice President for Institutional Advancement supervises multiple units of professional and para-professional staff.
This role is designed for a senior leader with demonstrated experience planning, leading, and executing comprehensive fundraising andengagement strategies. The Vice President will be responsible for building the strategic, organizational, and operational framework requiredto sustain long-term philanthropic growth, and strengthen donor relationships in support of the university’s mission.
As theuniversity’s chief advancement officer and executive director of the university’s foundation, the Vice President will oversee development,alumni relations, and foundation operations, ensuring alignment across teams, systems, and priorities. The role requires a leader who cantranslate institutional vision into a disciplined advancement strategy, guide major and principal gift activity, and partner effectivelywith the president, senior leadership, governing boards, and volunteer leaders to advance the university’s mission and long-termphilanthropic growth.
The successful candidate will bring a proven record of securing significant philanthropic support, leadinghigh-performing advancement teams, and managing complex fundraising initiatives in dynamic environments. Experience with campaigngovernance, volunteer structures, donor strategy, and post-campaign transition planning is highly valued, as is the ability to modernizeadvancement practices while building trust and momentum across the institution.
The Vice President for Institutional Advancement willserve as a visible institutional leader, representing the university to donors, alumni, community partners, and external stakeholders, andplaying a central role in positioning the university for its next phase of growth and impact.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Vice President for Institutional Advancement is charged with providing leadership, vision, oversight, planning and management of allaspects of development to advance the university’s mission, including community, private foundation, and alumni relations. The role overseesand directs the operations of assigned units such as Alumni Affairs and Institutional Advancement and serves as the executive director forthe university’s foundation. The Vice President for Institutional Advancement is primarily responsible for the diversification of revenuesources for the university’s long-term growth and success. This position develops and manages annual budgets and staffing levels withresponsibility for staff planning, hiring, and evaluation.
Essential Duties:
The following examplesof duties illustrate the general range of tasks assigned to the position but are not intended to define the limits of required duties. Otheressential duties may be assigned consistent with the general scope of the position.
- Establishes, plans and manages all aspectsof the university’s Institutional Advancement strategic goals and objectives as well as the creation of strategic partnerships including theuniversity’s foundation and alumni relations.
- Directs, manages and provides executive leadership, vision and oversight of theuniversity’s multi-function, complex organizational development, fundraising, relationship building and development activities.
- Develops long-term strategic plans with measurable objectives and implementation timeframes that will better align current goals andstrengthen the focus and productivity of current resources, diversifying and identifying potential new revenue sources.
- Strategically develops and implements fundraising initiatives including campaigns, the identification of new donors, and the solicitation ofprivate, community and corporate gifts in collaboration with the university’s foundation.
- Directs the university’s Alumni Affairsby fostering and strengthening relationships and maximizing alumni giving campaigns.
- Represents the university by conductingoutreach, establishing entrepreneurial, academic and corporate partnerships.
- Oversees compliance and ensures regulatory, Board ofRegents, system office, and university standards and requirements are met including audits, record keeping, accounting and internalcontrols.
- Develops and manages annual budgets and staffing levels with responsibility for staff planning, hiring andevaluation.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Incumbents are required to have demonstrated advanced knowledgeand abilities in the following:
- A proven ability to effectively work with a culturally, linguistically, and ethnically diversefaculty, staff, and students.
- Demonstrated excellent oral and written communication skills and strong information technologyliteracy skills.
- Minimum of eight years of professional managerial experience leading teams of professional staff in fundraising,foundation affairs and or not-for-profit management.
- Master’s degree in business, public administration, public policy, law, orsimilar field.
- A proven track record of successful major gift fundraising, building productive internal and external partnerships,and private foundation operations.
- Professional managerial experience including the demonstrated ability to manage an organizationin fundraising, relationship building, and partnership development; manage funds, property and other assets with integrity andaccountability; manage and embrace change in a dynamic environment; be a collaborative team member; and effectively manage managerial,professional and support staff, applying sound human resources management principles and techniques.
- Considerable knowledge ofprinciples and best practices in the areas of development, fundraising, not-for-profit, and alumni relations; financial, property and otherasset procurement and management; and ability to interpret relevant state and federal laws, statutes, and regulations.
- Experiencesuccessfully managing and closing comprehensive campaigns preferred.
Work Environment
Incumbents are expected to work in an office setting as well as conduct university business both on and off campus during both normal andevening hours, including weekends. The work involves extensive use of personal computers but does not normally involve any significantphysical effort. Reasonable accommodation will be made for incumbents and candidates with physical limitations. Must be able to drive and bewilling to travel.
PROCEDURE FOR CANDIDACY
All applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited for thisposition. Applications should include a CV or resume, a letter of interest addressing the themes in this profile, and contact information(names, phone numbers, and email addresses) for five references in a single PDF document.
Application materials should be submittedto Brett Santo at SantoB1@SouthernCT.edu.
Inquiries regarding this opportunity should bedirected to:
Colleen Bielitz, Ph.D.
Interim Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Chair, Vice President forInstitutional Advancement Search Committee
vpiasearch@SouthernCT.edu
For fullconsideration, applications should be received by February 20, 2026. The position will remain open until filled.
SCSU is anAffirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer. The university seeks to enhance the diversity of its faculty and staff. People ofcolor, women, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
