Associate Vice President for Advancement

The Associate Vice President for Advancement (AVP for Advancement) provides senior-level strategic and operational leadership for the university's advancement enterprise, with primary responsibility for fundraising and development functions. Reporting to the Vice President for Advancement and Executive Director of the Foundation, the AVP plays a critical role in advancing the institution's philanthropic priorities and strengthening engagement with alumni and donors. In this capacity, the AVP also provides oversight of advancement-related policies and procedures, including reviewing and interpreting guidelines related to fundraising, donor engagement, and gift stewardship to ensure compliance with SUNY, New York State, and applicable regulatory requirements, while recommending updates to strengthen accountability, ethical standards, and operational effectiveness.

This role oversees core advancement programs including annual giving, major and planned giving, alumni and donor relations, gratitude and stewardship, prospect strategy, and advancement services, with the goal of supporting the primary objectives of the Advancement Office: fundraising success and sustained engagement. The AVP will build, lead, and mentor a high-performing team while fostering a culture of collaboration, creativity, and continuous improvement.

The AVP is expected to bring an innovative and forward-thinking approach, leveraging new tools, technologies, and data-informed practices to increase efficiency, scale impact, and enhance the effectiveness of advancement initiatives. The position works collaboratively with colleagues across Advancement, including communications and special events, to ensure cohesive strategy and execution across all engagement and fundraising efforts.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Management

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for advancement functions including fundraising, alumni and donor relations, stewardship, gratitude outreach, prospect strategy, and advancement services.
• Build and mentor a cohesive, forward-thinking advancement team that supports a comprehensive and successful fundraising program.
• Inspire creativity, innovation, and accountability within the team while supporting performance management and professional development.
• Champion the thoughtful adoption of new tools, technologies, and process improvements to enhance advancement operations and scale fundraising success.
• Serve as a member of the university's extended cabinet and contribute to institutional planning and decision-making.

Fundraising and Donor Engagement

• Partner with the Vice President for Advancement, senior leadership, and frontline fundraisers to design and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies.
• Oversee and support annual giving, major giving, and planned giving programs aligned with institutional and Foundation priorities.
• Manage a portfolio of major gift prospects, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors.
• Contribute to annual, multi-year, and campaign planning efforts as applicable.
• Engage with members of the Foundation Board and key volunteers to advance fundraising goals.

Strategic Planning and Institutional Alignment

• Implement advancement strategic priorities aligned with the university's mission and strategic plan.
• Oversee fundraising progress through accurate, timely, and insightful reporting for internal leadership, the Foundation Board, and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate with academic and administrative leaders to align university program needs and priorities with philanthropic opportunities.
• Represent Advancement on university-wide strategic initiatives and implementation teams, as appropriate.

Advancement Operations, Technology, and Collaboration

• Provide leadership and guidance to advancement services, including CRM management, data integrity, reporting, prospect research, and moves management.
• Ensure effective use and continuous improvement of CRM systems and related platforms that support giving, engagement, communications, and analytics.
• Promote the use of data, analytics, and emerging tools to inform decision-making, improve donor strategy, and enhance operational efficiency.
• Coordinate closely with Advancement communications and special events teams to ensure aligned strategy, consistent messaging, and integrated donor and alumni experiences.
• Partner with Finance, Communications, Marketing, Decision Support, and other campus units to ensure effective stewardship, compliance, and donor recognition.
• Represent the advancement division at campus, regional, and community events as needed.

Job Requirements:

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of progressive experience in advancement, development, non-profit fundraising, or a related field; higher education experience preferred.
• Demonstrated success in fundraising and donor engagement, including major gift cultivation and stewardship.
• Proven experience managing staff and advancement programs.
• Strong strategic thinking, organizational, and execution skills.
• Familiarity with CRM systems and advancement technologies.
• Demonstrated ability to leverage tools, technology, and data to enhance performance and scale advancement initiatives.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a complex environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree from an accredited institution.
• Experience with campaign planning or large-scale fundraising initiatives.
• Experience introducing or leading innovation in advancement operations, systems, or engagement strategies.
• Demonstrated success securing and stewarding major gifts.

Special Information:

• This position is located in Saratoga Springs, NY.
• Occasional travel may be required to fulfill department and university-wide commitments.
• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. VISA sponsorship is not available for this position.
• SUNY Empire provides employees with robust remote and flexible work options to meet the needs of students, faculty, and staff in a dispersed work environment.

Additional Information:

Rank/Salary: Management-Confidential / $140,000-$160,000, dependent on experience and qualifications.

We are pleased to offer our employees an excellent benefit package which includes NYS health insurance, free dental and vision, competitive retirement options, and generous vacation, sick and holiday accruals; and a strong emphasis on work-life balance. We also offer professional-development activities for professionals and support staff.