Job Title: Executive Director of External Affairs

Department: External Affairs

Position Reports to: Senior Vice President, External Affairs

Position Class/Type: Exempt, Full-Time

Job Summary

Jacksonville University is seeking a strategic and collaborative Executive Director for the Office of External Affairs to support and partner with the Senior Vice President of External Affairs in leading initiatives that advance the University's mission, strengthen cross-functional collaboration, and drive organizational effectiveness. The Executive Director ensures that the university's external affairs functions, including advancement, government relations, strategic communications, alumni engagement, and corporate partnerships operate as an integrated enterprise aligned around measurable outcomes.

By coordinating strategic initiatives, removing organizational barriers, and driving accountability across departments, the Executive Director enables the Senior Vice President and senior leadership to devote greater time to high-value activities such as cultivating major donors, strengthening strategic partnerships, engaging government and community leaders, and advancing the university's mission.

This role is responsible for identifying opportunities to enhance organizational effectiveness, expand institutional capacity, and support sustainable revenue growth through improved collaboration, strategic planning, and execution. The Executive Director serves as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, ensuring that strategic priorities move efficiently from vision to implementation while fostering a culture of innovation, operational excellence, and results.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Oversee hiring, training, performance evaluation, and professional development of team members.
• Fosters a collaborative, high-performing team environment aligned with institutional goals.

Duties/Responsibilities:
Strategic Growth & Revenue Generation

• • Identify and coordinate initiatives that expand and diversify philanthropic, corporate, governmental, and partnership revenue opportunities.
  • Develop systems and processes that increase the productivity and effectiveness of fundraising and external engagement efforts.
  • Analyze institutional trends and recommend strategies that support long-term growth and financial sustainability.

• • Coordinate cross-functional initiatives that strengthen the university's market position and external impact.
  • Lead the University's state government relations strategy, including legislative engagement, state agency partnerships, and advocacy efforts aligned with institutional priorities.
  • Lead cross-divisional strategic planning to diversify revenue sources beyond philanthropy.
  • Evaluate financial performance of strategic initiatives and recommend investment opportunities.

Executive Capacity & Leadership Support

• • Increase the strategic capacity of the Senior Vice President of External Affairs and University leadership by assuming responsibility for operational oversight, project execution, and organizational coordination.
  • Ensure leadership and revenue-generating staff time is focused on the highest-value activities, including donor cultivation, strategic partnerships, governmental relations, and institutional leadership.
  • Serve as a thought partner in helping the SVP deploy time and attention toward the University's highest priorities.
  • Serve as a force multiplier for senior leadership by anticipating needs, solving complex organizational challenges, and ensuring seamless execution of institutional priorities.
  • Represent the SVP in internal and external meetings as appropriate, ensuring continuity of leadership and timely decision-making.
  • Plan and facilitate external affairs team meetings and other leadership forums, including agenda development, preparation of materials, documentation of key decisions, and monitoring of follow-through.
  • Serve as a primary point of contact for cross-University engagement involving the Dean's office and support coordination with university leadership, schools, administrative units, and key partners across the University. Facilitate communication and follow-through on initiatives, requests, and partnerships.
  • Monitor progress on priorities, milestones, commitments, and deliverables, ensuring accountability and follow-through.
  • Lead strategic initiatives assigned by the Senior Vice President of External Affairs that improve organizational performance and advance division priorities.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• • Demonstrated experience supporting senior executives or organizational leaders in complex environments with a proven ability to influence and achieve results through collaboration and relationship-building rather than formal authority.
  • Exceptional project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously and with data-driven decision-making
  • Strong analytical, research, and problem-solving capabilities.
  • Ability to navigate ambiguity, exercise sound judgment, and manage sensitive matters with discretion.
  • Adaptability and willingness to pick up and lead new initiatives.
  • Outstanding written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
  • Familiarity with the opportunities and challenges facing higher education preferred.

Education, Certificates, Licenses, and Experience:

• • Advanced degree such as an MBA, MPP, JD, PhD, or related graduate degree.
  • Seven or more years of progressively responsible professional experience in strategy, consulting, higher education administration, project management, business operations, public policy, communications, or a related field.
  • Professional experience within higher education, educational institutions, professional organizations, communications firms, or similarly complex environments preferred.

Physical Requirements:

• • Must be able to lift and carry equipment and supplies weighing up to 20 pounds.
  • Must be able to bend, stoop, and reach.
  • Manual dexterity to efficiently operate a computer keyboard and other business machines.
  • Adequate hearing to communicate effectively in person and by phone.

Important Note

This is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and/or skills required for this position. The University reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet organizational needs.

Acknowledgment

Submission of my application acknowledges receipt and understanding of this job description. I verify that I am capable of and willing to fulfill all essential functions of this position. I am willing to be flexible and willing to do various jobs that are not listed, as the need arises.