Vice President for Development

ADP, Inc.; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 160,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Arizona Foundation seeks a Vice President for Development to guide the Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement (PAE) Development Team. This role reports to the Chief Development Officer and partners with senior leaders to meet ambitious fundraising goals and strategic initiatives.

The VP will build major gift programs, manage a portfolio of high-value prospects, and lead a team through governance, strategy, and donor relations to advance the university’s missions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 10+ years of major gift fundraising experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead major gift fundraising strategies across campus units.
• Develop and manage a 20–25 prospect portfolio and steward high-level donors.
• Create and implement moves management to identify through stewardship.
• Collaborate with university leadership, deans, and volunteers to achieve fundraising goals.
• Ensure accurate donor reporting and compliance with university policies.
• Oversee staffing, training, and performance development for the team.

Skills

Leadership

Fundraising strategy

Major gifts

Communication

Strategic planning

Team collaboration

CRM (Lynx)

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Lynx CRM

Microsoft Office

Job description

Vice President for Development

Full Time Tucson, AZ, US

Job Description

General Position Summary:

The Vice President for Development (VP) provides leadership, vision, and strategic direction for the University’s Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement Program’s (PAE) Development Team.

Reporting to the Executive Vice President & Chief Development Officer this position is a key member of the UA Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement team (PAE) senior staff, providing support and coordinating the resources of other operating units to achieve optimum financial results. This position also works with senior University and PAE leaders, deans, department heads, faculty, and staff to achieve established fundraising goals and objectives.

The primary responsibilities of the Vice President of Development are:

• Working under the direction of the SVP, this position is responsible for supporting and coordinating major-gift fundraising strategies for approximately 4-6 (four to six) campus colleges and/or units.
• Create and manage an original portfolio of 20-25 prospects, serving as a major/principal gifts officer who cultivates relationships, submits major/principal proposals, and stewards high level donors, spearhead specific fundraising initiatives as appropriate

Supervisory Responsibility:

This position is supervisory in nature. This position will be accountable for performance planning and evaluation, staff training and development, recruitment, employee relations, and management, planning, and execution of work and deliverables.

The successful candidate will work very closely with deans and unit directors and their development team members to foster a culture of major gift philanthropy, implement best practices, and to lead by example in personally implementing successful fundraising strategies with his/her own assigned prospects and donors and following UA and UAF relevant policies and procedures in doing so.

Essential Functions/Major Responsibilities:

• Assist in recruitment, training, coaching, and mentoring development professionals.
• Work with UA Foundation colleagues, UA senior leadership, college/unit development officers, and deans/unit directors to establish annual fundraising goals and guide specific fundraising strategies that are aligned with the PAE Development Program goals; reviewing and developing a moves management approach that takes prospects from identification through stewardship.
• Coordinate and execute quarterly team strategy meetings for top open proposals for current fiscal year for both lead and non-lead development officers.
• Working with PAE senior staff and HR, identify and assist in creating and executing appropriate training and professional development opportunities.
• Ensure accountability for fundraising metrics of the team and exemplify accountability and transparency by routinely recording contact reports, proposals, and other pertinent information, and following UA and UAF development-related policies and procedures.
• Support consistent messaging with development team, supporting overall goals, objectives, and processes.
• Educate and inform various internal and external constituent groups about development services provided by the PAE.
• Collaborate with senior University administrators and academic leadership team members, as well as other University, PAE and community leaders, on matters related to soliciting and securing private support for the advancement of the University of Arizona to ensure solid communication with all colleges/units across campus in the execution of duties.
• Represent UA and PAE at campus and community events.
• Demonstrate and build a spirit of teamwork within a large and diverse organization.
• Build and manage a portfolio of 20-25 qualified prospects, including individuals, grateful patients, foundations, and select corporations.
• Achieve annual metrics: 100+ donor/prospect visits and 20+ proposals per year, with revenue expectations of $5M+ after onboarding.
• Ability to work with and command the respect of senior leadership, faculty, and administrators, and high-level volunteers.
• Collaborate with faculty, clinicians, and researchers to identify philanthropic opportunities and translate complex initiatives into compelling donor cases.
• Engage and support volunteer leaders and boards as appropriate.
• Utilize the UAF CRM (Lynx) to record donor interactions, proposals, and activity in a timely, accurate manner.
• Partner with colleagues across PAE to ensure integrated donor engagement and maximize fundraising impact.
• Provide guidance for donor communications, event strategy, and stewardship plans.
• Ensure all gifts comply with University gift policies and are acknowledged appropriately.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Commitment to working in a collaborative team environment with shared goals.
• Ability to work efficiently with a wide variety of individuals, including donors, PAE colleagues, deans, faculty and staff.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to effectively communicate both verbally and written.
• Demonstrated commitment to exceptional customer service with the ability to translate the PAE guiding principles of donor-centricity and collaboration into work practices.
• Ability to recognize and handle highly confidential, sensitive information or private health information in a discrete and professional manner.
• Work with excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Be able to work independently with the ability to prioritize multiple projects and meet strict deadlines for deliverables.
• Ability to anticipate and discern work priorities and meet deadlines with little supervision.
• Adept at problem-solving and using judgment in situations requiring initiative, tact, and confidentiality.
• An exceptional work ethic and track record of personal initiative required.
• Openness to new ideas and personal flexibility with the ability to adapt and succeed in a multi-task, fast-paced environment with changing processes and occasional ambiguity.
• Ability to inspire cooperation and participation.
• Proficiency in the use of personal computers and Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).
• Proficiency or ability to learn additional software required to perform the essential duties of the position.
• Knowledge and proven experience implementing management principles, including planning, leading, directing, mentoring, evaluating, and motivating staff. May contribute to recommending pay decisions for their direct reports.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and at least t en (10) years of experience in major gift fundraising, including success securing gifts of $1 million or more.
• Management experience of development professionals and support staff.
• Any equivalent combination of experience, training, and/or education as approved by Human Resources.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in a higher education setting.
• Ability to drive/attend meetings throughout Arizona and travel by commercial airline as needed.
• Occasional travel and evening/weekend work required to fulfill donor engagement and event responsibilities.
• This is a full-time, exempt position based in Tucson, Arizona and is not eligible for remote/hybrid work

The University of Arizona Foundation reserves the right to revise this job description at any time.