Vice President for University Advancement

Missouri Southern State University; Joplin (MO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Missouri Southern State University seeks a visionary and seasoned leader to serve as Vice President for University Advancement and Executive Director of the Missouri Southern Foundation. You will direct fundraising, alumni relations, and external affairs, while ensuring diligent stewardship of private gifts and alignment with MSSU’s mission.

You will oversee staff across Development, Alumni and Donor Relations, and related units, reporting to the President and Foundation Board.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree and CFRE preferred.
• Minimum of five years in advancement/external relations or a related field.
• Proven ability to cultivate, solicit, and close major gifts, including seven-figure gifts.
• Experience developing and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies.
• Experience with advancement technology, donor databases and CRM systems.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office and data-driven fundraising.
• Ability to handle confidential and proprietary information.
• Experience planning campaigns and collaborating with presidents and boards.

Responsibilities

• Lead a comprehensive university advancement program including annual fund, major gifts, corporate and foundation gifts, planned gifts, and campaigns.
• Review and approve campus fundraising activities to align with university priorities.
• Develop community and business relations strategies and represent the University externally.
• Serve on the President’s Cabinet and engage with campus and external events.
• Maintain major gift prospect portfolio and develop donor relationships with the President.
• Travel regionally and beyond to fulfill fundraising and related duties.
• Ensure the advancement database is maintained for alumni relations and fundraising.
• Oversee alumni relations and donor engagement programs.
• Provide executive oversight of Foundation finances, budgeting, reporting, investments, and audits.
• Oversee the Foundation’s investment program and spending policy evaluation.
• Ensure compliance with donor designations, IRS policies, and nonprofit laws.
• Develop future plans with the Foundation Board and align with MSSU goals.
• Collaborate with University and Foundation leadership on priorities and funding requests.
• Lead scholarship criteria development and donor documentation for new accounts.
• Provide leadership and professional development for staff in Alumni Relations and Foundation and Development.
• Manage staffing, performance, and compliance with organizational policies.

Skills

Leadership

Fundraising

Relationship building

Strategic thinking

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

CFRE certification

Tools

Donor databases

CRM systems

Microsoft Office

Fundraising analytics

Job description

The Vice President for University Advancement of Missouri Southern State University reports to the President for university responsibilities and, upon appointment as Executive Director of the Missouri Southern Foundation, is accountable to the Foundation Board of Directors for the Foundation’s governance, operations, and fiduciary responsibilities.

As the university’s chief advancement officer, this individual leads Missouri Southern’s fundraising and external relations efforts. The Vice President for University Advancement oversees staff and programs in Development, Alumni and Donor Relations, and other units as assigned by the President, such as governmental relations.

As Executive Director of the Foundation, they report to the Foundation Board of Directors and are responsible for overseeing its business affairs, ensuring the effective stewardship of private gifts, and advancing the mission of the University.

Immersive Learning, Health and Life Sciences, and Global Education are the core pillars of Missouri Southern’s mission and identity. All MSSU employees are expected to support these three pillars. Applicants should be prepared to articulate how they would be able to contribute to these areas, understanding their importance to the institution and what we offer our students. For more information about our mission, visit our website.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Leads a comprehensive university advancement program including all fundraising activities (annual fund, major gifts, corporate and foundation gifts, planned gifts, and campaigns), as well as advancement services and alumni/donor relations.
• Reviews and approves all campus fundraising activities to ensure efforts are well- coordinated and focus on the priorities of the university.
• Works closely with the President to lead community and business relations strategies and represents the University with external constituents.
• Serves on the President’s Cabinet and, in that role, represents university leadership at both campus and external events.
• Maintains a major gift prospect portfolio and works directly with the President to develop relationships, request support, and ensure effective stewardship of gifts.
• Engages in travel, primarily within the region but occasionally beyond region, to fulfill fundraising and other responsibilities.
• Ensures the development database is maintained and enriched to serve as an effective tool for alumni relations and fundraising.
• Oversees the program of alumni relations in efforts to engage alumni effectively in the life of the university.
• Provides executive oversight of the Foundation’s financial operations, including budgeting, financial reporting, investment administration, fund transfers, audits, regulatory filings, and coordination with the MSSU Business Office and external professional advisers.
• Oversees the Foundation’s investment program. This includes monitoring investment reports prepared by investment managers, income and allocation to individual accounts, and periodic evaluation of spending policies and rates.
• Ensures compliance in multiple areas, such as donor-imposed designations, scholarship restrictions, IRS policies, and state and federal statutes and laws governing nonprofit organizations.
• Oversees the execution of long-range goals and objectives set forth by the Foundation Board of Directors in a manner consistent with the goals and strategic interests of MSSU.
• Works directly with the Foundation Board of Directors to develop future plans and resolve current issues with the Foundation.
• Serves as a conduit between the University and Foundation in areas such as strategic priorities, funding requests, engagement opportunities, and efforts to support the mission of MSSU.
• Works with donors and appropriate University representatives to develop scholarship criteria and donor agreement documentation for new accounts.
• Provides leadership, supervision, and professional development for staff in Alumni Relations, Foundation and Development, and other areas assigned by the President. Establishes clear goals and performance expectations, promotes collaboration and accountability, and supports the recruitment and retention of a high-performing team.
• Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws.
• Responsible for interviewing, hiring, training employees, planning, assigning, directing work, appraising performance, rewarding and disciplining employees, addressing complaints, and resolving problems.
• Other duties as assigned by the President.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree and Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) preferred.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in advancement, external relations, higher education, nonprofit leadership, or a comparable field. Senior-level leadership experience is preferred.
• Valid driver’s license and the ability to meet the University’s insurance requirements for driving university-owned or leased vehicles.
• Demonstrated record of personally cultivating, soliciting, and closing major and principal gifts, including seven-figure or transformational philanthropic investments.
• Successful experience developing and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies that achieve ambitious philanthropic goals.
• Experience with advancement technology, donor databases, fundraising analytics, and constituent relationship management systems.
• Good working knowledge and skill in Microsoft Office suite software.
• Proven ability to handle confidential and proprietary information.
• Demonstrated experience planning and executing a comprehensive or capital campaign, or leading an institution through campaign-readiness activities.
• Experience partnering effectively with presidents, governing boards, campaign volunteers, and senior institutional leaders.
• Demonstrated success building high-performing advancement organizations through talent development, fundraising accountability, prospect management, stewardship, and operational excellence.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strategic leadership and organizational change management
• Exceptional written, oral, and interpersonal communication
• Major and principal gift strategy, solicitation, and stewardship
• Financial literacy and understanding of nonprofit governance
• Ability to work effectively with a university president, Foundation board, donors, alumni, community leaders, and volunteers
• Sound judgment in handling confidential and sensitive information
• Ability to recruit, develop, motivate, and retain advancement professionals
• Knowledge of advancement systems, prospect management, analytics, and fundraising performance measures
• Ability to balance institutional priorities with donor intent and Foundation fiduciary responsibilities

Physical Demands/Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to handle, feel or use a computer keyboard and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

This is a full-time, exempt (salary) staff position. The starting salary is dependent upon individual qualifications and experience. Subject to plan terms, eligibility requirements, and University policy, benefit options will be provided, including medical, dental and vision coverage, life insurance, vacation and sick leave, and retirement plan options.

Notice

This job profile does not include all essential and nonessential duties of this job. All employees with disabilities are encouraged to contact Human Resources to review and discuss the essential and nonessential functions of the job. An employee with a disability can evaluate the job in greater detail to determine if they can safely perform the essential function of this job with or without reasonable accommodation.