Assistant Dean of Philanthropy, College of Engineering

Primary Purpose of Position / Job Summary

The Assistant Dean of Philanthropy is the chief fundraising and engagement officer for the College of Engineering and reports directly to the Dean with a dotted line to the Associate Vice Chancellor, University Development. This role provides strategic leadership for the college’s advancement program, manages the advancement team, and works closely with university leadership, faculty, alumni, donors, and community partners to advance philanthropic priorities and strengthen engagement.

The Assistant Dean also serves as President of the NC State Engineering Foundation and sets the overarching strategy and vision for advancing philanthropy and provides strategic leadership to developing and advancing a comprehensive philanthropy program for the College.

The position partners closely with University Advancement, the Leadership Gift team and the Principal Gifts team to cultivate and secure transformational support for the College and university.

The successful candidate will lead and develop a team of advancement professionals while personally managing a portfolio of major, Leadership and principal gift prospects and donors.

The Assistant Dean will lead and develop a high-performing advancement team by fostering a collaborative, accountable and donor-centered culture. This role will provide mentorship, establish clear expectations and support the professional growth and success of staff across advancement functions.

The Assistant Dean will help guide the continued growth and evolution of the organization by fostering innovation, encouraging collaboration, and embracing new opportunities and ideas. This leader will be adaptable in a dynamic environment, thoughtfully aligning priorities, resources, and initiatives with the long-term goals of the organization. Working closely with internal and external partners, the Assistant Dean will help cultivate a shared vision that strengthens the organization’s impact, advances strategic objectives, and positions it for sustained success

The Assistant Dean will be an inspiring and visible leader who will engage the collective talents and energies of the development team in collaboration with the AVC for University Development and University Advancement to develop areas of highest potential including donor pipeline building, campaign planning and implementation. They will make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, and solving problems.

They will hold self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, results. They will be committed to continuous improvement.

In partnership with the Dean, University Advancement leadership, the Leadership gifts team and the Principal Gifts team, the Assistant Dean will help identify, cultivate, solicit and steward prospects capable of making seven-figure and transformational investments in the College of Engineering. This role will build strategies to grow the pipeline for Leadership and principal gifts and collaborate across the university to maximize philanthropic opportunities and long-term donor engagement.

The Assistant Dean’s overarching responsibility is to promote philanthropic investment to fulfill and advance the mission of the College of Engineering. This encompasses working with the Dean of the College of Engineering, the AVC for University Development, Foundation board members and internal partners to foster a culture that advances philanthropy and engagement that goes beyond transactional and toward building lasting relationships with donors.

As President of the NC State Engineering…