VP of Innovation Chief Digital Officer

VP of Innovation Chief Digital Officer

Department: Information Systems

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

FLSA Status: Exempt

The anticipated salary will be commensurate with the candidates experience qualifications and the strategic value they bring to the role.

Who we are and what were about:

KU Endowment is an independent nonprofit organization and the official fundraising foundation for the University of Kansas. We partner with donors in providing philanthropic support to build a greater KU.

As an employee of KU Endowment youll witness firsthand the power of our donors generosity. You will join a talented and fun group of people who are inspired to help KU through the support of loyal alumni and friends. This support fuels excellence enabling students and faculty to develop innovative programs and research that distinguish the university. We connect the philanthropic passions of donors with the needs of students faculty and programs and everyone benefits.

People are engaged. Purpose is ignited. Lives are changed.

What we are looking for:

A role for builders bridge-makers and applied strategists:

KU Endowment is entering a new era -one that requires more than strong fundraising execution. Our vision is to become a philanthropic intelligence enterprise: an organization that helps the University of Kansas ecosystem partner with donors with greater alignment and insight.

At the center of this vision is a shared intelligence core - data platform governance and activation capabilities that connect KU Endowment more closely with its campus partners for coherent and unified donor experience.

We are seeking a senior innovation leader who understands technology deeply but thinks beyond it. This is a leadership role for someone who can translate vision into an operating roadmap connect strategy to delivery and apply modern data/CRM capabilities in the unique context of higher education and philanthropy. The role is currently scoped to report to the President however specific role components like title reporting structure and compensation could be adjusted to meet the chosen candidates experience and expertise.

If you are a Jayhawk (or simply have a deep appreciation for KUs mission) thats a plus - but the most important fit is the ability to lead with humility curiosity and a builders mindset in a relationship-driven environment.

This is a senior executive leadership role at the center of KU Endowments next chapter. As Chief Innovation and Digital Officer you will help shape how we operate - how we use data technology and modern engagement capabilities to strengthen relationships increase stewardship excellence and expand KU Endowments impact across the University of Kansas ecosystem.

You will serve as KU Endowments senior technology and innovation anchor - responsible for the strategy and architecture that powers our data future and for the operational technology foundation that enables our teams to do their best work every close partnership with Development you will bridge the worlds of technology and frontline fundraising: translating vision into roadmaps aligning stakeholders around shared outcomes and ensuring platforms and data are trusted secure and genuinely useful at the moment of engagement.

This role is accountable for evaluating executive leadership identified enterprise needs capabilities and strategic priorities and drive opportunities that enhance effectiveness efficiency and service delivery. Collaborating with key stakeholders this position is responsible for the development and adoption of innovative practices technologies and partnerships that supports mission and the growth trajectory of product and advancement services in alignment with the holistic philanthropic program goals.

This role is for a leader who can run today and build tomorrow - someone who brings executive presence systems thinking and a builders instinct for what it takes to make change real.

Whats a typical day look like

Strategy Architecture and Roadmap

• Champion the multi-year innovation and technology strategy - including platforms data analytics and activation capabilities.
• Design a pragmatic sequenced roadmap that delivers near-term wins while building durable long-term architecture.
• Partner with executive leadership to define success measures investment priorities and decision rights - so innovation stays aligned resourced and accountable.
• Foster and sustain a culture of innovation across the enterprise.

Data and Platform Enablement

• Lead the evolution of KU Endowments data warehouse environment and the pipelines that feed it from CRM engagement operational and external sources.
• Guide identity resolution segmentation and activation approaches that make donor and alumni engagement more coordinated personalized and effective.
• Ensure security privacy governance and operational reliability - while accelerating the organizations ability to innovate and learn.

Donor Journey and Engagement Integration

• Work with Development and Marketing & Communications leaders to embed data-informed engagement into coordinated campaigns stewardship streams and donor experiences.
• Ensure tools and data are built around frontline workflows - simple trusted and actionable at the point of use.
• Champion modern learning loops (test measure refine) that improve outcomes over time -while maintaining operational discipline and service excellence.

Ecosystem Partnership and Governance

• Help establish shared definitions data quality standards and stewardship practices across the philanthropic ecosystem that surrounds KU.
• Build strong working relationships with campus units affiliates and partners; align incentives and clarify the commitments required for shared success.
• Manage vendor and partner relationships; negotiate agreements that protect KU Endowments interests strengthen trust and accelerate delivery.

Enterprise Technology Leadership and Operational Excellence

• Provide oversight for the full technology environment that keeps KU Endowment running.
• Strengthen cybersecurity posture access management continuity planning and risk mitigation.
• Simplify and optimize the application ecosystem so teams spend less time navigating tools and more time building relationships and advancing mission.

Team Leadership and Delivery

• Lead and grow high-performing teams and cross-functional pods spanning data analytics CRM enablement application stewardship and activation.
• Establish delivery rhythms prioritization processes and clear accountability for outcomes.
• Develop executive-ready communication and storytelling that helps stakeholders understand what is changing why it matters and how success will be measured.

