Chief Advancement Officer Position Available In St. Louis City, Missouri

Chief Advancement Officer
Regular Full-Time
St. Louis, MO, US
2 days ago

Requisition ID:

1865

Title:

Chief Advancement Officer

Department/Location:

Advancement, St. Louis, MO and Elsah, IL

Position Type:

Full-Time, 12-month
Summary
Principia is looking for a mission-driven and experienced Chief Advancement Officer (CAO). In this role, you will lead and unify advancement efforts across both Principia College and Principia School, overseeing a comprehensive program that includes annual giving, major and planned gifts, capital campaigns, alumni and friends engagement, reunion programs, and advancement services such as gift processing and database management. Your strategic leadership, deep understanding of advancement best practices, and commitment to Principia’s values will be key to your success. Reporting to the Chief Executive, you will play a critical role in advancing Principia’s purpose: to serve the Cause of Christian Science through education. You’ll lead a team of over twenty professionals, including several experienced and passionate Directors and Senior Directors, and you’ll collaborate with other members of the executive team, the Board of Trustees, faculty, alumni, and broader community members to build meaningful relationships and drive philanthropic support.
Who We Are At our award-winning Early Childhood through grade 12 Principia School in St. Louis, Missouri, and top-ranked Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, Principia faculty and staff make up a close-knit community of educators, coaches, and professionals taking a distinct approach to education—blending academic excellence with Christian Science-based character education. Principia’s team of over 500 employees supports not only Principia School and Principia College, but also a worldwide network of alumni and friends. Principia employees are part of an engaging academic community preparing students to be tomorrow’s leaders, thinkers, and changemakers. We strive to create a collaborative and inclusive environment where everyone feels they belong and are valued.
Primary Responsibilities
Strategic Advancement Leadership
Develop and implement a unified advancement strategy aligned with Principia’s long-term goals and Christian Science values
Serve as a member of the Executive Team and a key advisor on institutional strategy, culture of philanthropy, and external engagement
Partner with senior leaders and Trustees to strengthen giving programs and cultivate meaningful relationships rooted in Principia’s mission
Fundraising and Donor Engagement
Oversee all fundraising initiatives, including annual giving, major and planned gifts, and capital campaigns for both the College and School
Personally manage a portfolio of major donors and prospective supporters.
Inspire giving that supports character-based education
Create and execute a comprehensive fundraising campaign to support the next generation of students at Principia
Alumni and Friends Relations
Support the efforts to engage alumni and friends of Principia through events, communications, and volunteer leadership opportunities
Manage those who are executing reunion giving programs and lifelong connection strategies grounded in shared values and spiritual purpose
Foster a welcoming and inclusive environment for all who support Principia’s mission, regardless of their stage of spiritual growth
Advancement Services and Operations
Ensure excellence in advancement operations including gift processing, data integrity, donor acknowledgments, reporting, and compliance
Support continuous improvement in advancement systems and metrics, using technology and data to inform strategy and steward resources
Team and Organizational Leadership
Recruit, mentor, and retain a diverse and spiritually grounded advancement staff of over twenty professionals, including a Senior Director of Alumni & Field Relations, Senior Director of Development, and Director of Advancement Services
Build a culture of integrity, collaboration, joyful service, and professional growth
Model principled leadership and a commitment to Christian Science in all aspects of work
Core Competencies

Positivity:

Optimistic, positive, and focused on elevating and bringing out the very best in themselves and others. Faculty and staff are invited to understand teammates’ strengths and how they can complement each other.
Strategic thinkers: Ability to consider complex topics from multiple perspectives and offer innovative solutions.

Leadership:

Exhibits confidence in self and others; inspires and motivates others to perform well; effectively influences actions of others; inspires respect and trust; accepts feedback from others; provides vision and inspiration to peers and direct reports; gives appropriate recognition to others; mobilizes others to fulfill the vision; promotes a positive work environment.

Results Driven and Productivity:

Ability to prioritize and deliver results in a high-volume environment

Ethical:

Treats people with respect; keeps commitments; inspires the trust of others; works with integrity; upholds organizational values

Dependability:

Works within deadlines and under occasional heavy workloads

Planning and Organizing:

Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently; manages multiple projects and tasks simultaneously
Minimum Qualifications
Student of Christian Science; member of Christian Science Church and/or Organization and completed Christian Science class instruction. If not currently a class-taught member of a Christian Science church, both required within one year of start date.
Supportive of Principia’s guiding statements as articulated here principia.edu/about/guiding-statements Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred
15 years of progressive leadership experience in fundraising, advancement, or related fields
Demonstrated success in securing major and planned gifts, managing capital campaigns, and leading cross-functional teams
Strong management, communication, and relationship-building skills
Proficiency with donor management systems and a metrics-driven approach to fundraising
The statements above describe the general nature and level of work but are not a complete list of responsibilities and are subject to change at the discretion of Principia. Compensation and Benefits
We offer a competitive salary range for this position: $160,000 – $185,000 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications.
In addition to salary, our comprehensive total rewards package includes:

Generous Employee Tuition Discount:

Enjoy a 90% discount on tuition (pro-rated for part-time staff) for your eligible children enrolled from Pre-K3 through College (infant and acorn programs excluded).

Relocation:

Principia provides a relocation imbursement of up to 12% of your annual salary, when moving from outside a radius of more than 50 miles

Professional Development:

Access to learning opportunities, training programs, and career growth support.

Comprehensive Benefits:

Learn more about all our benefits here, including comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans, paid time off, a 403(b) retirement plan with Principia matching, and more. Equal Opportunity Principia, a mission-driven institution, believes every person has the right to an equitable and respectful educational environment and workplace. Principia does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender (identity or expression), sexual orientation, family status, disability, age, or military or veteran status. In hiring, admissions, and related decisions, Principia—as an institution with a religious mission—gives preference, where appropriate, to Christian Scientists.