Job Summary

The Associate Vice President (AVP) for University Advancement Strategy and Campaigns is a senior-level position reporting to the Vice President for University Advancement and CEO of the Tower Foundation of San José State University. This role acts as a chief of staff and proxy for the Vice President in meetings, decision-making, and communication with internal and external stakeholders. This role provides strategic and operational leadership across a range of priorities, including campaign planning and execution, organizational goal setting, cross-divisional initiatives, and the advancement division’s internal systems and processes. The AVP supports the division’s organizational effectiveness by aligning key initiatives with institutional goals and fostering collaboration across University Advancement and throughout the university ecosystem.

The AVP serves as a trusted partner to the Vice President, helping to coordinate strategy and execution across advancement functions. This includes serving as the primary strategist and coordinator for the development portfolios of the university president and vice president, as well as overseeing campaign infrastructure, managing strategic projects, contributing to budget planning and management, and supervising key staff where appropriate. The position also serves as the division’s liaison to University Marketing and Communications, ensuring alignment of advancement marketing with broader institutional communications and brand strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior strategic partner to the Vice President in designing, managing, and evaluating campaign planning and execution
• Coordinate campaign milestones, timelines, deliverables, and internal communications across the division and campus partners
• Translate campaign goals into actionable plans, systems, and materials in collaboration with development, alumni, donor relations, deans, university leaders, and communications teams
• Manage campaign infrastructure, including working group agendas, campaign cabinet coordination, and briefings for campus leadership
• Serve as the principal strategist and coordinator for the Vice President’s and the University President’s development portfolios
• Oversee portfolio review cadence, contact strategy, and prospect pipeline movement for top-tier donors (principal and major gift levels)
• Coordinate briefing materials, including talking points and strategy memos, for high-level donor meetings and events
• Work closely with prospect research, development officers, and advancement services to ensure timely and strategic donor engagement
• Lead or co-lead strategic initiatives across the division in alignment with institutional priorities and the Vice President’s strategic goals
• Support the division’s long-term planning processes, including setting goals, tracking progress, and adjusting to emerging opportunities
• Act as a project manager for special cross-functional efforts involving University Advancement and academic leadership
• Lead planning for division-wide meetings, retreats, and information flow
• Support state and foundation budget development and monitoring in coordination with the Tower Foundation
• Supervise the Advancement Research and Prospects team and the Donor Relations and Stewardship team
• Oversee task delegation in areas such as campaign operations, fundraising and alumni engagement strategy, and business operations to support the campaign, fundraising metrics and goals, and advancement’s role to achieve the university’s strategic plan
• Act as the advancement division’s point of contact for coordinating with UMC on campaign messaging, visual identity, and content strategy
• Ensure alignment between advancement communications and university branding
• Collaborate on high-level messaging frameworks for campaign themes, donor communications, and digital storytelling

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Demonstrated and well-honed leadership abilities, willingness to take risks, and the capacity to solve problems creatively while navigating ambiguity
• A record of accomplishment that reflects initiative, creativity, and accountability in a rapidly changing and intellectually stimulating environment. This includes a thorough understanding of development operations in complex settings, using data analysis and interpretation to drive and assess campaign strategies
• Functional knowledge in marketing, internal communications, principal gift fundraising, and/or advancement campaign leadership
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with attention to detail and the ability to articulate a compelling case for philanthropic support
• Proven skills for prospect identification and relationship building, fostering effective long-term relationships both internally and externally
• Ability to work effectively with faculty, executives, and community leaders, as well as academic and administrative leaders and donors
• Comprehensive knowledge of relevant CSU rules and regulations and a deep understanding of CSU and SJSU policies and procedures for fundraising, gift acceptance, and donor stewardship
• Proven technological abilities with expertise in fundraising databases, spreadsheets, word processing, and presentation software
• Demonstrated ability to manage, organize, and delegate to others
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within cross-functional teams and manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Strong interpersonal skills supporting collaboration, team building and motivation, and achieving results within diverse populations
• Strong knowledge of higher education fundraising with strong skills in analysis and manipulation of complex data sets
• Ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and other constituents

Required Qualifications

• Baccalaureate degree from an accredited four-year college or university
• Minimum of ten years of experience with at least seven serving at the director level or above; a background of progressively increased responsibility in a comprehensive and sophisticated fundraising program, including supervisory experience
• Experience with metrics-driven major-gift fundraising programs and campaigns in a college or university environment
• Experience with comprehensive campaign design, implementation, reporting cycles, communications and completion, with preference for multi-year comprehensive campaign experience in a college or university
• Experience with all elements required for fundraising program success, including goal setting, target donor development, prospect cultivation, donor research, gift solicitation, acknowledgement, and stewardship
• Demonstrated experience to oversee prospect research and stewardship efforts with creativity and accountability

License

A valid driver's license is required for this position. Out of state candidates selected for the position must obtain a State of California driver's license within 10 days of hire in accordance with the California Department of Motor Vehicles regulations.

