Associate Vice President, Health and Life Sciences Advancement

Boston University•Boston, MA

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About The Position

Boston University Advancement is building a collaborative, matrixed organization focused on philanthropic growth and institutional impact. The Associate Vice President (AVP), Health & Life Sciences Advancement, is the senior advancement leader for the University’s Health & Life Sciences portfolio, providing strategic direction for fundraising across the Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, School of Public Health, Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, School of Social Work, and related natural sciences departments and interdisciplinary initiatives. Reporting to the Vice President, Schools & Colleges Advancement, the AVP partners with academic deans, University leadership, faculty, advancement colleagues, alumni, donors, and volunteer leaders to develop and execute fundraising strategies advancing academic priorities, biomedical and scientific research, public health, faculty excellence, student success, and institutional goals. The AVP identifies and advances transformational philanthropic opportunities and leads interdisciplinary efforts connecting academic expertise, donor interests, and institutional priorities around compelling “Big Ideas.” The AVP is a member of the Schools & Colleges Advancement senior leadership team and leads coordinated fundraising strategies, campaign priorities, volunteer engagement, and institutional philanthropic efforts across schools, colleges, centers, institutes, and research units. The role provides leadership to advancement professionals, Assistant Deans, and academic partners, and advises the Vice President on fundraising strategy and emerging philanthropic opportunities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
10 or more years of progressively responsible experience in advancement, fundraising, development, or a related field, including demonstrated success securing major gifts and advancing complex fundraising initiatives.
Experience developing and executing strategic fundraising plans aligned with institutional priorities and organizational goals.
Ability to cultivate, solicit, and steward high-capacity donors and build lasting relationships with alumni, philanthropic leaders, and other key stakeholders.
Success managing significant fundraising opportunities, developing compelling cases for support, and advancing complex philanthropic commitments.
Strong strategic, analytical, and problem-solving skills, including evaluating fundraising opportunities, assessing prospect pipelines, and making data-informed decisions.
Exceptional oral and written communication skills, including presenting fundraising strategies and communicating effectively with senior leaders, academic deans, faculty, donors, and volunteers.
Leadership experience managing, developing, and evaluating staff, establishing performance expectations, and fostering a collaborative, results-oriented culture.
Advanced project management and organizational skills, including managing competing priorities and leading multiple complex initiatives simultaneously.
Ability to build partnerships, influence stakeholders, exercise sound judgment, and work independently in a complex organization.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree, including an MBA, MPA, MPH, or a related field.
Experience in higher education advancement, particularly in medicine, public health, dentistry, rehabilitation sciences, social work, biomedical research, or natural sciences.
Success securing principal, transformational, or other significant philanthropic gifts for research, clinical initiatives, faculty excellence, student success, or institutional priorities.
Experience partnering with academic deans, faculty leaders, executive leadership, and volunteer leaders to develop and advance fundraising strategies.
Experience leading interdisciplinary fundraising initiatives connecting multiple schools, colleges, departments, research centers, or institutes.

Responsibilities

Lead the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of leadership, principal, and transformational gift prospects across the Health & Life Sciences portfolio while maintaining a personal portfolio of high-capacity donors.
Develop and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies for the portfolio’s schools, natural sciences, and related health sciences priorities.
Build and deepen relationships with healthcare leaders, biotechnology entrepreneurs, pharmaceutical executives, health-focused foundations, industry partners, and influential alumni.
Develop and present principal and transformational gift proposals and donor engagement strategies.
Set strategic direction for advancement across the portfolio, aligning fundraising priorities with school, college, and University goals.
Lead interdisciplinary fundraising initiatives and “Big Ideas” across schools, colleges, centers, institutes, and research units.
Identify opportunities that combine the strengths of medicine, public health, dentistry, rehabilitation sciences, social work, and natural sciences to advance discovery, health outcomes, and responses to societal challenges.
Partner with academic deans, faculty leaders, and University leadership to translate research, clinical priorities, academic initiatives, and institutional ambitions into compelling fundraising opportunities.
Lead portfolio-level planning and prioritization to strengthen donor pipelines, advance campaign priorities, and maximize philanthropic potential.
Represent the portfolio in University-wide campaign planning, strategic discussions, and cross-school initiatives.
Coordinate cluster-wide governance structures and Dean’s Advisory Board engagement in partnership with the AVP, Development Volunteer and Leadership Engagement.
Provide strategic oversight of donor relations, stewardship, alumni engagement, volunteer leadership, and events across the portfolio.
Establish growth targets and performance objectives for cluster-wide advancement activities, monitor progress, and identify opportunities to improve philanthropic outcomes.
Partner with school-based advancement teams on coordinated plans to strengthen prospect pipelines, constituent engagement, and fundraising results.
Guide advisory boards, volunteer leadership networks, and external partnerships that expand BU’s reach and philanthropic potential.
Develop cultivation, engagement, and stewardship opportunities connecting donors and volunteers with faculty expertise, discoveries, clinical innovations, student experiences, and institutional priorities.
Promote a coordinated, high-quality donor experience across schools, colleges, and advancement teams.
Provide strategic direction to advancement professionals, Assistant Deans, and academic partners, setting priorities, goals, and performance expectations.
Set the portfolio’s strategic vision, establish annual and long-term advancement goals, and lead teams toward measurable fundraising and engagement outcomes.
Foster collaboration, accountability, innovation, and fundraising excellence across school-based teams and University-wide advancement functions.
Lead staff development, performance management, talent growth, and organizational planning.
Oversee portfolio planning, prospect management, and performance assessment, using fundraising results and pipeline insights to guide decisions and resource allocation.
Advise the Vice President, Schools & Colleges Advancement, on fundraising strategy, leadership engagement, and emerging philanthropic opportunities related to health sciences, biomedical research, public health, and interdisciplinary initiatives.
Collaborate with Associate Vice Presidents, Assistant Deans, and other advancement leaders to coordinate institutional priorities and University-wide fundraising goals.
Ensure the portfolio’s advancement strategy aligns with University Advancement’s comprehensive campaign priorities and broader strategic initiatives.