Vice President for Development and Alumni Affairs

Delaware Valley University, in beautiful Doylestown, Pennsylvania, is accepting candidates for Vice President for Development and Alumni Affairs.

The Vice President for Development and Alumni Affairs (VPDAA) is the Chief Development Officer of the University, who reports directly to the President and serves on the President's cabinet. The VPDAA leads the ongoing development and implementation of the University's fundraising activities, alumni affairs engagement, and the cultivation of a culture of philanthropy across all stakeholders. The VPDAA uses creative and best practice development strategies and processes and is responsible for ensuring alignment of fundraising activities with the strategic priorities of the University. 

This is a 12-month, full-time staff position.

Essential job responsibilities include:

I.    Provides strategic and tactical fundraising and alumni affairs leadership

• Keeps informed and evaluates internal and external forces impacting the University's fundraising and friendraising activities, and designs short and long-term plans and programs that support the University's strategic priorities and core values
• Serves as advisor to the President on all matters related to Development and Alumni Affairs
• Works with the President and the Chair of the Development Committee of the Board of Trustees to ensure strong Board participation in and support of fundraising activities
• Provides management oversight of all of the University's fundraising activities and manages the day -to-day operations of the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs
  • Oversees the establishment of fundraising goals and objectives (both departmental and individual)
  • Ensures the attainment of the University's fundraising goals through the selection, development, motivation and evaluation of human resources, both professional and volunteer
  • Ensures compliance with all relevant regulations and laws, maintains standards of accountability to donors, establishes and maintains best practice policies and procedures, and ensures compliance with ethical standards of professional conduct for fundraising activities
  • Monitors budgets within the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs and the ongoing allocation of resources
  • Creates and maintains a development and alumni affairs effectiveness evaluation system including strategic and tactical metrics
  • Creates a collegial, team-oriented work environment within the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs, motivating staff to high performance
  • Assures staff is trained and receives professional development
  • Provides constructive and timely performance evaluations and feedback
  • Oversees the development of relationships with relevant foundations and the submission of grant proposals and other solicitation materials
  • Assures the design and maintenance of donor and prospect records, gift management systems, informational reports and ongoing stewardship of donor relations
  • Assures University alumni are engaged and developed as donors and volunteers including the oversight of alumni events
• Provides principal managerial responsibility for comprehensive and special campaigns including, but not limited to, selection and oversight of any outside campaign consultants, campaign market research, development of campaign plans and timetables, development of campaign print and digital materials in collaboration with Marketing and Communications, and appropriate reporting
• Appropriately represents the University, the Board of Trustees, and the President to donors, prospects and alumni
• Closely collaborates, communicates and partners with relevant departments throughout the University, including but not limited to the AVP Business Development, to understand institutional needs and realize fundraising goals
• Maintains cooperative working relationships with the Board of Trustees, alumni, donors, faculty, coaches and campus departments whose active cooperation is essential for effective development programs
• Closely collaborates with marketing and communications to formulate the development and alumni affairs story, and the use of best practice communication tools and methods

II.    Provides institutional leadership

• Serves on the President's Cabinet
• Serves as the liaison to the Development Committee of the Board of Trustees
• Participates in institutional-level strategic planning and ongoing implementation

III. Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the President of the University

Minimum qualifications include:

• Master's degree in business, communications, public relations or a related field
• At least 8-10 years of experience in development at an institution of higher education or non-¬ profit entity
•  Minimum of five years of management experience in development
• Demonstrated experience implementing a comprehensive development program, best practices, and producing results
• Major gift solicitation experience and results
• Demonstrated experience in comprehensive and special campaigns
• CFRP (Certified Fund Raising Professional) credential preferred

The successful candidate will have the following knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Broad knowledge of fundraising strategies in higher education and the non-profit sector
• Exceptional interpersonal and organizational skills
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to effectively resolve problems and conflicts
• Demonstrated competency motivating and enabling a diverse set of staff and volunteers
• Demonstrated ability to build rapport, collaborate and partner with senior leaders and other managers, and with donors
• An entrepreneurial mind-set demonstrated by an ability to lead the creation and implementation of innovative development strategies
• Ability to contribute meaningfully to campus conversations about diversity and inclusion
• Exhibits a high level of integrity and credibility
• Familiarity with donor database software such as Raiser’s Edge

Physical demands and working conditions for this position include:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Intermittently sitting, standing, and stooping
• Occasional travel including overnight
• Evenings and weekends may be required

Why work for DelVal?

• Beautiful college campus in charming Doylestown!  
• Free parking and Septa stop on-site! 
• Collaborative, collegial colleagues! 
• Tuition waiver for self and dependents!
• Generous paid time off policy including paid winter break!
• Various discounts including campus bookstore, Bucks County YMCA, BJ’s and Costco Wholesale!
• Many other wonderful benefits including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability and flex spending and retirement plan!

Upon acceptance of offer of employment, the selected applicant will be responsible for providing the University with a Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check clearance that has been completed within the last 5 years.

Delaware Valley University is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce.