Assistant Vice President, Partnerships

Advancement & Partnerships:

Join our dynamic and growing Advancement & Partnerships team as we work together to power partnerships and transform lives through philanthropy.

Together, we can unleash the potential of people and ideas to positively change the world. Your efforts on our team will help us to build the University for the Future.

The Opportunity

UCF is one of the largest universities in the United States, with a bold vision for research, innovation, and community impact. The Assistant Vice President for Partnerships is a senior leadership role responsible for driving the university's foundation, grant, and corporate partnership strategy, overseeing corporate and foundation relations programs, and serving as a key gateway between UCF and its external philanthropic and business partners.

Reporting to and serving as second-in-command for the Associate Vice President for Partnerships, this position leads a high-performing team, manages a portfolio of major foundation relationships, and provides executive oversight for multi-million-dollar grant proposals. This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced fundraising or partnerships leader who thrives at the intersection of strategy, relationship development, and institutional impact.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Planning

• Develop and execute short- and long-term business plans for UCF's foundation partnerships portfolio, aligned with university priorities and designed to drive measurable growth in research and philanthropic revenue. Provide broad strategic oversight to team operations and partner engagement initiatives and represent the Partnerships team in the Associate VP's absence or as delegated.

Foundation Portfolio Management

• Manage a portfolio of high-level foundation prospects and partners, cultivating and stewarding relationships that generate significant research and philanthropic impact. Serve as the primary point of contact for external stakeholders seeking to establish philanthropic partnerships with UCF and identify opportunities to expand the university's foundation relationships across academic and research units.

Team Leadership & Development

• Directly supervise a team focused on corporate, foundation and grant relations while providing indirect leadership and guidance to broader Partnerships team members. Foster a culture of high performance, collaboration, and professional growth. Serve as the first point of escalation for team members and partner with the Associate VP on organizational design, staffing strategy, and long-term team capacity.

Grant Strategy & Proposal Oversight

• Provide executive oversight for multi-million-dollar grant applications and proposals for selected foundation and corporate partners. In collaboration with grant writing and specialist staff, ensure proposal quality, strategic positioning, and compliance across all foundation-facing grant activities to keep UCF competitive for significant external funding.

Campus & Community Collaboration

• Work closely with college and unit-based staff to ensure consistency and strategic alignment of partner services across the institution. Serve as a liaison to Central Florida's economic and business community, representing UCF and the division in regional forums and cultivating an external network that supports partner pipeline development and institutional visibility.

Marketing, Stewardship & Metrics

• Develop marketing messages, stewardship initiatives, and engagement strategies that strengthen foundation partner relationships and position UCF as a destination for philanthropic investment. Support and achieve defined performance metrics for corporate relations programs in coordination with relevant team members and university stakeholders.

Budget Oversight

• Oversee budget planning and monitoring in alignment with departmental goals and provide financial reporting and forecasting support to the Associate VP.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's or Master's degree and 10+ years relevant experience with at least 5+ years of leadership experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience pursuant to Fla. Stat. 112.219(6).

Preferred Qualifications

• Significant experience in foundation relations, grant strategy, and corporate partnerships within a higher education or research institution.
• Demonstrated success managing and growing a portfolio of high-value philanthropic or institutional relationships.
• Proven ability to lead, develop, and inspire a team of professionals in a complex, matrixed organization.
• Experience providing strategic oversight for major grant proposals, including familiarity with compliance and quality standards for foundation and government funding.
• Track record of collaborating effectively across academic units, colleges, and administrative departments.
• Experience managing budgets of $1 million or more, including personnel and operating expenditures.
• Strong skills in partner stewardship, including developing engagement and marketing strategies for external audiences.
• Familiarity with CRM platforms used in advancement or partnerships settings (e.g., Salesforce, Blackbaud CRM, or similar).
• Active presence in or familiarity with regional business, economic development, or philanthropic communities.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and executive communication skills.
• Comfort representing an institution at senior levels with external partners, community organizations, and university leadership.
• Flexibility to travel and work occasional evenings and weekends as events may require.

Special Instructions to the Applicants

Advancement and Partnerships values the unique contributions that each team member brings to our division. The anticipated salary for a well-qualified candidate is up to $180,000. The final determination of a successful candidate's starting salary will vary based on several factors, including education and relevant experience. The anticipated pay scale indicated for this position generally applies to candidates who meet the minimum requirements and several of the preferred qualifications outlined above. All offers are contingent on successful background and reference screens.

All applicants must be authorized to work for any U.S. employer. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position, and the university cannot accommodate H-1B transfers or employment-based visa processing for individuals currently sponsored by another employer.