Executive Director of Advancement and Community Relations

Executive Director of Advancement and Community Relations

Salary

$92,072.00 - $136,517.00 Annually

Location

SUSCC - Opelika - 301 Lake Condy Road, Opelika, AL

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

08638

College/Division

SUSCC-601090-Public Relations/Development

Opening Date

09/29/2026

Closing Date

10/12/2026 11:59 PM Central

Campus Location

Southern Union State Community College

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Position Summary

The Executive Director of Advancement and Community Relations serves as the chief advancement officer for Southern Union State Community College and provides strategic leadership for the College's fundraising, community engagement, external relations, and advancement initiatives. The Executive Director develops and implements an integrated advancement program designed to increase the College's visibility, strengthen relationships with alumni, donors, businesses, foundations, and community partners, and secure philanthropic and community support for the College's strategic priorities.

Serving as an ex-officio member of the Southern Union Foundation Board of Directors and as a member of the President's executive leadership team, the Executive Director works closely with the College President, Foundation Board, faculty, staff, alumni, community and business leaders, and Public Relations and Marketing personnel to identify opportunities and secure financial and in-kind support for the College.

The Executive Director provides leadership for the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors and prospects and oversees the development and implementation of comprehensive fundraising strategies, including major gifts, annual giving, special events, corporate and individual giving, scholarship endowments, grants, planned giving, and capital and comprehensive campaigns. The position also provides leadership and supervision for development and public relations functions and ensures that advancement activities are aligned with the College's mission, vision, strategic priorities, and community needs.

Salary: Appropriate placement on the Alabama Community College System Salary Schedule C1: (Salary range: $92,072 - $136,517)

Benefits: Full time employees are entitled to the College's benefit package to include: PEEHIP, retirement, leave (annual, sick, and personal), etc.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Advancement and Fundraising

• Develop, implement, and manage a comprehensive, strategic advancement plan designed to increase philanthropic support and community investment in Southern Union State Community College.
• Lead fundraising initiatives that support the College's strategic priorities, including major gifts, annual giving, special events, individual and corporate giving, scholarship endowments, planned giving, grants, and capital or comprehensive campaigns.
• Work closely with the College President and Foundation Board to identify fundraising priorities, establish goals, develop strategies, and cultivate relationships that result in increased financial and community support.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors, prospective donors, corporations, foundations, alumni, and other external partners.
• Develop compelling proposals, presentations, and other fundraising materials that communicate the College's mission, priorities, student impact, and opportunities for investment.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with business, civic, nonprofit, philanthropic, and community leaders throughout the communities served by the College.
• Pursue opportunities for philanthropic partnerships, sponsorships, grants, in-kind contributions, and other forms of external support.

Community and External Relations

• Serve as a key representative of Southern Union in the communities served by the College and actively promote the College's mission, vision, programs, accomplishments, and opportunities.
• Work closely with the College President to educate and engage external audiences regarding the College's role in education, workforce development, economic development, and community advancement.
• Strengthen relationships with alumni, community leaders, businesses, foundations, governmental and civic organizations, and other strategic partners.
• Coordinate with Public Relations and Marketing personnel to ensure consistent messaging and maximize opportunities to increase awareness, engagement, and support for the College.
• Identify opportunities for community engagement and strategic partnerships that enhance the College's visibility and advance institutional priorities.

Donor Relations and Advancement Operations

• Oversee the identification, cultivation, solicitation, acknowledgement, recognition, and stewardship of donors and prospects to ensure meaningful and sustained relationships.
• Establish and maintain effective systems for donor and prospect management, including database management, prospect research, gift documentation, donor communications, stewardship, and fund agreements.
• Ensure timely and appropriate acknowledgement and reporting to donors regarding the impact of their contributions.
• Conduct prospect research and analysis to identify individuals, corporations, foundations, and other funding sources with potential to support College priorities.
• Develop and maintain accurate records related to the Foundation, donors, prospects, gifts, agreements, and other advancement activities.
• Develop reports for the College President and Foundation Board that measure progress toward fundraising and engagement goals, including revenue, participation, donor retention, and return on investment for fundraising appeals and events.

