Interim Vice President, Advancement and University Relations

Salary: Commensurate with experiencePOSITION OVERVIEWThe University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) seeks applications and nominations for the position of Interim Vice President for Advancement and University Relations (VPAUR). The successful candidate will be a strategic, collaborative, and innovative leader with demonstrated success in fundraising, institutional advancement, marketing, communications, and constituent engagement.Reporting directly to the Interim President and serving as a member of the President's Cabinet, the Interim VPAUR will provide executive leadership for the University's advancement and university relations enterprise, including development, alumni relations, marketing, communications, digital engagement, and public relations. The Interim Vice President will play a critical role in strengthening UHD's philanthropic capacity, institutional visibility, and community partnerships while advancing the University's mission as a student-centered anchor institution located in the heart of downtown Houston.The Interim position is a minimum one-year appointment with an anticipated start date of June 15, 2026.ABOUT THE DIVISION OF ADVANCEMENT AND UNIVERSITY RELATIONSThe Division of Advancement and University Relations advances the mission, visibility, reputation, and philanthropic priorities of the University of Houston-Downtown through integrated fundraising, marketing, communications, alumni engagement, and constituent relations strategies.The division serves as the University's central coordinating unit for institutional advancement and external engagement efforts and works collaboratively across academic and administrative units to strengthen relationships with alumni, donors, corporations, foundations, community leaders, media partners, and other stakeholders.The division is accountable for the following functions:ADVANCEMENTMajor Gifts and Leadership GivingAnnual GivingCorporate and Foundation RelationsPlanned and Legacy GivingAdvancement Operations and ServicesAlumni RelationsCampaigns and Special InitiativesDonor Stewardship and EngagementUNIVERSITY RELATIONSMarketing and Brand StrategyCommunications and Public RelationsMedia RelationsDigital CommunicationsWeb Strategy and ManagementSocial Media and Content DevelopmentExecutive CommunicationsTHE POSITIONThe Interim Vice President for Advancement and University Relations (VPAUR) reports directly to the President and serves on the President's Cabinet. This role serves as the University's chief development officer and chief marketing and communications officer and provides strategic, operational, and administrative leadership for all functions within the Division of Advancement and University Relations.In partnership with the President, the VPAUR leads the University's fundraising strategy and advancement operations, including major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, corporate and foundation relations, alumni engagement, and campaign planning and execution. The VPAUR directly supports presidential fundraising priorities and serves as a key strategist and relationship manager for high-capacity donors, institutional partners, and community stakeholders.The VPAUR also provides strategic oversight for UHD's marketing, communications, digital engagement, and web presence to ensure alignment with institutional priorities related to fundraising, enrollment, visibility, and reputation.The successful candidate will be expected to strengthen advancement infrastructure, enhance cross-campus collaboration, support institutional storytelling, and position UHD for continued philanthropic and reputational growth.LEADERSHIP AGENDAAdvance UHD's Culture of PhilanthropyStrengthen and expand UHD's culture of philanthropy by building meaningful relationships with donors, alumni, corporations, foundations, and community stakeholders.Elevate Institutional Visibility and ReputationLead integrated marketing and communications strategies that strengthen UHD's brand identity, increase institutional visibility, and communicate the transformative impact of the University.Strengthen Advancement Infrastructure and PerformanceAssess and strengthen advancement systems, processes, metrics, and operational effectiveness to improve fundraising outcomes and organizational sustainability.Build Collaborative Campus PartnershipsCollaborate closely with academic leaders, enrollment management, faculty, and administrative units to align advancement and communications initiatives with institutional priorities.Enhance Digital Engagement and StorytellingAdvance UHD's digital engagement strategies by improving web presence, strengthening storytelling, and leveraging integrated communications channels.Develop and Support a High-Performing TeamInstill a culture of accountability, innovation, collaboration, and professional development within the Division of Advancement and University Relations.PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIESProvide strategic, operational, and administrative leadership for the Division of Advancement and University Relations.Lead and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies that support institutional priorities and increase philanthropic support.Partner with the Interim President to cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors and institutional partners.Oversee alumni relations, advancement operations, annual giving, planned giving, and campaign planning efforts.Lead UHD's marketing, communications, digital engagement, and public relations functions.Strengthen UHD's institutional brand and reputation through integrated messaging and communications strategies.Oversee digital and web strategy to improve engagement, visibility, and user experience.Establish measurable goals and performance metrics across advancement and university relations functions.Develop collaborative partnerships with academic and administrative leaders to support institutional priorities.Represent UHD with external constituents, community organizations, foundations, corporations, and University of Houston System stakeholders.Ensure compliance with University policies, accreditation expectations, and applicable state and federal regulations.REQUIRED AND DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, AND ATTRIBUTESRequired QualificationsBachelor's degree from an accredited institution in business, marketing, communication or related field.Minimum of ten years of progressive leadership experience in university advancement, fundraising, marketing, communications, or related fields; or equivalent combination of education and experience.Demonstrated success in major gift fundraising, donor cultivation, and campaign leadership.Experience leading integrated marketing, communications, and public relations initiatives.Demonstrated ability to build and sustain relationships with donors, alumni, corporations, foundations, and community stakeholders.Experience managing teams, budgets, strategic planning initiatives, and performance metrics in a complex organization.Excellent interpersonal, communication, and collaborative leadership skills.Desired QualificationsMaster's degree from an accredited institution in business, marketing, communication or related field.Experience in higher education advancement and university relations leadership.Experience serving a mission-driven organization.Demonstrated success aligning fundraising and communications strategies with institutional priorities and enrollment goals.Experience leading digital engagement, web strategy, and multi-channel marketing campaigns.Experience supporting comprehensive or capital campaign planning and execution.AttributesStrategic, visionary, and collaborative leadership style.Strong commitment to UHD's mission, vision, and student-centered culture.Innovative and solutions-oriented mindset.High level of integrity, professionalism, and accountability.Strong relationship-building and consensus-building abilities.Visible, accessible, and authentic leadership presence.APPLICATION PROCESSApplications and nominations accepted now through Friday, May 22 at 5 p.m. Interested applicants should submit:1. A letter of interest addressing qualifications and leadership experiences relevant to the position;and2. A current curriculum vitae (CV) or résumé.Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.View the full position profile here: https://www.uhd.edu/documents/hr/interim-vpaur.pdfAll positions at the University of Houston-System are security sensitive and will require a criminal history check.The University of Houston System and its universities are Equal Opportunity Institutions. Everyone is encouraged to apply.