Vice President for Advancement and External Relations

Virginia Community Colleges; Tazewell (VA); On-site; USD 111,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement benefits

Paid leave

State employee benefits

Job summary

Southwest Virginia Community College seeks a visionary Vice President for Advancement and External Relations to lead fundraising, marketing, alumni relations, and foundation partnerships. The role drives strategic initiatives to expand resources and advance student success within a collaborative cabinet framework.

The position emphasizes philanthropy, external partnerships, and effective communication with community leaders and officials to support regional economic growth and institutional

Qualifications

• Master’s degree from an accredited institution is required.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills are essential.
• Significant, progressively responsible leadership experience in advancement, fundraising, or related fields.
• Demonstrated success securing philanthropic support and grants.
• Experience leading and supervising staff and managing budgets.
• Ability to utilize data and analytics to inform strategy and improve performance.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction for the College Foundation and align priorities with College goals.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive advancement and external relations strategy.
• Lead and coordinate fundraising, donor stewardship, and sponsorship activities.
• Oversee grant development, administration, and reporting systems.
• Cultivate relationships with community leaders, employers, and stakeholders to support student success and regional growth.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Data analytics

Budget management

Change management

Education

Master’s degree

Job description

Vice President for Advancement and External Relations

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Posting Summary

Working Title

Working Title Vice President for Advancement and External Relations

Role Title

Role Title 12 month - Administrative - In

Role Code

Role Code 01123-SW

FLSA

FLSA Exempt

Pay Band

Pay Band 00

Position Number

Position Number 294FA007

Agency

Agency Southwest Virginia Community College

Agency/Division

Agency/Division Southwest Virginia Community College (Div)

Work Location

Work Location Tazewell - 185

Hiring Range

Hiring Range $111,100 to $140,000

Emergency/Essential Personnel No

EEO Category

EEO Category 1-Officials and Administrators

Full Time or Part Time

Full Time or Part Time Full Time

Does this position have telework options? -Telework options are subject to change based on business needs-

Does this position have telework options? -Telework options are subject to change based on business needs- No

Does this position have a bilingual or multilingual skill requirement or preference?

Does this position have a bilingual or multilingual skill requirement or preference? No

Work Schedule

Monday – Friday, 7:45am to 4:30pm with evening and weekend hours as needed.

Sensitive Position

Sensitive Position No

Job Description

Southwest Virginia Community College ( SWCC ) offers career-training programs in numerous technical, industrial and medical fields at a reasonable cost, going so far as to even waive tuition for certain eligible students. Located in Richlands, Virginia, SWCC offers associate’s degrees in such fields as business, education, general studies, liberal arts and science. These degrees are primarily intended for students who wish to transfer to a four-year university. SWCC also has associate degrees that feature programs intended to lead directly to a career in fields such as Nursing, Radiography and Administration of Justice.

Position Summary

The Vice President for Advancement and External Relations serves as a member of the President’s Cabinet and provides strategic leadership for advancement, grant development, marketing and communications, major institutional events, alumni engagement, and foundation relations. Reporting directly to the President, the Vice President advances the College’s mission by increasing philanthropic support, strengthening community and business partnerships, enhancing institutional visibility, and securing external resources that support student success and organizational sustainability.

