Director of Advancement Operations

Full-time

Southern Virginia University seeks a strategic and detail-oriented Director of Advancement Operations to lead and optimize the infrastructure that supports the university’s fundraising and engagement goals. This key leadership role oversees the operational components of the Advancement Office, including campaign management, foundation relations, and donor-funded scholarship administration. The Director ensures that advancement efforts are data-driven, donor-centric, and aligned with the university’s mission and strategic plan. This role also includes cultivating and maintaining relationships with donors, major gift prospects, and other key stakeholders. The position may also include support for additional university events, programs, and initiatives as needed.

Responsibilities
  • Campaign Management
    • Develop and implement systems to support comprehensive and targeted fundraising campaigns.
      •
    • Coordinate internal and external communications related to campaign initiatives.
      •
    • Monitor campaign progress through data analytics, preparing regular reports for leadership and stakeholders.
      •
    • Collaborate with development officers to track and manage prospect pipelines.
      •
  • Foundation Relations
    • Manage relationships with private and public foundations to maximize grant opportunities.
      •
    • Oversee the development, submission, and reporting of foundation proposals.
      •
    • Ensure compliance with foundation grant requirements and stewardship expectations.
      •
    • Maintain a foundation grant calendar and database.
      •
  • Donor-Funded Scholarships
    • Coordinate with Financial Aid and Academic Affairs to ensure effective management of scholarship funds.
      •
    • Oversee the awarding process in alignment with donor intent and university policy.
      •
    • Manage stewardship and reporting to scholarship donors.
      •
    • Monitor fund balances and work with the finance team to ensure proper fund allocation.
      •
  • Operations & Data Management
    • Supervise advancement services, including gift processing, data integrity, and CRM systems. Experience with Salesforce is preferred.
      •
    • Ensure data-driven decision-making by maintaining accurate and comprehensive donor and prospect records.
      •
    • Develop and refine operational policies and procedures to improve efficiency and accountability.
      •
  • Leadership & Collaboration
    • Lead and mentor support staff.
      •
    • Partner with university departments to support integrated fundraising and engagement strategies.
      •
    • Support the Vice President of Advancement in strategic planning and goal setting.
      •
    • Ensure compliance with ethical and legal standards in fundraising and donor relations.
      •
Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree required.
  • Minimum of 3 years of experience in advancement operations, fundraising, or a related field.
  • Strong leadership, project management, and analytical skills.
  • Demonstrated experience managing complex projects and teams.
  • Proficiency with advancement databases and data management tools (Salesforce).
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Commitment to the mission and values of Southern Virginia University.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Master’s degree preferred.

Applications

To apply, interested candidates should submit a cover letter, résumé, and three professional references to hr@svu.edu.

About Southern Virginia University

Southern Virginia University is a private, faith-based institution of higher education aligned with the restored gospel of Jesus Christ as taught by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As a university, we gather faithful Latter-day Saints and those who share our values, lift intellectually, socially, and spiritually, and launch into successful lives and careers. Applicants are invited to learn more about the university at svu.edu/mission.