Assistant Vice President, Advancement Services

RUF • New Brunswick, NJ

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting to the Vice President, Operations, the Assistant Vice President (AVP) serves as a strategic and collaborative leader responsible for operationalizing advancement services initiatives across Rutgers University Foundation, including research and prospect management, data intelligence, and gift administration. The AVP will oversee multiple cross-functional teams and lead efforts to strengthen operational effectiveness, systems alignment, prospect strategy, data governance, and service delivery in support of the Foundation’s fundraising and engagement goals. The AVP partners closely with Foundation and University leadership to improve organizational efficiency, strengthen internal controls, advance the strategic use of data and technology, and support long-term fundraising and engagement priorities. This role requires a collaborative, forward-thinking leader who can navigate complexity, lead organizational change, and build strong partnerships across the enterprise.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in advancement services, operations, fundraising, higher education, analytics, nonprofit management, or related fields.
• Strong understanding of prospect development, fundraising operations, reporting, and systems governance.
• Experience working with CRM systems, reporting tools, and advancement technologies; Salesforce experience is strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of AI tools and applications relevant to advancement services, operational efficiency, analytics, donor engagement, and reporting.
• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise-wide operational or strategic initiatives.
• Experience leading organizational change management initiatives.
• Excellent written, verbal, analytical, and presentation skills.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and enhance enterprise-wide shared service functions that support fundraising, stewardship, engagement, and operational strategy.
• Provide strategic oversight of prospect development, prospect management, data analytics, systems governance, and operational process improvement initiatives.
• Partner with Foundation and University leadership to improve efficiency, remove operational barriers, and strengthen organizational effectiveness.
• Develop and maintain policies, procedures, and governance standards that ensure strong internal controls, data integrity, compliance, and operational consistency.
• Serve as a strategic advisor and thought partner to Foundation leadership, providing guidance on prospect strategy, reporting, operational planning, reporting prioritization, and procedural improvements.
• Lead organizational change management efforts tied to systems, staffing, and operational transformation.
• Provide leadership and oversight for AI-related strategy and operational applications within Advancement Services.
• Ensure compliance with legal privacy requirements, donor confidentiality standards, and ethical guidelines.
• Act as a proactive strategic partner for frontline fundraisers.
• In conjunction with the development officers, oversee and provide guidance on the major gift prospect, delivering information about new and known donors to educate on potential prospect engagement and giving strategies.
• Other Duties as assigned

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical
• Comprehensive no-cost dental and no-cost vision insurance for employees and dependents
• 403(b) plan with matching employer contribution
• Accrual of three weeks of annual vacation time, in addition to five wellness days and fifteen sick days per year
• Nine holidays, as well as four floating holidays
• Significant tuition reductions
• Professional development is highly valued at the Rutgers University Foundation, where employees are encouraged to look across the organization to develop new skills and abilities for professional career progression.
• $40 monthly cell phone reimbursement

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager