Associate Vice President for Development en The College of New Jersey

To enrich education through diversity, The College of New Jersey is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse staff committed to teaching and working in a diverse environment, and strongly encourages applications from women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans.

About TCNJ:
Founded in 1855, TCNJ offers a highly personalized and collaborative liberal arts education with over 7,400 undergraduates and 700 graduate students. The college is consistently ranked among the top comprehensive colleges in the nation, offering small classes, a 13:1 student-faculty ratio, and an immersive living-learning experience. With a 4-year graduation rate ranked #1 in New Jersey and #9 among U.S. public institutions, TCNJ is a model for public higher education.

Position Overview:
Reporting to the Vice President for College Advancement, the Chief Development Officer & Campaign Manager serves as a senior leader in the Division of Advancement, overseeing the Office of Development and all aspects of fundraising, including principal and major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, campaign management, and donor relations. The CDO will lead a growing team, refine and execute campaign strategy, manage a high-level portfolio, and partner with academic, administrative, and volunteer leaders to advance the College’s mission.

With more than $32 million raised to date and the public phase of the campaign about to launch, this is a critical moment for an experienced fundraiser to shape philanthropic growth, expand donor engagement, and achieve ambitious annual fundraising goals—moving from $10M to $15M+ annually.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute fundraising strategies to achieve annual and campaign goals, including the successful launch and management of the “Elevating Excellence” campaign.
• Lead, mentor, and expand a diverse team of development professionals.
• Manage principal and major gifts, annual and planned giving, corporate and foundation relations, and donor stewardship programs.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including alumni, community and government leaders, and prospective donors.
• Collaborate across Advancement, Alumni Engagement, and Communications to articulate TCNJ’s vision and case for support.
• Serve as a key advisor to senior leadership, providing insight and guidance on philanthropic initiatives and strategy.

Candidate Profile:

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of direct fundraising experience, with at least 5 years in higher education preferred.
• Proven success managing major fundraising campaigns and achieving ambitious revenue goals.
• Demonstrated ability to recruit, develop, and lead high-performing teams.
• Exceptional organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Deep passion for public higher education and community impact.

Why TCNJ?
TCNJ offers an attractive location in Ewing, NJ—close to Princeton, Philadelphia, and New York City—and a strong sense of community for students, faculty, and staff. Employees enjoy excellent benefits, including tuition benefits and a healthy work-life balance.

To Apply:
DHR Global is honored to partner with TCNJ on this important search. For questions, contact Diane Charness, Managing Partner ([email protected]), or Tedric Palmer, Senior Associate ([email protected]). To apply, please submit your cover letter and resume by clicking this link, APPLY HERE. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.