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Senior Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer

Posting Details

Posting Details

Job #
039698

Department Code
00000000

Department
Advancement and External Affairs

Job Title
Senior Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer

Location
Syracuse, NY

Pay Range
Commensurate with Experience

Staff Level
00

FLSA Status
Exempt

Hours

Standard University business hours

8:30am – 5:00pm (academic year)
8:00am – 4:30pm (summer)

Hours may vary based on operational needs.

Job Type
Full-time

Campus
Syracuse, NY

Unionized Position Code
Not Applicable

Job Description

The next senior vice president and chief advancement officer ( CAO ) of Syracuse University will provide executive and administrative direction across the university’s development and alumni affairs programs as a member of the Chancellor’s senior leadership team. Reporting to Chancellor and President Kent Syverud, this executive will be a visionary, strategic, and results-oriented leader. The CAO has oversight responsibility for all staff and activities involved with fundraising and alumni relations to support the programs of the university as well as responsibility for completing the current Forever Orange campaign.

The Advancement and External Affairs portfolio also includes all activities designed to engage alumni, corporations, foundations and non-alumni donors in support of Syracuse and in the building, cultivating, and nurturing of relationships essential for fundraising success. The CAO and the advancement team are also responsible for partnering with university leadership across campus to develop compelling fundraising projects that fulfill the university’s mission.

Syracuse University seeks a driven, innovative, and highly skilled senior vice president and chief advancement officer to serve as a strategic partner committed to the university’s success. The ideal candidate will have a successful track record of leading and closing large comprehensive campaigns as well as deep personal experience cultivating and closing principal gifts. The next CAO will also be an effective leader, able to coach and motivate an advancement team to high performance.

Syracuse University has retained WittKieffer, a national and global executive search firm, to assist in this search. All applications, inquiries, and nominations, which will remain confidential, are invited. Applications should include, as a separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in this profile. Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal: https://candidateportal.wittkieffer.com/login.
Nominations and inquiries can be directed to Greg Duyck, Robin Mamlet, and Alejandra Gillette-Teran at SyracuseSVP-CAO@wittkieffer.com.


Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree required, advanced degree strongly preferred.
Job Specific Qualifications
  • A demonstrated ability to plan, execute and successfully complete a significant campaign that elevates the fundraising efforts and stature of an elite higher education institution.
  • A record of success prospecting, soliciting, and closing gifts of seven figures or more.
  • A passion for the mission and aspirations of Syracuse, the ability to successfully articulate that mission and generate excitement about the university among diverse constituents, and the desire to play a meaningful role in the life of the university.
  • Commitment to an overall advancement philosophy that is relationship-focused rather than transactional and the experience to inculcate that ethos in the Syracuse advancement program.
  • The professional credibility and accomplishment required to effectively engage and leverage the Chancellor, university leadership, academic deans, faculty, volunteer leaders, alumni, and other constituents in the cultivation and solicitation of key prospects.
  • Success managing a significant development operation and an understanding of well-coordinated alumni relations, annual giving, and development programs.
  • A record of recruiting and retaining exceptional talent, building high-performing and collaborative teams, and supporting the professional development of staff.
  • An appreciation for the role that athletics plays in the overall student experience, enhancing an institution’s visibility and engaging donors, alumni and the community, and experience in fundraising for athletic programs.
  • An understanding of and commitment to the importance of creating an environment that is inclusive, equitable and allows individuals from all backgrounds with diverse perspectives to be engaged and successful.
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, and the ability to translate the university’s impact through teaching and research into compelling cases for investment through philanthropic contributions and corporate partnerships.
  • A strong work ethic supported by commitment and follow-through.
  • A keen eye for operational efficiency and optimal use of resources, including the ability to plan, monitor and manage a budget.
Responsibilities

Syracuse University seeks a visionary, strategic, and results-oriented leader to serve as its senior vice president and chief advancement officer. The CAO will report to Chancellor and President Kent Syverud and serve as a trusted advisor and member of the Executive Team. The CAO has oversight responsibility for all staff and activities involved with fundraising and alumni relations to support the programs of the university as well as responsibility for completing the current Forever Orange campaign.

