Vice President for Development and University Relations

The University of Tampa (UT), a medium-sized comprehensive residentially-based institution of roughly 8,500 undergraduate and graduate students, is seeking an energetic vice president for development and university relations to join its senior leadership team. The university is ideally situated on a beautiful 110-acre campus next to the Hillsborough River and adjacent to Tampa’s dynamic central business district. The university’s primary academic and administrative building is a national historic landmark and has long been recognized as the symbol of the city. Tampa offers a high quality of living in a growing and vibrant metropolitan area.

Under the leadership of President Ron Vaughn, the university has experienced a period of substantial enrollment growth and program development. In the past 20 years, the number of full-time faculty and instructional staff has almost tripled, support and services have expanded, and over $530 million in construction has been completed and other projects are underway. After completing the university’s first ever comprehensive capital campaign raising $84 million, UT was eager to build on the momentum and launched its second capital campaign, “Creating Tomorrow – The Campaign for UT,” setting an aggressive goal of $150 million. The campaign went public in the fall of 2015 and has already surpassed the prior campaign results having raised roughly $145 million to date. The campaign’s vision is to secure UT’s position as a model metropolitan university and strengthen the way it prepares students to lead successful and meaningful lives.

As evidenced by the strength of UT’s culture of philanthropy, an anonymous donor has pledged a challenge gift to UT. For every $2 donated, a matching $1 gift will be donated up to $10 million. All new and increased campaign gifts qualify for the match and this matching gift drive is nearly complete.

UT’s growing national reputation is evidenced by a “Top Tier” ranking in U.S. News & World Report and favorable ratings in other publications. The university benefits from the support of over 800 individuals involved in various advisory groups, including an excellent board of trustees and many community leaders. Over 90 percent of all students are full-time, with representatives from all 50 states and 140 countries. UT has a vibrant campus and co-curricular learning environment with 229 student organizations, clubs, and teams.

The university has continued with a consistently long track record of growth, development, and solid financial performance. Likewise, over the past two decades, steady progress has been made in fundraising, enhanced communication, development of the university’s image, and improved constituency relations. UT anticipates continued growth and development even in these more challenging times for higher education. The vice president will be central to these efforts by leading the university relations and development operations; articulating the university’s vision as part of its cultivation, fundraising, and alumni relations; collaborating with other university senior management; and working together with all members of the university community, including its many dedicated volunteers, advisors, and trustees. The ideal candidate will be a professional with a strong track record of fundraising success and experience managing and leading a team of development, alumni, and external relations professionals. The selected individual will be responsible for leading a best-practice fundraising and development program and serving as a key advisor to the president.

A bachelor’s degree is required and an advanced degree is preferred. Candidates should have twelve or more years of progressively responsible senior strategic leadership, most of which is in development or alumni relations at an educational institution. The candidate should demonstrate the ability to provide strong leadership, management, and strategic direction. He/she will work in an environment that strives for continuous improvement and should be able to achieve very good results, effectively manage resources, and be able to balance leadership within the Office of Development and University Relations as well as engage directly with university constituencies.

Inquiries, nominations, and applications are invited. Review of applications will continue until the position is filled. Candidates should provide a professional resume, a letter of application that addresses the responsibilities and requirements described in the leadership profile available at www.wittkieffer.com, and the names and contact information of five references. References will not be contacted without prior knowledge and approval of candidates. These materials should be sent electronically via e-mail to The University of Tampa’s consultants Robin Mamlet and Melissa Fincher at UT-Development@wittkieffer.com. The consultants can be reached by telephone through Leslie Donahue at 630-575-6178.

The University of Tampa values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity for all persons regardless of age, color, disability, ethnicity, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other status protected by law.