Careers at Lehigh

Lehigh University is seeking a dynamic and experienced Assistant Vice President, Major Gifts to join our Development and Alumni Relations team. This is an exceptional opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping the university's fundraising efforts and cultivating meaningful relationships with our vast alumni community.

As the Assistant Vice President for Major Gifts, you will oversee programs that engage and solicit philanthropic contributions from more than 85,000 living alumni across the country. Your primary responsibility will be to identify, cultivate, and solicit highly-rated individual prospects, aligning institutional priorities with donors' interests and passions.

In this senior management role, you will lead the regional giving (major gifts) team, developing and executing comprehensive fundraising plans that maximize donor philanthropy. You will foster a collaborative environment, conducting regular meetings with your team to provide guidance, training, and strategic alignment, ensuring seamless collaboration among various units within the Office of Development & Alumni Relations.

Position Number: S82640

This position is a Grade: 13 - 40 with an approximate salary range of $134,320-$163,430 and is subject to change based on experience, skills and qualifications.

Key Responsibilities:
• Leads the Major Gift Programs team in planning and implementing long- and short-term strategies to secure major ($50,000 - $4.99 million) from individuals and family foundations using an array of giving vehicles.
• Management and daily oversight of the major gifts team. 
• Working with the Associate Vice President and other colleagues, helps support the establishment of quantitative and qualitative goals for individuals to increase fundraising results that are both aspirational and achievable.
• Carries a portfolio of 20-25 highly rated individual prospects, most of whom have a giving capacity rating of $500,000 or more.
• Develops and executes strategies to cultivate, solicit, and close gifts from an assigned portfolio of donors.
• Mentors, trains, supervises, and evaluates staff
• Conducts regular one-on-one and team meetings as appropriate, structured with agendas and next steps.

Qualifications:
• Bachelor's Degree or the equivalent combination of education and experience; Master's Degree preferred
• Eight or more years of related work experience
• Proven ability to successfully cultivate, solicit and close six- and seven- figure gifts
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

This is an opportunity to join a renowned institution that values excellence, integrity, and inclusivity. Lehigh University is consistently ranked among the top research universities in the nation, offering a dynamic and diverse work environment that fosters professional growth and personal fulfillment. With a competitive benefits package, including tuition remission for employees and their families, Lehigh University prioritizes the well-being and development of its employees. Lehigh University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate. We are committed to a culturally and intellectually diverse community and we seek qualified candidates to contribute to the university’s mission.

If you are an experienced fundraising professional with a passion for higher education and a commitment to excellence, we invite you to apply for this exceptional opportunity. Join us at Lehigh University and contribute to our mission of advancing knowledge and developing leaders for a better world. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing an accommodation for any part of the interview or hiring process may contact Lehigh's Accommodations Specialist.  
• This position is responsible for driving University-owned vehicles as a routine function, therefore a valid Driver’s License and a good driving record is required
• The duties of this position may allow the employee to work partially remote as deemed appropriate by their supervisor

Successful completion of standard background checks including but not limited to: social security verification, education verification, national criminal background checks, motor vehicle checks, PATCH, FBI fingerprinting, Child Abuse Clearance and credit history based upon the requirements of the position.

Only complete applications will be considered therefore please complete the application in its entirety.  Once the posting is removed from the website applications may no longer be allowed to be completed.