Vice President University Advancement

Vice President for University Advancement – Miami University

Miami University is a highly regarded public institution of higher education recognized for outstanding undergraduate education and selective graduate and research programs. The University blends the breadth of a large institution with the personal attention found at smaller colleges, serving more than 16,000 undergraduate and 2,000 graduate students across its Oxford campus and regional campuses, online, and abroad.

The Vice President for University Advancement will lead the University’s fundraising and alumni relations efforts, serving as a vital member of the President’s Executive Cabinet. This collegiate leader will partner with university leaders, alumni, supporters, students, faculty, and staff to advance the University through cutting‑edge research, data analytics, and practice.

• Complete and extend the impact of the University’s historic $1 billion campaign while architecting the next era of philanthropic investment.
• Develop and execute a bold, multi‑year strategy that leverages data, analytics, and predictive insights to deepen engagement and increase philanthropic capacity.
• Inspire a culture of collaboration, inclusivity, and performance, empowering a team of approximately 140 professionals and optimizing a $22 million annual budget.
• Strengthen partnerships with deans, faculty, trustees, and volunteers to align fundraising priorities with institutional aspirations.
• Advance digital transformation and innovation across the advancement ecosystem—integrating AI‑enabled tools, advanced CRM systems, and analytics‑driven decision‑making.
• Build enduring relationships with donors and alumni that reflect Miami’s ethos of Love and Honor and drive measurable impact on student access, research, and institutional excellence.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive, forward‑looking advancement strategy aligned with the University’s mission and strategic plan.
• Collaborate with senior development staff to surpass the $1 billion goal and sustain $100 million production annually.
• Apply data‑driven techniques to assess fundraising potential and craft a sophisticated multi‑year strategy for sustained growth in unrestricted, restricted, and endowment funds.
• Foster an environment that rewards new ideas and risk‑taking, builds confidence, and encourages teamwork.
• Strengthen donor relationships and systematically identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward new individual and institutional donors capable of significant contributions.
• Identify new ways to broaden alumni relations activities and integrate them into overall advancement efforts.
• Partner with University leaders to engage and solicit major donors and prospects.
• Guide and support the President as chief spokesperson and fundraiser, serving as an adviser and co‑strategist on transformative gifts.
• Strategically position University leaders for maximum impact in development and alumni engagement efforts.
• Facilitate alignment and consensus among leadership on development priorities related to University objectives.
• Partner with academic leaders to align academic priorities with philanthropic opportunity and strengthen institutional capacity for competitive grantsmanship and external funding.
• Cultivate strong working relationships with administrators, faculty, and staff across the University.
• Lead the development and alumni relations functions, promoting a service‑oriented environment built on operational excellence.
• Manage and mentor a staff of over 140 advancement professionals and administrative support personnel; serve as their advocate.
• Strengthen relationships between development staff and University partners, building an office that respects Miami’s culture and encourages philanthropy.
• Continually strive to improve and extend relationships with all constituencies, achieving a quantifiable impact on philanthropic revenue.

Required:

• At least ten years of progressively responsible fundraising and managerial experience in advancement, preferably in higher education, with campaign experience.
• Acute understanding of the current higher‑education landscape.
• Bac…