Associate Vice President for Development

Special Instructions to Applicants:

To be considered for the Associate Vice President for Development opportunity at Rice University please submit your resume and cover letter in confidence to WittKieffer at with the subject line: Associate Vice President for Development at Rice University.

About Rice:

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston Texas Rice University is ranked among the nations top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio and a residential college system which supports students intellectually emotionally and culturally through social events intramural sports student plays lectures series courses and student government. Developing close-knit diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty staff and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rices culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name RICE Responsibility Integrity Community and Excellence.

Position Summary:
Reporting to and working with the Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations the Associate Vice President for Development provides leadership evaluation and mentoring to the individual giving program coordinating efforts to maximize philanthropic support for Rice University. The Associate Vice President for Development is a main point of contact with campus leadership working to develop philanthropic and fundraising strategies managing the participation of deans and other university leaders in philanthropy and preparing them for prospect meetings and solicitations. As a senior member of the fundraising team this person is a member of the principal gifts team and manages a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects capable of gifts at the $1M level while managing the frontline fundraising operation which includes Annual Giving Major Gifts Gift Planning and Parents fundraising programs. As a senior leader in the division this position serves on the divisions leadership team and the campaign steering committee in an effort to maintain and improve the efficiency of Development and Alumni Relations work while continuing to advance an already excellent donor experience.

Ideal Candidate Statement:

The ideal candidate is a highly collaborative leader and strategic thinker with a demonstrated track record of leading development staff through the process of setting and achieving annual and long-range fundraising goals that are data-driven and support fundraising priorities. They should be adept at maximizing motivating mentoring and advocating for talented staff to facilitate team success.

Workplace Requirements:

This position is offered as a hybrid role combining both in-office and remote work to provide flexibility and support Rice policy 440 work arrangements may be subject to change.
Must possess (or have the ability to obtain within 30 days of hire) and maintain a valid Texas drivers license with no more than three moving violations and/or at-fault accidents within the past 36 months and no convictions or deferred dispositions for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) or Driving Under the Influence (DUI) within the past five years.

*Exempt (salaried) positions underFLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelors Degree
• 7 years of successful major gift (front-line) fundraising experience
• At least three years of experience leading a team of development professionals and working with deans faculty and senior administrators in fundraising initiatives

Skills:

• Commitment to Rice Universitys mission
• Strong leadership and strategic management skills
• Keen understanding of fundraising best practices
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to lead and motivate others
• Ability to manage a large number of fundraising activities simultaneously
• Ability to engage and motivate groups of diverse individuals
• Excellent attention to detail
• Advanced problem-solving skills
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• High level of creativity initiative and motivation
• Ability to work well under pressure and manage projects simultaneously
• Team orientation and willingness to set an example for real leadership
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team to meet expected deadlines and schedules
• Adept at problem-solving creating contingency plans and handling issues when necessary showing good judgment and diplomacy
• Strong interest and commitment to sharing knowledge with colleagues through effective training programs

Preferences:

• Masters degree
• 8 years of the experience specified above
• 5 years of fundraising experience at an institution of higher education
• Experience working on a significant fundraising campaign within a higher education institution
• Experience as a regional and/or school-based fundraising officer
• Demonstrating a good sense of humor and maintaining a positive outlook are highly valued
• Demonstrated experience with Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook Word Excel and PowerPoint)
• Proficiency with fundraising CRM and strong data-driven orientation
• Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) certification

Essential Functions:

Strategic Leadership and Team Development:

• Serve as a strategic leader to strengthen the culture of philanthropy at Rice University and advance a culture of performance excellence within Development and Alumni Relations.
• Leverage strong communication skills to articulate Rice Universitys mission vision and values in ways that resonate with all constituents and inspire philanthropic engagement from alumni parents and families and community members.
• Coach and develop the Individual Giving team which includes Annual Giving Major Gifts and Gift Planning through strategic mentorship clear goal alignment and impactful performance management.
• Drive cohesive strategy development and execution across the campus ensuring alignment with the universitys top fundraising priorities and long-term vision.
• Ensure organizational accountability through the consistent application of Development and Alumni Relations policies and procedures.

Strategy and Major Gift Development:

• Lead the development and implementation of comprehensive fundraising strategies.
• Personally manage a portfolio of high-level prospects and work in close partnership with university leadership (Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations President Deans) to cultivate and solicit transformational gifts.
• Serve as strategist and thought partner on $1M prospects.

Administrative Leadership and Planning:

• Serve as a member of the Development and Alumni Relations leadership team.
• Contribute to divisional strategic planning and operational excellence.
• Serve as a senior advisor to the Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations on fundraising matters.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Additional Functions:

• Requires extensive contact within the university at all levels including upper-level administration.
• Requires extensive contact outside the university with donors alumni parents and friends of Rice University.
• Up to 30% out-of-town travel is required.
• Some evening and weekend work is required.

Rice University HR Benefits: Mission and Values:Mission and Values Rice University

Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race color religion age sex sexual orientation gender identity national or ethnic origin genetic information disability or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process please contact Rice Universitys Disability Resource Center at or for support.

If you have any additional questions please email us at Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.