Chief Advancement Officer

The American University of Rome (AUR), the oldest American degree-granting institution in Rome, Italy, seeks an aspirational, engaging, and collaborative advancement professional to serve as the Chief Advancement Officer (CAO). Reporting to the president of AUR and serving as an integral member of the presidential leadership council, the CAO will provide strategic vision, leadership, and direction for all fundraising and alumni engagement activities. Following enormous strides in growth in recent years and a current, transformative campus expansion, AUR is poised to enter a new stage marked by amplified reach and impact. In close collaboration with senior leadership and the university community, the CAO will play a critical role in shaping AUR’s future for years to come.

Established in 1969, AUR is a private liberal arts university founded on the idea that Rome is an ideal classroom and that a student’s educational experience is broadened and enriched by living in a multicultural environment. A unique and extraordinary institution, AUR’s faculty and staff teach, engage, and support approximately 700 undergraduate and graduate students representing over 50 countries. While all programs are conducted in English, 28 native languages are spoken among faculty and students. AUR’s academic programs are defined by a combination of theory and practice, abundant opportunities to gain real-world experience, and small classes that create intimate learning environments.

Under the leadership of President Scott Sprenger, the CAO will join AUR at an inflection point as the University embarks on a new chapter marked by substantial enrollment growth and comprehensive strategic planning, including a significant expansion project that will double AUR’s campus. For the first time in AUR’s history, the University has the opportunity to develop a fully-fledged, student-centered campus. The impact of this expansion and the creation of new facilities will have a transformational impact on the University and student success. The CAO will partner closely with the president, senior leadership, and the board of trustees, providing visionary leadership and strategic thinking to advance the campaign supporting this effort – Our Time is Now – in addition to furthering institutional goals and supporting sustainable philanthropic growth. Leading AUR’s advancement office, the CAO will design and implement a comprehensive, best-in-class fundraising program, elevate and mature the office’s operations, cultivate and engage alumni and family networks, and raise the university’s profile both locally and internationally.

With at least seven years of fundraising experience, preferably within a higher education environment, the CAO must possess strong strategic planning and motivational skills; a keen understanding of fundraising best practices; and a comprehensive knowledge of all major development and alumni engagement functions, including a track record of significant personal success in donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship at the major gift levels. The ideal candidate will have experience building or elevating fundraising programs and utilizing data and metrics to inform strategy. The ideal candidate must demonstrate a high level of integrity and trust and exhibit the credibility, maturity, and sophistication to effectively engage and partner with varied groups of internal and external constituents. The CAO must possess extraordinary communication and negotiation skills, the political savvy, flexibility, and cultural agility to navigate a complex academic and alumni community, and the desire and ability to build bridges and strong, genuine, and collaborative relationships across AUR. A bachelor’s degree is required; a master’s degree is preferred.

This position will be based in the United States, preferably on the East Coast in the Northeast corridor, or in Rome, Italy.

Jack Gorman is leading this search with Bryce Ervin and Lisa Clayton. 

The American University of Rome is an equal-opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic environment. We strongly encourage applications from individuals who are traditionally underrepresented in higher education, and candidates of all genders are welcome to apply.