Vice President for Advancement & External Affairs (78241)

Position Summary

Iona University invites applications and nominations for the position of Vice President for Advancement and External Affairs. Reporting directly to the President, the Vice President serves as the University’s chief development officer and provides visionary leadership, strategic direction, and entrepreneurial management for the Office of Advancement and External Affairs.

Working closely with the President, the Board of Trustees, and the University’s senior leadership team, the Vice President will help advance Iona’s mission and long-term strategic vision. Iona seeks a dynamic, innovative, and results-driven advancement leader who will elevate the University’s philanthropic impact and build new levels of support to fulfill its ambitions for the future.

The successful candidate will demonstrate a distinguished record of leadership and achievement in advancement, with proven success in campaign planning and execution, major and principal gift solicitation, and building high-performing advancement programs. This individual must be a visible leader both on and off campus and possess exceptional relationship-building abilities with donors, alumni, trustees, and community partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the University’s chief development officer, leading all fundraising and advancement initiatives.
• Provide strategic leadership for advancement, alumni engagement, communications, and marketing efforts.
• Work closely with the President and Board of Trustees to develop and execute fundraising strategies aligned with institutional priorities.
• Lead the planning and execution of major and comprehensive fundraising campaigns.
• Cultivate and solicit major and principal gifts while strengthening relationships with alumni, donors, foundations, and corporate partners.
• Manage and develop a high-performing advancement team while fostering collaboration across the University.
• Serve as a visible ambassador for Iona University, representing the institution with donors, alumni, community leaders, and external partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree strongly preferred.
• Seven to ten years of progressively responsible fundraising and development experience within comprehensive advancement programs.
• Leadership experience within higher education advancement strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success in major gift fundraising and comprehensive campaign leadership.

Desired Skills and Attributes

The successful candidate will bring many of the following qualities:

• A creative and strategic leader with significant management experience and an entrepreneurial mindset.
• Broad knowledge of advancement operations, including development, alumni engagement, communications, and marketing.
• A proven fundraiser with demonstrated success leading major fundraising initiatives and managing experienced development teams.
• Understanding of budgets, endowments, and investment strategies, with the ability to engage in financial discussions related to campaigns and institutional operations.
• An excellent communicator with a confident public presence and exceptional interpersonal skills.
• Ability to articulate Iona University’s mission, values, and religious affiliation while engaging diverse constituencies with authenticity and energy.
• A collaborative leader who builds strong partnerships across admissions, athletics, academics, and other university departments.
• Awareness of key issues impacting higher education, including affordability, technology, distance learning, sustainability, and educational quality.

Salary Range

In compliance with the New York State Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary range for this position is $225,000 – $275,000.

Iona University considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s experience and education, internal equity, and market considerations. The salary range represents base pay only and does not include potential incentives, bonuses, or other forms of compensation.

About Iona University

Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and an alumni base of more than 50,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona also continues to be recognized in prestigious national rankings. Most recently for 2025, Iona has been named one of the nation’s best colleges by The Princeton Review, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and others. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report recognized Iona as one of top colleges for social mobility in the country, while Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) ranked an Iona degree in the top 5 percent nationally for long-term return on investment. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business, meanwhile, is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just 6 percent of business schools worldwide.

 Iona offers a comprehensive benefits package to all full-time employees that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement plans; life insurance; short and long-term disability; employee assistance program (EAP); tuition remission; and generous time off. For more information on our benefits and working at Iona visit the Human Resources section of our website.

 Iona University values and celebrates diversity and is committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all of our employees and does not tolerate discrimination based on any legally protected characteristic under applicable federal, state, or local laws. As an equal opportunity employer, Iona University encourages applications from qualified candidates who reflect the wider world in which we live.