Associate Vice Chancellor, Alumni Engagement and Career Development

About DU Advancement

In preparation for the most ambitious philanthropic campaign in the University’s history, the University of Denver is building an advancement enterprise that mirrors the excellence of our great institution. Advancement efforts at DU have a tremendous impact through our relationships with DU’s remarkable students, dedicated donors, inspiring alumni, engaged families, and wonderful friends. DU is committed to building and fostering a culture of deep engagement and philanthropy in support of our institution as we implement the DU IMPACT 2025 vision and prepare for a fundraising campaign with a bold and courageous goal.

The University of Denver and DU Advancement deeply value inclusive excellence, recognizing that its success is dependent on how well it values, engages, and includes the rich diversity of constituents. You can learn more about inclusive excellence at the University of Denver by visiting the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. As a part of that effort, we are continuing to grow a team of inclusive, collaborative, inquisitive, innovative, ethical, and transparent advancement professionals who possess deep mutual respect for one another and for our shared profession.  

Position Summary

Reporting directly to the Senior Vice Chancellor and serving the Advancement Senior Management Team, the Associate Vice Chancellor, Alumni Engagement and Career Development will be responsible for developing, fostering, and advancing networks of University of Denver supporters, ambassadors, patrons, and promoters.  The Associate Vice Chancellor will oversee campus-wide alumni and constituent engagement efforts, as well as student and alumni career and professional development activities.

In this role, they will connect DU constituents to each other and to the University in strategic and meaningful ways, building and sustaining a strong pipeline of support for the University and DU’s most ambitious fundraising effort to date.  The Alumni Engagement and Career Development departments within University Advancement will fulfill specific value propositions unique to each constituent community.  They must understand the needs and expectations of constituents based on their affiliation, affinity, and capacity and translate those needs into actionable, measurable advancement programming, engagement and philanthropic outcomes.  The Associate Vice Chancellor will play a key role in strategically engaging DU networks in the Campaign and provide executive leadership to DU’s Alumni. 

Essential Functions

• Provide strategy, guidance, and direction for the Alumni Engagement and Career Development teams in support of the mission, vision, values, and goals of Advancement and the University of Denver.
• Set strategy and direction for the Alumni Engagement and Career Development efforts related to the University’s multi-year, comprehensive campaign. Integrate Alumni Engagement and Career Development programming to support the DU’s mission and the Campaign.
• Define, implement, and staff an alumni volunteer structure to ensure active, involved, empowered and effective volunteer support of the campaign effort and DU.
• Provide executive leadership and vision to DU’s University-wide Alumni Council and engage the Council to help support DU and the campaign.
• Provide leadership for an anchor element of the Chancellor’s 4D student experience through guiding a contemporary Career and Professional Development team, with the function serving as a differentiator in the higher education marketplace.
• In coordination with other members of the Senior Vice Chancellor’s senior management team, assist in the preparation of materials and presentations to the Board of Trustees and its committees.
• Develop and provide written and oral reports to University leadership, staff and volunteer groups as necessary.
• Further the growth and development of the career and professional development team for current and future DU alumni. Provide sophisticated programming that offers comprehensive support to DU graduates throughout their careers.
• Drive efforts to connect alumni, families, and friends to the University and to each other through alumni chapters, affinity groups formed by common demographic and cultural attributes, reunion programming, and extensive local and regional volunteer opportunities.
• Lead efforts to support the development of broad industry connections that support the successful – and mutually beneficial – placement of DU students and alumni.
• Develop and maintains collaborative relationships and programs across campus including academic colleges, Admissions, Marketing and Communications, Athletics, and Student Affairs.
• Partner with the Senior Vice Chancellor for Advancement on major projects and initiatives in support of departmental objectives and university department, college, and overall goals.
• Utilize findings, study national trends and adopt best practices to assist in the development of programs and messaging to cultivate life-long relationships between DU and its constituents.
• Manage the Alumni Engagement and Career Development operating budget, including monitoring transactions and assisting in budget modeling and forecasting processes.
• Perform other special duties as requested by the Senior Vice Chancellor of Advancement.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Authentic curiosity about the academic and public good vision of the University of Denver as well as a strong appreciation for the extraordinary accomplishments and challenges of DUs faculty, students and alumni. Ability to conceptualize and articulate key endeavors that engage alumni and attract donors to DU.
• Sophisticated understanding of mission-driven institutions, particularly colleges and universities.
• Detailed knowledge of engagement and fundraising strategies, programs and operations.
• Aptitude for combining strategic planning and project management skills in identifying, analyzing, developing, and implementing short- and long-term strategies, approaches, metrics, and incentives.
• Exceptional oral, written, and presentation skills.
• Stature, credibility, and superior interpersonal and relationship skills to facilitate collaborative work with colleagues and peers across the Institute and with external partners and constituents. Ability to build and sustain high-performing teams.
• Dedication to excellence in all aspects of individual, collective and organizational performance.
• Tolerance for and ability to work productively in the context of ambiguity, uncertainty, and change.
• Excellent project management skills and a proven track record of successfully recruiting, training, managing, and motivating volunteers.
• Comfortable with a flexible work schedule, including significant travel for alumni engagement efforts and some evening and weekend work.
• Demonstrated ability to practice and adhere to organizational values.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent combination of education or work experience (Veterans with equivalent combination of military certification/education and experience may substitute for the degree qualification)
• 10 years of experience working within alumni relations, career services, and/or development functions, preferably in higher education or a similarly complex environment.
• 5 years of personnel and program management experience with a demonstrated commitment to coaching, mentoring and developing team members.
• Experience in successfully managing complex initiatives from the planning stages through execution and analysis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in management, public administration, communications, or other related field or equivalent experience within the work of advancement.
• Experience as a major and principal gift fundraiser with a successful track record of engagement with prospects and donors at the six-, seven- and even eight-figure levels.
• A working understanding of a university environment.

Working Environment

• Standard office environment
• Noise level is quiet to moderate

Physical Activities

• Ability to sit in front of a computer for an extended period
• Occasionally required to move about the office/campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs. with assistance

Work Schedule
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., some nights as weekends as required

Application Deadline
For best consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) Friday, September 23, 2022.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is 18.

Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $175,000-$200,000.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.