Chief Advancement Officer

Title: Chief Advancement Officer Exemption: Exempt

Reports to: Head of School Status: Full Time Year Round

Classification: Administrator

Job purpose: The Chief Advancement Officer serves as a key strategic partner to the Head of School, senior leadership team, and Board of Trustees. Reporting directly to the Head of School, the CAO provides vision, leadership, and management for all development efforts, including fundraising and constituent engagement across the School. The CAO will lead and manage a best-in-class development program that strengthens relationships, inspires philanthropic investment, and advances the School’s strategic priorities for generations to come.

Job Qualifications and Requirements:

● Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or equivalent work experience required

● Minimum of 8 years of progressive development experience

● Experience in independent schools, higher education, or similarly complex mission-driven institutions, strongly preferred

● Demonstrated success securing major gifts with the ability to inspire donors, volunteers, and colleagues

● Proven ability to develop and execute comprehensive development strategies

● Experience building, leading, and mentoring high-performing teams

● Demonstrated success working with senior leaders and volunteer leadership

● Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills with exceptional relationship-building skills

● Proven strategic thinking and organizational leadership abilities with sound judgment, discretion, and integrity

● Strategic vision and institutional perspective; deep commitment to educational excellence and institutional mission Collaborative and mission-driven leadership

Key responsibilities and accountabilities:

1. Strategic Leadership & Institutional Influence

● Lead the School’s comprehensive development strategy, ensuring it is forward-looking and aligned with the School’s mission and strategic priorities.

● Serve as a key member of the senior leadership team, contributing to high-level institutional planning, decision-making, and long-term sustainability.

● Strengthen the School’s philanthropic capacity, establishing clear fundraising goals, performance metrics, and growth strategies.

● Support the planning and execution of major campaigns, ensuring they align with broad institutional goals.

● Promote and model a strong culture of philanthropy and engagement across the entire School community.

2. Fundraising Leadership & Donor Relations

● Personally manage a portfolio of leadership and major gift prospects, leading the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of top-tier donors.

● Develop compelling cases for support that translate institutional priorities into inspiring opportunities for investment.

● Expand and strengthen the donor pipeline across all constituencies, including alumni, parents, and friends of the school.

● Partner with the Head of School and Trustees to strategically position them for successful cultivation and solicitation of top donors.

3. Partnership with Head of School & Board of Trustees

● Serve as a trusted strategic advisor to the Head of School and Board of Trustees on all matters related to development and philanthropy.

● Support and engage volunteer leaders, providing them with the tools and coaching necessary to be effective fundraising ambassadors.

● Provide transparent reporting and analysis, offering regular updates on development progress, trends, and opportunities.

● Ensure strategic philanthropic alignment between the Board's vision and the School's operational priorities.

4. Team Leadership & People Management

● Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team, including professionals across Annual Giving (PHS Fund), Major/Planned Giving, Alumni Relations, Parent Engagement, and Operations.

● Foster a culture of excellence and accountability, establishing clear performance standards and expectations for all team members.

● Promote professional growth and collaboration within the development office and across other school departments.

5. Alumni, Parent, and Community Engagement

● Provide strategic oversight for constituent engagement, ensuring a cohesive and integrated approach to building lifelong relationships with the School.

● Partner with faculty, administrators, and volunteers to deepen community relationships and increase the visibility of the Development office’s impact.

● Elevate the level of philanthropic investment within specific groups, ensuring programs reflect national best practices in engagement.

6. Development Operations & Stewardship

● Oversee development infrastructure, including CRM systems, data integrity, and reporting to ensure operational effectiveness.

● Ensure excellence in donor stewardship, maintaining high standards for recognition and relationship management.

● Maintain the highest standards of professionalism and ethics, ensuring compliance with national best practices and gift-reporting standards.

● Protect confidentiality and manage institutional data with the utmost integrity.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Communication

● Regularly required to speak clearly and effectively in person, over the phone, and in virtual meetings; must actively listen and respond appropriately in professional and social settings.

Computer Use

● Frequently required to sit for extended periods (up to several hours at a time) while working at a computer or participating in virtual meetings; including typing, reviewing documents, and using CRM or email platforms.

Mobility

● Frequently required to walk across campus or at event venues, stand during events or presentations, and climb stairs in multi-level buildings or event spaces.

Event Support

● Occasionally required to lift, carry, or transport materials (such as event supplies, promotional items, or presentation equipment) weighing up to 20 pounds.

Vision Requirements

● Close vision for reading printed materials and computer screens.

● Distance vision for observing event setups or presentations.

● Ability to adjust focus between near and far tasks quickly and accurately.