Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), a major public urban research university in Richmond, Virginia, seeks a vice president for development and alumni relations (VP) to lead its development and alumni relations operations to unprecedented levels of success and productivity.

The VP will lead a large and complex fundraising and alumni relations operation that includes VCU’s two downtown Richmond campuses (the Monroe Park Campus and the Medical College of Virginia Campus); a campus in Doha, Qatar; and six independent affiliated foundations along with several subsidiary corporations across the health system.  The vice president will inherit an operation that has made significant progress in recent years and is well on its way to realizing the $750 million goal in VCU’s current major comprehensive campaign, which went public in fall of 2016. In FY 2016, VCU had its second best fundraising year of the campaign, and third best year ever, totaling $91.8 million.

Reporting to and working in close concert with President Michael Rao, the VP will join an energized and ambitious leadership team. The VP will have the opportunity to play a principal role in advancing a university deeply committed to and engaged with Richmond and the Commonwealth of Virginia and eager to continue moving ahead into a new era of excellence and prosperity. Accomplishing these ambitions will require a leader steeped in best practices and experienced at change management. The vice president will build and sustain strong and sincere interpersonal relationships both internally and externally, will demonstrate a track record of major and principal gift fundraising success, and will possess the leadership and managerial acumen necessary to galvanize a large and complex institution behind an ambitious, highly integrated advancement program.

Since its founding in 1838 as the Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University has become one of the Commonwealth’s largest universities and ranks among the top 100 universities nationally in sponsored research. It enrolls over 31,000 students in 220 certificate and degree programs, many of which cross the disciplines of VCU’s 13 academic and professional schools and its humanities and sciences college. VCU also encompasses VCU Health, which includes the five health science schools; the academic medical center and children’s hospital; centers of excellence for cancer, neurosurgery, transplant, and cardiovascular medicine and a Level 1 trauma center. As an inclusive and diverse urban institution of higher learning, VCU and its partners have contributed immeasurably to the development of the fabric of the City of Richmond, transforming it into a center of artistic and cultural growth, business development, and social services.  VCU is benefiting from a renaissance in Richmond, the formation of a largely new leadership team, the development of a new strategic plan, and aspirations to expand significantly the university’s facilities and footprint. The new vice president will thus join the university at the ideal time to make a personal and lasting impact on its future.

Inquiries, nominations and applications are invited. The search will be conducted with a commitment to confidentiality for candidates until finalists are selected. Witt/Kieffer is assisting Virginia Commonwealth University in this search. Initial screening of applications will begin immediately and will continue until an appointment is made. Submission of materials as PDF attachments is strongly encouraged. Confidential inquiries, nominations and application materials should be directed to Witt/Kieffer consultants Dennis M. Barden and Elizabeth K. Bohan at VCUVP@wittkieffer.com. A full position description can be found here at www.wittkieffer.com. Basic personal and demographic information must also be submitted to VCU’s job site at https://www.vcujobs.com/postings/61149.  

Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action university providing access to education and employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, political affiliation, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or disability.