The Vice President serves as the College’s chief external relations officer and works collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to advance the College’s priorities in Student Success and Learning, Workforce and Economic Impact, Access and Student Opportunity, Efficiency and Resource Stewardship, and Community and Regional Relevance.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction for the College Foundation through supervision of the Executive Director and partnership with the Foundation Board, fostering a culture of philanthropy and advancing the Foundation’s growth, sustainability, and impact in support of the College’s mission and strategic priorities. The Vice President ensures alignment between Foundation and College priorities, while the Executive Director is responsible for day-to-day Foundation operations and implementation of approved advancement strategies.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive advancement and external relations strategy aligned with the College’s mission, strategic priorities, and long-term sustainability goals.
• Lead and coordinate institutional fundraising efforts, including major gifts, annual giving, donor stewardship, sponsorships, and corporate and foundation relations, in coordination with the President and, as appropriate, Foundation Executive Director, to expand educational access and opportunity through scholarships, philanthropic investment, and other resource-development initiatives.
• Provide strategic oversight and coordination of the College’s grant development and administration activities, including identification of funding opportunities, proposal development and submission, and effective systems for grant compliance and reporting in collaboration with responsible project leaders and administrative offices.
• Serve as a primary representative and ambassador for the College and cultivate productive relationships and partnerships with community leaders, employers, business and industry, foundations, economic development organizations, community agencies, donors, alumni, and other external stakeholders to support student success, workforce development, and regional economic growth.
• In coordination with the President, develop and maintain productive relationships with local, state, and federal officials and advocate for initiatives that support the College’s mission and strategic priorities.
• Provide strategic oversight of integrated marketing, communications, public relations, branding, media relations, reputation management, issues communication, and digital engagement strategies that enhance the College’s reputation, visibility, and community impact.
• Provide strategic oversight of major institutional and external-facing events that advance College priorities and strengthen engagement with students, employees, alumni, donors, partners, and the broader community.
• Utilize data, performance metrics, and assessment practices to evaluate effectiveness, inform strategic decision-making, improve outcomes, and ensure responsible stewardship of institutional, donor, and grant resources.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the President and Cabinet on matters related to advancement, communications, community and government relations, and external affairs.
• Supervise, develop, and evaluate assigned personnel while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, customer service, and continuous improvement.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the President.

Why Work at SWCC ?

Southwest Virginia Community College ( SWCC ) offers meaningful work, a collaborative campus environment, opportunities for professional growth, and a comprehensive benefits package that includes health insurance, retirement benefits through the Virginia Retirement System, paid leave, and other valuable state employee benefits.

Special Assignments

May be required to perform other duties as assigned. May be required to assist the agency or state government generally in the event of an emergency declaration by the Governor.

KSA's/Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Significant progressively responsible leadership experience that includes advancement and/or fundraising, together with experience in one or more of the following: communications, marketing, grant development, community relations, government or public affairs, higher education administration, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success securing philanthropic support, including significant gifts or other charitable contributions, and demonstrated success securing grants, sponsorships, corporate or foundation support, or other external funding.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to serve as an ambassador for the institution and build and sustain trust-based relationships and productive partnerships across diverse internal and external constituencies.
• Experience leading and supervising professional staff and managing budgets.
• Demonstrated ability to utilize data and analytics to inform strategy, evaluate effectiveness, and improve organizational performance.
• Demonstrated capacity to lead change, manage competing priorities, solve complex problems, and build consensus across diverse constituencies.
• Demonstrated commitment to ethical leadership, transparency, collaboration, and student-centered decision-making, and to the community college mission of expanding educational opportunity, workforce development, and community advancement.

• Community college experience.
• Experience working with a college foundation, nonprofit board, or advisory board.
• Experience in government relations, public affairs, workforce development, or economic development partnerships.
• Experience in alumni engagement or alumni relations.

Operation of a State Vehicle

Supervises Employees Yes

Required Travel

Posting Number

Posting Number FAC_2072P

Recruitment Type

Recruitment Type General Public - G

Number of Vacancies

Number of Vacancies 1

Position End Date (if temporary)

Job Open Date

Job Open Date 09/17/2026

Job Close Date

Job Close Date 10/18/2026

Open Until Filled No

Agency Website

Agency Website www.sw.edu

Contact Name

Contact Name Human Resources

Email

Email [e-mail]

Phone Number

Phone Number 276.964.7339

Special Instructions to Applicants

The selected candidate’s offer is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background investigation, which may include: fingerprint checks, local agency checks, employment verification, verification of education, credit checks (relevant to employment). Additionally, selected candidates may be required to complete the Commonwealth’s Statement of Economic Interest. For more information, please follow this link: http://ethics.dls.virginia.gov/

EEO Statement

The Virginia Community College System ( VCCS ) provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, political affiliation, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or other non-merit factors.

ADA Statement

The Virginia Community College System ( VCCS ) is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Acts ( ADA and ADAAA ), to provide, reasonable accommodation to applicants in need of access to the application, interviewing, and selection processes when requested.

E-Verify Statement

VCCSuses E-Verify to check employee eligibility to work in the United States. You will be required to complete an I-9 form and provide documentation of your identity for employment purposes.