Assistant Vice President for Advancement Operations

Aurora University; Aurora (IL); On-site; USD 115,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

403(b) retirement plan

Tuition remission

Job summary

Aurora University is seeking an Assistant Vice President for Advancement Operations and Strategy to provide strategic oversight of the Advancement Operations program. This role involves leading a team to ensure effective management of donor information and reporting systems.

Candidates should have at least a Bachelor's degree, preferably a Master's, and a minimum of 5 years of experience in database management and financial reporting within higher education or non-profit sectors. Compensation ranges from $115,000 - $125,000 annually, along with excellent benefits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
• At least 5 years of successful experience with database management, gift accounting, and financial reporting.
• Experience in higher education or non-profit fundraising strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and implement strategies for advancement operations.
• Oversee the advancement CRM ensuring data integrity.
• Provide leadership driven by data insights.

Skills

Database management

Fundraising principles

Interpersonal skills

Verbal communication

Organizational skills

Report-writing systems

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

Raiser's Edge

Job description

Position Purpose

The Assistant Vice President for Advancement Operations and Strategy provides strategic oversight and management of the Advancement Operations program at AU by gathering, organizing, managing, and disseminating information to make real‑time data‑driven decisions. This position establishes and implements the processes, guidelines, and infrastructure needed for a sound Advancement Operations program through management of gift processing, gift and campaign accounting and reporting, constituent data, philanthropic analytics, information systems and enabling technologies, budget and financial reporting, and program performance metrics.

Working closely in collaboration with and reporting to the Vice President of Philanthropy and Engagement, this position fosters a collaborative team culture and establishes metrics for success. The role utilizes industry standards, best practices, and institutional policy to manage functions related to accurate entry and management of donor and gift information, data administration and reporting, and collaboration with internal and external constituents in support of the Advancement function.

Core Competencies

• Represents Aurora University positively in interactions with prospective, former and current students, clients, suppliers, and the community.
• Upholds the Mission Statement and supports an inclusive community dedicated to transformative learning.
• Handles confidential university business with tact and discretion.
• Supports learning through essential job functions and participates in university committees, activities, and events.

Essential Job Functions

• Leads, develops, and implements comprehensive strategies for advancement operations aligned with institutional goals.
• Leads and mentors the team responsible for research, gift, donor and constituent records in the Advancement information system/database.
• Oversees the management and integrity of the advancement CRM/database (e.g., Raiser's Edge) ensuring accuracy, data integrity, security, and user training.
• Develops, implements, and maintains industry‑standard processes and systems related to gift accounting, including fund creation, fund management, matching gift processes, and gifts‑in‑kind.
• Provides leadership driven by data insights, setting measurable goals and evaluating outcomes.
• Leads grant operations, supporting proposal development, compliance, and reporting.
• Fosters collaborative relationships within the university and community for data and reporting considerations.
• Serves as liaison to Information Technology Services regarding data systems and equipment.
• Establishes annual operating budgets with the VP and staff.
• Develops and administers fundraising and gift processing policies.
• Maintains knowledge of current best practices and evaluates new ideas for potential implementation at AU.

Education

Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.

Experience

At least 5 years of successful experience with database management, gift accounting and processing, financial reporting and accounting. Experience in higher education or non‑profit fundraising/development strongly preferred.

Skills

• Excellent understanding of relational databases and report‑writing systems; knowledge of Raiser's Edge preferred.
• Knowledge of fundraising principles, methods and standards with emphasis on information systems, development services, and prospect research.
• Understanding of IRS rulings applicable to charitable contributions and fundraising.
• Strong interpersonal and team collaboration skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects to produce quality results in a fast‑paced environment.
• Strong organizational and detail‑orientation skills.

Physical Requirements

Ability to move about on campus and interact via telephone, in person and electronically.

Compensation

The anticipated pay rate for this position is $115,000 - $125,000 per year. Compensation is subject to change at the sole discretion of the university.

Benefits

Benefit‑eligible positions offer excellent benefits including health, dental, life, vision, long‑term disability, a 403(b) retirement plan through TIAA, and tuition remission.

• Health Insurance – Choice of HMO or PPO offered through BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois.
• Dental and Vision Insurance – Choice of two dental plans and vision insurance offered through Blue Cross Blue Shield.
• Life Insurance – 1.5 times annual salary, dependent on age; additional coverage may be purchased.
• Long‑Term Disability – 60% of salary.
• TIAA Retirement Account – 403b retirement plan with matching contributions from first day of employment.
• Flexible Spending Accounts – for medical costs and dependent care.
• Paid Time Off – vacation, personal, and sick leave.
• Holidays – university observes nine major holidays.
• Tuition Assistance – for AU undergraduate courses and graduate programs at specified percentages after one year of full‑time employment.
• Tuition Exchange – eligibility through Tuition Exchange (TE) and CIC‑TEP programs after one year.

To see more benefits details and breakdowns please see our benefits guide.

Aurora University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Aurora University offers competitive, flexible benefits to eligible employees.