Assistant Vice President for Development

The Johns Hopkins University; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 225,000 - 275,000; Full time

Job summary

The Johns Hopkins University seeks an Assistant Vice President for Development to enhance its fundraising strategy across multiple programs. This role requires significant leadership experience, with a strong background in managing development teams and implementing successful campaigns. The ideal candidate will cultivate key donor relationships, ensuring effective collaboration across departments. The position is located on the Mount Washington Campus and targets a salary of $250,000, with potential for a discretionary bonus.

Qualifications

• At least ten years of development experience with senior leadership responsibilities.
• Record of managing high-performing teams.
• Experience in campaign planning and implementation.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage multiple development programs and schools.
• Develop, manage, and cultivate relationships with key donors.
• Foster a positive working environment and organizational culture.

Skills

Senior leadership

Fundraising strategy

Collaboration

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Advanced degree

Job description

The Development and Alumni Relations organization at Johns Hopkins University has a development team of approximately 550 individuals and an overall budget of $70 million. The division enjoys tremendous support from the academic leadership of Johns Hopkins University and Medicine. More than 190 frontline fundraisers help generate an average of $800 million in total commitments annually, with the last three fiscal years averaging over one billion dollars per fiscal year.

The Division has embraced the following core operating values that steer the organization:

• A deep commitment to collaboration and working across boundaries;
• A focus on people through the professional development and growth of the staff;
• A driving awareness of the responsibility to build internal and external relationships for the University;
• A fundamental commitment to integrity;
• An embrace of creativity and innovation;
• A trust in and respect for colleagues and the spirit of transparency.

Assistant Vice President for Development

The Assistant Vice President (AVP) will bring senior development and fundraising strategy experience to act as an executive leader within DAR, providing oversight of multiple university-based development programs and schools.

Reporting to the Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations, the AVP will lead through partnerships with other DAR leadership, drive accountability and high performance within teams, and facilitate cross‑institutional collaboration on donor strategy and giving opportunities.

Duties and Responsibilities

DAR Leadership and Management

• Strengthen organizational effectiveness:
  • Manage staff across the institution with clearly defined measurable goals and metrics to assess individual and team performance; such systems should inspire all staff and engender a commitment to reach all professional goals.
  • Establish annual goals, plans, progress, and operations, and make decisions related to organizational strategic planning and vision.
  • Work closely with members of DAR leadership to facilitate organizational goals, increase capacity, shorten time to decisions, and strengthen overall performance.
• Foster a positive working environment:
  • Lead and inspire the development and alumni relations team by fostering a culture where effective teamwork, collaboration, innovation, excellence, and inclusion are recognized and rewarded; lead by example regarding professionalism, creativity, entrepreneurship, appropriate risk‑taking, and cross‑organizational cooperation.
  • Work with staff throughout the entire division as a leader, advocate, mentor, catalyst, and expert.
  • Cultivate a culture that embraces DAR and JHU values and engages and grows staff throughout their tenure at Hopkins.

University Development Program Management and Oversight

• Oversee vision and leadership for multiple university fundraising programs, schools, institutes, and centers of excellence.
• Work with the VP, deans, and academic leaders on fundraising planning, operations, staffing, and related activities.
• Provide oversight of the development office leader in each school/program to guide work plan, goal setting, pipeline building, strategies, and progress toward fundraising goals; drive accountability to the stated objectives each fiscal year.
• Partner on prospects and visits with leaders, as needed, to enhance relationship building and donor engagement.
• Work with DOFF leaders on their respective Advisory Boards and leadership councils. Attend meetings, strategize, assist in building relationships, and identify new members.
• Assist with strategies for alumni relations and development communications.
• Partner with academic leaders on hiring and management of the Associate Deans.
• Align DOFF practices and strategies with central resources and priorities; bridge communication and strategic planning gaps and champion areas for improved partnerships and resource utilization.
• Work closely with partners and leadership outside DAR to build a culture of philanthropy across the university.
• Support team transitions, occasionally acting as interim fundraising leader and supervisor for programs facing vacancies.
• Partner with direct reports to establish campaign goals and decision‑making related to campaign management and completion.

Donor and Volunteer Management

• Develop, in coordination with the Vice President, an individual portfolio of twenty key donors/prospects to work with, in conjunction with divisional Deans, and the President.
• Work directly with donors, trustees, and volunteers in partnership with the VP on key opportunities, including gift commitments, trustee committees, and philanthropic advice/guidance.

Additional Leadership and Project Responsibilities

• Take on permanent and temporary leadership of teams and initiatives within DAR, leveraging change management tools and succession planning to lead shifting programs toward success.
• Serve as the executive sponsor of special projects or emerging priorities as identified by DAR leadership.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required, advanced degree preferred.
• Senior leadership responsibilities at a comprehensive university and/or medical center, with at least ten years of development experience.
• A record of achievement in managing leaders and building and retaining high‑performing teams of talented individuals.
• Campaign planning and implementation experience, preferably within a research environment.
• Significant gift solicitation and negotiation experience at the seven‑ and eight‑figure dollar level.
• Experience working with senior academic leaders in building key projects and goals and developing philanthropic opportunities.
• Proven collaboration and partnership skills to accomplish shared goals involving colleagues and other senior leaders.
• Demonstrated skill at directing/managing multiple complex projects concurrently and within stipulated budgets and timelines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Diplomatic, politically astute, and patient.
• Collaborative and collegial.
• Strategic, dynamic, and foresightful thinker regarding a broad spectrum of organizational issues.
• High emotional intelligence, excellent interpersonal and listening skills.
• Energetic self‑starter.
• Keenly intelligent.
• Excellent communicator.
• Poised, confident, calm, and resilient.
• Detail‑oriented.
• Creative problem solver and multitasker by nature.

Compensation

Targeted salary: $250,000. This position may be eligible for a discretionary bonus; the actual compensation may vary slightly.

Location and Schedule

Mount Washington Campus. Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:30 am–5:00 pm. FLSA Status: Exempt. Employment type: Full Time.