Vice President for University Advancement and President/CEO of the WWU Foundation

Western Washington University (WWU) invites applications and nominations for the position of Vice President for University Advancement and President/CEO of the WWU Foundation (VP/CEO). The VP/CEO serves as the chief development officer and leads the University in all matters pertaining to the management and operation of university development, alumni relations, and donor development. This position also serves as the president/CEO of the WWU Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to raising private funds to benefit the University. The VP/CEO position reports to and serves at the pleasure of the president. The president works closely and collaborates with the WWU Foundation and the Chair of the Board in setting direction and expectations for the position.

 

The main campus of Western Washington University is located on 212 picturesque acres in Bellingham, Washington, a city of about 90,000 people situated between Seattle, Washington, and Vancouver, British Columbia. Nestled in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains and adjacent to the beautiful San Juan Islands, Bellingham is nationally recognized for its quality of life, outdoor adventure, and environmental stewardship. As the third-largest university in the State of Washington, Western enrolls over 16,000 students in more than 160 academic programs at the Bellingham campus and seven satellite locations around the Puget Sound area.

 

Western, which was founded in 1893, is perennially ranked among the top five public, master's-granting universities in the West, according to U.S. News & World Report college rankings. Kiplinger’s ranks Western among the top 100 public colleges and universities in the nation that offer the best quality and affordability. U.S. News and World Report has named Western one of the most cost-efficient in the country among highly ranked universities; and for several years in a row, the Chronicle of Higher Education has recognized Western as a “Great Place to Work.” Western is particularly proud of its position as a leader in multidisciplinary environmental education and sustainable campus operations.

 

Western Washington University is seeking exceptional candidates with senior-level leadership and management experience who have demonstrated success in creating, leading, and managing advancement and fundraising programs. The VP/CEO will need to work collaboratively with internal and external partners by advancing alumni development and fundraising initiatives across a broad university community. The VP/CEO must exhibit exceptional communication, motivational, and leadership skills. WWU maintains an active commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and aspires to provide an environment responsive to the needs of underrepresented groups and constituencies at Western and in the surrounding community. The VP/CEO must be able to demonstrate a commitment to promoting and enhancing institutional diversity, equity, and inclusion goals.

 

The successful candidate should possess the following qualifications and experiences:

 

  • A bachelor's degree;
  • Substantial executive management experience in planning, coordinating, and directing comprehensive fundraising programs;
  • Experience with cultivating and closing major gifts;
  • Experience with stewardship of donor funds and Foundation resources;
  • Experience in promoting and advancing institutional diversity, equity, and inclusion goals;
  • Superb written and oral communication skills;
  • Administrative ability, including strategic and policy planning, financial management, personnel management, and public relations;
  • Leadership skills to develop and sustain a high-performance team, including establishing and executing goals and priorities and developing internal and external collaborations and partnerships;
  • High degree of integrity and trustworthiness.

 

Additionally, preferred qualifications for the position include:

 

  • A master’s degree;
  • Experience with the development of robust alumni relations, constituent relations, stewardship, and prospect research;
  • Understanding of the decentralized higher education culture and environment, and knowledge of trends and innovations in fundraising within higher education.

 

Salary

 

The position is a full-time, 12-month administrative position with an excellent benefits package.  Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience.

 

How to Apply

 

Greenwood/Asher & Associates, LLC is assisting Western Washington University in this search. Applications and nominations are now being accepted. For best consideration, please submit a cover letter, CV, and list of five references by January 29, 2021. Confidential inquiries, nominations and application materials should be directed to Greenwood/Asher & Associates, LLC. Submission of application materials as PDF attachments is strongly encouraged. The search will be conducted with a commitment of confidentiality for candidates until finalists are selected. Initial screening of applications will begin immediately and will continue until an appointment is made.

 

Inquiries, nominations, and application materials should be directed to:

Jan Greenwood

Founder, Greenwood/Asher & Associates, LLC

Vice President & Managing Partner, Kelly

E-mail: jangreenwood@greenwoodsearch.com

 

Ann Bailey

Senior Executive Search Consultant

Greenwood/Asher & Associates, LLC

E-mail: annbailey@greenwoodsearch.com

 

 

For more information about WWU, please visit: www.wwu.edu.

 

For more information about the Division of University Advancement and the WWU Foundation, please visit: https://foundation.wwu.edu/.

 

Western Washington University (WWU) is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained faculty and staff. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. In compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of its commitment to fostering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity, WWU does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and parenting status), disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status or genetic information in its programs or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs. See WWU’s Policy on Ensuring Equal Opportunity and Prohibiting Discrimination and Retaliation. Inquiries may be directed to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance, Title IX and ADA Coordinator, Western Washington University, Old Main 345 (MS 9021), 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225; 360.650.3307 (voice) or 711 (Washington Relay); crtc@wwu.edu

 

WWU is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to request an accommodation, please contact Human Resources Disability Services, 360.650.3774 or 711 (Washington Relay).

 

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report: This report is provided pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act ("The Clery Act"). It includes statistics for the previous three calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on Western's campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Western; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. You can obtain a copy of this report in printed or alternate formats by contacting the Office of the Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services at vpsa.office@wwu.edu. The report can be found at: Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

All new employees must comply with the immunization policy and show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service before beginning work at WWU. A thorough background check will be conducted on all new hires.