JOB TITLE SUMMARY

Job Title: Associate Vice President, Advancement Operations

Division: University Advancement

Evaluation Group: Staff Administrator

FLSA Status: Exempt

Reports To: Senior Vice President, University Advancement

Positions Supervised: Senior Director, Strategic Communications; Senior Director, Advancement Services; Senior Director, Strategic Engagement

Job Summary

The Assistant Vice President of Advancement Operations serves as a key member of the Advancement leadership team, providing strategic leadership for the operational infrastructure, systems, and processes that support Lindenwood University's advancement efforts. This position oversees Communications, Advancement Services, and Strategic Engagement, ensuring effective integration of data, technology, and operations to enhance organizational effectiveness and advance fundraising objectives. Serving as a strategic partner across the university, the associate vice president develops and implements innovative, data-informed solutions that strengthen alumni engagement, stewardship, and philanthropic growth while fostering collaboration and operational excellence throughout the division.

Essential Job Functions and Performance Indicators

The intent of this job description is to provide a representation of the types of duties and level of responsibility that will be required of positions given this title. This job description shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Job Responsibilities and Execution

• Provides strategic and operational oversight for the Communications, Advancement Services, and Strategic Engagement functions to ensure effective and efficient advancement operations.
• Develops, implements, and continuously improves operational policies, fundraising procedures, records management standards, and business processes to ensure data integrity, compliance, and operational excellence.
• Oversees advancement systems, CRM functionality, prospect management, campaign infrastructure, donor portfolios, gift administration, and reporting processes to support fundraising success.
• Partners with university stakeholders to design and enhance an integrated donor and alumni engagement experience, including stewardship, gift acknowledgment, communications, and event operations.
• Oversees budget planning and business operations for assigned areas within the Advancement division.
• Identifies operational challenges and implements process improvements, workflows, and technology solutions that enhance organizational effectiveness and fundraising capacity.

Leadership and Strategic Thinking

• Serves as a member of the Advancement leadership team, providing strategic direction for divisional operations and aligning departmental priorities with the University's mission and institutional goals.
• Leads the development, execution, and continuous assessment of divisional operational strategies that support fundraising growth and organizational effectiveness.
• Serves as the division's strategic leader for advancement data, analytics, and systems, leveraging metrics and business intelligence to inform decision-making, establish performance standards, and improve outcomes.
• Collaborates with senior leadership to establish annual advancement goals, key performance indicators, divisional planning priorities, and performance measurement strategies.
• Develops operational infrastructure and campaign readiness strategies that support comprehensive fundraising initiatives, moves management, reporting standards, and long-term philanthropic growth.
• Promotes innovation by evaluating and implementing technology, systems, and operational improvements that enhance the constituent and employee experience.

Employee Management and Development

• Supports the mission of the University and serves as an ambassador of the Q2 culture of service excellence
• Models, supports, and holds others accountable to the University's values
• Provides leadership, supervision, coaching, and performance management for directors and staff within Communications, Advancement Services, and Strategic Engagement
• Fosters a collaborative, service-oriented culture that promotes accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement across the Advancement division.
• Partners with the Senior Vice President to support talent management initiatives, including recruitment, onboarding, employee engagement, succession planning, and professional development.
• Establishes clear performance expectations, provides ongoing coaching and feedback, and supports employee growth through mentoring and leadership development opportunities.
• Recruits, interviews, recommends, welcomes, observes, and monitors performance of department staff
• Conducts annual employee evaluations based on evidence, observation, and feedback

Job may require other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications - An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience will be considered. Additional requirements may be designated by position.

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited post-secondary institution (Master's degree preferred).
• A minimum of seven years of progressive leadership experience in higher education advancement, a sophisticated non-profit organization, or in a sales or marketing department in a for-profit organization.
• Demonstrated experience managing multi-functional teams (e.g., database teams, alumni relations, communications, or special events).
• Proven expertise in change management or organizational development within a complex environment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities - May be representative, but not all inclusive, of the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform this job competently.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse communities and cultures
• Proficiency with complex CRM software (e.g., Raiser's Edge NXT, Blackbaud solutions, or equivalent advancement databases), CRM add-ons, and experience leveraging data to drive institutional results.
• Experience building, refining, and measuring new operational strategies, reporting standards, and KPIs.
• A proven track record of recruiting, mentoring, and retaining a diverse team of marketing, sales, or advancement professionals, with a focus on building a transparent, collaborative, and high-performance divisional culture.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, presentation, and interpersonal abilities.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and exhibit exceptional executive judgment.

Work Environment - Environmental or atmospheric conditions commonly associated with the performance of this job's functions. Please click here to view Lindenwood University's flexible work designation descriptions.

• General office setting
• Some travel required
• Evening and weekend work required as needed
• Non-Standard Flex

Physical Abilities - The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform this job's essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Ability to work effectively at a computer for extended time daily
• Ability to sit/stand for extended periods of time
• Ability to lift/carry items commonly found in an office setting
• Regular attendance is a necessary and essential function