Forest Grove, OR

Vice President of University Advancement, Pacific University

The Organization

Pacific University in Oregon is a comprehensive university offering a rich combination of undergraduate, graduate and professional programs in the liberal arts and sciences, business, education, health professions and optometry. With a rare near-even mix of undergraduate and graduate programs across four campuses in Oregon, Pacific melds the close, nurturing learning environment of a small liberal arts college with the rigorous research and scholarship of a much larger institution. Deeply rooted in a liberal arts foundation, we also are the No. 1 private research university in the Northwest, creating a one-of-akind environment.

Position Overview

Vice President of University Advancement

In July of 2022, https://www.pacificu.edu/ welcomed Dr. Jenny Coyle as the institution’s 18th president. President Coyle is an alumna, parent and former dean and faculty member who deeply understands the university’s mission and traditions. Her goals for Pacific include raising its standing on a regional and national stage, putting the university on stronger financial footing and building a first-rate development program to significantly increase alumni engagement and philanthropic support. To achieve these ambitions, the university seeks an experienced and visionary Vice President of University Advancement (VPUA) and invites applications, expressions of interest and nominations of candidates.

The vice president will report to President Coyle and serve as a member of the President’s senior staff. The VPUA will lead the advancement team to create and execute strategies and programs which effectively communicate the President’s vision to key stakeholders and secure philanthropic resources.

The university is a diverse learning community offering a unique combination of nationally recognized undergraduate, graduate and professional programs in the arts and sciences, education, business, optometry and the health professions. Pacific’s leadership is ready to dedicate the attention and investment needed to bring the development program up to the level of premier contemporary fundraising operations.

Pacific seeks a collaborative, entrepreneurial and goal-oriented advancement leader who has demonstrated success in leading a large and productive team of university relations and development professionals and established a strong track record of fundraising and organizational success in the context of a campus-wide campaign, including significant experience raising funds for academic programming, research and intercollegiate athletics. The successful candidate will have experience partnering with executive and academic leadership to create sophisticated gift strategies and close principal gifts. The vice president will possess exceptional leadership, communication and management skills and experience and present a track record of success as a fundraiser, faculty collaborator and builder of programs and teams. Additional information about the position, including a leadership profile can be found at https://www.wittkieffer.com/position/24219-vice-president-of-university-advancement/.

Pacific is moving toward the designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and currently is an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institute (AANAPISI), and the VPUA should be committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. The incoming vice president should be a strong communicator with superb management skills who possesses a collaborative and open leadership style. In addition, the VPUA should value Pacific’s mission and its focus on diverse students and their success. A graduate degree is preferred for the position with a minimum of 10 years of experience in progressively responsible university advancement positions.

It is the policy of Pacific University not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion or religious creed, disability, sex or gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, military, veteran or Vietnam Era status, or any other protected classification recognized by applicable law, in admission, access to, or treatment in employment, educational programs or activities as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, or any other applicable state or federal law, or city ordinance.

How To Apply

WittKieffer is assisting Pacific University in this search, which will remain open until an appointment is made. Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s https://candidateportal.wittkieffer.com/description?jobID=24219. Nominations and inquiries can be directed to Mercedes Chacón Vance, Greg Duyck and Natalie Song at https://tinyurl.com/44a5yjwm.

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