Job Description

D EERFIELD A SSOCIATES has been retained by St. Marks School, located in Southborough, Massachusetts, to conduct a national search for a Chief Advancement Officer.

Chief Advancement Officer

Reporting to the Head of School and serving as a member of the senior administrative team, the Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) is responsible for advancing the schools mission and strategic priorities through philanthropy, storytelling, and authentic relationship-building. The CAO leads a talented advancement team encompassing development, alumni, parent, and trustee engagement, while partnering across departments to ensure an integrated approach to communications and marketing that strengthens the schools reputation and reach. By inspiring generosity and connection within the broader community, the CAO supports the schools long-term financial sustainability and enhances its capacity to prepare students for their futures. This opportunity is available immediately and will be filled following a national search and the candidate of choice being selected.

St. Marks School Background

St. Marks School is a coeducational, Episcopal, preparatory school, situated on 210 acres in Southborough, Massachusetts, 25 miles from Boston. Founded in 1865 by Joseph Burnett, St. Marks is one of the oldest private boarding schools in New England and is a member of the Independent School League in competitive athletics. The schools 65 teachers lead 375 boarding and day students through a rigorous curriculum and a full program of co-curricular activities.

Class size averages 12, with a student-faculty ratio of 6:1. Each department offers honors and advanced courses. Dr. Ivory D. Hills was appointed in 2024 as the new head of school. To learn more, please visit .

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for all advancement functions, aligning philanthropy, communications, and engagement efforts with the schools mission, values, and long-term strategic plan;
• Serve as a key advisor to the Head of School and Board of Trustees on issues related to philanthropy, reputation, and constituent relations;
• Design and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy encompassing annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, capital campaigns, and endowment growth;
• Personally cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors and prospects, ensuring strong, enduring relationships with alumni, parents, and friends of the school;
• Foster a culture of philanthropy throughout the community by inspiring faculty, staff, trustees, and volunteers to understand and support the schools advancement goals;
• Oversee alumni, parent, and trustee engagement programs that strengthen lifelong connection, volunteerism, and advocacy for the school;
• Lead and mentor a high-performing advancement team, setting clear goals, promoting collaboration and professional growth, and maintaining an environment of accountability and excellence;
• Partner with communications and marketing colleagues to ensure cohesive, mission-driven messaging that elevates the schools visibility, reputation, and storytelling across all platforms;
• Collaborate with peers in admissions, finance, and academic leadership to ensure advancement strategies support institutional priorities and reinforce the schools distinct value proposition;
• Work closely with the Board, preparing reports, guiding members engagement, and enhancing the boards overall philanthropic effectiveness;
• Implement and support best practices in data management, analytics, and stewardship, using technology and metrics to inform decisions and measure impact;
• Serve as an ambassador and spokesperson for the school at major events and in the broader community, representing the mission with authenticity and enthusiasm;
• Ensure fiscal responsibility within the advancement office, managing budgets, resources, and operations to achieve ambitious yet sustainable goals;
• Prepare appropriate periodic reports for the Board of Trustees.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities

• Participate in the Administrator on Duty (AoD) rotation;
• Other duties as assigned.

Desired Experience

• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in advancement, development, philanthropy, or a closely related field, with a demonstrated record of strategic leadership and fundraising success;
• Proven experience managing or partnering in comprehensive campaigns, major gifts, and endowment or capital initiatives;
• Background in independent schools, higher education, or mission-driven nonprofits preferred, with a deep understanding of how philanthropy supports educational excellence;
• Demonstrated success in building and leading effective teams, fostering collaboration, and mentoring professional staff;
• Experience working with senior leadership and boards of trustees, with the ability to engage, educate, and inspire volunteers and donors;
• Familiarity with advancement data systems, analytics, and emerging technologies that inform strategy and enhance donor engagement;
• Bachelors degree required, Masters degree in a related field preferred but not required.

Leadership and Personal Attributes

• Mission-driven with a genuine passion for education and a deep belief in the transformative power of community and philanthropy;
• A strategic thinker and systems builder who can integrate development, communications, and engagement into a cohesive advancement enterprise;
• Exceptional relationship-builder, authentic, empathetic, and persuasive, able to connect comfortably with a wide range of constituents, from students and parents to alumni and trustees;
• Superb communicator and storyteller, skilled in articulating mission, vision, and impact across multiple channels and audiences;
• Data-informed and goal-oriented, with sound judgment, integrity, and discretion in handling confidential matters;
• A collaborative, collegial leader who values teamwork, transparency, and accountability;
• Creative, energetic, and resilient, able to navigate complexity and inspire others toward ambitious institutional goals.

Disclaimer

The above job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this position. The job description is not intended to be construed as a comprehensive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of individuals in this role. It is expected that the role and responsibilities will develop over time commensurate with performance.

The Schools Leadership

Head of School Dr. Ivory D. Hills

Dr. Ivory D. Hills began his tenure as St. Marks head of school on July 1, 2024. His appointment by the St. Marks Board of Trustees was announced on July 31, 2023, following an extensive nationwide search.

From 2011 to 2024, Dr. Hills served in various roles at Deerfield Academymost recently dean of faculty and assistant head of school for strategy and planningwhere he excelled as both a dedicated classroom teacher and an influential academic leader. In his role as dean of faculty and assistant head of school for strategy and planning, Dr. Hills oversaw a 140-member faculty and provided comprehensive support for academic, artistic, athletic, co-curricular, college advising, health and wellness, and residential programs. He fostered a culture of positivity among the faculty, emphasizing student-centered growth, and managed workload assignments, housing placements, leave replacements, and professional development requests. Additionally, he collaborated closely with the schools advancement office to support faculty and curriculum-centered fundraising initiatives.

Dr. Hills is a distinguished scientist, holding a B.S. in chemistry from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from MIT. Before his tenure at Deerfield, he served as a senior research chemist at Merck Research Laboratories, leading medicinal chemistry teams involved in drug development for Alzheimers disease, migraine, schizophrenia, and colorectal cancer.

St. Marks School educates young people for lives of leadership and service.

Mission Statement

St. Marks School educates young people for lives of leadership and service. Founded in 1865 as an intentionally small residential community, the school challenges its students to develop their particular analytic and creative capabilities by both inspiring their academic and spiritual curiosity and kindling their passion for discovery. We value cooperation over self-interest, and we encourage all members of our community to explore their place in the larger world beyond our campus.

Diversity Statement

St. Marks School seeks to reflect the increasingly diverse world in which our students presently live and will live in the future. We intend to provide our students with a superior education in a community of students, parents, faculty, and staff that represents a variety of racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds. We strive to ensure respect for all regardless of sex, gender, gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation, ability, family structure or economic background.

• will continue to give special importance to the inclusion within our student body, our faculty, and our staff of persons from all groups within our society particularly those that have experienced prejudice and disadvantage.
• will provide all members of the school with a range of appropriate opportunities to develop skills for living in a diverse community and ]]>

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