Assistant Dean for Advancement

College of Applied Health Sciences University of Illinois at Urbana‑Champaign Based in Urbana‑Champaign with hybrid opportunities. Job Summary Provide leadership for the College’s development and alumni relations activities. Organizational Relationship The Assistant Dean for Advancement reports to the Dean of the College and to an Associate Vice Chancellor for Advancement. The role provides strategic leadership for an advancement program that includes two gift officers, an associate director for external engagement, and an office manager. Duties & Responsibilities Major Gifts and Development Strategy Develop, implement, and evaluate an annual fundraising plan and oversee the College’s prospect portfolio and gift officer assignments. Manage the personal portfolio of high‑level major gift prospects with a focused strategy for development and implementation. Plan and implement effective outreach and cultivation activities to enhance prospect identification and move solicitation and stewardship processes forward; qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of major gift prospects, emphasizing gifts of $50,000 or more. Maintain a significant travel schedule (30–40%) to meet with alumni, donors, and corporate partners. Facilitate the Dean’s engagement with key donors and prospects. Lead the major gift team in identifying, cultivating, and soliciting donors and in developing proposals for individuals, corporations, and foundations. Design strategies that align donor interests with University and College priorities. Strategy, Collaboration, and Engagement Lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive advancement strategy aligned with University and College priorities. Serve as the Dean’s primary advisor on advancement matters. Build and maintain relationships with College leadership, faculty, and units to align advancement activities with program priorities. Collaborate with OVCIA, the University of Illinois Foundation, and the University of Illinois Alumni Association to advance College goals and serve as a key liaison to these partners. Partner with the Assistant Director of Strategic Initiatives and Research Relations to develop corporate partnerships that support research and education initiatives. Collaborate with the Assistant Dean of Marketing and Communications to support advancement-related communications and engagement. Engage students and student organizations in advancement activities. Serve on the College leadership team, the Applied Health Sciences Administrative Council, and other relevant committees. Management and Budget In collaboration with College leadership and OVCIA, manage the advancement budget. Provide oversight of staff across major gifts, annual fund, stewardship, and alumni relations functions. Hire, supervise, develop, and evaluate advancement personnel. Establish policies, procedures, and best practices to support an effective and innovative advancement program. Maintain knowledge of higher education trends and College priorities. Constituent Engagement Lead alumni, donor, and corporate engagement efforts that foster long‑term relationships with the College. In partnership with the Dean, support and manage the College’s Board of Visitors and the Alumni Board. Oversee stewardship activities, including events, recognition, and donor reporting. Communicate the College’s mission, vision, and priorities to external constituents through coordinated communications and marketing efforts. Collaborate with the Office of Marketing and Communications to develop and execute print, electronic, and web‑based materials for alumni and donor audiences. Ensure consistency of messaging and alignment with the College and University brand. Impact in Your First Year We value our employees and provide resources to help you continually learn and grow. We foster a strong, collaborative community of people driven by their ability to make a difference. Within 3 months, you’ll: Understand the Dean’s and Associate Vice Chancellor’s strategic vision and priorities for the College. Begin to build positive relationships with key internal and external constituents and with leadership and peers in Advancement. Assess the structure, resources, capabilities, and bandwidth of your advancement office/team. Become familiar with the overarching structure of Advancement at Illinois and the alignment between central Advancement services, the University of Illinois Foundation, and the University of Illinois Alumni Association. Attend professional development and networking activities for newcomers within Advancement. Meet your assigned Prospect Development Analyst and begin to dig into your portfolio. Within 6 months, you’ll: Begin cultivating relationships with the key prospects, donors, and alumni. Understand, evaluate, and offer strategic insight into unit‑specific advancement opportunities and initiatives. Be able to share the programmatic and philanthropic needs of units. By the end of the first year, you’ll: Continue to develop and enhance a trusting and collaborative team culture. Cooperatively set annual performance goals and metrics with your staff and portfolio management team. Continue portfolio growth of qualified prospects and successful solicitation strategies. Partner with OVCIA teams for individual and team coaching, professional development, retreat, and goal‑setting opportunities. Build a robust network of colleagues across campus. Minimum Qualifications A minimum of a bachelor’s degree; an advanced degree or appropriate professional certification is strongly preferred. An understanding and commitment to the research, teaching, and engagement mission of the University of Illinois and the College of Applied Health Sciences, especially in the areas of health, aging, disability, and quality of life. At least seven years of successful experience in advancement—at least three years working on major gifts—preferably in higher education. Supervisory experience and demonstrated success leading a team. Understanding and adherence to the Association of Fundraising Professionals Donor Bill of Rights, endorsed by the Office of the Vice Chancellor of Institutional Advancement. Must be able to travel by all modes of transportation, including planes, on a regular basis. Preferred Qualifications Experience building successful collaborations with internal and external stakeholders. Experience in a position that requires extensive travel. Understanding of how to utilize data to plan strategically. Ability to build relationships with colleagues across the organization to drive multi‑unit giving. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Knowledge of the principles of advancement, fundraising and administration in a university environment. Demonstrated ability to build trusting partnerships across all constituents and create impactful donor experiences. Understanding of higher education infrastructure, including institutional leadership, department leadership, alumni structure, student experiences, and operations and goals of development and alumni relations teams with a focus on philanthropy. Ability to work in a highly self‑directed, proactive, and creative manner. Ability to function effectively in a large, de‑centralized environment. Demonstrate knowledge about advancement and alumni relations. Excellent presentation and communication skills. Knowledge of planned giving fundraising vehicles. Interpersonal skills and effective communication with others. Ability to thrive in a team environment and actively contribute to the team’s success. Ability to manage multiple responsibilities in a fast‑paced, changing environment. Ability to maintain confidentiality and exhibit good judgment in making decisions in accordance with University policy. Knowledge of the major components of advancement, including development, communications and public relations, alumni relations, and special events. Appointment Information This is a 100 % full‑time Academic Professional position, appointed on a 12‑month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after closing date. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience while also considering internal equity. The budgeted salary range is $140,000–$160,000. Application Procedures & Deadline Information Applications must be received by 6:00p.m. (Central Time) on July29,2026. Submit your application through Apply Now at the top or bottom of this posting and upload a resume, cover letter, and the names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of three professional references. Applications not submitted through will not be considered. For additional information, contact Amanda Wahba at View email address on click.appcast.io or call View phone number on click.appcast.io. Please note: This position is not eligible for any type of sponsorship for work authorization. Equal Opportunity & Accessibility The University of Illinois System is an equal‑opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability, and complies with all applicable state and federal mandates. Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request reasonable accommodations. Contact the Office for Access & Equity at View phone number on click.appcast.io, option1, or View email address on click.appcast.io for accommodations. #J-18808-Ljbffr