| Job Description: |
The Associate Vice President/Chief Development Officer (AVP/CDO) will serve as an integral member of the Advancement senior executive leadership team and be responsible for designing, executing, and continuously optimizing the organization’s comprehensive fundraising strategy. This role will provide strategic oversight of all philanthropic initiatives, including major gifts, corporate and foundation relations, gift planning and principal gifts and serve as the senior leader for all aspects of the multi-year fundraising campaign. The AVP/CDO will ensure alignment between fundraising priorities and institutional goals, drive revenue growth, strengthen donor engagement, and foster a high-performing advancement culture that supports long-term, sustainable success.
The AVP/CDO will partner closely with the Vice President for UF Advancement, deans, senior academic leaders, and campus partners to architect fundraising strategies, optimize prospect pipelines, and engage leadership in high-impact donor activity. They will monitor and report on fundraising results, including campaign progress, total commitments and executive level insights, and recommend course corrections as needed. In addition, the AVP/CDO will personally manage a small portfolio of major and principal gift prospects, cultivate meaningful alumni, volunteer, and donor engagement, strengthen partnerships across campus and build a high-performance, data-informed advancement culture that supports sustainable growth and long-term institutional success.
RESPONSIBILITIES
College/Unit Management & Strategy
The Associate Vice President/Chief Development Officer will
• lead and coach Senior Assistant Vice Presidents, select leaders of high performing college/unit advancement teams, and set clear performance expectations, succession plans, and development pathways;
• provide guidance to the Senior Assistant Vice President as they partner with deans, academic leaders, and senior development leaders to architect unit fundraising strategies;
• advise on organizational design, portfolio strategy, pipeline optimization and data-informed moves management;
• operate effectively within a dual reporting environment to ensure clarity of accountability and shared outcomes;
• monitor and report on development program performance, providing executive level insights and recommendations;
• recruit, retain and develop top talent and establish aligned fundraising goals, including KPIs and accountability cadences, such as quarterly reviews, pipeline health checks and forecast assessments; and
• foster a collaborative and results-driven team environment and provide guidance and professional development opportunities to ensure the team's success in achieving fundraising goals.
Development Leadership
The Associate Vice President/Chief Development Officer will
• collaborate closely with other departments to align fundraising efforts with broader institutional goals;
• communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders, presenting the organization's case for support and demonstrating the impact of donor contributions;
• serve as team leader for monitoring and reporting fundraising activity, as it relates to campaign goals and total commitments, while collaborating and diving deeply into each of the components that comprise annual fundraising activities;
• provide leadership for Senior Development Team Meetings and Development Staff Meetings focused on annual fundraising goals, progress toward goals, recognition of excellence and KPI-driven strategies;
• serve on the Senior Leaders Committee, contributing to the operational infrastructure of systems, processes, and talent required to meet current and future organization objectives;
• provide strategic oversight of industry standards, emerging trends, innovations and best practices;
• guide and integrate advancement activities involving volunteers, prospects, faculty leadership and senior administration;
• manage the development budget and set direction and accountability for advancement programs and resources in alignment with UF Advancement’s Mission; which is to be a catalyst in securing and managing private support for university priorities;
• establish and enforce enterprise-level standards for operational excellence, systems, data governance and record retention; and
• ensure optimal deployment of strategic tools, technologies and resources to support mission-critical outcomes.
Campaign Initiatives
The Associate Vice President/Chief Development Officer will:
• in partnership with the Vice President, provide bold vision and strategic direction for the University’s fifth campaign, co-chair campaign governance and lead workgroups responsible for campaign planning and strategic planning deliverables;
• lead all campaign and strategic fundraising initiatives from conception through implementation, including feasibility studies, goal setting, solicitation strategies, and progress tracking and oversee campaign goals and initiatives with senior leadership;
• in partnership with the Vice President and unit leads (AVPs), implement and manage strategies, set goals, define audiences, execute tactics, and coordinate teams across channels to ensure consistent, data-driven messaging and maximum ROI for the campaign;
• manage campaign consulting relationships, acting as the main point of contact for UF Advancement and ensuring consultants deliver on agreed-upon results;
• facilitate strategic planning sessions with key university leaders to align unit and organization-level campaign priorities;
• conceptualize and operationalize campaign initiatives with defined milestones, resourcing plans and performance metrics (OKRs/KPIs) to ensure an integrated, coordinated and effective organization-wide approach;
• collaborate with the Chief Operating Officer to scale infrastructure, including talent, processes, technology and analytics, and strengthen cross-campus partnerships that accelerate campaign outcomes;
• in consultation with Strategic Communications, Marketing & Engagement, develop and execute compelling donor engagement strategies that inspire giving and communicate campaign impact; and
• track and report campaign progress against KPIs, provide ongoing executive updates, and recommend strategic adjustments to maintain momentum and goal attainment.
