Associate Vice President for Operations & Strategic Initiatives

Overall Position Purpose - Why:

The Associate Vice President serves as the operational leader and second-in-command of a multi-lane revenue and community-prosperity division. Partnering closely with the Chief Revenue Officer/Senior Vice President, the AVP turns strategy into disciplined execution by building and running the Division’s operating cadence, driving accountability across teams, and directly leading the central office team including operations, administration and marketing/communications functions. Because community and economic development is central to the Division’s mandate, the AVP also owns and personally delivers complex, large-scale development and capital projects, and leads government and community affairs and community engagement with advancement leadership supporting and partnering where appropriate to advance strategy. This is an ideal role for a disciplined, low-ego operator who makes a fast-moving, entrepreneurial organization run with focus and follow-through, and who has personally carried major community/economic development work and major capital projects from concept to completion.

Supervisory Responsibility:

Directly leads a team that includes development operations, administration and the Division's strategic marketing & communications as well as the economic/community-development, government affairs, and community engagement functions. Provides coordination, oversight, support, and accountability to all revenue generating lanes and team members across philanthropy/giving, earned revenue, and venture/innovation.

Essential Responsibilities - What You Will Be Doing:

1

Translate divisional strategy and revenue goals into clear quarterly priorities, plans, and measurable scorecards; drive execution and accountability against them.

2

Establish and lead the Division’s operating rhythm — leadership-team meetings, reporting cadences, and project management — ensuring decisions are made, owned, and followed through.

3

Serve as day-to-day operational leader of the Division, enabling the CRO to focus on vision, strategy development, external relationships, principal gifts, and overarching strategic priorities and flagship initiatives.

4

Directly lead central office team including development operations, administration, strategic marketing & communications; champion data integrity and the CRM and reporting infrastructure that underpin decision-making.

5

Own, structure, and personally deliver complex, large-scale community- and economic-development and capital projects, holding external and internal partners to milestones and driving each initiative through execution to completion.

6

Lead government and community affairs and build and steward the coalition of civic, corporate, philanthropic, and community partners on which the community-prosperity agenda depends; build and lead the portfolio’s eventual team.

7

Coordinate and support the revenue-lane teams across philanthropy/giving, earned revenue, and venture/innovation; keep lanes clear and commitments met.

8

Identify operational risks and bottlenecks early; resolve conflict constructively; protect team focus and strengthen the Division’s partnership with the broader university community.

Qualifications:

To perform this job satisfactorily, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability, and environmental conditions required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

It is also the responsibility of every employee of the University to remain current in their field, ensuring that they have the requisite knowledge and skills to perform the position at a high level.  Requisite knowledge and skills change over time; therefore, the employee must be aware of changes and react to them by obtaining current knowledge and skills.

Required Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

Demonstrated success as an operational leader, integrator, chief of staff, senior project management or COO-type role, including building management systems and driving accountability in a complex organization/projects.

• Proven ability, experience, and substantial success in community development, economic development, and community engagement, including conceptualizing and personally managing and delivering complex, large-scale development projects to completion (not solely originating or advocating for them).
• Experience directly leading operations and/or marketing/communications teams; experience leading and developing professional staff and comfort holding strong peers and leaders accountable.
• Proven ability to prioritize amid competing demands and lead execution to completion; strong data, planning, and process orientation with sound judgment under ambiguity and pace.

•  Preferred: experience in higher-education advancement, development operations, or a mission-driven enterprise; familiarity with operating frameworks such as EOS/Traction and with CRM and fundraising/operations analytics; a track record in a growth, startup, or turnaround environment; and alignment with community-prosperity mission.

Required Formal Education: 

Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.

Physical Requirements:

Typical office and campus environment. Regular use of a computer and standard office equipment. Some regional travel and evening/weekend hours required for partner, employer, and community engagements.

The above statements describe the job’s essential responsibilities and requirements. They are not an exhaustive list of the duties that may be assigned to job incumbents.

Compensation & Benefits:

• Salary Range: $185,000 - $220,000 annually
• Actual compensation will be commensurate with education, experience, skills, internal equity, and market considerations.

Benefits Highlights:

• Maryville University offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the health, financial well-being, and professional growth of our employees. Eligible employees enjoy access to:
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Retirement plan with 100% University matching up to 9% contributions
• University-paid life and long-term disability insurance
• Generous paid time off, including 18 holidays, 3 weeks of vacation, 12 sick days, and 4 personal days
• Full/Partial Tuition waived for employees and eligible dependents
• Hybrid and flexible work schedules
• Wellness programs and employee assistance resources
• Free parking, fitness center access, and other campus perks