Associate Vice President of Development, Health Sciences

Associate Vice President of Development, Health Sciences

The University of Iowa Center for Advancement (UICA) seeks a seasoned, collaborative, and strategic fundraising leader to serve as its associate vice president (AVP) to lead fundraising on behalf of the University's strategic initiatives centered around cancer research and patient care, and brain science and mental health.

Reporting directly to the vice president for health sciences development, the AVP will provide strategic leadership for four front-line fundraising teams and serve as a key member of the vice president's executive leadership team. This is an exciting, newly created position to unite cross-constituency teams, with a focus on driving philanthropic support for innovative research and creative discovery priorities at the University of Iowa (UI).

Brain science and mental health is an area where the university is uniquely positioned to lead. Increasing interdisciplinary collaboration will not only advance our understanding of the human mind, but also prepare students to enter fields that are in high demand and can have a meaningful impact on society. Iowa's strength in these areas is bolstered by one of the nation's oldest psychology departments, highly productive research hubs such as the Iowa Neuroscience Institute, and ambitious initiatives such as the Scanlan Center for School Mental Health.

Iowa has also long been recognized for its world-class medical center that is nationally ranked for cancer care. However, the university's commitment to cancer research and patient care extends beyond UI Health Care and the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center. Faculty from the Carver College of Medicine, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Dentistry, the College of Nursing, the College of Pharmacy, the College of Public Health, and the College of Engineering are working together to develop new treatments, improve patient outcomes, and extend care to rural communities.

The AVP will lead a 15-person team responsible for fundraising efforts to support these strategic initiatives and contribute to a shared UI Health Care campaign goal of $1.1 billion. The team includes the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, the Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Department of Ophthalmology and the Institute for Vision Research.

The AVP will foster a strong sense of team, a spirit of collective enterprise, and a shared commitment to the UICA's organizational goals, policies, and procedures. In addition to leading a range of teams, the AVP will be a collaborative partner with peers on the health sciences executive leadership team and serve as a strategic advisor to the vice president for health sciences development. The AVP will also manage a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects, demonstrating how to craft complex proposals and inspiring a diverse group of donors to make transformational gifts. Critical to this position is the ability to collaborate with University and UI Health Care partners beyond the UICA to drive prospect strategies for transformational gifts.

The ideal candidate will be a senior fundraising professional with robust strategic, managerial, and frontline fundraising skills, with a strong preference for experience with or a background in : leading cross-collegiate, multidisciplinary fundraising initiatives by cultivating collaborative relationships across diverse academic units, aligning institutional priorities with donor interests, and driving innovative strategies to secure philanthropic and grant funding for complex, high-impact projects.

The successful candidate will be a dedicated and motivational team leader adept at optimizing, retaining, and advocating for a seasoned, diverse, and talented staff, while facilitating team success. The AVP will be a self-assured, results-oriented development professional with a collegial and accessible leadership style. Collaboration and integrity are paramount in this position. A complete list of desired qualifications and characteristics can be found below.

This position is eligible for hybrid work (telecommuting) which includes working on-site at our office in Iowa City at least 3 days per week. Required : Please submit cover letter with application.

Responsibilities

• Lead and set strategy for cross-university fundraising strategies aligned with the UI's strategic initiatives related to brain science and mental health, and cancer research and patient care.
• Provide leadership, supervision, and talent management for direct reports (executive director, Vision; executive director, Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center / Internal Medicine, executive director, Neuroscience and senior director of development II) including recruiting, hiring, onboarding, professional development, training, performance management, feedback, recognition, and retention. Promote equity and inclusivity throughout the employee lifecycle.
• Partner with fundraising managers to set performance metrics for individual fundraisers. Work in conjunction with staff to conduct annual strategy and goal setting, including setting measurable, meaningful, and appropriate targets for individual staff members.
• Personally develop and manage a diverse portfolio of major and principal gift prospects. Facilitate productive relationships between donors, senior administrators, and colleagues to develop strategies to solicit individuals in support of fundraising priorities.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant regulations, ethical standards, and reporting requirements related to fundraising. Uphold the highest ethical standards in donor interactions and gift management.
• Maintain best practice-expertise in the field of development through participation in regional and national network and industry-related associations.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the vice president for health sciences development and as an interactive and collaborative partner on the health sciences executive leadership team; demonstrate strong leadership and the ability to problem solve with peers to meet mutual objectives.
• Collaborate with fundraising and alumni engagement colleagues across the UICA to prioritize strategies that will result in the highest-level gifts and engagement activity.
• Utilize data analytics and insights to inform decision-making, track progress, and refine fundraising strategies. Ensure the accuracy and completeness of alumni and donor records within the CRM database.
• Perform other duties as assigned at the direction of the vice president.

Reporting Relationships

Reporting directly to the vice president for health sciences development, the AVP will provide strategic leadership for three front-line fundraising teams and serve as a key member of the vice president's executive leadership team.

Education & Expertise

Bachelor's degree and 10+ years of fundraising experience required. Strong preference for a background in higher education or health care fundraising, with a demonstrated track record of increasing responsibility and leadership.

Skills & Qualifications

This position is eligible for hybrid work (telecommuting) which includes working on-site at our office in Iowa City at least 3 days per week. Required : Please submit cover letter with application.

Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.