"Associate Vice President - Strategic Engagement"

Position Announcement

Utah Valley University (UVU) is seeking a visionary and collaborative leader to serve as the Associate Vice President for Strategic Engagement. This hybrid-eligible role provides strategic oversight of integrated marketing, communications, donor relations, and executive-level events to elevate UVU’s visibility and philanthropic success. Reporting to senior leadership, the AVP will shape and implement campaign communications, donor stewardship strategies, and high-impact engagement experiences that align with institutional priorities. The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in brand management, storytelling, and stakeholder engagement, along with a proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and foster inclusive, data-informed innovation. This is a unique opportunity to help tell UVU’s story, inspire support, and create meaningful connections that advance the university’s mission and values. This position is based at UVU's main campus and has a preferred start date of October 1, 2025, or earlier.

Summary of Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership 
• Leads the strategic integration of marketing, communications, donor relations, and executive-level and donor-focused events and experiences to elevate the institution’s visibility and philanthropic impact. 
• Serves as an advisor to senior leadership on fundraising campaign marketing and communications strategies, donor stewardship practices, and donor experience protocols and opportunities. 
• Collaborates with campus partners to align messaging and branding with institutional goals and initiatives. 
• Collaborates and communicates effectively with divisional partners to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of processes and clarity of roles and responsibilities. 
• Serves as a member of the university’s executive council to ensure broad university understanding and partnership opportunities.
• Marketing & Communications 
• Oversee fundraising campaign branding, digital strategy, media relations, and content creation that helps to tell UVU’s story of student and community impact. 
• Leads team in developing a strategic marketing and communication plan to garner donations and support for the university’s priorities. 
• Ensures the development of consistent, compelling messaging across university platforms and campaigns.
• Donor Stewardship & Engagement 
• Oversee the design and implementation of a robust donor stewardship program that celebrates donor impact and fosters long-term relationships. 
• Partners with development officers to produce customized communications and donor recognition strategies. 
• Oversee the coordination of donor reporting, acknowledgments, and engagement strategies that reflect the university’s gratitude and transparency.
• Executive Events and Experiences 
• Oversee the planning and execution of signature events, trips, and experiences, including presidential functions, campaign celebrations, new facilities and programs, and donor recognition events. Ensure all events reflect the university’s mission, create meaningful engagement, and maintain brand consistency. Supervise the team to ensure high-quality event delivery and memorable experiences.
• Team Development & Collaboration 
• Lead, mentor, and support a cross-functional team in a culture of innovation, inclusion, and excellence. 
• Foster strong relationships with academic leaders, advancement professionals, faculty, staff, and students. 
• Monitor performance metrics and use data-driven insights to inform and optimize strategy.
• Perform other job duties as assigned

Qualifications / Licenses / Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in strategic communications, donor relations, or institutional advancement, preferably in higher education.
• Proven leadership experience with strong managerial, interpersonal, and decision-making skills.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex ideas into compelling narratives.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

Knowledge

• Strong understanding of the structure and dynamics of higher education institutions, including advancement and fundraising practices.
• Knowledge of organizational integrated marketing strategies, brand management, content development, and multimedia communications.
• Familiarity with donor stewardship practices, philanthropic engagement cycles, and relationship-building strategies.
• Knowledge of planning, executing, and evaluating executive-level and organization-wide events.

Skills

• Strategic communication and messaging: Skill to craft clear, consistent messaging aligned with institutional goals.
• Leadership and team development: proven capability to mentor, lead, and inspire cross-functional teams.
• Content creation and editing: strong storytelling skills across digital, print, and multimedia platforms.
• Event planning and logistics: skill in organizing high-profile events with precision and diplomacy.
• Collaboration and influence: skilled at building partnerships across departments and with external stakeholders.
• Analytical thinking: ability to interpret data to measure communications effectiveness, donor impact, and event ROI.

Abilities

• Inspire trust and effectively collaborate with senior leaders, faculty, donors, and staff.
• Translate complex academic and institutional initiatives into compelling narratives.
• Lead through ambiguity, adapt quickly, and remain calm under pressure.
• Foster inclusive communications and events that reflect a diverse campus community.
• Uphold confidentiality and exercise sound judgment in sensitive situations.
• Represent the institution with professionalism, diplomacy, and authenticity.

EEO Statement:

UVU employment decisions are made on the basis of an applicant’s qualifications and ability to perform the job without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age (40 and over), disability, veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth, or pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or other bases protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Utah Valley University’s dedication to exceptional care offers quality service and benefits to employees while staying committed to meeting the needs of a diverse workforce.

UVU is pleased to offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package that supports employees and their family’s overall physical and mental health, protects their income in case of unforeseen illness and life events, and assists in building financial security for retirement and the future.

Highlights from Utah Valley University’s benefits package include:

• Medical network and plan options with low employee premiums
• Employer HSA contribution for those that elect the university’s High-Deductible Health Plan
• Other tax advantage, reimbursement account options (i.e. Flexible Spending Account & Dependent Care)
• Dental and vision plan options
• Incentivized wellness program
• Employer paid basic life, Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D), and Long Term Disability (LTD) coverage
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• 401(a) Defined Contribution Plan with an employer contribution of 14.2% based on employee’s compensation (100% vested on first day of full-time employment)
• Undergraduate tuition remission benefit waiving up to 18 credit hours (each semester) for employees and their eligible dependents (spouses & children dependents unmarried and up to age 26)
• Generous leave package which includes sick, vacation (staff only), and personal leave; 13 paid holidays; paid medical maternity and parental leave

For more information about the benefits offered, visit https://www.uvu.edu/peopleandculture/benefits.

01

Do you meet the required qualifications as outlined: Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred. 10+ years of experience in strategic communications, donor relations, or institutional advancement, preferably in higher education. Proven leadership experience with strong managerial, interpersonal, and decision-making skills. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex ideas into compelling narratives?