Associate Vice President/Chief Development Officer

ZRG Aspen Leadership Group is proud to partner with the University of Florida in the search for an Associate Vice President/Chief Development Officer.

Reporting to the Vice President for UF Advancement, 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.

The University of Florida is the state's most comprehensive university, a land grant institution with ties to every Florida county, a top academic medical center and much more. Ranked the #5 Public University by Forbes, the University of Florida is feeding communities, healing coastlines, exploring space, curing diseases, powering cities, building industries and imagining wonders. Home to over 61,000 students, UF educates students through more than 300 undergraduate and graduate degree options in 16 academic colleges and online programs, plus a comprehensive array of courses in virtually every subject. In 2026, the University of Florida was named a "New Ivy" by Forbes, recognizing how the university is preparing students for an evolving workforce shaped by artificial intelligence.

The University of Florida is a truly dynamic institution — widely considered to be among the world's most comprehensive universities. It is one of only six institutions in the country with colleges of law, medicine, agriculture, and veterinary medicine on one central campus and one of only 17 in the nation to boast land-, sea-, and space-grant status.

Thanks to its extraordinary depth and breadth, Florida's flagship university is uniquely positioned to lead interdisciplinary collaborations and boundary-breaking research efforts that are shaping a better future for the state, the nation, and the world. Guided by a shared passion for the greater good, the Gator Nation is a diverse and expansive community with a proven trajectory of excellence across academics, research, outreach, health, athletics, and more.

A bachelor's degree and 10 years of appropriate experience, or a master's degree and eight years of appropriate experience, along with demonstrated success soliciting gifts at $1 million and above in an institution of higher education, is required for this position. 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. All applications must be accompanied by a cover letter and résumé. Cover letters should be responsive to the mission of the University of Florida and the responsibilities and qualifications specified in the position prospectus.

The salary range for this position is $325,000 to $375,000. 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.