Working/Functional Title
Assistant Vice President for Engagement
Position Summary
Assistant Vice President for Engagement, University Advancement
Michigan State University seeks an experienced, creative and entrepreneurial leader for its Engagement team, integrating its marketing/communications, events, donor relations and stewardship functions with a futuristic eye toward building a best-in-class experience for MSU’s donors. This position plays a vital role in advancing the university’s fundraising and engagement goals and promoting its multi-billion-dollar comprehensive campaign by setting the direction and leading a successful, integrated Engagement program across a range of platforms.
The successful individual will have a proven track record in leading donor communications programs and be an innovative and action-oriented implementer of Advancement initiatives designed to demonstrate to donors the impact of their gifts and strengthen their connection to MSU. The Assistant Vice President also will be a seasoned and talented manager of people, programs and resources.
The Assistant Vice President for Engagement at MSU reports to the Vice President of University Advancement. While the VP will provide strong overall leadership for all aspects of MSU’s advancement program, the AVP will be a leader and partner, internally and externally, helping to elevate MSU’s donor experience through a strategic, collaborative and metrics-driven approach to all areas of responsibility.
The AVP will provide visionary leadership to, and strategic oversight of programs, policies, processes and the people who manage them. A primary responsibility of the AVP will be to establish relationships and work collaboratively with University Communications and Marketing, across central UA, and with the constituency development teams to ensure a unified and consistent donor experience.
The AVP’s major areas of responsibility include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Provide overall strategic direction, including annual and long-term planning and budget management for the Engagement team.
- Supervise the Engagement team, including direct supervision of team leads, consistent with University Advancement policies and procedures, and set clear direction and priorities for staff of professionals. Promote excellence through well-defined and measurable goals; and inspire and motivate staff through the free flow of information, placing staff members’ work within the context of the donor experience, UA strategic priorities, and the mission of Michigan State University.
- Provide strategic design and direction in creating, implementing and enhancing MSU’s donor experience that encompasses donor engagement, recognition, gift stewardship and accountability, philanthropic communications, UA’s online presence, and the creation of events, programs, and relationship-building activities. Oversee the development and implementation of an integrated Engagement Plan that deploys strategies, tactics and activities to optimize and unify the donor experience.
- Assess through quantitative and qualitative analysis the metrics associated with donor experience to further enhance, and revise programs and activities related to those larger strategies.
- Lead the development and implementation of comprehensive content, marketing, and communications strategies that map, segment and prioritize the donor experience to maximize engagement and philanthropy with MSU.
- Conceptualize and execute initiatives that effectively reach and engage target audiences and elevate MSU’s reputation among potential and existing constituents, donors, alumni, and corporations.
- Develop and deploy effective messaging and content strategies to promote the university’s philanthropic and alumni engagement priorities and drive communication efforts consistent with those priorities.
- Lead the team in building strategies for campaign visibility, brand, and storytelling through digital and print communications, including website, videos, social media, publications and other channels and products.
- Coordinate messaging and strategies with senior leaders in University Advancement, including counterparts in the VPUA office, to ensure continuous alignment in voice, tone, and positioning for internal and external communications.
- Collaborate with fundraising and communications teams in the constituency units and with central University Communications and Marketing (UCAM) to ensure alignment, consistency and donor-centeredness in alumni, donor, and campaign content and messaging.
- Ensure alignment with campaign and University Advancement marketing and communications strategies through proactive collaboration with campus partners. Provide regular updates and communications tools and participate in and lead internal and external meetings to foster connectedness in the strategies and work.
- Establish regular communications and training opportunities for UA staff on policies, procedures, processes and best practices designed to support the optimal donor experience.
- Serve as a fully participating member of the Senior Advancement Leadership Team (SALT); report regularly on progress toward strategic goals, extending such reports to all UA staff as appropriate.
- Lead by example; foster a work environment that recognizes and rewards cross-functional collaboration and team-based efforts; celebrate current achievements; and set clear expectations for future success.
- Efficiently and effectively manage resources for events, stewardship and communication production (editorial, design, video and photo) to ensure a standard of excellence in delivering highly effective content within project scope; solve problems, make decisions, manage expectations, communicate effectively in difficult situations; escalate issues appropriately, and delegate actively to provide opportunities for leadership and professional growth within the team.
- Actively mentor and train staff, providing frequent opportunities for professional learning and growth; emphasize retention as a means of increasing capacity and expertise of the team. Fully leverage human and financial resources and promote greater efficiency.
- Establish creativity and innovation as a value for the Engagement team and integrate it in performance expectations and reviews.
- Provide the structure and guidance necessary to promote a high-performance culture.
- Perform other such duties as may be delegated by the Vice President of University Advancement.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.
Required Degree
Bachelors -In any rigorous academic field and a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience as a leader and manager in a complex, decentralized, comprehensive university environment is required. An advanced degree and professional certification are preferred.
Minimum Requirements
Experience
- A deep understanding of and commitment to an integrated advancement program; experience in a complex major research university environment. Keen understanding of the dynamics and complexities that exist when working with a multitude of colleges, departments, and programs with varying priorities is essential.
- Supervisory experience and exceptional interpersonal skills.
- Experience managing a large team with a focus on utilizing metrics, systems, and relationship building skills to maximize strategic engagement with donors.
- Experience leading marketing and communications initiatives within a fundraising organization, with preference for campaign communications in a higher education setting.
- Experience in public relations, reputation and issues management.
- Experience leveraging donor data from a CRM system to drive engagement strategy.
- Significant skills or familiarity with publication production, video production, advertising, graphic design, social media, communications analytics, event production, donor impact reporting and web design.
- Experience in the delivery of visual and graphic content and presentations
- Demonstrated creativity in developing stewardship, events and/or communications concepts.
- Experience building and sustaining strong relationships with staff, donors, faculty, volunteers and academic leadership is imperative; ability to develop sincere, productive relationships and to build trust both with internal colleagues and external constituencies is a must.
- Experience in fostering a positive team culture and environment.
Skills and Traits
- Clear and effective written and oral communication and presentation skills, including with individual and large groups.
- Strategic and analytical thinking, project management and problem-solving skills, sound judgment, and ability to address, manage and resolve issues and problems in an effective manner.
- Flexible and adaptable style to align with evolving expectations that maximize opportunities for donor and alumni engagement
- A leader who can positively impact both strategic and tactical fundraising initiatives.
- Strong organizational, analytical, and time management skills with exceptional attention to detail.
- Application and demonstration of strong editorial judgement.
Required Application Materials
Cover letter
Resume
Special Instructions
All candidates must submit an application and resume through the Michigan State University Human Resources web-based system, the URL for this website is Advancement.msu.edu. Please indicate the position number 1117892 when submitting your application.
University Advancement has contracted Aspen Leadership Group to conduct the search for this position. Interested candidates can contact Tonya Malik-Carson, Principal and Search Director, with questions at tonyamc@aspenleadershipgroup.com
Screening of applicants will continue until the position is filled.
Review of Applications Begins On
04/18/2026
Website
https://advancement.msu.edu/
Department Statement
Michigan State University is seeking an experienced and proven leader of donor relations and communications to serve as its Assistant Vice President for Engagement. This individual will be an innovative and action-oriented implementer of Advancement programs designed to demonstrate to donors the impact of their gifts and strengthen their connection to MSU. If you are interested, apply today.
MSU Statement
Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.
