Assistant Dean of Advancement, College of Science (COS

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) seeks an accomplished, collaborative, and externally engaged advancement leader to serve as Assistant Dean for Advancement for the College of Science. Reporting jointly to the Dean of the College of Science and Senior Advancement Leadership, the Assistant Dean serves as the College's chief advancement officer, with full strategic and operational responsibility for a comprehensive advancement program spanning development, alumni engagement, and stewardship.

This role is based in Blacksburg, Virginia.

The College of Science is a central driver of Virginia Tech's research and teaching mission, advancing discovery and innovation across the life sciences, physical sciences, and computational disciplines. With approximately 6,500 students, $80M in annual research expenditures, and a strong, engaged alumni base, the College is widely recognized for its research productivity, interdisciplinary collaboration, and commitment to student success.

Philanthropy plays an increasingly important role in supporting faculty excellence, research growth, and student access, positioning the College with a meaningful opportunity to expand its advancement program and deepen external engagement.

The Assistant Dean will build upon a strong foundation of philanthropic support and a collaborative, high-functioning culture to lead the next phase of advancement growth. In close partnership with Dean Kevin Pitts, senior academic leaders, and central advancement, this individual will develop and execute a forward-looking advancement strategy aligned with the College's priorities. This includes strengthening major and principal gift activity, expanding corporate and foundation partnerships connected to research, enhancing stewardship and donor engagement, and activating a broad and loyal alumni base, including younger alumni.

This role requires a visible, relationship-driven leader who embraces a player-coach model, balancing strategic leadership with active fundraising and external engagement. The Assistant Dean will personally manage a selective portfolio of major and leadership gift prospects, while also building a strong pipeline and ensuring consistent, high-quality donor engagement across the program. The successful candidate will be adept at translating complex scientific research into compelling philanthropic opportunities and will partner closely with faculty and academic leaders to build credibility and inspire investment.

Internally, the Assistant Dean will lead and develop a dedicated advancement team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and shared success. Working across 11 academic units and in close coordination with central advancement, this individual will serve as a connector and strategic partner, ensuring alignment, effective use of resources, and strong communication across stakeholders. The role also requires the ability to navigate a complex, matrixed environment while building trusted relationships across the College and university.

This is a compelling opportunity to join a highly engaged Dean and advancement leadership team and to shape the future of philanthropy for a college that is “punching above its weight” and poised for continued growth. The ideal candidate will bring demonstrated success in advancement, strong leadership capability, sound judgment, and a collaborative approach. This individual will be a credible and authentic ambassador for the College, a trusted partner to institutional leadership, and a results-oriented leader motivated by the opportunity to elevate advancement performance and support the College of Science's mission and impact.

The ideal candidate will bring demonstrated experience in advancing philanthropic support within a complex organization, paired with strong relationship building skills and a collaborative leadership approach. This individual will be a compelling communicator, an effective partner to senior academic leadership, and a visible ambassador for the College of Science among alumni, donors, volunteers, and external stakeholders.

Additional information about the position,…