Position Summary 

Vanderbilt University’s Division of Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) is seeking a strategic, collaborative, experienced, and entrepreneurial leader to serve as the Associate Vice Chancellor (AVC) of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving.

Reporting to DAR’s Vice Chancellor, the AVC will serve as a partner and participant on the senior leadership team. They will determine the strategic direction, key performance indicators, organizational design, and long-term tactical goals for Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving. This person will be responsible for providing a dynamic environment in which alumni, donors, parents, and friends are connected to the university and thoughtfully stewarded, creative ideas towards achieving stretch goals are encouraged, and institutional collaboration is a priority.

In support of Vanderbilt’s schools and programs, the AVC will be responsible for planning, coordinating, and directing all aspects of DAR’s alumni engagement and undergraduate annual giving programs, many of which have transitioned to virtual opportunities and activities. They will build and manage a team of about 45 colleagues and lead strategic working groups comprised of alumni and annual giving stakeholders from the professional schools. Significant to success will be understanding and embracing strategies across the entire university, schools, and programs.

The AVC will serve as a key partner with university colleagues in the Career Center, Admissions, Division of Communications, Athletics, and Student Life. This position will also serve as point person with the Alumni Association Board of Directors, keeping the board informed of the university’s priorities.

Key Functions and Expected Performance 

• Provide leadership, management oversight, and strategic guidance for Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving. These two departments are crucial to DAR and Vanderbilt’s overall success and are most effective when working together seamlessly.
• Develop, lead, and execute a strategic plan for Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving that incorporates opportunities with DAR and university stakeholders.

• Design virtual engagement opportunities and Commodore Classrooms for alumni, parents and supporters that offer relevant themes and feature world-class faculty and panelists.
• Serve as a member of, and work in tandem with, DAR’s senior leadership team.
• Work collaboratively with deans/unit leaders and associate deans in the schools and colleges to develop synchronized engagement and annual giving strategies.
• Strengthen relationships and work collaboratively with DAR colleagues and university partners including the Career Center, Admissions, Division of Communications, Athletics, and Student Life to orchestrate alumni and parent connectivity.
• Work diligently to understand, embrace, and develop DAR’s unique messaging to proliferate the university’s value proposition.
• Lead, mentor, and inspire new and existing staff members through a combination of transparency, effective communication and modeling of collaborative behavior.
• Possess strong track record of working with teams to envision, orchestrate, and execute strategic initiatives that will increase engagement and philanthropic support.
• Encourage colleagues to exceed expectations, benchmark, and initiate advancement industry best practices.
• Be willing to mentor and partner with highly motivated DAR advancement professionals.
• Work cooperatively, collegially, professionally, and respectfully with DAR and university colleagues to develop and foster strong working relationships.
• Practice and uphold departmental and institutional policies regarding confidential information.
• Evening work and travel is required.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Alumni Engagement 

• Oversee the front-line manager of Alumni Engagement whose portfolio includes management of the teams responsible for engagement with and programming for alumni and students.
• Design, plan, implement, and evaluate effective alumni programming, engagement strategies, and alumni support, and communicate this plan with DAR, university-wide stakeholders, and external constituents.
• Spearhead industry-leading initiatives to increase alumni engagement and alumni reach.
• Provide strategic direction for increasing alumni engagement as newly defined by CASE.
• Serve as the external and internal face of the university on behalf of alumni.
• Function as primary liaison to the Alumni Association Board of Directors. Lead development of programs that engage alumni on a university-wide basis and further the university’s goals and objectives.

Annual Giving 

• Oversee the front-line manager of Annual Giving whose portfolio includes management of the teams responsible for securing philanthropic support for the schools and units and programming for alumni, current students (particularly seniors), parents, and families.
• Provide strategic direction to bolster overall annual giving participation and total dollars raised.
• Oversee all aspects of the university’s undergraduate school/college/unit annual giving program, including all annual giving direct mail, annual giving e-philanthropy efforts, and first-time donor efforts. Coordinate and collaborate with professional school development officers on their annual giving programs.
• Set the vision and strategy for fundraising/cultivation programs using goals/objectives and a timeline to develop short and long-term plans to increase donors and dollars raised university wide.
• Stay ahead of trends, changes, and innovations in the areas of email marketing, tele-marketing, crowdfunding, giving day activities, digital space, and other evolving annual giving strategies.
• Take overall responsibility for meeting annual giving metrics and long-term strategic planning for the department.

Supervisory Relationships

This position has executive responsibility for approximately 45 Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving staff members, including 2-3 direct reports. This position reports administratively and functionally to the Vice Chancellor of DAR.

 Experience and Skills 

• A Master’s degree, or the equivalent experience, is necessary.
• Ten years of relevant work experience in annual giving, alumni engagement or the like is necessary. Preference will be given to candidates with 10+ years of experience in higher education advancement.
• Demonstrated success in managing effective efforts in alumni engagement and annual giving with measurable and significant increases in participation rates and annual giving goals, particularly associated with a successful comprehensive campaign is essential.
• The maturity, judgment and respect requisite to engage with campus leadership and prominent alumni is needed.
• Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion is fundamental.
• A collegial, understanding leadership style that values team members and institutional partners such as the Career Center, Admissions, Division of Communications, Athletics, Student Life, and other areas is key to success.
• Effective use of responsibility delegation is needed.
• Ability to use software programs such as Windows, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint is necessary, along with familiarity of an advancement donor management system and other programs specific to development.
• The ability to build and lead teams and to work effectively and collaboratively with various groups and diverse constituencies is required.
• Success in managing volunteers is vital.
• Creativity and insight in identifying crucial collaborations between institutional goals and alumni/prospective donors is important.
• Ability to learn new concepts quickly and adeptly, and to communicate them effectively to large and diverse audiences is essential.
• Aptitude to compile and assemble key performance indicator data from multiple sources and present data in an effective and easily comprehended way is needed.
• Ability to apply sound judgment skills in all situations is required, especially related to project and team management, donor relationship building, and handling of confidential information.
• Meticulous attention to detail and accuracy, as well as superior organizational skills, are necessary.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and presentation skills are important; candidate must be able to articulate the needs, interests, and accomplishments of Vanderbilt University to important constituencies.
• Ideal candidate is a highly motivated executive with courteous interpersonal skills and an excellent customer service attitude.