Assistant Vice President of Development, Academic Advancement

Brandeis University seeks an experienced, visionary fundraising leader to serve as the Assistant Vice President of Development, Academic Advancement. This pivotal role provides strategic oversight for advancement operations across the University’s four schools, the Rose Art Museum, and its Centers & Institutes—ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and driving a culture of philanthropy across disciplines.

As AVP, you will partner closely with deans, senior academic leaders, and Institutional Advancement colleagues to craft and execute integrated fundraising strategies. You will lead a team of six direct reports, fostering a collaborative, high-performance environment where innovation, accountability, and professional growth thrive. In addition to team leadership, you will maintain a portfolio of high-level prospects and represent Brandeis externally with donors, alumni, and volunteers.

Key Responsibilities

• Shape and implement strategic fundraising plans for academic units, ensuring alignment with University-wide campaigns and philanthropic priorities.
• Manage, mentor, and inspire a team of six development professionals, driving shared accountability and professional excellence.
• Serve as a trusted partner to deans, museum leadership, and center/institute directors in advancing fundraising priorities.
• Represent Brandeis with donors, alumni, and external partners while managing a portfolio of ~50 major prospects.
• Contribute as a senior member of the Advancement leadership team, helping to strengthen Brandeis’s culture of philanthropy.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive fundraising experience, with at least 3–5 years of people leadership responsibility.
• Demonstrated success in higher education or a similarly complex development environment.
• Proven ability to cultivate and sustain high-level donor and academic leader relationships.
• Track record of building, mentoring, and leading successful fundraising teams.
• Commitment to access and the ability to advance a culture of excellence.

Why Join Brandeis?

At Brandeis, you will join a dynamic, mission-driven community that values intellectual rigor, creativity, and social justice. As AVP of Development, Academic Advancement, you will shape the future of philanthropic engagement across some of the University’s most dynamic academic units and help propel Brandeis’s vision forward.

This is a hybrid position, with a minimum of three days per week on campus and up to two remote days. Some evening and travel commitments are required.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Brandeis University is an equal opportunity employer which does not discriminate against any applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, ancestry, religious creed, gender identity and expression, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, genetic information, disability, caste, military or veteran status or any other category protected by law (also known as membership in a "protected class")