Vice President for Institutional Advancement

Joseph Strubeck · August 2023

The Opportunity

King’s College announces a national search for a forward-thinking, results-oriented, and energetic Vice President for Institutional Advancement. King’s is a four-year, private, Catholic college rooted in the Holy Cross tradition that is recognized by U.S. News & World Report and others as among the best colleges in the Northeast.

The College, located in Wilkes-Barre, PA, has approximately 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Reporting directly to the President, the position oversees all Advancement and Alumni personnel, events, fundraising activity, constituent engagement, and related compliance. The Vice President will join a talented senior leadership team committed to providing academic rigor, financial stability, and robust student engagement in a mission-centered, supportive campus environment. The Vice President also works closely with the institution’s Board of Directors and supports the Advancement Committee of the Board.

About King’s

King’s successfully blends liberal arts and professional programs in areas such as Business, Engineering, Allied Health, Education, Humanities, Sciences, and Social Sciences. Founded in 1946 by the Congregation of Holy Cross from the University of Notre Dame to serve the sons of coal miners, the College became coed in early 1970’s and remains true to its mission of providing access to higher education to those who face racial, social and economic barriers. King’s College offers excellent academic and professional programs built upon a strong liberal arts core and the Catholic intellectual tradition.

We offer competitive total rewards, tuition remission for employees and their dependents, 403(b) plans, and generous paid-time-off and holidays. Our culture is driven by our commitment to our mission, our community and our friendly, knowledgeable faculty and staff.

King’s College does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors. We celebrate diversity by fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment where each member of King’s College feels respected and a sense of belonging.

Position Specification

Classification: Full-Time Exempt

Department: Institutional Advancement

Reports To: President

Job Function

The next Vice President for Institutional Advancement (VPIA) will provide executive and administrative direction across the College’s advancement and alumni relations programs as a member of the president’s senior leadership team. Reporting to King’s president Rev. Thomas P. Looney, C.S.C., Ph.D., this executive will be a visionary, strategic, people-focused, and results-oriented leader. The VPIA has oversight responsibility for all staff and activities involved with fundraising and alumni relations to support the programs of the College.

The VPIA will provide strategic direction and leadership for the division and for supporting, developing and directing staff towards meeting fundraising goals and expanding outreach and increasing visibility of the College locally, regionally and nationally. This leader is tasked with inspiring staff and leading in a manner consistent with King’s College’s mission and core values. The VPIA will secure external support for King’s through campaigns, annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, grants (government, corporation, and foundation), and other programs. This person will be a highly visible presence in the community, both on campus and beyond.

Essential Elements

Lead the College’s fundraising work in all aspects, including prospect and portfolio management, prospect qualification, cultivation, and stewardship. Coordinate the solicitation of funds from all sources, including alumni, parents, friends of the College, foundations, corporations, and government agencies.
Serve as chief fund-raiser and oversee the Advancement staff personnel. Work with the president and team members to establish annual fund-raising goals and priorities through the proper planning, budgetary, and board channels. Personally cultivate and solicit assigned major gift, planned gift, annual gift, and grant prospects, including through off-campus visits and travel.
Provide the purpose and the program to directly involve others in relationship-building and fundraising, especially the president and members of the Board of Directors.
Establish clear and meaningful objectives in the College planning process for the team. Lead and be responsible for the productivity of those offices, including in the development, execution, and assessment of the College and divisional strategic plan.
Prepare and manage the annual budget for the Advancement Division. Supervise the preparation and management of budgets for the departments within the division.
Provide general administrative supervision over all divisional functions, including major gifts, planned giving, corporate and foundation relations, annual giving, prospect management and research, government relations, stewardship, advancement events, alumni relations, and advancement operations. Establish protocol and quality standards for such items as funding proposals, gift acknowledgement, record keeping, promotional materials and conduct an annual assessment of operations.
Demonstrate and assure imaginative, creative, and thorough planning for all divisional objectives and functions.
Monitor the success of campus and community outreach programming and provide leadership for ongoing program enhancement.
Serve as contact point for internal and external constituencies needing guidance, information, or problem resolution. Communicate interests and concerns of external constituencies to the relevant institutional officers and orchestrate effective responses as appropriate.
Serve as primary contact and relationship point for government and community leaders.
Serve as contact point and resource for members of the College’s Board of Directors. Assist with developing pool of potential board members and vetting candidates.
Serve as contact point and resource for members of the College’s President’s Council. Work with president, as well as chair and vice chair of the President’s Council, to develop programming, engage membership, and keep current council criteria and processes. Assist with developing pool of potential council members and vetting candidates.
Provide staff support to the advancement committee of the Board of Directors. Submit reports to the board as requested by the President and board officers, and collaborate with committee members to advance the mission of the College.
Familiarity and comfortability working within the Catholic tradition is required.
Other duties as prescribed by position.

Required Skills, Training, and Experience

A minimum of ten years of experience as a senior level advancement professional in higher education is preferred, including five-plus (5+) years of leadership experience in development/philanthropy, preferably with a college or university, not-for-profit, community, or similar organization. Will also consider similarly experienced candidates with sales or marketing backgrounds in private business.
Bachelor’s degree (master’s or advanced degree a plus), with a deep understanding of the importance that faith-based, educational and cultural institutions play in today’s society.
Outstanding development professional with a demonstrated track record as a fundraiser, leader, collaborator and strategist. Engaging and charismatic speaker for Board and outside events.
Ability to work in close partnership with the Board of Directors on major philanthropic initiatives; to motivate, guide and support the Board.
Knowledge of the local philanthropic community is a plus.
Successful cultivator, solicitor and steward of relationships with major donors, including individuals, foundations, corporations and legacy giving. • Demonstrated ability to inspire and mentor staff, responsibly delegate tasks, and ensure a collaborative working environment.
The ability to work and collaborate effectively with many diverse constituencies at the College and in the community.
Ability to build productive relationships with the President’s cabinet and other senior leaders, faculty, development colleagues, corporate leaders, philanthropists, alumni, parents, Board of Directors, and other constituents.
Knowledge of and sensitivity to governance structures and practices in higher education.
Energetic, hardworking self-starter with an engaging personality; brings optimism and flexibility to the task; self-disciplined; and dedicated to excellence.
An excellent communicator, a listener, a strong leader, and a team player, with superior organizational and writing skills. The ability to synthesize, streamline and share information from a variety of sources to illuminate the King’s mission to a broad audience.
Proven commitment to faith-based education, with experience in developing new initiatives and including others in a collaborative environment.
Success in high level fundraising, donor stewardship, capital and renovation campaigns, endowment planning and growth, and other strategic development efforts.
Strong professional integrity and grounding in philanthropy with an understanding of legal and ethical implications of fundraising.
Experienced in fundraising and constituent-related technologies (e.g., RENXT or other CRM systems).
Possess an entrepreneurial spirit and experience in creatively and effectively bringing about positive change and maintaining high morale.
Network with peers and participate in membership in outside advancement organizations to bring back to campus best practices and ideas from other institutions.

Working Conditions

Travel and flexible work hours (including nights and weekends) are required.

Nominations and Application Process

Nominations and applications are now being solicited and accepted for this position.

Interested candidates should email a cover letter including salary requirement, resume, and the names and contact information of three references to hr@kings.edu.

For nominations, questions or additional information please contact:

Regina Corchado
Director of Human Resources
reginacorchado@kings.edu
570-208-5968

Vice President for Institutional Advancement.pdf