Foundation Leadership and Financial Oversight

• Serve as an ex-officio member of the Southern Union Foundation Board and work closely with the Board to advance the Foundation's mission and strategic priorities.
• Ensure that Foundation activities and operations are conducted in accordance with the Foundation's approved bylaws, policies, procedures, and applicable regulations.
• Support the Foundation Board through the planning and preparation of meetings, development of agendas and supporting materials, coordination of committee activities, and preparation and maintenance of meeting minutes and official records.
• Oversee the Foundation's financial operations in collaboration with appropriate College and Foundation personnel, including monthly financial reconciliation, budget monitoring, expenditure approval, and financial reporting.
• Coordinate the Foundation's annual audit process and work with the College President, Foundation Board, and appropriate financial professionals to ensure sound financial management and compliance.
• Work with the College President and Foundation Board to develop and maintain an investment strategy that supports the long-term financial health and sustainability of the Foundation.
• Monitor fund agreements and restricted gifts to ensure that donor intent and applicable requirements are appropriately documented and fulfilled.

Professional and Institutional Responsibilities

• Maintain a high level of professionalism and pursue continued professional development in advancement, fundraising, community relations, nonprofit management, and related fields.
• Serve on College committees and represent the College at community, civic, professional, and institutional events as assigned.
• Comply with all policies, procedures, and regulations of the Alabama Community College System and Southern Union State Community College.
• Maintain a work schedule that may include evenings, weekends, and special events as necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of the position.
• Perform other related duties and special projects as assigned by the President or designee.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, Education, or related field required.
• A minimum of three (3) years of successful fundraising experience in a school, college, or 501c3 organization required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in operating Excel or fundraising software to track, sort, format, and analyze data for a variety of purposes including reporting and data analysis preferred.

Application Procedures/Additional Information

Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications and must submit a complete application packet through the ONLINE application system by the deadline date in order to be considered for the position. It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to ensure his or her application packet is complete. Application materials may not be submitted by fax or email. Applicants who fail to submit all required information will be disqualified.

A complete application packet consists of:

• Completed Southern Union State Community College ONLINE employment application
• Current resume
• List of three (3) references
• Transcript of college work verifying degree requirement; must include degree awarded and date confirmed (Unofficial transcripts will be accepted before the deadline, but official transcripts must be received if employed.)

Please note: Applicants must provide documentation of the required work experience if an offer is made.

All submitted application materials become the property of the College. Requests for copies of application materials, including transcripts, will be denied.

Correspondence regarding positions (i.e. scheduled interview appointment, position filled announcement) will be sent to applicants through the email address used on the applicant's NEOED account. Applicants are required to monitor their e-mail account for additional information regarding this current applied for position.

In accordance with the Alabama Community College System policy and guidelines, the applicant chosen for employment will be required to sign a consent form for a criminal background check. Employment will be contingent upon the receipt of a clearance notification from the criminal background check. Southern Union also participates in E-verify.

It is the policy of the Alabama Community College System, including all postsecondary community and technical colleges under the control of the Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees, that no employee or applicant for employment or promotion, on the basis of any impermissible criterion or characteristic including, without limitation, race, color, national origin, religion, marital status, disability, sex, age, or any other protected class as defined by federal or state law, shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program, activity, or employment.

Southern Union State Community College is an equal opportunity employer. Southern Union State Community College will make reasonable accommodations for qualified disabled applicants or employees. Applicants must adhere to the College's prescribed interview schedule and travel at their own expense. The College reserves the right to withdraw this job announcement at any time prior to the awarding.

More than one position in the same job classification may be filled from the applicants for this position should another vacancy occur during the search process.

Sick Leave

All regular full-time non-instructional staff earns one day of sick leave which is the equivalent of 8 hours of sick leave per month. Unused sick leave is rolled over to the following year. Upon retirement, employees are allowed to convert unused sick time into service time for the purpose of retirement. Further retirement benefits may be found on this page under Alabama Teachers Retirement.

8 hours per month

(may accumulate an unlimited number)

Annual Leave

All regular full-time non-instructional staff earn annual leave per month. A complete description of leave benefits can be found with the Human Resources office.

