Vice President for Advancement and External Relations

Commonwealth of VA Careers; Tazewell (VA); On-site; USD 111,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Southwest Virginia Community College (SWCC) seeks a dynamic Vice President for Advancement and External Relations to lead fundraising, communications, and external partnerships. The role advances student success and regional impact by growing philanthropic support and strengthening community and business ties.

Reporting to the President, you will oversee foundation relations, grant development, and major institutional events while guiding strategy, budgeting, and stakeholder engagement to

Qualifications

• Master's degree from an accredited institution.
• Progressively responsible leadership with advancement or fundraising experience.
• Experience in communications, marketing, grant development, or public affairs.
• Proven success securing philanthropic support and external funding.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Experience leading staff, managing budgets, and using data to drive strategy.
• Ability to lead change and collaborate across diverse partners.
• Commitment to ethical leadership and student-centered decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for advancement, grants, marketing, and alumni engagement.
• Oversee fundraising strategy including major gifts, annual giving, and sponsorships.
• Coordinate grant development, proposal development, and compliance reporting.
• Represent the college to community leaders, employers, and external stakeholders.
• Develop relationships with local/state/federal officials and advocate for the college.
• Oversee integrated marketing, communications, and public relations strategies.
• Plan major events and ensure effective outcomes and engagement.
• Utilize data and metrics to evaluate effectiveness and inform decisions.
• Advise the President and Cabinet on advancement, communications, and external affairs.
• Supervise personnel and foster collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Fundraising

Communications

Grant development

Community relations

Higher education administration

Data analytics

Change management

Budget management

Alumni engagement

Education

Master's degree

Job description

Title: Vice President for Advancement and External Relations

Agency: Southwest Virginia Community College

Location: Tazewell - 185

FLSA: Exempt

Hiring Range: $111,100 to $140,000

Full Time or Part Time: Full Time

Additional Detail

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.

Minimum 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.

Additional Considerations:

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