Assistant/Associate Vice Chancellor for Engagement & Involvement - OVCIA

The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement (OVCIA) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign seeks an Assistant/Associate Vice Chancellor for Engagement & Involvement (AVC-EI) to provide strategic leadership for constituent engagement, annual giving, donor relations and stewardship, volunteer leadership, and lifelong involvement across the university’s advancement enterprise. This position will develop and advance enterprise-wide engagement strategies that strengthen connections with alumni, donors, volunteers, students, families, and friends of the university – creating meaningful experiences that inspire philanthropic support, deepen institutional affinity, and contribute to long-term fundraising success. 

The ideal candidate is a collaborative and forward-thinking leader who brings strategic vision, organizational leadership, and a passion for building relationships at scale. This individual will demonstrate exceptional communication, sound judgment, and the ability to lead through influence in a complex, decentralized environment. The successful candidate will have experience guiding cross-functional teams, developing innovative engagement strategies, and partnering with senior leaders to drive organizational alignment, constituent participation, and philanthropic impact.

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a global, preeminent university. Since its founding in 1867, it has earned a reputation as a world-class leader in research, teaching, and public engagement. The OVCIA serves as the operational backbone and strategic integrator of advancement at Illinois – providing the infrastructure, governance, and leadership necessary to enable a high-performing, coordinated enterprise. Through a commitment to consistency, transparency, and data-informed decision-making, OVCIA works to reduce friction, strengthen alignment, and support meaningful engagement and long-term philanthropic impact across the university.

Organizational Relationships & Job Summary
Reporting to the Vice Chancellor for Advancement, the Assistant/Associate Vice Chancellor for Engagement & Involvement (AVC‑EI) serves as a senior member of the advancement leadership team and provides institution‑wide strategic leadership for engagement, experiences, and involvement that inspire philanthropic support and lifelong connection. The AVC-EI leads through influence, collaboration, and shared accountability to establish engagement frameworks, stewardship standards, and involvement strategies that can be adapted across colleges, schools, and administrative units.  

Operating within a decentralized environment, the AVC-EI partners closely with OVCIA leadership, unit-based advancement teams, the University of Illinois Alumni Association (UIAA), the University of Illinois Foundation (UIF), and university stakeholders to develop and implement enterprise-wide strategies that strengthen constituent involvement and long-term institutional engagement and affinity.  During times when the university is in a fundraising campaign, the AVC-EI will also work very closely with the Executive Director of Campaign Strategy and Stakeholder Engagement to ensure application of enterprise engagement frameworks to deliver a cohesive, high-impact campaign. This role is centered on engagement as a strategic driver of constituent involvement, philanthropy, and long‑term institutional loyalty, rather than frontline gift solicitation.

Managing multiple areas and a team of approximately 20 staff, with growth expected, the AVC-EI integrates engagement, marketing, volunteer leadership, annual giving, and donor relations and stewardship strategies across the full constituent lifecycle, ensuring that programs, communications, and experiences deliver meaningful value to alumni, donors, volunteers, students, families, and other university stakeholders. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Engagement & Experiences