Aurora University is a private, nonprofit institution located just outside Chicago, grounded in a mission to prepare students for lives of purpose and service. With a history dating back to 1893, AU blends academic rigor with real-world application, offering a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. Its student-centered approach emphasizes small class sizes, personalized support, and a strong sense of belonging, ensuring that students from all backgrounds feel welcomed and empowered.

AU’s identity is shaped by its commitment to access, equity, and community impact. As a university with a public mission, it plays a vital role in workforce development across Illinois, with the majority of its graduates remaining in the state. Under the leadership of President Dr. Susana Rivera-Mills, AU is advancing a strategic vision centered on innovation, inclusivity, and collaboration. This is a moment of opportunity for the institution as it continues to strengthen its culture of philanthropy and deepen its community partnerships.

The Opportunity

Aurora University seeks a strategic and entrepreneurial Assistant Vice President for Advancement Operations to lead and evolve its Advancement infrastructure.

Reporting to the Vice President of Philanthropy and Engagement, this role will oversee the systems, processes, and analytics that power fundraising success, enabling data-informed decision-making across the institution. The AVP will build and manage a comprehensive Advancement Operations function, including CRM oversight, gift processing and accounting, donor and constituent data management, reporting, and performance metrics.

This is a highly collaborative leadership role, managing a team and working closely with colleagues across Advancement, IT, and campus partners. The AVP will also play a central role in shaping a future-facing data environment, including the development of a University-wide data warehouse to support strategic priorities.

With a focus on continuous improvement and best practices, this leader will bring both technical expertise and a relationship-oriented mindset to strengthen AU’s Advancement capabilities and culture of philanthropy.

The salary range for this position is $125,000–145,000.