Riverside, CA

Vice Chancellor for University Advancement, University of California, Riverside

The Organization

As one of the fastest-rising ranked universities in the country, the University of California, Riverside (UCR) is currently in the midst of an ongoing expansion of the student body, faculty ranks, and research enterprise. UCR is an economic powerhouse, contributing $2.7 billion to the U.S. economy and ranking among the top public institutions in the country contributing to the public good. UCR is comprised of seven colleges and schools: the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences; the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences; the Bourns College of Engineering; the School of Business; the School of Education; the School of Medicine; and the School of Public Policy. In the fall of 2020, UCR had an enrollment of more than 26,000 students and 1,100 faculty, including two Nobel Prize winners and 13 members of the National Academies of Science and Medicine. UCR offers bachelor degree programs in over 100 majors, 55 Master’s degree programs, and 42 Ph.D. Programs. UC Riverside ranked as a Top 10 public university in the U.S. — and America’s most transformative public university — by Money Magazine in 2020. Additionally, UCR ranked #1 in U.S. News & World’s ranking of social mobility and #1 in Washington Monthly’s Pell Grant performance.

Position Overview

The University of California, Riverside seeks an experienced, inspiring and relationship-oriented advancement leader to join its executive team as its next vice chancellor for university advancement.

Reporting directly to the chancellor as a key member of his leadership team, the incoming vice chancellor will serve as the institution’s chief advancement officer and ensure advancement priorities support the institution’s future ambitions. The vice chancellor will manage a budget of approximately $20 million and provide inspiring leadership to a team of over 130 professionals across the functional areas of Alumni Engagement, Development, University Communications, Advancement Finance & Administration, the UCR Alumni Association, and the UC Riverside Foundation, ensuring the organization and its teams are operating under well-established best practices. The vice chancellor will serve as the principal fundraiser for the campus and work with key partners across the university to develop integrated and cohesive major and principal gift strategies for university-wide priorities. As part of this process, the next vice chancellor should leverage the success of UC Riverside’s first-ever comprehensive campaign, Living the Promise: The Campaign for UC Riverside, which concluded on Dec. 31, 2020 with over $300 million raised, surpassing its goal. Moreover, UCR’s endowment reached nearly $400 million following the conclusion of the campaign. While the details of a future campaign have not yet been established, the incoming vice chancellor should be prepared to lay the groundwork for a campaign with even larger ambitions and further develop UCR’s culture of philanthropy. The vice chancellor will work with department heads to ensure fundraising and advancement-related projects, activities and initiatives are continually innovating and advancing the institution toward desired goals and objectives. Moreover, the vice chancellor should ensure its marketing and communications activities are in alignment with institutional goals and objectives. The vice chancellor should be a close advisor and partner with the university’s chancellor and provost and executive vice chancellor, and develop strategies and tactics to further advance the cultivation and solicitation of the university’s most generous alumni, donors, volunteers, and friends of the institution.

The incoming vice chancellor will be a proven advancement professional who engages in innovative and strategic thinking and long-range planning with university leaders and other campus constituents in the pursuit of transformational funding for the greatest philanthropic needs of the institution. UC Riverside seeks a forward thinking and self-confident leader who will lead with integrity and whose values align with the values of the university. The successful candidate will have exceptional communication skills, extensive fundraising and administrative experience, and broad perspectives on the business of advancement management. The next vice chancellor should be a skilled negotiator, politically savvy, customer-service oriented, and work to develop relationships with various internal and external constituents, both locally and nationally. The vice chancellor should have an exceptional ability to motivate, inspire, and manage a diverse group of professionals across all functional areas of the division. This is an exceptional opportunity for an ambitious leader to make a big impact on the future of the institution.

For fullest consideration, application materials should be received by February 18, 2021.

All applications, nominations and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume, a letter of interest addressing the themes in the profile (available at www.wittkieffer.com) and a statement of contributions to diversity (more information can be found below):

In a “Statement of Contributions to Diversity,” we ask applicants to describe their past and/or potential future contributions to promoting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment, which is a key requirement of the role of every faculty and staff member at UCR. There are numerous ways to contribute, and a commitment to this part of our mission can be reflected through research, teaching, supervision, mentoring, community engagement, service, and any of the other varied activities that are a part of an academic or administrative career.

WittKieffer is assisting UC Riverside in this search. Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal.

Nominations and inquiries can be directed to:

Zachary A. Smith, Ph.D., Alejandra Gillette-Teran, and Jevon Walton

UCRiverside-VCUA@wittkieffer.com

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer with a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Vaccination Program Policy. All Covered Individuals under the policy must provide proof of Full Vaccination or, if applicable, submit a request for Exception (based on Medical Exemption, Disability, and/or Religious Objection) or Deferral (based on pregnancy) no later than the applicable deadline. For new University of California employees, the applicable deadline is eight weeks after their first date of employment.

How To Apply

Vice Chancellor for University Advancement

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