Vice President of Institutional Advancement

Located in the heart of the Appalachian region, Virginia Highlands Community College (VHCC) serves the city of Bristol, Washington County, and the western portion of Smyth County from its campus in historic Abingdon, Virginia. VHCC’s central location at exit 14 on Interstate 81, in view of Mt. Rogers and Whitetop Mountain, is a short commute from nearby towns and communities, including northeast Tennessee. Since 1967, VHCC has served students in the region through academic programs aligned for seamless university transfer, specialized education for a wide range of healthcare careers, technical curricula designed by business and industry, and short-term certification offerings to meet workforce needs. VHCC awards Associate of Applied Science degrees, Associate of Arts and Sciences degrees, and certificates, as well as workforce credentials. As one of 23 institutions in the Virginia Community College System, VHCC has served students from across the region, including northeast Tennessee, eastern Kentucky, and western North Carolina by providing quality and affordable education, training, and cultural activities through an array of flexible, diverse programs that enable community members to succeed today and in the future. More information about VHCC may be found at the college website:

Position Summary

The Vice President of Institutional Advancement is the college’s senior level administrator for external relations, including marketing, communications, and fundraising. The Vice President reports directly to the President and serves as a member of the President’s Cabinet.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides leadership and supervision for the staff in the division including the following areas: the college’s website, public relations, and resource development.
• Participates in the development of policies and programs for the college as a member of the President’s Cabinet.
• Serves as the Executive Director of the VHCC Educational Foundation, Inc., leading the fundraising and operations of the Foundation.
• Identifies state, federal, and private fund resources compatible with the mission and goals of the institution; supervises the development of grant proposals in consultation with college faculty, staff, and administrators; and develops and implements an effective grants management system.
• Coordinates the college’s program of legislative relations including serving as liaison with local, state, and federal elected officials, governmental departments, and the VCCS’s information office.
• Fulfills all other functions as may be designated by the President.
• Handles special assignments such as emergency response support for the governor’s emergency declaration.

Compensation and Benefits

This is a 12‑month contract, salaried position with comprehensive benefits commensurate with its classification as administrative faculty. Annual reappointment is based on performance evaluations and institutional needs, and rank and salary are dependent on academic preparation, qualifications, and experience. The selected applicant will be required to complete the Commonwealth’s Statement of Economic Interest.

Location and Travel

THIS IS NOT A REMOTE POSITION. Required travel: occasionally. Operation of a state vehicle: yes.

Required Qualifications

• A master’s degree from an accredited college or university is required.
• Previous supervisory experience in higher education is required.
• Demonstrated experience in fundraising is required.
• Demonstrated competence in project management, program administration, and budget management is required.
• Demonstrated professionalism in oral and written communications, and collaboration skills is required.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with students, employees, and other college stakeholders is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Community college experience is preferred.
• Community college fundraising experience is preferred.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, political affiliation, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or other non‑merit factors. VCCS is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Acts (ADA and ADAAA), to provide reasonable accommodation to applicants in need of access to the application, interviewing, and selection processes when requested. VCCS uses E‑Verify to check employee eligibility to work in the United States.