Portfolio Management
The Associate Vice President/Chief Development Officer will
• manage a high-value portfolio of major and principal gift prospects, including corporate and foundation relationships;
• advance and close complex solicitations through intentional, face-to-face engagement strategies;
• design and oversee stewardship plans that reinforce impact, strengthen affinity and support long-term donor relationships;
• apply a disciplined moves-management strategy across qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship;
• cultivate influential networks among alumni, friends, volunteers, faculty leadership and internal partners to expand the pipeline and elevate institutional visibility; and
• serve as a lead ambassador for UF Advancement priorities, clearly articulating the case for support within the broader mission, goals and impact narrative.
REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS
The Associate Vice President/Chief Development Officer will report to the Vice President for UF Advancement, Maria Gutierrez Martin and be accountable for driving fundraising performance, advancing campaign outcomes, and ensuring alignment between institutional priorities, unit-level strategies, and donor interests.
The role will oversee central Senior Assistant Vice Presidents and select leaders of college/unit advancement teams, operating effectively within a dual reporting environment to ensure clarity of accountability, shared goals and consistent execution across the university.
FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT
The University of Florida is entering a defining moment. As we prepare for our next comprehensive campaign, we do so with extraordinary momentum — driven by national leadership in artificial intelligence, a rapidly expanding research enterprise and the strength of a flagship institution supported by one of the largest states in the country.
This is a university on the rise. Across our 16 colleges and numerous professional schools, centers and institutes, interdisciplinary collaboration defines our aspirations. As a land-grant institution, we carry a deep responsibility to serve our state and solve problems that matter. Today, that mission is being accelerated by new capabilities, new partnerships and a growing national reputation.
UF Advancement plays a central role in shaping what comes next. We are a sophisticated, data-driven organization of more than 375 professionals, operating from a shared commitment to customer service, ethics and integrity. As a $500 million-plus fundraising enterprise, we are building a top-performing, mission-driven organization that is both executing at a high level and actively designing the future of our enterprise. We are investing in our team, recruiting exceptional talent and exploring how emerging technologies can strengthen how we engage, inspire and deliver impact.
Our next Chief Development Officer will be a key partner in this work. This role won’t simply focus on driving results. It will help define strategy and contribute to a vision for what a modern advancement organization can be. You will join a dynamic and collaborative team with a shared commitment to excellence and a belief that we can always push further.
Equally important, you will be stepping into an organization with real strength. This is a team that is ambitious, experienced and deeply committed to the university’s mission. The opportunity ahead is to build on that foundation. We are looking for someone who is driven by purpose, energized by possibility and unwilling to settle for “good enough.” If you are motivated by the chance to help lead a national leader into its next chapter, I hope you will consider joining us.
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
The University of Florida is the state's most comprehensive university, a land grant institution with ties to every Florida county, a top academic medical center and much more. Ranked the #5 Public University by Forbes, the University of Florida is feeding communities, healing coastlines, exploring space, curing diseases, powering cities, building industries and imagining wonders. Home to over 61,000 students, UF educates students through more than 300 undergraduate and graduate degree options in 16 academic colleges and online programs, plus a comprehensive array of courses in virtually every subject. In 2026, the University of Florida was named a “New Ivy” by Forbes, recognizing how the university is preparing students for an evolving workforce shaped by artificial intelligence.
The University of Florida is a truly dynamic institution — widely considered to be among the world’s most comprehensive universities. It is one of only six institutions in the country with colleges of law, medicine,
agriculture, and veterinary medicine on one central campus and one of only 17 in the nation to boast land-, sea-, and space-grant status. Thanks to its extraordinary depth and breadth, Florida’s flagship university is uniquely positioned to lead interdisciplinary collaborations and boundary-breaking research efforts that are shaping a better future for the state, the nation, and the world. Guided by a shared passion for the greater good, the Gator Nation is a diverse and expansive community with a proven trajectory of excellence across academics, research, outreach, health, athletics, and more.
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA
Gainesville is a vibrant university town in North Central Florida, best known as the home of the University of Florida. Surrounded by natural springs, parks and scenic trails, Gainesville blends of outdoor beauty with a strong culture of learning and innovation.
The city’s rich cultural scene, affordable living, and strong community spirit make it an ideal place to live, learn and grow. With UF at its heart, Gainesville thrives as a hub for education, research, and discovery.
Visit the city’s website for community information.
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