Job Details

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Development - 152744
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Position Number: 5814132
Location: Cullowhee, NC
Position Type: Development and Fund Raising

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Development - 152744

Western Carolina University

Department: Office, Assistant VC of Development

About WCU:

Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes Best Employers lists each year. Including:
2024 - Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes Americas Best Midsize Employers list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
2023 - Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes Americas Best Midsize Employers list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
2022 - Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes Americas Best Employers by State list.
Western Carolina University is the UNC systems westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.
Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans - eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.
Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year. Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.
WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences - many of which are offered free of charge.

Position Summary:

The primary location of this position is the Cullowhee, NC campus.

The Assistant Vice Chancellor for Development will play a leadership role in the successful completion of Fill the Western Sky: The Campaign for Western Carolina University. The campaign will launch publicly in October of 2024 has already met key milestones for academic support and immediate use gifts. The public phase will focus primarily on athletics facilities capital needs and immediate use athletics gifts.

The Assistant Vice Chancellor will directly supervise the Senior Director of Development, the Director of Donor Relations, the Director of Prospect Management and Research, the Director of Development for Health and Human Sciences, and the Director of Development and Corporate Partnerships. The Assistant Vice Chancellor, in partnership with the Vice Chancellor and development officers for the various colleges, will be responsible for developing fundraising strategies for increasing the base of philanthropic support for Western Carolina University.
The Assistant Vice Chancellor for Development will be responsible for the management and direction of the operations and programs of Western Carolina Universitys fundraising efforts. This includes the full span of the donor cycle from prospect management data, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and donor relations programming. The Assistant Vice Chancellor for Development will be knowledgeable about higher education fundraising best practices, trends, and campaign planning and execution.

This position has indirect supervision of the unit-based directors of development through the Senior Director. The Assistant Vice Chancellor will create, execute, and monitor activities which support the fundraising priorities of the division and the University.

The Assistant Vice Chancellor for Development will serve as a member of the leadership team for the Division of Advancement, will advise the Vice Chancellor for Advancement on strategic and operational aspects of development and will effectively promote internal and external understanding of the universitys mission and vision as correlated with philanthropic priorities and giving goals.

The Assistant Vice Chancellors primary responsibilities are to (1) implement university-wide and unit-specific strategies for development including any comprehensive and/or project- or program-specific major campaigns; (2) build and lead the necessary staff infrastructure to support these efforts including research and prospect management, gift officers, and donor relations management ; (3) serve as the lead, in collaboration with the Vice Chancellor, for traditional and complex planned gifts; (4) serve as the coordinator for corporate and foundation relations among gift officers and collaborate with campus partners including Sponsored Research staff to increase corporate and foundation gifts; (5) Serve as the point person for all real estate gifts; (6) staff the Vice Chancellor for Advancement and other key internal leaders in their work with top prospects, donors and volunteer boards; (7) manage a personal portfolio of principal, planned, and/or corporate and foundation gift prospects; and (8) serve as a strategic partner to the advancement services team, the engagement team, and the athletics development team.

The Assistant Vice Chancellor for Development will perform evening and weekend work as appropriate, travel extensively and accept and execute other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required for this position:
Minimum Qualifications:

Candidate must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for employment sponsorship or any immigration-related assistance.
A Bachelors degree and between seven to ten years of experience in nonprofit finance, development, and/or fundraising, with a preference for experience in a higher education setting. Experience in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors will be considered.
Proven success in the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major and leadership gifts, with specific examples of meeting fundraising goals.
At least two years of experience managing full-time staff, with a preference for those who have supervised development officers, including major and planned gift staff.
Knowledge of current best practices in higher education fundraising and donor relations, with a demonstrated ability to apply these practices in a professional setting.
Proven supervisory and mentorship abilities, including experience supporting professional development plans and using measurable performance metrics for staff supervision.
Strong verbal and written communication skills, with documented examples of effective communication in professional settings.
Demonstrated experience in using research, data, and quantifiable outcomes to inform decision-making and reporting.
Proficiency in the use of technology and its applications in development work, including CRM systems.
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders.
Willingness to work on-site at the Cullowhee, NC campus, travel as needed, and work after hours, including weekends.
Experience with a CRM database system, including consistent documentation of work and data-driven decision-making for goal setting.

Preferred Qualifications:

A Masters degree in a related field is preferred.
Seven to ten years of advancement experience in a public higher education institution is preferred, with specific examples of successful fundraising initiatives.
Proven experience in program planning and evaluation, with demonstrated outcomes and measurable success indicators.
Documented experience in planning, developing strategies, and executing a comprehensive fundraising campaign, including meeting campaign goals and timelines.
Proficiency in using Blackbaud Raisers Edge NXT, with specific examples of database management and reporting to support fundraising efforts.
Experience in capital or facilities fundraising, with demonstrated success in securing funding for infrastructure or facility projects.
Experience working in Athletics fundraising in a higher education environment, including examples of successful campaigns or initiatives.

Position Type: Permanent Full-Time

Special Instructions to Applicants:

To be considered, you must apply online.

Please include a cover letter, resume, and a listing of at least three professional references to complete the application process. Please include the complete contact information of your references.

For questions or additional information, please contact Ben Pendry, Vice Chancellor for Advancement, at bjpendry@wcu.edu

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until a candidate has been selected for hire.

AA/EOE
Western Carolina University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; religion; sex; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; national origin; age; disability; genetic information; political affiliation; National Guard or veteran status, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, and policies, and the policies of The University of North Carolina. Additionally, the University promotes the realization of equal employment opportunity for minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and veterans through its affirmative action program. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations in the application and interview process please call (828) 227-7218 or email at jobs@email.wcu.edu.

University Safety
The Western Carolina University Annual Safety Report is available online at University Annual Safety Report or in hard-copy by request at the office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, 227 HFR Administration Building, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7147) or the Office of University Police, 111 Camp Annex, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7301). The report, required of all universities participating in Title IV student financial aid programs, discusses crime statistics, procedures for reporting suspicious or criminal activity, security, police authority, crime prevention strategies, university policies on substance abuse and sexual offenses, workplace violence and fire safety.

To apply, please visit: https://jobs.wcu.edu/postings/29121