Executive Director of Advancement

WARTBURG COLLEGE Title of Position – Executive Director of Advancement Position Summary The Executive Director of Advancement serves as the senior operational and strategic leader within the Office of Institutional Advancement and is responsible for coordinating and aligning the work of multiple advancement functions, including annual giving, alumni and parent engagement, prospect management and research, advancement services, and donor relations.

Reporting directly to the Vice President for Institutional Advancement, the Executive Director provides leadership, supervision, coaching, and strategic direction to directors and staff across these functional areas, ensuring divisional goals, constituent engagement strategies, fundraising priorities, and operational systems work together to advance the College’s mission.

Primary Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership: Provide leadership, vision, and direction for advancement operations and engagement programs in support of the College’s mission and strategic priorities. Collaborate with the Vice President for Institutional Advancement to establish divisional goals, implement strategic initiatives, and advance a culture of philanthropy, constituent engagement, and operational excellence.
2. Leadership and Oversight of Advancement Programs: Provide strategic oversight for prospect management and research, advancement services, alumni and parent engagement, donor relations, and annual giving. Through the supervision and development of directors and professional staff, establish priorities, monitor progress toward goals, assess outcomes, allocate resources, and ensure alignment of departmental activities with divisional and institutional objectives.
3. Staff Leadership and Development: Recruit, supervise, mentor, and develop directors and professional staff within the corresponding areas of supervision. Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous professional growth. Empower staff leaders to assume increasing responsibility for planning, decision-making, and execution while maintaining accountability for results and organizational effectiveness.
4. Advancement Operations and Systems: Oversee advancement operations, business processes, and technology systems that support fundraising, engagement, stewardship, and reporting activities. Ensure the effective use of constituent relationship management systems, maintain high standards of data integrity and governance, and promote operational efficiencies that enhance divisional performance.
5. Campaign Planning and Execution: Partner with the Vice President and Advancement leadership to design and implement capital campaigns, fundraising initiatives, and strategic engagement efforts that support institutional priorities, academic programs, scholarships, capital projects, and student success.
6. Budget, Assessment, and Performance Management: Assist in the development and management of divisional budgets and resources. Establish measurable goals and performance indicators across advancement functions, evaluate outcomes, and implement continuous improvement strategies to enhance effectiveness and achieve organizational objectives.
7. Slate Strategy and Data Governance: Lead the ongoing optimization of Slate for Advancement and related technology solutions. Develop and improve processes that strengthen organizational effectiveness, reporting, and constituent engagement. Collaborate with campus stakeholders and external partners to ensure effective data sharing, system integration, and adherence to institutional data governance practices.
8. Institutional Collaboration: Work collaboratively with faculty, staff, college leadership, regents, and external constituents to advance fundraising and engagement priorities. Serve as a resource and partner in building relationships that strengthen the College’s philanthropic and community support.
9. Advancement Leadership: Serve as a key member of the Advancement leadership team, contributing to strategic planning, policy development, and division-wide decision-making. Promote collaboration across departments and ensure coordinated execution of Advancement priorities.
10. Other Duties: Perform other related duties as assigned in support of the Advancement Office and College mission. Supervision and Autonomy The Executive Director exercises considerable independent judgment and initiative. The position operates under general direction, referring to College policies and strategic priorities for guidance. The Executive Director supervises directors responsible for annual giving, alumni and parent engagement, advancement services, prospect management and research, and donor relations and confers with the Vice President on matters of broader institutional impact.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred. Experience: Minimum of four years of advancement-related experience, preferably in a higher education setting. Skills: Strong leadership, management, and team-building abilities. Excellent communication and relationship-building skills. Familiarity with fundraising software (e.

g., Raiser's Edge, Slate, or similar). Understanding of the mission and culture of liberal arts colleges or similar institutions. Availability: Willingness to travel and work evenings and weekends as necessary. Application Procedure Please upload the following by selecting the “Apply for this Position” below: resume a letter of interest including a statement regarding qualities within the context of the Wartburg College mission contact information for three references