Assistant Dean Development & External Relations; Chief Advancement Officer

Assistant Dean for Development & External Relations (Chief Advancement Officer)

Join to apply for the Assistant Dean for Development & External Relations (Chief Advancement Officer) role at University of Washington.

The Evans School of Public Policy & Governance has an exciting opening for an Assistant Dean for Development & External Relations. This is a full‑time, permanent position.

The Assistant Dean for Development & External Relations provides strategic leadership to advance the Evans School’s purpose and mission in ways that embody the School’s core values of equity, courage, and service. The primary responsibility of this role is to maximize meaningful fundraising, stakeholder engagement, communications and strategic opportunities to further enhance the Evan School’s impact. Working in close partnership with the Dean and senior leadership, the Assistant Dean provides strategic oversight of advancement functions, including philanthropic development, marketing and communications, and external relations, to foster meaningful, lifelong engagement between the School and its donors, alumni and community members.

The Assistant Dean supervises the Director of Development and the Director of Marketing & Communications and leads engagement with key constituencies, including alumni, donors, volunteers, philanthropic and civic leaders, and internal University stakeholders, in alignment with the School’s priorities.

What You Will Do:

Strategic Leadership and Team Management

• Provide strategic oversight of the School’s comprehensive advancement program, including annual, major and planned giving; corporate and foundation relations; stewardship and donor recognition; alumni relations and programming; and School‑wide marketing, communications and external relations.

• Collaborate with central University Advancement and campus partners to secure private support and advance the School’s priorities.

• In partnership with the Dean and Evans Policy Innovation Collaborative (EPIC) leadership, cultivate and strengthen relationships with philanthropic, nonprofit, public and business partners to promote the School’s role as a hub for public impact research and solutions.

• Serve as a strategic thought partner to the School’s leadership team, ensuring advancement efforts are aligned with both the UW and Evans School’s mission and priorities.

• Collaborate with cross‑campus development peers to share best practices and advance coordinated, effective fundraising strategies.

• Lead and support the development team’s qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of gifts.

• Manage a portfolio of leadership‑level prospects and donors in alignment with established fundraising metrics.

• Develop and execute strategies to grow and diversify the School’s donor base, with particular emphasis on major gifts and annual private‑giving goals.

• Build and steward relationships with key donors, prospects, volunteers and business and community leaders to advance shared priorities and philanthropic investment.

• Grow and strengthen fundraising programs, including the annual fund, planned giving and signature events, to sustain and expand donor engagement.

• Lead School‑wide efforts to cultivate and manage strategic institutional partnerships that advance philanthropy and engagement, including research, education and community collaboration.

Planning and Campaign Strategy Development

• Partner with the Dean and senior leadership to set annual advancement goals, priorities and strategies.

• Assess advancement programs through data analysis and reporting.

• In collaboration with the Assistant Vice President for Schools and Colleges and central University Advancement colleagues, lead campaign planning efforts, including infrastructure development, volunteer engagement, prospect prioritization, internal coordination and case development aligned with School and University priorities.

• Develop and manage a strategic donor pipeline, advancing community‑centered fundraising and cultivating relationships with alumni, policymakers and philanthropic partners.

Program Leadership & External Relations

• Partner with the Director of Marketing &…