The Organization
Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine (WMed) seeks an energetic, creative, and visionary leader for the position of Chief Development Officer (CDO). The dynamic individual chosen will serve as the founding chief development officer for the school of medicine, working closely and reporting directly to Dean Hal Jenson, MD. The CDO will provide vision and leadership to achieve philanthropic goals to create a comprehensive and cohesive development operation for the school. The CDO will be responsible for planning, organizing, and implementing all fundraising programs, including planned giving, annual giving, capital and major campaigns, scholarship, and faculty development funds.
WMed is a private nonprofit medical school located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. WMed was established in 2012, confers the Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree with the first class graduating in 2018, and is implementing additional certificate and masters degree programs related to healthcare. WMed is a collaboration between Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo’s two teaching hospitals, Borgess Health and Bronson Healthcare. The school holds Accreditation, Provisional Status, from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. The inaugural class of 54 students started in August 2014, with the class size increasing to reach the target of 84 students in each class beginning in 2017. WMed is supported by private gifts, clinical revenue, research activity, student tuition, and endowment income. In March 2011, Western Michigan University received a gift of $100 million for the medical school from the Stryker family.
Position Overview
The ideal candidate for CDO will possess a record of leadership and accomplishment in the field of development and will have a proven track record of fundraising success, especially with campaign planning and major gift solicitations. This individual must be an affable, tenacious, fiscally prudent, forward thinking, results oriented development expert.
The new CDO will have an exemplary background of demonstrated success in building relationships as well as leading a modern, complex development effort. Other essential qualities include exemplary interpersonal skills, a strong work ethic, personal integrity, personal accountability, and excellent communication skills. It will be important that this leader be a strategic thinker who can develop and execute the plan, as well as the ability to build positive rapport and work effectively with a diverse and wide range of constituencies. The successful candidate should have a proven track record in fundraising and comprehensive knowledge of all major advancement functions, including the ability to solicit and close major gifts.
A full position description can be found here: www.wittkieffer.com. Recruitment will continue until the position is filled. Nominations, expressions of interest, and applications (including a cover letter and resume) should be submitted via email to WMUHomerStrykerMedCDO@wittkieffer.com. Confidential inquiries and questions concerning this search may be directed to Mercedes C. Vance at 630/575-6948.
A full position description can be found here: www.wittkieffer.com. Recruitment will continue until the position is filled. Nominations, expressions of interest, and applications (including a cover letter and resume) should be submitted via email to WMUHomerStrykerMedCDO@wittkieffer.com. Confidential inquiries and questions concerning this search may be directed to Mercedes C. Vance at 630/575-6948.Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. The medical school complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination with respect to students, faculty, and employees in the administration and operation of its policies and programs, activities, facilities, financial aid (loans and scholarships), and admissions. The medical school is committed to equal opportunity for all persons. All actions and decisions made by the medical school with respect to students, faculty, and employees are on the basis of individual merit, qualifications, experiences, attributes, talent, abilities, skills, background, life experiences, and other relevant criteria and without discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity/national origin, creed, color, religion, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status, genetic or family medical information, height, weight, marital status, familial status, or any other status protected by applicable law or local ordinance.
Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine is an Affirmative Action employer and complies with all applicable federal laws regarding affirmative action requirements.