Vice President of Institutional Advancement

Vice President of Institutional Advancement

Lyon College, a growing and dynamic institution of higher education in Arkansas, associated with the Presbyterian Church U.S.A., with rigorous undergraduate and graduate programs, seeks an experienced and accomplished Vice President of Institutional Advancement. The VPIA serves as the chief fundraising and external relations officer, responsible for developing and executing comprehensive strategies to enhance philanthropic support, alumni engagement, and institutional visibility for the three campuses of the Lyon College System: the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences in Batesville, the School of Dental Medicine in Little Rock, and the School of Veterinary Medicine in Cabot. Reporting directly to the President, the VPIA provides strategic leadership to advance the college's mission, goals, and priorities through effective fundraising, grant-seeking, and constituent relations efforts.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Five to seven years of successful fundraising experience in a higher education or related environment.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Strong leadership, teamwork, interpersonal, and organizational skills. • Experience in planning and staffing a capital campaign.
• Understanding of, and commitment to, the liberal arts and the mission of the Lyon College System.

Position Summary

The Vice President for Advancement provides executive leadership for Lyon College's fundraising and engagement efforts in Little Rock. This role exists to build sustainable philanthropic support and strengthen relationships with alumni, donors, and community partners.

Key responsibilities include setting advancement strategy and goals; leading major and planned giving, annual giving, stewardship, and donor relations; managing advancement operations, budgets, and reporting; partnering with the President and senior leaders on campaign planning and priorities; and representing the College with external stakeholders.

Required qualifications/skills:
- Senior-level advancement leadership with demonstrated fundraising results
- Strong relationship-building, communication, and presentation skills
- Strategic planning, team leadership, and sound financial/operational judgment
- Comfort using data and metrics to guide decisions and track progress

Apply to be considered for the Vice President for Advancement role and help advance Lyon College's mission through impactful philanthropy.

A Typical Workday

Your day balances focused planning with high-touch engagement. Mornings often begin with reviewing dashboards and brief updates with your team to align on priorities and timelines. Midday may include meetings with campus partners to refine messaging and prepare materials, followed by donor or alumni conversations in the Little Rock area. Later, you'll spend time drafting correspondence, reviewing proposals and reports, and preparing for upcoming events or travel. You close the day by assessing progress against near-term targets and confirming next steps with key stakeholders.

Lyon College is a USN&WR "top tier" national liberal arts college and recognized by Forbes as "One of America's Top Colleges." Founded in 1872, the College is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in Arkansas and offers undergraduates exceptional preparation for their post-baccalaureate
objectives. The new Lyon College Institute of Health Sciences in Little Rock will house the College's professional programs, including the School of Dental Medicine and the School of Veterinary Medicine.

The School of Dental Medicine will feature cutting-edge facilities equipped with advanced technology, fostering innovation and collaboration among students and faculty.

Review of the applications will begin immediately and continue until the positions are filled. To learn more about Lyon College go to lyon.edu. Lyon College does not discriminate with respect to the hiring of applicants or with respect to the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because of race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, or national origin. It is the continuing policy of Lyon College to comply with any applicable state and federal law regarding equal employment opportunities.

Application Process
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three professional references to Human Resources, P.O. Box 2317, Batesville, AR 72503-2317, or electronically at Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.