Senior Vice President for Corporate & Externa

Virginia Union University•Richmond, VA

About The Position

Virginia Union University (VUU) is a distinguished private institution founded in 1865 that proudly upholds a legacy of academic excellence and community engagement. With a historic 86-acre campus, it offers a dynamic and nurturing environment for its 1,568 undergraduate and graduate students. Virginia Union University is recognized in the 2024 edition of U.S. News & World Report, holding a prestigious position as #39 among Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Five fundamental principles (core values) guide Virginia Union University. Each principle is essential to our ability to provide a Best-In-Class educational experience for students, faculty, and staff. These principles help our community understand the right path to fulfilling our institution's mission. The principles are Innovation, Spiritual Formation, Integrity, Diversity & Inclusion, and Excellence. The Senior Vice President for Corporate & External Affairs (SVP-CEA) serves as the university's chief external relationship and revenue development officer, responsible for planning and directing the activities of the Corporate & External Affairs Division. Reporting to the President and/or Chief Operating Officer (COO), the SVP-CEA oversees the University's Auxiliary Services enterprise, develops and enforces division-wide policies and procedures, and ensures compliance across all assigned functional units. This senior executive will develop overall business strategies for self-sustaining, revenue-generating auxiliary enterprises, seek opportunities for future initiatives consistent with University needs, and build the external partnerships that advance VUU's mission, reputation, and financial sustainability. The ideal candidate is an entrepreneurially minded leader with a strong background in business development, auxiliary enterprise management, corporate relations, government affairs, and marketing — and a deep commitment to HBCU excellence.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Nonprofit Management, Public Administration, or a related field (required).
Minimum of eight (8) to ten (10) years of progressively responsible professional experience related to area of assignment, including a minimum of five (5) years in a supervisory or executive leadership role.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Business Administration, Nonprofit Leadership, Public Policy, Law, or a related discipline strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop overall business strategies for the division's self-sustaining, revenue-generating auxiliary enterprises and activities that ensure their fiscal stability.
Oversee the financial and personnel functions of all assigned Corporate & External Affairs (CEA) units.
Seek and evaluate opportunities for future initiatives and revenue development consistent with university needs and strategic priorities.
Manage, market, and promote division programs in an entrepreneurial environment.
Assess program needs and outcomes; develop new or enhance existing programs to meet department, division, and university goals and objectives.
Evaluate operational procedures and policies; develop and implement new strategies for designated areas.
Implement budget and financial planning processes in collaboration with departmental managers within the division.
Assist with evaluating monthly financial statements and monitoring financial status and progress for each division department.
Maintain accurate and detailed financial and personnel records in accordance with university policy.
Prepare a variety of reports related to operational activities, including statistical analysis and performance metrics.
Build and enhance business relationships with corporate partners, industry associations, and external stakeholders aligned with the university's academic portfolio and workforce development mission.
Cultivate and steward relationships with regional and national employers to generate internship pipelines, sponsored initiatives, philanthropy, and co-branded opportunities.
Negotiate and execute partnership agreements, joint ventures, and MOUs that create measurable institutional value.
Collaborate with academic deans, division leaders, and the Office of Sponsored Programs to identify and develop partnership opportunities.
Lead and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy encompassing major gifts, annual giving, corporate and foundation relations, planned/deferred giving, and capital campaign activity.
Serve as a frontline major gift officer, personally cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual donors capable of six- and seven-figure commitments.
Partner with the President, Board of Trustees, and Advancement leadership to advance VUU's Capital Campaign and broader philanthropic priorities.
Build and manage a robust donor pipeline using moves management and relationship-centered fundraising methodology.
Develop compelling cases for support, gift proposals, and donor impact reports that articulate the transformative value of giving to VUU.
Pursue corporate, foundation, and government grants aligned with the university's strategic priorities, in coordination with the Office of Sponsored Programs.
Ensure appropriate stewardship of all gifts, including proper recognition, reporting, and compliance with donor intent.
Serve as the University's primary liaison to federal, state, and local government agencies, elected officials, and regulatory bodies.
Monitor legislative and regulatory developments relevant to higher education and HBCUs; develop and communicate the university's advocacy positions in coordination with the President's Office.
Act as liaison to departments, campus administration, and outside agencies on matters related to external affairs.
Lead community engagement initiatives and represent the university at high-visibility public and civic events as designated by the President.
Apply marketing principles, practices, concepts, methodology, and techniques to promote division programs and auxiliary enterprise offerings.
Develop customer relations/service strategies to enhance the University community's experience with auxiliary and external affairs programs.
Champion the university's entrepreneurship ecosystem by connecting internal innovation centers with corporate partners, investors, and workforce development stakeholders.
Provide supervision, training, and professional development for division staff, including prioritizing and scheduling work assignments.
Coordinate training efforts for the division; assess opportunities and disseminate information to staff.
Foster a cooperative, high-performance work environment built on accountability, inclusion, and mission alignment.
Set clear goals and implement achievement strategies across all divisional units.
Meet projected deadlines and manage multiple complex tasks concurrently.
Serve on division and university committees as directed; attend conferences and seminars as assigned.
Prepare reports and proposals as directed by the President or COO.
Direct special projects as assigned.