Current Searches

Current Searches | How to Be a Candidate & Candidate Tools | Candidate Search Process

Job Description

Aurora University
Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations
Aurora, IL

Aurora University is an institution on the move. Over the past ten years, the university has accomplished the remarkable feat of growing programs and reputation on the one hand while returning to its root as a traditional, residential university on the other. The result is an institution that is increasing its capacity and its financial strength while at the same time further enfranchising its core alumni and donor constituencies. Aurora's is truly a remarkable story.

As it seeks to address its growing capacity to pursue private philanthropic support, Aurora University seeks a vice president for development and alumni relations to reconceptualize a state-of-the-art program of engagement leading to support of the university's core academic programs. Reporting to the president and working in close concert with the executive vice president for advancement, the vice president will focus his or her attention on the main campus in Aurora, Illinois both in terms of building and leading the program and in regard to the portfolio of prospects that he or she will manage.

Aurora University, an innovative institution, is dedicated to "the liberally educated professional." Founded in 1893, Aurora has evolved from an independent liberal arts college to a multi-dimensional university. The main campus is located in the economically booming "Silicon Prairie" high-tech corridor 40 miles west of Chicago. The institution maintains an additional campus on Lake Geneva in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. These two locations and the breadth of the academic program allow Aurora to serve over 4,000 degree-seeking students and another 10,000 students in non-degree programs.

The university seeks an experienced fund-raiser and leader with knowledge of best practices nationally. The vice president must be a leader in word and deed, balancing the managerial responsibilities of program development, assessment, and execution with external advocacy on behalf of the institution, including especially the management of a portfolio of key prospects. As a member of the president's senior administrative team, the vice president will provide key input on issues across the university. These multiple roles will require a professional with exceptional judgment, outstanding interpersonal and communications skills, diplomacy, and political acumen.

Recruitment will continue until the position is filled. Nominations, expressions of interest, and applications (including a cover letter and resume) should be submitted via email to AuroraVPDev@wittkieffer.com.

Material that cannot be emailed may be sent to:

Confidential inquiries and questions concerning this search may be directed to Dennis M. Barden at 630/575-6167 or Claudia Burdulis at 972/789-5725.

(PDF format requires Acrobat Reader)