Classification Title:
ASO VP, Development
Classification Minimum Requirements:
Master's degree in an appropriate area of specialization and eight years of appropriate experience; or a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization and ten years of appropriate experience with demonstrated success soliciting gifts at $1 million and above in an institution of higher education.
Job Description:
The Associate Vice President/Chief Development Officer (AVP/CDO) will serve as an integral member of the Advancement senior executive leadership team and be responsible for designing, executing, and continuously optimizing the organization’s comprehensive fundraising strategy. This role will provide strategic oversight of all philanthropic initiatives, including major gifts, corporate and foundation relations, gift planning and principal gifts and serve as the senior leader for all aspects of the multi-year fundraising campaign. The AVP/CDO will ensure alignment between fundraising priorities and institutional goals, drive revenue growth, strengthen donor engagement, and foster a high-performing advancement culture that supports long-term, sustainable success.
The AVP/CDO will partner closely with the Vice President for UF Advancement, deans, senior academic leaders, and campus partners to architect fundraising strategies, optimize prospect pipelines, and engage leadership in high-impact donor activity. They will monitor and report on fundraising results, including campaign progress, total commitments and executive level insights, and recommend course corrections as needed. In addition, the AVP/CDO will personally manage a small portfolio of major and principal gift prospects, cultivate meaningful alumni, volunteer, and donor engagement, strengthen partnerships across campus and build a high-performance, data-informed advancement culture that supports sustainable growth and long-term institutional success.
RESPONSIBILITIES
College/Unit Management & Strategy
The Associate Vice President/Chief Development Officer will
• lead and coach Senior Assistant Vice Presidents, select leaders of high performing college/unit advancement teams, and set clear performance expectations, succession plans, and development pathways;
• provide guidance to the Senior Assistant Vice President as they partner with deans, academic leaders, and senior development leaders to architect unit fundraising strategies;
• advise on organizational design, portfolio strategy, pipeline optimization and data-informed moves management;
• operate effectively within a dual reporting environment to ensure clarity of accountability and shared outcomes;
• monitor and report on development program performance, providing executive level insights and recommendations;
• recruit, retain and develop top talent and establish aligned fundraising goals, including KPIs and accountability cadences, such as quarterly reviews, pipeline health checks and forecast assessments; and
• foster a collaborative and results-driven team environment and provide guidance and professional development opportunities to ensure the team's success in achieving fundraising goals.
Development Leadership
The Associate Vice President/Chief Development Officer will
• collaborate closely with other departments to align fundraising efforts with broader institutional goals;
• communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders, presenting the organization's case for support and demonstrating the impact of donor contributions;
• serve as team leader for monitoring and reporting fundraising activity, as it relates to campaign goals and total commitments, while collaborating and diving deeply into each of the components that comprise annual fundraising activities;
• provide leadership for Senior Development Team Meetings and Development Staff Meetings focused on annual fundraising goals, progress toward goals, recognition of excellence and KPI-driven strategies;
• serve on the Senior Leaders Committee, contributing to the operational infrastructure of systems, processes, and talent required to meet current and future organization objectives;
• provide strategic oversight of industry standards, emerging trends, innovations and best practices;
• guide and integrate advancement activities involving volunteers, prospects, faculty leadership and senior administration;
• manage the development budget and set direction and accountability for advancement programs and resources in alignment with UF Advancement’s Mission; which is to be a catalyst in securing and managing private support for university priorities;
• establish and enforce enterprise-level standards for operational excellence, systems, data governance and record retention; and
• ensure optimal deployment of strategic tools, technologies and resources to support mission-critical outcomes.
Campaign Initiatives
The Associate Vice President/Chief Development Officer will:
• in partnership with the Vice President, provide bold vision and strategic direction for the University’s fifth campaign, co-chair campaign governance and lead workgroups responsible for campaign planning and strategic planning deliverables;
• lead all campaign and strategic fundraising initiatives from conception through implementation, including feasibility studies, goal setting, solicitation strategies, and progress tracking and oversee campaign goals and initiatives with senior leadership;
• in partnership with the Vice President and unit leads (AVPs), implement and manage strategies, set goals, define audiences, execute tactics, and coordinate teams across channels to ensure consistent, data-driven messaging and maximum ROI for the campaign;
• manage campaign consulting relationships, acting as the main point of contact for UF Advancement and ensuring consultants deliver on agreed-upon results;
• facilitate strategic planning sessions with key university leaders to align unit and organization-level campaign priorities;
• conceptualize and operationalize campaign initiatives with defined milestones, resourcing plans and performance metrics (OKRs/KPIs) to ensure an integrated, coordinated and effective organization-wide approach;
• collaborate with the Chief Operating Officer to scale infrastructure, including talent, processes, technology and analytics, and strengthen cross-campus partnerships that accelerate campaign outcomes;
• in consultation with Strategic Communications, Marketing & Engagement, develop and execute compelling donor engagement strategies that inspire giving and communicate campaign impact; and
• track and report campaign progress against KPIs, provide ongoing executive updates, and recommend strategic adjustments to maintain momentum and goal attainment.
Portfolio Management
The Associate Vice President/Chief Development Officer will
• manage a high-value portfolio of major and principal gift prospects, including corporate and foundation relationships;
• advance and close complex solicitations through intentional, face-to-face engagement strategies;
• design and oversee stewardship plans that reinforce impact, strengthen affinity and support long-term donor relationships;
• apply a disciplined moves-management strategy across qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship;
• cultivate influential networks among alumni, friends, volunteers, faculty leadership and internal partners to expand the pipeline and elevate institutional visibility; and
• serve as a lead ambassador for UF Advancement priorities, clearly articulating the case for support within the broader mission, goals and impact narrative.
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Expected Salary:
The salary range for this position is $325,000 to $375,000 annually. The University of Florida offers a comprehensive package of benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, multiple retirement plan options, tuition assistance, and generous paid time off.
As one of the nation’s top public research universities, UF is dedicated to elevating its benefits offerings to support the wellbeing of its faculty and staff and to be responsive to a range of individual and family needs. As a University of Florida employee, you’ll gain access to the institution’s extensive resources, cutting-edge technologies and opportunities for professional development to advance your career and beyond.
Required Qualifications:
Master's degree in an appropriate area of specialization and eight years of appropriate experience; or a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization and ten years of appropriate experience with demonstrated success soliciting gifts at $1 million and above in an institution of higher education.
Preferred:
Special Instructions to Applicants:
The University of Florida will consider candidates with a broad range of backgrounds. If you are excited about this role and feel that you can contribute to UF, but your experience does not exactly align with every qualification listed above, we encourage you to apply.
Health Assessment Required:
No
