Chief Advancement Officer

Job no:517035
Work type:full time
Location:Crawley
Categories:Student Administration / Support Services

• Full-time appointment on a permanent/ongoing basis.
• Senior position reporting directly to the Vice-Chancellor.
• Ownership of strategic leadership and tactical planning.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.

About the team
The Office of Development and Alumni Relations [DAR] plays a pivotal role in building awareness of, and support for the University’s mission by leading the UWA’s alumni, philanthropic and community endeavours. The Directorate inspires the external community to become involved in the University through their passions whilst coordinating the campus-wide collaborative effort to embed philanthropic and alumni engagement activity into the University’s operations.

The division works collegiately alongside UWA’s Senate, Executive, academic and professional directorates and drives the strategies which results in the engagement and funding required for the University to make its impact on the communities that was established to serve.

About the opportunity
The Chief Advancement Officer’s role is to advance and lead the University’s philanthropic, alumni and community engagement strategy and successful execution. The CAO listens, champions and bridges the gap between aspirations of alumni and donors with the new and bold opportunities at the University. This position is integral to building and directing the University’s external relations that will improve UWA’s positioning and reputation, whilst developing and nurturing strategic relationships and community engagement.

The role has three area of focus:

• Strategic leadership
• Development, Alumni and Advancement Operations
• Team and People Leadership

The Chief Advancement Officer provides professional leadership and specialist advice to the University across the areas of international advancement, relationship management, alumni and community engagement and philanthropy. The position is highly strategic in nature and provides advice to the University Executive, Deans and senior managers in the tactical planning areas related to UWA’s community engagement and philanthropic activities.

To be considered for this opportunity, you will demonstrate:

• A sophisticated understanding of the importance of the university and the role and responsibility of a modern university in society, and how to articulate those into funding and engagement opportunities.
• Experience with highly influential alumni and volunteer stakeholder engagement activities and programs.
• Demonstrated leadership and performance success in revenue generation within higher education that encompasses fundraising campaigns, including building superb relationships with, and securing principal and transformational gifts from individuals, corporations, and foundations.
• Extensive team leadership and team building experience with proven success in motivating and empowering staff to become values driven, achieve goals, developing and retaining talent as well as creating a positive work environment.
• High level skills in influencing, negotiating, motivating, and communicating across a higher education organisation with the ability to build and manage cross institutional relationships at a senior level.
• Ability to coordinate, manage, leverage, and integrate the efforts of diverse teams in a large, complex institution.
• Strong strategic and analytical skills with demonstrated experience in integrating vision, strategy, tactics, and activities to move from strategy through to execution.
• Strong governance and financial management skills, including knowledge of investment policies, legal and accounting environments in relation to philanthropy and alumni engagement.

About your application
Full details of the position's responsibilities and the selection criteria are outlined in the position description:   Position description - Chief Advancement Officer (517035).docx

The content of your Resume and Cover Letter should demonstrate how you meet the selection criteria.

Closing date: 11:55 PM AWST on Wednesday, 27 March 2024.

For queries or issues relating to the application process, please contact Ian Brown on 08 6488 219 or at [email protected] . 

This position is only open to applicants with relevant rights to work in Australia.

Application Details: Please apply online via the Apply Now button.

Our commitment to inclusion and diversity
UWA is committed to a diverse workforce and an equitable and inclusive workplace. We celebrate difference and believe diversity is fundamental to achieving our goals as a globally recognised Top 100 educational and research institution. We are committed to creating a safe work environment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, the LGBTIQA+ community and people living with disability.

• We have a globally competitive, gender neutral parental leave policy with 26 weeks paid leave after 12 months service and 36 weeks after 5 years.
• We have on-campus childcare facilities for children aged 6 weeks to kindy.
• We facilitate flexible working, with part-time and job-sharing arrangements considered.
• We have an ongoing partnership with Pride in Diversity and were recently awarded a Bronze Employer status for LGBTIQA+ inclusion.
• We have Athena SWAN Bronze accreditation and actively work to improve gender equity.

Advertised:20 Mar 2024 W. Australia Standard Time
Applications close:27 Mar 2024 11:55 PM W. Australia Standard Time