Assistant Vice President for Advancement
 
THE POSITION
A.T. Still University of Health Sciences seeks an experienced and dynamic individual to fill the position of Assistant Vice President for Advancement. The AVP will activate and manage the fundraising activities for the Arizona School of Health Sciences and Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health located in Mesa, Arizona. S/he will be responsible for all fundraising and related development programs in support of the Mesa campus, including planning, directing, and implementing annual, capital, endowment, special events, and deferred giving fundraising efforts moving toward a University-wide comprehensive campaign. Other development fundraising functions will include individual giving, private foundation grants, corporate support, and special events.
 
The Assistant Vice President for Advancement will provide direction and leadership to the Mesa campus advancement team, while creating a highly integrated and diverse fundraising operation. S/he will organize and manage the operation based on that vision. Key to this effort will be well-developed and thoughtfully articulated long and short-range strategic operating plans for institutional advancement relating to the Mesa campus. The AVP will build and nurture a creative, energetic and focused advancement team, while creating appropriate staff and/or consultant posts as necessary.
 
A. T. Still University of Health Sciences is in a fast track of expansion of medically related graduate education in Mesa and early stages of expansion in to new markets including southern California.  Plans are underway to bring osteopathic medicine graduate education to Mesa. The AVP will play a leadership role for institutional advancement in this expansion in the Southwest. Institutional advancement leaders will be proactive to these changes rather than reactive. 
 
The AVP will work closely with James J. McGovern, PhD, President of ATSU and Mesa Provost Craig M. Phelps, D.O., FAOASM and the Mesa College Deans. S/he will report to Robert L.  Basham, CFRE, Vice President of Institutional Advancement, and will oversee three individuals on the institutional advancement staff in Mesa.
 
RESPONSIBILITIES
The Assistant Vice President for Advancement will:
 

• Serve as the principal fundraising and operations strategist for the Mesa Campus.
• Create, manage and implement programs for the identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of existing as well as prospective individual major donors.
• Build a marketable case for support of the schools that will interest foundations, corporations, individuals and government entities.
• Participate personally in the cultivation and solicitation of major and deferred gifts from individuals.
• Create, manage and implement annual and long-range fundraising plans with new ideas for solicitation strategies, programs and events to meet targets of ATSU.
• Develop significant fundraising opportunities and contacts throughout the Phoenix area and the Southwestern U.S., including individuals, corporations, foundations and government agencies.
• Oversee the database to improve tracking of and communication with alumni. Utilize relationships to develop other funding from alumni.
• Create and oversee annual special events designed to strengthen long-term ties with major donors.

·         Recruit, train and supervise fundraising staff and consultants with approval of ATSU leadership. Divide and assign work effectively, delegating appropriate levels of freedom and authority.

• Represent the University at community and ATSU-sponsored events and support constituent programming as needed.
• Develop an understanding of the work of all University programs and maintain a close working relationship with other ATSU leaders, in order to better promote the work of the institution.
• Advise, prepare and support the President, Provost, and Vice President for Advancement, in fundraising as appropriate to maximize the effectiveness of ATSU’s fundraising efforts.

·         Serve an institutional advancement leadership role in the expansion of the Mesa campus and planning of medically related education in southern California and the southwest.
·         Maintain and utilize a working knowledge of significant developments and trends in the advancement field.

• Assure adequate control and accounting of all funds, including developing and maintaining sound financial practices.

·         Expand and manage a network of relationships with other charitable organizations that may be in the position to directly support or assist the fundraising efforts of the University. Develop a plan to identify and cultivate potential new relationships with such foundations and organizations.
·         Monitor fundraising progress in relation to goals, schedules and budgets.

• Execute other projects as assigned by the President or Vice President of Advancement.

 
QUALIFICATIONS
The AVP will be an accomplished and visionary leader who has an understanding of and passion for the mission of ATSU and its future. This person must possess a thorough understanding of the role of institutional advancement in supporting the educational mission of ATSU. In addition, the ideal candidate should demonstrate the following:

• A minimum of ten years of progressive experience in nonprofit administration, with a well-documented and successful history of fundraising as a major part of the responsibility;

·         Fundraising success in philanthropic foundation and corporate contributions;

• Experience with prospect strategy development and solicitation of individual major gifts;
• An understanding of alumni affairs and its relationship to university fundraising success;
• Ability and personality to interact comfortably with philanthropists, corporate/foundation leaders and government officials;
• Successful experience in mentoring and leading development staff, college volunteer leaders and other volunteers to ensure an integrated, organized effort;
• Ability and motivation to become a passionate, highly knowledgeable and articulate spokesperson for the University with prospective donors, foundations and the community;
• Extreme personal and professional integrity, with an ability to inspire confidence and cooperation; a motivator and leader;
• An organized, focused and goal-oriented personality; a high level of initiative, energy and ability to work independently;
• A dedicated belief in personal wellness.  Mesa is a smoke free campus.
• Exceptional communication skills – both verbal and written; and
• A baccalaureate degree.  CFRE certification highly desirable.

COMPENSATION
Compensation will be commensurate with experience and record of successful achievement.
 
APPLICATION
Inquiries, applications and nominations should be directed to the search consultant for this effort:
Lynda M. McKay
Director, Executive Search
Lynda.mckay@campbellcompany.com
312-896-8914 (P)     
312-896-8915 (F)