Assistant Vice President for Advancement Operations

Aurora University (AU) is committed to the transformative power of learning by creating a student-centered environment and an equity of experience and opportunity, to ensure that students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds feel welcome and included. Our culture of collaboration, generosity, and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty, and staff.

AU is grounded in the transformative opportunity it provides to a diverse student body. As a private university with a public mission and a commitment to making a difference in peoples’ lives, AU has a long history of resilience and of providing access to an education that values innovation, focuses on continuous improvement, and has a positive impact on the communities we serve. We are proud of our service to and economic impact on the state of Illinois, where over 80% of our students stay to live and work, where 90% of our students come from, and where we foster strong community partnerships to develop the workforce in areas such as nursing, education, business, technology, and social work.

We are looking for passionate and purposeful individuals who represent the full diversity of Aurora and who demonstrate a sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, ability, identity, and ethnic backgrounds present in our community. When you join the team at AU, you can expect to be part of an inclusive, innovative, and equity-focused community that approaches higher education as a matter of social justice requiring broad collaboration among faculty, staff, students, and community partners.

At AU we believe that continuous learning is a fundamental part of working life, and our goal is for all colleagues on our campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support our community by providing all employees with opportunities to engage in professional development activities, as well as a range of tuition and employee benefits that can be found here.

Position Purpose

The search for Aurora University’s next Assistant Vice President for Advancement Operations is being assisted by Josh Maker at The Lindauer Group. Applications, nominations, and expressions of interest can be submitted in confidence to The Lindauer Team.

The Assistant Vice President for Advancement Operations and Strategy provides strategic oversight and management of the Advancement Operations program at AU by gathering, organizing, managing, and disseminating information to make real-time data-driven decisions. This position establishes and implements the processes, guidelines, and infrastructure needed for a sound Advancement Operations program through management of gift processing, gift and campaign accounting and reporting, constituent data, philanthropic analytics, information systems and enabling technologies, budget and financial reporting, and program performance metrics.

Working closely in collaboration with and reporting to the Vice President of Philanthropy and Engagement, this position fosters a collaborative team culture and establishes metrics for success. In particular, this position utilizes industry standards, best practices, and institutional policy to manage functions related to the accurate entry and management of donor and gift information, data administration and reporting, and collaboration with internal and external constituents in support of the Advancement function.

Core Competencies

• Represents Aurora University in the most positive manner with prospective, former and current students, clients, suppliers and the community we serve. Interacts effectively with a diverse group of faculty, staff, students and other customers of our service, learns and uses operating practices of the department and Aurora University.
• Upholds the Mission Statement: Aurora University is an inclusive community dedicated to the transformative power of learning. As a teaching-centered institution, we encourage undergraduate and graduate students to discover what it takes to build meaningful and examined lives. Our singular goal is to empower our students to achieve lasting personal and professional success.
• Handles all information with tact and discretion and recognizes the confidential nature of university business.
• Supports learning through performance of essential job functions and performing other duties and functions as necessary or as assigned, including voluntary participation in university committees, activities and events.
  
  

Essential Job Functions

• Leads, develops, and implements comprehensive strategies for advancement operations, ensuring alignment with institutional goals, to support fundraising, alumni engagement, institutional partnerships, and stewardship goals.
• Leads and mentors the team responsible for research as well as the management of gift, donor and constituent records in the university’s Advancement information system/database.
• Oversee the management and integrity of the advancement CRM/database (e.g., Raiser's Edge) ensuring accuracy, data integrity, security, and user training and support.
• Develop, implement and maintain industry-standard processes and systems related to gift accounting including fund creation, fund management, matching gift processes, and recording and reviewing gifts-in-kind. Routinely review existing operations and make recommendations for the creation of new operations, procedures and policies to ensure best practices across campus.
• Provides leadership and direction driven by data insights for each area of Advancement Operations by setting measurable and attainable goals and evaluating outcomes to ensure staff are managing their work successfully.
• Lead and manage grant operations, supporting proposal development, compliance, and reporting. Collaborate with campus partners to align funding opportunities with institutional priorities and support stewardship of foundation and corporate relationships.
• Fosters collaborative relationships within the University and community for data and reporting considerations related to gift accounting, reconciliation, audit, etc. to build a culture of philanthropy among development staff and key stakeholders alike.
• Serve as liaison to Information Technology Services (ITS) regarding management of data systems and equipment.
• In consultation with the VP and staff, establishes and adheres to annual operating budgets and ensures that development programs are operating in a fiscally prudent and productive way.
• Helps develop and administer policies related to fundraising and gift processing and data integrity.
• Maintains knowledge for current best practices in the Development profession and evaluates new and emerging ideas for potential implementation at AU.
  
  

Education

Essential Job Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
  
  

Experience:

• At least 5 years successful experience with database management, gift accounting and processing, financial reporting and accounting. Experience in higher education or non-profit fundraising/development strongly preferred.
  
  

Skills

• Excellent understanding of relational databases and report-writing systems. Knowledge of Raiser’s Edge strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of fundraising principles, methods and standards, with particular emphasis on information systems, development services, and prospect research.
• Understanding of IRS rulings applicable to charitable contributions and fundraising.
• Strong interpersonal skills necessary to build relationships with internal and external constituents.
• Ability to work collaboratively and as a team player.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects/functions to produce quality results in a fast paced environment.
• Strong organizational and detail-orientation skills.
  
  

Physical Requirements: Ability to move about at those locations. Ability to move about campus. Ability to interact via telephone, in person and via electronic media.

The anticipated pay rate for this position is $115,000 - $125,000 per year. This compensation is subject to change at the sole discretion of the university, based on institutional needs.

The pay range referenced in the job posting is the budgeted amount the university reasonably expects to pay for this position. The final pay rate will not be below the lowest pay rate listed herein.

Benefit-eligible positions offer excellent benefits including health, dental, life, vision, long term disability, a 403(b) retirement plan through TIAA, and tuition remission.

Aurora University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.