How value is created day to day and long term:

Culture of Innovation

Build and champion a culture of innovation aligning strategy technology and talent to deliver sustained impact.

Unify the donor and constituent experience across the ecosystem

Help align units around shared journeys so engagement feels coordinated - not fragmented by school unit or channel. The objective is a consistent donor experience even within a decentralized environment.

Build and scale the intelligence core behind our platforms

Strengthen the engine room behind Salesforce/Ascend by developing and integrating the data warehouse pipelines identity/relationship logic and activation layers that turn information into insight and insight into action.

Establish shared definitions quality standards and partner commitments

Make shared data durable by aligning on definitions governance and data quality expectations - and by securing the commitments required from partners to enhance our shared commitment to data and its impact.

Deliver measurable outcomes that move the mission

Improve adoption and usability enable better segmentation strengthen stewardship signals and support smarter deployment of development resources.

Run the enterprise technology foundation with excellence

Provide oversight of the full technology portfolio that keeps the organization operating: end-user support devices and collaboration tools networks/connectivity telephony application administration integrations vendor relationships and budgeting. The goal is a dependable modern environment where staff can do high-quality work without technology getting in the way.

Strengthen security resilience and trust

Lead cybersecurity posture access management data protection continuity planning and risk a donor-first enterprise trust is mission-critical - and trust at scale requires strong security and disciplined operational controls.

The Qualities That Matter Most:

• Strategic architect: sees the full system and designs roadmaps that endure.
• Applied innovator: turns ideas into capabilities that scale and get adopted.
• Bridge-builder: credible with technical teams and equally credible with fundraising and marketing leaders.
• Human-centered leader: designs for frontline reality - making tools usable trusted and valuable in day-to-day work.
• Data-trust steward: elevates quality governance privacy and security as core enablers of progress.
• Influence leader: communicates with clarity earns commitment and aligns stakeholders without relying on authority alone.

If you are energized by complex systems motivated by mission and ready to build capabilities that will shape the future of a major philanthropic enterprise - this role offers the opportunity to do work that endures.

Whats required to be considered:

• 10 years of leadership experience in information systems digital strategy martech/engagement platforms analytics or closely related domains.
• Proven track record architecting and scaling data platforms (data warehouse/lakehouse) that power segmentation personalization and journey orchestration.
• Demonstrated ability to bridge business and technologymoving from strategy to delivery in complex multi-stakeholder environments.
• Executive presence and communication skills; ability to influence senior stakeholders and navigate organizational dynamics.
• Experience managing vendors and partners including contract negotiation and performance management.

What separates the best from the rest

• Experience in philanthropy advancement higher education academic medicine or similarly mission-driven and relationship-centric environments.
• Deep familiarity with Salesforce ecosystems (including CRM and marketing/engagement tools) and their integration with analytics and activation layers.
• Experience building governance models for shared data definitions stewardship and quality management.
• A Jayhawk connection (alumni or affinity) is a plus.

Physical Requirements:

• A valid drivers license.
• Must have access to reliable transportation to travel between multiple locations for training donor meetings networking events and/or work-related activities.
• Must be able to respond quickly and effectively to directions and safety hazards.
• This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office productivity machinery such as computers keyboards and a mouse laptops phones photocopiers filing cabinets and fax machines.
• This is largely a sedentary role; however some filing is required. This would require the ability to move files open filing cabinets and bend or stand as necessary.
• The ability to observe details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• The person in this position frequently communicates with donors colleagues students and general public. Must be able to communicate with others effectively.
• Physical effort/lifting: moderate-up to 40 pounds
• Travel requirements can include the following evenings weekends and out of town overnights as a regular part of the job.
• Regular and reliable attendance is essential for this position.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

KU Endowment is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals to enable them to perform the essential functions of the job as regulated by ADA. If you require accommodation for any part of the application process or during employment please contact to discuss your needs.

Weve got you covered:

• KU Endowment offers a competitive salary with an excellent benefit package including:
• 100% employer-paid pension plan
• Health dental and vision insurance
• 401(k) and Roth 401(k) matching program
• Section 125 flexible benefits
• Generous paid leave including holidays personal and sick leave
• Volunteer and community engagement opportunities
• Paid Parental Leave
• Life AD&D short- and long-term disability insurance
• Legal & ID Theft protection
• Critical Illness
• Accident and Hospital Indemnity insurance
• KU education assistance
• Free parking

Sounds good right Whats next

Please include your resume and cover letter when applying for this position on our website at regarding this vacancy may be addressed to:

Human Resources
KU Endowment
PO Box 928
Lawrence KS 66044-0928
Email:

Review of applications begins immediately and continues until the position is filled. Because of the sensitive nature of KU Endowment business and the importance of our reputation with donors KU Endowment conducts a comprehensive review of applicants. By submitting your application you authorize us to conduct reference checks and a review of available public information. Employment is contingent upon background and reference checks that KU Endowment finds acceptable.