VICE CHANCELLOR FOR DEVELOPMENT

The University of Mississippi (www.olemiss.edu) invites nominations and applications for the position of Vice Chancellor for Development.

THE UNIVERSITY

One hundred sixty years after opening its doors as the state’s flagship university, The University of Mississippi is a growing, vibrant institution that offers nationally ranked academic and research programs.  In the past 10 years, the university has produced five Truman, eight Goldwater and six Fulbright scholars, plus one Marshall and one Udall Scholar.  The state’s first public university to shelter a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the university attracts promising young scholars with a variety of outstanding academic programs, including the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College.  Ranked among the nation’s top public research universities by several measures, the university is home to more than 30 research centers.  The University of Mississippi is located in Oxford (www.oxfordms.com), in the rolling hills of north Mississippi 80 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee.  A city of approximately 19,000 residents, Oxford is a vibrant university town filled with unique shops and galleries, eclectic restaurants, and historic landmarks.

THE POSITION

The University of Mississippi is seeking a talented and experienced development executive with a strong record of accomplishment in fundraising and management. Reporting to the Chancellor, the Chief Development Officer will have broad authority and responsibility for managing the primary development program, currently consisting of principal and major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, and prospect research.  The Vice Chancellor will ensure that the Development Offices at the Oxford campus and the Medical Center campus in Jackson work cooperatively, effectively, and in concert with the athletics development program as well as the affiliated independent foundations to ensure all fundraising efforts are integrated and work seamlessly together, and all initiatives are closely aligned with the university’s leadership and goals.

Within the Office of Development, management responsibilities include ensuring that all development officers are properly trained and actively engaged in their fundraising responsibilities and are focused on making certain that all prospects and donors are effectively cultivated, solicited and stewarded, and that the prospect research and communication functions are appropriately staffed, trained, and functioning at a high level.  The Vice Chancellor will manage the participation of deans and other university leaders to develop and implement fundraising strategies, and will carry a portfolio of leadership and principal donors having giving capacity at the $1M+ level.  The successful candidate must have experience with major comprehensive fundraising campaigns.

Candidates must have the following experience:

• a baccalaureate degree
• significant development experience building effective constituency-based development programs at a large, complex public or private organization
• successful direct experience in planning or leading major comprehensive campaigns, preferably including a campaign of $1 Billion;
• demonstrated ability and successful track record in planning, executing and closing significant major and principal gifts;
• intellectual depth to translate academic and technical information for a variety of audiences, coupled with an ability to inspire those audiences;
• experience in working and interacting with governing boards and other volunteer leaders; and
• demonstrated employee managerial experience.

This position is located on The University of Mississippi’s main campus in the beautiful town of Oxford.  Sometimes called the “Cultural Mecca of the South,” Oxford has been the home of William Faulkner, John Grisham, Willie Morris, Barry Hannah and many more outstanding writers.  (http://visitoxfordms.com/)  In recent years, it has become known for its award-winning chefs and restaurateurs.  Oxford is often recommended by many publications as a bucket list place to visit.

Over the past several years, The University of Mississippi has been voted by our staff as one of the great colleges to work for in the Chronicle of Higher Education’s survey, and has been widely recognized as one of the most beautiful campuses in America.  The University has experienced tremendous growth over the past few years, increasing in student enrollment and nurturing and enjoying nationally-recognized academic and athletic programs.

APPLICATIONS AND NOMINATIONS

The University invites letters of nomination, applications (letter of interest, full resume/CV, and contact information of at least five references), or expressions of interest to be submitted to the search firm assisting the University at the email address below. Review of materials will begin immediately and continue until an adequate pool is established, or until the appointment is made. Please send application materials to:

Laurie C. Wilder, President

Porsha L. Williams, Vice President

Parker Executive Search

Five Concourse Parkway, Suite 2900 | Atlanta, GA 30328

770-804-1996 ext. 109

pwilliams@parkersearch.com | mbonds@parkersearch.com

The University of Mississippi is an EOE/AA/Minorities/Females/Vet/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/Title VI/Title VII/Title IX/504/ADA/ADEA employer.