0-4 years 8 hours per month

5-9 years 10 hours per month

10-14 years 12 hours per month

15-19 years 14 hours per month

20+ 16 hours per month

(may accumulate up to 480 hours)

Personal Leave

All regular full-time non-instructional staff earns up to two (2) regularly scheduled workdays of personal leave per leave year.

Unused Personal Leave converts to sick leave if not used.

(converts to sick leave at the end of August each year if not used)

Professional Leave

Up to 10 days a year of professional development leave with pay may be granted by the President.

Holidays

New Years Day

Martin Luther King/Robert E. Lee Birthday

National Memorial Day

Juneteenth

Independence Day

Labor Day

Veterans Day

Thanksgiving Day

Day after Thanksgiving Day

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day

16 (5 locally assigned)

Contracted Work Days

260

Retirement

The TRS was established in 1939 to provide benefits to qualified persons employed by state-supported educational institutions. Responsibility for the management and administration of the TRS is vested in its Board of Control. The Boards of Control elect the Secretary-Treasurer who serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the RSA and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the RSA. The TRS is a defined benefit plan qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. For more information visit The Retirement Systems of Alabama. All regular full-time and part-time employees (non-temporary and non- student) who work at least 20 hours per week are required to participate in The Teachers Retirement System of Alabama.

Tier I - Pays 7.50% monthly. State matches 14.57% (effective 10/01/25)

Tier II - Pays 6.20% monthly. State matches 13.61% (effective 10/01/25)

Law Enforcement Officers:

Tier I-Pays 8.50% monthly. State matches 14.57% (effective 10/01/25)

Tier II- Pays 7.20% monthly. State matches 13.61% (effective 10/01/25)

Health Insurance

PEEHIP, established in 1983, provides health insurance benefits for active and retired education employees and is governed by the PEEHIP Board of Control. The Boards of Control elect the Secretary-Treasurer who serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the RSA and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the RSA. For more information visit http://www.rsa-al.gov/index.php/members/peehip

Premium amounts:

• Single $ 30
• Family (without Spouse but with dependents) $ 207
• Employee + Spouse (no dependents) $ 282
• Family (with Spouse and dependents*) $ 307
• Includes $100 per month spousal surcharge Note: The spousal surcharge does not apply to spouses who are independently eligible for PEEHIP.

Tobacco Usage Premium

• Member $ 50
• Spouse $ 50

The tobacco premium applies only to the PEEHIP Hospital Medical and VIVA Health plans. Refer to the Wellness Program section to learn how you and/or your spouse can receive the non-tobacco user discount.

Wellness Premium

• Member $ 50
• Spouse $ 50

The wellness premium applies only to the Blue Cross Blue Shield Hospital Medical Group #14000 plan for non-Medicare eligible active and retired members, non-Medicare-eligible members on LOA or COBRA, and non-Medicare-eligible spouses on active or retired contracts. Refer to the Wellness Program section to learn how you and/or your spouse can receive a wellness premium waiver.

If desired, the employee may elect four options rather than health insurance options to include hospital indemnity, cancer, dental, and vision.

Optional Coverage Plan Premiums

• Cancer, Indemnity, and Vision Single or Family (cost per plan) $ 38
• Dental Single $ 38 Dental Family $ 50

Institution matches $800 monthly (effective 10/01/17).

Duty Hours

(hours vary by campus and needs of the student)

Tuition Assistance

This tuition waiver program is designed for all full-time instructional and non-instructional employees of The Alabama College System and the Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education and their dependents as defined under by policy. The program will be coordinated by each institution for employees within The Alabama College System and the Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education. An application form for the tuition assistance program is available in the Human Resources office and should be completed prior to registration for classes.

Employees/Dependents at two-year colleges:

• 1/3 waived after 1st year
• 2/3 waived after 2nd year
• 3/3 waived after 3rd year

Note: Employee is vested after 10 years in Retirement System. Additional information regarding retirement may be obtained from the Retirement System Web site at www.rsa.al.gov.

01

Did you attach your resume, unofficial transcript, and add three (3) references? Failure to add these items will result in automatic rejection.

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer ACCS

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