Job Description

The Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) is the chief fundraiser for Student Affairs and has responsibility for planning and implementing a comprehensive development program. The Chief Advancement Officer will solicit philanthropic gifts from alumni/friends/parents of Virginia Tech and who align with strategic priorities of the areas.

Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Advancement and Campaign Director and the Vice President for Student Affairs, the Chief Advancement Officer will:

- Travel, on average, five to eight days per month to cultivate, solicit, steward, and identify prospects for Student Affairs, as well as for overall top university campaign priorities.
- Have a portfolio of approximately 100 - 125 prospects.
- Have a typical solicitation range of $100,000 to $1,000,000.
- Close $2,000,000 per year using a three-year rolling average.
- Close on average 10-13 major gifts per fiscal year.
- Provide management oversight of the Student Affairs Advancement Team which includes a communication professional, a major gift officer, and leadership gift officer, a director of parent and alumni relations, an assistant director of parent and alumni relations, and an office manager.
- Develop and implement cultivation, solicitation, and engagement strategies that include building, managing, and soliciting a portfolio of major gift prospects.
- Establish strong working relationships with central advancement, collegiate and constituent development officers and the team and staff of the areas, as well as the broader University Advancement Division to foster a productive working environment.
- Provide leadership, vision, and oversight for creating and implementing a comprehensive development function for the areas within the broader framework of the Advancement Division at Virginia Tech.
- Serve as a member of the Student Affairs leadership team, as well as that of the College and Unit team within the Advancement Division.

Required Qualifications

- Master's degree or Bachelor's degree with significant and progressively responsible fundraising and leadership experience.

- Demonstrated successful record of accomplishments in leadership annual giving or in major gift fundraising.

- Demonstrated capability to both motivate professional staff and deploy strategic volunteers.

- Must have demonstrated analytical, organizational, interpersonal and communication skills.

- Strong motivation and the proven ability to work well as a contributing team member and leader within a complex organization requiring collaboration, teamwork and communication.

- Willingness to travel regionally and nationally, including overnight and weekends.

Preferred Qualifications

- Demonstrated relevant change management experience.

- Experience working within major comprehensive campaigns, including goal setting and implementation.

- Demonstrated appreciation of the range of disciplines and facets represented in Student Affairs.

- Demonstrated successful record of accomplishment in higher education or nonprofit organization major gift fundraising with progressively complex strategies.

- Relevant certification such as CFRE or nonprofit management certification.

Pay Band

N/A

Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Information

Commensurate with experience

Review Date

1/2/24

Additional Information

• Routine Travel or Telework - (50% or more travel)
• Unable to Sponsor Work Visas
• Safe Driving Record
• The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight , a , a college, , and . The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous and . A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.