Once hired the employee must successfully complete the Defensive Driver Training Program provided by the State of California for California State University campuses.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree
• Demonstrated experience being an effective team builder with a strong commitment to collaboration, inclusion, and partnership with the internal and external community 
• Experience cultivating positive working relationships across cultural, functional, and organizational lines 
• Substantial experience as a front-line fundraiser including personal success in closing six and seven-figure gifts
• Experience in recruiting, training, leading, and evaluating staff engaged in major-gift fundraising
• Experience working with foundation management, reporting requirements, and governing board processes and support requirements

Compensation

Classification: Administrator IV
Anticipated Hiring Range: $16,667/month - $18,084/month
CSU Salary Range: $10,106/month - $32,441/month

The final hiring salary will be commensurate with experience.

San José State University offers employees a comprehensive benefits package typically worth 30-35% of your base salary. For more information on programs available, please see the Employee Benefits Summary.

Application Procedure

Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application and attach the following documents:

• Resume
• Letter of Interest

All applicants must apply within the specified application period: August 5, 2025 through August 19, 2025. This position is open until filled; however, applications received after screening has begun will be considered at the discretion of the university.

Contact Information

University Personnel
jobs@sjsu.edu
408-924-2252

CSU Vaccination Policy

The CSU strongly recommends that all individuals who access any in-person program or activity (on- or off-campus) operated or controlled by the University follow COVID-19 vaccine recommendations adopted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) applicable to their age, medical condition, and other relevant indications and comply with other safety measures established by each campus. The system wide policy can be found at https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/9779821/latest/ and questions may be sent to jobs@sjsu.edu.

Additional Information

Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. SJSU will issue a contingent offer of employment to the selected candidate, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was offered the position on a contingent basis.

The standard background check includes: criminal check, employment, and education verification. Depending on the position, a motor vehicle and/or credit check may be required. All background checks are conducted through the university's third-party vendor, Accurate Background. Some positions may also require fingerprinting. SJSU will pay all costs associated with this procedure. Evidence of required degree(s) or certification(s) will be required at time of hire.

SJSU IS NOT A SPONSORING AGENCY FOR STAFF OR MANAGEMENT POSITIONS. (e.g. H1-B VISAS)

All San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. Incumbent is also required to promptly report any knowledge of a possible Title IX related incident to the Title IX Office or report any discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation to the Office of Equal Opportunity.

Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act and Campus Housing Fire Safety Notification: 

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the Annual Security Report (ASR) is also now available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Security-Report.pdf. The ASR contains the current security and safety-related policy statements, emergency preparedness and evacuation information, crime prevention and Sexual Assault prevention information, and information about drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains statistics of Clery crimes for San José State University locations for the three most recent calendar years. A paper copy of the ASR is available upon request by contacting the Office of the Clery Director by phone at 408-924-1501 or by email at clerycompliance@sjsu.edu.

Pursuant to the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the Annual Fire Safety Report (AFSR) is also available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Fire-Safety-Report.pdf. The purpose of this report is to disclose statistics for fires that occurred within SJSU on-campus housing facilities for the three most recent calendar years, and to distribute fire safety policies and procedures intended to promote safety on Campus. A paper copy of the AFSR is available upon request by contacting the Housing Office by phone at 408-795-5600 or by email at uhs-frontdesk@sjsu.edu.

Campus Security Authority - In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and CSU systemwide policy, this position is subject to ongoing review for designation as a Campus Security Authority. Individuals that are designated as Campus Security Authorities are required to immediately report Clery incidents to the institution and complete Clery Act training as determined by the university Clery Director.

Equal Employment Statement

San José State University is an equal opportunity employer. The university prohibits discrimination based on age, ancestry, caste, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military status, nationality, race, religion, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, sex stereotype, and veteran status. This policy applies to all San José State University students, faculty, and staff, as well as university programs and activities. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and certain other federal and state laws, prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in all education programs and activities operated by the university (both on and off campus). Reasonable accommodation is made for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose. San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.