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The Senior Vice President for Corporate & External Affairs (SVP-CEA) serves as the university's chief external relationship and revenue development officer, responsible for planning and directing the activities of the Corporate & External Affairs Division. Reporting to the President and/or Chief Operating Officer (COO), the SVP-CEA oversees the University's Auxiliary Services enterprise, develops and enforces division-wide policies and procedures, and ensures compliance across all assigned functional units.

This senior executive will develop overall business strategies for self‑sustaining, revenue‑generating auxiliary enterprises, seek opportunities for future initiatives consistent with University needs, and build the external partnerships that advance VUU's mission, reputation, and financial sustainability. The ideal candidate is an entrepreneurially minded leader with a strong background in business development, auxiliary enterprise management, corporate relations, government affairs, marketing, and a deep commitment to HBCU excellence.

• Auxiliary Services (including revenue‑generating and self‑sustaining enterprises)
• Corporate & Industry Partnerships
• Government & Legislative Relations (federal, state, and local)
• Community Engagement & Civic Affairs
• Economic Development & Workforce Initiatives
• Marketing, Communications & Promotion of Division Programs
• Strategic Alliances & Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) Portfolio

• Develop overall business strategies for the division's self‑sustaining, revenue‑generating auxiliary enterprises and activities that ensure their fiscal stability;
• Oversee the financial and personnel functions of all assigned Corporate & External Affairs (CEA) units;
• Seek and evaluate opportunities for future initiatives and revenue development consistent with university needs and strategic priorities;
• Manage, market, and promote division programs in an entrepreneurial environment;
• Assess program needs and outcomes; develop new or enhance existing programs to meet department, division, and university goals and objectives;
• Evaluate operational procedures and policies; develop and implement new strategies for designated areas.

• Implement budget and financial planning processes in collaboration with departmental managers within the division;
• Assist with evaluating monthly financial statements and monitoring financial status and progress for each division department;
• Maintain accurate and detailed financial and personnel records in accordance with university policy;
• Prepare a variety of reports related to operational activities, including statistical analysis and performance metrics.

• Build and enhance business relationships with corporate partners, industry associations, and external stakeholders aligned with the university's academic portfolio and workforce development mission;
• Cultivate and steward relationships with regional and national employers to generate internship pipelines, sponsored initiatives, philanthropy, and co‑branded opportunities;
• Negotiate and execute partnership agreements, joint ventures, and MOUs that create measurable institutional value;
• Collaborate with academic deans, division leaders, and the Office of Sponsored Programs to identify and develop partnership opportunities;
• Lead and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy encompassing major gifts, annual giving, corporate and foundation relations, planned/deferred giving, and capital campaign activity;
• Serve as a front line major gift officer, personally cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual donors capable of six‑ and seven‑figure commitments;
• Partner with the President, Board of Trustees, and Advancement leadership to advance VUU's Capital Campaign and broader philanthropic priorities;
• Build and manage a robust donor pipeline using moves management and relationship‑centered fundraising methodology;
• Develop compelling cases for support, gift proposals, and donor impact reports that articulate the transformative value of giving to VUU;
• Pursue corporate, foundation, and government grants aligned with the university's strategic priorities, in coordination with the Office of Sponsored Programs;
• Ensure appropriate stewardship of all gifts, including proper recognition, reporting, and compliance with donor intent.

• Serve as the University's primary liaison to federal, state, and local government agencies, elected officials, and regulatory bodies;
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments relevant to higher education and HBCUs; develop and communicate the university's advocacy positions in coordination with the President's Office;
• Act as liaison to departments, campus administration, and outside agencies on matters related to external affairs;
• Lead community engagement initiatives and represent the university at high‑visibility public and civic events as designated by the President;
• Apply marketing principles, practices, concepts, methodology, and techniques to promote division programs and auxiliary enterprise offerings;
• Develop customer relations/service strategies to enhance the University community's experience with auxiliary and external affairs programs;
• Champion the university's entrepreneurship ecosystem by connecting internal innovation centers with corporate partners, investors, and workforce development stakeholders.

• Provide supervision, training, and professional development for division staff, including prioritizing and scheduling work assignments;
• Coordinate training efforts for the division; assess opportunities and disseminate information to staff;
• Foster a cooperative, high‑performance work environment built on accountability, inclusion, and mission alignment;
• Set clear goals and implement achievement strategies across all divisional units;
• Meet projected deadlines and manage multiple complex tasks concurrently;
• Serve on division and university committees as directed; attend conferences and seminars as assigned;
• Prepare reports and proposals as directed by the President or COO;
• Direct special projects as assigned.

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Nonprofit Management, Public Administration, or a related field (required);
• Master's degree in Business Administration, Nonprofit Leadership, Public Policy, Law, or a related discipline strongly preferred;
• Minimum of eight (8) to ten (10) years of progressively responsible professional experience related to area of assignment, including a minimum of five (5) years in a supervisory or executive leadership role;
• Extensive and demonstrable fundraising experience, including a proven record of securing major gifts, managing capital campaigns, cultivating individual and institutional donors, and closing six‑ and seven‑figure commitments;
• Experience managing comprehensive development functions including annual giving, planned/deferred giving, corporate and foundation relations, and grant cultivation;
• Demonstrated track record of building partnerships and managing auxiliary or revenue‑generating enterprises that produced measurable strategic and financial outcomes;
• Proficiency in word processing, database, and spreadsheet software; experience with fundraising CRM platforms (e.g., Raiser's Edge, Salesforce NPSP, Blackbaud) strongly preferred;
• Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) — strongly preferred; active certification or active pursuit preferred;
• Advanced Certified Fund Raising Executive (ACFRE) — preferred for candidates with 10+ years of front‑line fundraising experience;
• Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) — preferred;
• Graduate Certificate in Fundraising Management or Philanthropic Studies from an accredited institution — preferred;
• Membership and active engagement in the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) or Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) highly regarded.

• Experience in a higher education environment, particularly at an HBCU, minority‑serving institution, or urban research university;
• Familiarity with federal HBCU program funding streams (Title III, HBCU Capital Financing, Perkins, etc.) and their intersection with philanthropic strategy;
• Experience with auxiliary services management, including food service, bookstore, housing, or event/conference operations;
• Knowledge of planned giving instruments including charitable remainder trusts, gift annuities, bequests, and endowment management;
• Knowledge of economic development organizations, anchor institution strategies, and regional planning bodies;
• Background in government or legislative affairs;
• Strategic entrepreneurialism — identifies and converts external opportunities into institutional and revenue value;
• Philanthropic leadership — inspires donor confidence, builds a culture of giving, and closes transformational gifts;
• Relationship intelligence — builds deep, trust‑based relationships across diverse stakeholder communities including donors, alumni, corporations, and government;
• Financial acumen — understands auxiliary enterprise economics, budget management, campaign finance, and endowment stewardship;
• Executive presence — represents the institution with credibility, polish, and authenticity at all levels of engagement;
• Mission alignment — passionate commitment to HBCU excellence, Black student success, and the transformative power of philanthropy;
• Effective communicator — articulates the university's case for support clearly and compellingly, both orally and in writing;
• Collaborative influence — achieves results through cross‑divisional teamwork, donor engagement, and shared ownership of institutional goals.

Richmond, Virginia