Vice Chancellor for Advancement and Lead Development Officer

The University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) invites nominations, inquiries, and applications for Vice Chancellor for Advancement and Lead Development Officer. The university seeks an exceptional individual to provide leadership and direction for advancement opportunities across the university.

Reporting to the Chancellor and serving as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Vice Chancellor leads efforts in development, alumni relations, stewardship, operations, and marketing. This role aligns the Chancellor's vision of impactful philanthropy with UMD's broader goals, working in partnership with the University of Minnesota Foundation (UMF) to leverage their central resources for building strong donor relations in support of UMD.

The ideal candidate for this new role provides strategic leadership to the Advancement team, with principal responsibility for the leadership, planning, implementation, and evaluation of a comprehensive development strategy for UMD. This individual must have a BA/BS degree with at least twelve years of advancement experience with seven years of experience leading, supervising, or managing multiple advancement staff, including selection, performance management, and coaching.

Primary Responsibilities:

Fundraising Leadership and Strategy (50%)

• Lead the strategic planning, implementation, and assessment of the development program for UMD, collaborating with UMF, and other key campus staff. Develop annual and multi-year plans of work, including specific fundraising, prospect development, and programmatic goals with emphasis on achieving and exceeding established standards and metrics for the position.
• Foster a culture of philanthropy across UMD, engaging key stakeholders including faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, prospective donors, and partners.
• Serve on the Chancellor's Senior Leadership Team, collaborating with other senior leaders to align fundraising with institutional priorities.
• Support the Chancellor, senior leaders, and deans in securing transformative gifts and cultivating key relationships with major and principal gift donors.
• Build and maintain a major and principal gifts portfolio in alignment with the Chancellor, other senior leaders, and development officers' portfolios.
• Manage the capital campaigns for UMD in close partnership with UMF.Serve as primary liaison with UMF and lead the coordination and collaboration of UMF resources across UMD.

Advancement Operations and Team Leadership (30%)

• Build a collaborative, mission-driven advancement team culture focused on innovation, problem-solving, and professional growth, with a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Promote a culture of excellence, collaboration, and professional growth. Foster a work environment that recognizes and rewards team-based efforts. Celebrate current achievements.
• Provide the structure and guidance necessary to promote a high-performance culture.
• Manage staff responsible for prospect and major gifts development, annual giving, stewardship, capital campaigns, and alumni.
• Manage the advancement team, including recruitment, retention, performance management, development, and coaching of staff. Actively mentor and train staff, providing professional learning to build capacity and expertise.
• Strengthen alumni relations, annual giving, leadership annual giving, and stewardship programs, while developing new donor engagement strategies.
• Prepare annual budgets and effectively manage financial resources in support of advancement goals and UMD's strategic priorities.

Organizational Leadership (20%)

• Align advancement goals with UMD's mission and strategic priorities, providing guidance to the Chancellor and other senior leaders.
• Collaborate with UMD leaders to understand their goals and mobilize donor support for key initiatives.
• Represent UMD externally, building relationships with key donors, prospective donors, local communities, businesses, foundations, and stakeholders.
• Partner with UMF in coordinating and collaborating UMF resources in support of UMD's development goals.
• Promote advancement services across UMD and with other stakeholders and partners.
  
  

Required Qualifications:

• BA/BS degree plus at least twelve (12) years of experience.
• Minimum of seven years of experience leading, supervising, or managing multiple advancement staff including selection, performance management, and coaching.
• 10 years of professional development experience and demonstrated ability to secure major gifts ($100K+).
• Sophisticated understanding of the role and function of advancement with an emphasis on alumni relations and development.
• Experience or understanding of donor management technology and systems.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicatee clearly and persuasively in writing and orally.
• Evidence of the ability to lead cross-functional teams and to work effectively and collaboratively with multiple groups and diverse constituencies.
• Experience serving as an external advocate for a highly visible community institution or organization.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Graduate or professional degree.
• Effective advancement management experience in a higher education environment.
• Volunteer board management.
  
  

Pay Range: $195,000.00 - $235,000.00 annually; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment Category: 75%-100% Appointment (If job description above does not specify appointment or expected weekly hours, assume a 100% appointment.)

Position Type: Faculty and P&A Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost

While our salary ranges provide a framework, it is important to note that most of the time, the initial pay may not reach the maximum of the range. This approach ensures that compensation reflects the value and unique contributions of each candidate while maintaining equity within our organization. As part of our commitment to fair and equitable compensation, please be aware that the salary offered to incoming candidates will be based on their individual credentials and experience.

Greenwood Asher & Associates is assisting the University of Minnesota Duluth in this search. Applications and nominations are now being accepted. Nominations and application materials should be directed to Shelley Feather and/or Jim Johnsen from Greenwood Asher & Associates at: UMDAdvancement@greenwoodsearch.com.

Application materials should include:

• A letter of interest that clearly states the applicant's qualifications for the position
• A current resume/curriculum vitae

Submission of application materials as PDF attachments is strongly encouraged. Initial screening of applications will begin immediately and will continue until an appointment is made. For best consideration, applications and nominations should be provided by September 15, 2025.

Contact Greenwood Asher & Associates

Shelley Feather
Senior Executive Search Consultant
shelleyfeather@greenwoodsearch.com

Jim Johnsen
Vice President of Executive Search
jimjohnsen@greenwoodsearch.com

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

University of Minnesota, Duluth (UMD)

The University of Minnesota, Duluth (UMD) consistently ranks among the top Midwestern, regional universities in U.S. News and World Report's "America's Best Colleges" issue.

Overlooking Lake Superior, UMD provides an alternative to both large research and small liberal arts environments and attracts students looking for a personalized learning experience on a medium-sized campus of a major university. A firm liberal arts foundation anchors a variety of traditional degree programs, as well as professional and graduate students that draw on UMD's many research institutes and labs.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).