The CAO provides guidance, direction, and supervision to six direct reports:
  • Vice President for Schools, Colleges, and Administration
  • Vice President for Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving
  • Vice President for Principal Gifts and Strategic Initiatives
  • Vice President for Advancement, Academic Affairs
  • Associate Vice President for Central Giving Teams
  • Associate Vice President for Multicultural Advancement
  • Work closely with the Chancellor in maintaining a portfolio of leadership gift prospects, optimizing use of the Chancellor’s available time to fundraise and solicit gifts from new and existing donors.
  • Assess and identify the needs of AEA to grow fundraising at Syracuse, execute a strategic advancement plan to complete the current Forever Orange campaign, and develop a long-term plan to increase fundraising.
  • Build close working relationships with university leaders, academic deans, heads of research centers, faculty, and others to understand their needs, leverage their strengths, and provide support and guidance to increase philanthropic contributions and develop new corporate partnerships.
  • Work with the Department of Athletics to cultivate relationships with donors and corporate partners and raise funds to support facility enhancements, athletic teams, and scholarships for student-athletes.
  • Maintain best practices in advancement and explore creative new solutions, particularly in the areas of performance metrics, principal gift strategy, and alumni engagement.
  • Assess the AEA organizational structure and operating plan to create an environment that promotes maximum efficiency and efficacy, enhances creativity, ensures the seamless execution of programs, and builds a culture in which all staff feel a sense of ownership in the success of the team and the university.
  • Exhibit a leadership style that is collaborative and empowers staff through active communication and delegation, thereby providing opportunity for professional development and growth.
  • Serve as the primary advocate for AEA within the larger university community and help staff navigate organizational challenges when they arise.
  • Contribute to a comprehensive communications strategy for Syracuse from a donor and alumni engagement perspective, providing vehicles for more effective external and internal communications.
  • Travel domestically and internationally to represent Syracuse and cultivate meaningful relationships with donors, alumni, corporations, and foundations.
  • Ensure that Syracuse alumni are engaged, informed, and involved in the activities of the university through relevant and effective programs that facilitate their connection to one another and the university.
  • Champion a culture of diversity and inclusiveness that more fully engages the university’s various constituencies externally and internally at an increasingly deep and meaningful level.

Physical Requirements

NA

Tools/Equipment

NA

Application Instructions

Syracuse University has retained WittKieffer, a national and global executive search firm, to assist in this search. All applications, inquiries, and nominations, which will remain confidential, are invited. Applications should include, as a separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in this profile. Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal: https://candidateportal.wittkieffer.com/login.
Nominations and inquiries can be directed to Greg Duyck, Robin Mamlet, and Alejandra Gillette-Teran at SyracuseSVP-CAO@wittkieffer.com.


About Syracuse University

Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and nearly 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience.

The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors and 100 minors offered through 13 schools and colleges; nearly 15,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit www.syracuse.edu.

About the Syracuse area

Syracuse is a medium-sized city situated in the geographic center of New York State approximately 250 miles northwest of New York City. The metro-area population totals approximately 500,000. The area offers a low cost of living and provides many social, cultural, and recreational options, including parks, museums, festivals, professional regional theater, and premier shopping venues. Syracuse and Central New York present a wide range of seasonal recreation and attractions ranging from water skiing and snow skiing, hiking in the Adirondacks, touring the historic sites, visiting wineries along the Finger Lakes, and biking on trails along the Erie Canal.

EEO Statement

Syracuse University is an equal-opportunity, affirmative-action institution. The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law to the extent prohibited by law. This nondiscrimination policy covers admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs, services, and activities.

Commitment to Supporting and Hiring Veterans

Syracuse University has a long history of engaging veterans and the military-connected community through its educational programs, community outreach, and employment programs. After World War II, Syracuse University welcomed more than 10,000 returning veterans to our campus, and those veterans literally transformed Syracuse University into the national research institution it is today. The University’s contemporary commitment to veterans builds on this historical legacy, and extends to both class-leading initiatives focused on making an SU degree accessible and affordable to the post-9/11 generation of veterans, and also programs designed to position Syracuse University as the employer of choice for military veterans, members of the Guard and Reserve, and military family members.

Commitment to a Diverse and Inclusive Campus Community

Syracuse University maintains an inclusive learning environment in which students, faculty, administrators, staff, curriculum, social activities, governance, and all other aspects of campus life reflect a diverse, multi-cultural, and international worldview. The University community recognizes and values the many similarities and differences among individuals and groups. At Syracuse, we are committed to preparing students to understand, live among, appreciate, and work in an inherently diverse country and world made up of people with different ethnic and racial backgrounds, military backgrounds, religious beliefs, socio-economic status, cultural traditions, abilities, sexual orientations and gender identities. To do so, we commit ourselves to promoting a community that celebrates and models the principles of diversity and inclusivity.

Quick Link
https://www.sujobopps.com/postings/98842

Job Posting Date
05/03/2023

Application Deadline

Full Consideration By

Job Category
Staff

Message to Applicants

Syracuse University is interested in candidates who have the communication skills and cross-cultural abilities to maximize their effectiveness with diverse groups of colleagues, students and community members. Women, military veterans, individuals with disabilities, and members of other traditionally underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. Syracuse University is an equal opportunity employer, as well as a federal contractor required to take affirmative action on behalf of protected veterans.

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