PRIMARY PURPOSE/SCOPE
The Vice President for Advancement is responsible for all fundraising activities on behalf of the University. These responsibilities will include overseeing professional staff members and various activities, including personal and direct mail solicitations, alumni/parent events, planned giving, and coordinating comprehensive capital campaigns. The Vice President for Advancement reports directly to the President and is a member of the Executive Leadership Team and a member of the University Leadership Team.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND FUNCTIONS
The essential duties, responsibilities, and functions of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:
Serve as the chief advancement officer of the University:
- Oversee the short- and long-range goals to meet institutional funding objectives that support the University.
- Appoints, leads, evaluates, and manages the Advancement staff.
- Establishes development policies, systems, and procedures.
- Prepares and administers division budget.
- Develops and implements a comprehensive plan for the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of annual, major, endowed, and planned gifts from constituent groups of the University, including alumni, parents, friends, and churches.
- Develops fundraising initiatives for foundation and corporate giving through the utilization of effective and timely grant and proposal writing.
- Identifies and solicits potential contributors for special projects as needed.
- Assigns responsibilities for personal solicitation to members of staff, volunteers, and Trustees according to special interests or capabilities.
- Develops appropriate marketing and public relations materials to enhance the University’s image and support the ongoing resource development of the University.
- Oversees the development of an effective alumni program to connect graduates with the University in an effort to provide alumni services, activities, and programs and to build the resources of the University.
- Plans and coordinates special events, such as banquets, lectures, or auctions.
- Supervises and coordinates activities of workers engaged in maintaining records of contributors and grants and providing stewardship.
MARGINAL JOB FUNCTIONS
- Serve as a non-voting member of the Trustee Advancement Committee.
- Comply with all rules, policies, and procedures as established by Bluefield University.
- To interface with academic, enrollment, and student development areas of University life to ensure the complementary pursuit of objectives that accomplish the purposes of the University.
- Perform such other duties as assigned by the President.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE
The Vice President for Advancement must possess the knowledge, skill, and ability to demonstrate, explain, and perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, using some combination of the following skills and abilities:
- A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree, with an advanced degree preferred.
- Prior fundraising experience is required, preferably at the university level.
- Demonstrated ability to secure gifts.
- Demonstrated leadership ability.
- Well-developed communication skills.
- Skilled decision-maker with transparency in decision-making and management.
- Strong negotiation, facilitation, and organizational skills.
- A history of successful collaboration with multiple constituencies.
- Ability to multi-task.
- Experience with digital fundraising software.
- The ability to maintain collaborative working relations with students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni, and other University constituencies, as well as the general public.
OTHER QUALIFICATIONS:
- Profess Christian faith.
- Have a commitment to the Christian mission of the University, as well as a commitment to promote its vision, mission, and values actively.
- Professional appearance and presentation in the working environment (including business casual attire).
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS:
The Vice President for Advancement is subject to an annual evaluation based upon the job functions as set forth above.
ERGONOMIC REQUIREMENTS
- Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This position is not necessarily a physically demanding job and generally requires no specific physical demands other than those typical in a modern office environment. Normal responsibilities should not afford risks of accidental injury.
- Specialized Equipment Requirements
The use of specialized equipment listed here is representative of equipment an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. This position requires equipment typically used in a modern office environment, including personal computers, calculators, copiers, and fax machines.
- Working Conditions and Environment
The work environment characteristics described here represent those an employee encounters while performing the duties, responsibilities, and functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the duties, responsibilities, and functions. This position has no specific working conditions; the work environment is typical to that of a small private residential institution of higher education, with physical remote site locations within 500 miles of the main campus in Bluefield, Virginia.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
This position is subject to at least an annual evaluation based upon the job duties, responsibilities, and functions as set forth above.
APPROVALS
The job duties, responsibilities, functions, and requirements delineated above should be interpreted as something other than an all-inclusive list of the same. Additional duties, responsibilities, functions, and requirements may be assigned as appropriate. The University reserves the right to change or reassign job duties, responsibilities, and functions or combine positions at any time. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, requirements may be modified to accommodate disabled individuals reasonably. However, no accommodations will be made that may pose serious health or safety risks to the employee or others or impose undue hardships on the University. Position descriptions are not intended as and do not create employment contracts. The University maintains its status as an at-will employer.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
To apply for this position, please visit https://www.bluefield.edu/employment/ to complete the electronic staff employment application and upload the following:
- Letter of interest
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae
- Names and full contact information for at least three professional references
- Statement of Christian Faith
Hard copy application materials may be sent to Judy Pedneau, Director of Human Resources at Bluefield University, 3000 College Avenue, Bluefield, VA 24605, [email protected].
Additional information about Bluefield University is available at www.bluefield.edu.
To be considered for this position, all application requirements listed above must be completed.
Bluefield University is a Christ-centered, multicultural learning community that values and seeks faculty and staff who represent diverse backgrounds and perspectives, are committed to diversity, work effectively with diverse populations, and engage others in ways that honor our rich cultural mosaic and biblical foundation.
Bluefield University is a private, not-for-profit institution affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia. Bluefield University shall not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, age, religion, genetic information, veteran or military status, or any other basis on which the University is prohibited from discrimination under local, state, or federal law, in its employment or in the provision of its services, including but not limited to its programs and activities, admissions, educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other University-administered programs. This institution encourages women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities to apply.
