Job no:
R-0000002506
Position Title:
Assistant Vice President for Campaigns and Planning
Faculty or Staff:
Staff
Full Time or Part Time:
Full time
In-Person, Hybrid, or Remote:
Hybrid
Minimum Starting Rate of Pay:
$110,822.00
Rate of pay commensurate with experience
Start Date:
08/13/2025
Job Description:
Mount Holyoke College invites applications for the role of Assistant Vice President of Campaigns and Planning within the Division of College Relations. This strategic and highly collaborative position presents an exceptional opportunity for a mission-driven leader to contribute to one of the nation's premier liberal arts colleges — the first of the famed Seven Sisters — with a mission that champions women’s leadership and gender diversity.
The Assistant Vice President (AVP) serves as a vital partner to the Vice President for College Relations, supporting the advancement of the division's goals through the orchestration of campaign strategies, the coordination of cross-unit strategic initiatives, and the integration of assessment across teams. This individual is not expected to execute every campaign directly, but instead plays a central, unifying role—ensuring alignment, clarity, and shared purpose across the division. The AVP helps elevate the division's collective impact by fostering strong connections among College Relations offices, coordinating efforts with key internal and external partners and creating effective systems for tracking and evaluation. The AVP also leads a matrixed communications process across the division, working to ensure clarity, alignment, and integration of messaging, both internally and externally.
All work is done in close collaboration with, and in support of, the Vice President and the College Relations Leadership Team (CRLT). The AVP facilitates the strategic cohesion of the division, ensuring that its many moving parts operate in synchrony toward shared objectives.
The ideal candidate will bring a strong foundation in strategic planning and development, along with exceptional organizational and interpersonal skills. A passion for mission-driven work and a deep appreciation for the value of liberal arts education are essential.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Campaigns Strategy and Support
- Facilitate and steward the planning and execution of major/special fundraising initiatives—including capital campaigns, mini-campaigns, and targeted giving efforts—in collaboration with College Relations leadership. Partner to align campaign objectives, timelines, and resources.
- Support the ongoing creation of clear and measurable campaign benchmarks, monitor progress, and synthesize results into actionable insights for College leadership. Work with the CRLT to leverage data analysis to inform strategies and strengthen campaign outcomes.
- Manage, track and report on campaign budgets.
Division Communications Strategy
- Convene and lead a matrixed team of communicators across the College Relations division, fostering shared planning and message alignment.
- Liaise with MarComm to ensure coordinated messaging and seamless integration of content and strategy.
- Act as a senior communications advisor to the Vice President, serving as proxy in high-level communications decisions as needed.
- Working with and/or through the executive assistant, draft, review, and refine executive-level communications and correspondence on behalf of the Vice President and the division.
- Promote and model effective internal communication practices across units to support cohesion, transparency, and shared purpose.
Planning and Leadership
- Foster clear and transparent communication throughout the division, ensuring that staff are well-informed about strategic goals and how their individual work contributes to collective success.
- Represent the Vice President as needed in high-level communications strategy meetings and assist in crafting and deploying CR executive-level messaging.
- Coordinate the development, alignment, and integration of divisional strategies across units, ensuring collective progress toward institutional goals.
- Lead efforts to track strategic priorities, synthesize progress updates, and highlight areas for collaboration or course correction. Actively contribute to the CR leadership team’s efforts by fostering shared planning, tracking progress on shared goals, and elevating insights that inform decision-making.
- Support the Vice President and leadership team in leveraging data for informed decision-making, particularly in the context of implementing a new CRM system.
- Supervise and mentor the Executive Assistant to the Vice President, supporting day-to-day operations and ensuring the smooth functioning of the executive office.
- Represent the CR division in strategic discussions, working groups, and planning sessions across campus as needed.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- 7-10 years of progressively responsible experience in development or higher education
- administration with demonstrated success managing complex campaigns or institutional initiatives.
- Strong understanding of development strategy, campaign structures, and cross-functional planning.
- Excellent organizational vision and project management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and lead initiatives from concept to completion.
- Outstanding interpersonal and communication abilities, both written and verbal, with a capacity to influence and inspire across organizational levels.
- Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and navigate ambiguity with professionalism and confidence.
- A collegial and inclusive leadership style that fosters trust, teamwork, and collaboration.
- A deep appreciation for the mission and values of Mount Holyoke College, and a commitment to fostering an equitable and inclusive community.
- Proficient in fundraising databases and CRMs; understanding of basic applications for AI in development work.
Hiring Range: $110,822 - $128,067
What We Offer:
- 403(b) Retirement Plan (College contributes 10.5% of salary)
- Comprehensive medical, dental and vision insurance
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
- Disability and Leave Benefits
- Life Insurance (College paid coverage 1x salary)
- Employee Assistance Program
- Tuition Benefits (to Mount Holyoke College or others)
- Generous Paid Time Off
- Access to Kendall Sports & Dance Complex
Background Checks:
Mount Holyoke College is committed to providing a safe and secure environment, supported by qualified employees that will allow all of its students, faculty, staff and those associated with them to successfully carry out the mission of the college. As a condition of employment, the College will conduct appropriate background checks for all new hires. Mount Holyoke has designated the Office of Human Resources as the office responsible for ensuring that background checks (CORI, SORI, Credit History, & Driver Credential) are completed and utilized in the hiring process and Five College Office of Compliance and Risk Management as the office responsible for facilitating background checks as articulated in this policy.
Special Instructions for Applicants:
Apply online; application materials must include:
- A cover letter summarizing interests and qualifications
- A complete resume or curriculum vitae
- For faculty positions, statements on mentoring, teaching, and research will also be required.
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment.