Vice President of Advancement

REPORTS TO: PRESIDENT

STATUS: FULL-TIME, EXEMPT, SALARIED

Lake Erie College, a small, co-educational, four-year, independent liberal arts college located in Painesville, OH, 30 miles east of Cleveland, invites applications for the full-time position of Vice President of Advancement. The Vice President for Advancement serves as a key member of the President's Cabinet and provides strategic leadership for the College's fundraising, marketing and communications, alumni engagement, and presidential initiatives. Reporting directly to the President, the Vice President of Advancement serves as the College's chief advancement officer helping to strengthen institutional visibility, philanthropic support, strategic partnerships, and stakeholder relationships.

In addition to overseeing the College's fundraising and communications efforts, the Vice President of Advancement serves as a trusted counselor to the President, coordinating strategic initiatives, supporting Board of Trustees engagement, facilitating cross-divisional collaboration, and advancing institutional priorities. The Vice President of Advancement plays a critical role in positioning the College for long-term growth, financial sustainability, and mission fulfillment.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serves as the College's chief development officer and provides leadership for all fundraising activities, including major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, corporate and foundation relations, and government funding opportunities.

• Collaborates closely with the President to develop and implement strategies that increase philanthropic support and strengthens donor engagement.

• Maintains an active portfolio of major and principal gift prospects through all stages of qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.

• Leads comprehensive fundraising campaigns and strategic advancement initiatives.

• Identifies and develops new sources of philanthropic and institutional support.

• Oversees donor relations and advancement services, ensuring strong stewardship practices, accurate gift processing, reporting, and donor record management.

• Fosters a culture of philanthropy across the institution.

• Provides leadership for alumni engagement initiatives that strengthens lifelong connections between alumni and the College.

• Oversees alumni programming, reunions, volunteer opportunities, and alumni board activities.

• Builds and maintains productive relationships with alumni, donors, community leaders, corporate partners, foundations, and governmental agencies.

• Represents the College at community, civic, and professional events.

• Provides strategic leadership for institutional marketing, communications, branding, public relations, and media relations.

• Oversees the development and execution of integrated marketing and communications strategies that advance enrollment, fundraising, and institutional reputation goals.

• Ensures consistent messaging and brand standards across all external communications.

• Partners with campus leadership to promote institutional achievements, strategic initiatives, and key priorities.

• Provides leadership, supervision, and professional development for staff within advancement, alumni engagement, marketing, communications, and related areas.

• Establishes measurable goals and performance metrics for areas of responsibility.

• Manages departmental budgets and resources effectively

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  Serves as a member of the President's Cabinet and contributes to institutional planning and decision-making.

• Other duties as assigned by the President.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS & KEY COMPETENCIES:

• Bachelor's degree required; master's degree preferred.

• Minimum of seven to ten years of progressively responsible leadership experience in advancement, fundraising, communications, higher education administration, nonprofit leadership, or a related field.

• Demonstrated success in major gift fundraising and donor relationship management.

• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.

• Strong organizational, strategic planning, and project management abilities.

• Experience working effectively with governing boards, senior leaders, donors, volunteers, and community stakeholders.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment while maintaining discretion and confidentiality.

• Experience in higher education advancement and administration.

• Experience supporting executive leaders or serving as chief of staff, executive operations, or similar leadership role.

• Experience leading comprehensive fundraising campaigns.

• Knowledge of higher education governance, accreditation, and institutional operations.

• Candidate must demonstrate the following preferred key competencies: Strategic Leadership Relationship Building, Fundraising and Philanthropy, Executive Communication, Organizational Effectiveness, Political and Organizational Acumen, Collaboration and Team Leadership, Change Management, Community Engagement, and Sound Judgment/Discretion.

• Regular travel for donor visits, alumni events, community engagement activities, and College-related meetings is required. Evening and weekend work is occasionally necessary. 

• Growth and “doer” mindset and institutional teamwork ethic.

• Creative, strategic, thoughtful, and has a sense of humor.