Vice President of Advancement

The Aspen Leadership Group is proud to partner with Wilkes University in the search for a Vice President of Advancement.

Reporting to the President, the Vice President of Advancement will plan, execute, and grow programs that cultivate, solicit, and steward philanthropic support from alumni, parents, and friends of Wilkes University in alignment with the university's strategic vision. The Vice President will oversee a team of accomplished professionals, developing and implementing clear policies and procedures tied to performance and success. The Vice President will execute their responsibilities consistent with best practices of the advancement profession and provide ethical, creative, and focused leadership while serving as a philanthropic leadership partner to the President of the university. 

Since 1933, Wilkes University has been preparing students for lifelong success. National rankings recognize its commitment to access and making a Wilkes education as affordable as possible, while highlighting the ongoing return on investment for graduates. Wilkes offers the programs, activities, and opportunities of a large university in the close mentoring environment of a small college. Faculty members work side by side with students in pursuit of solutions to the most pressing questions of the day. Wilkes offers undergraduate degrees and programs in six schools and colleges: the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; the College of Science and Engineering; the Jay S. Sidhu School of Business and Leadership; the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy; the Passan School of Nursing; and the School of Education.

The university strives to provide all students, staff, and faculty with rich mentoring experiences and meaningful short- and long-term relationships. This mentoring culture is key to fulfilling Wilkes’ mission by providing a rigorous educational experience that develops students intellectually and personally, engenders a sense of values and civic responsibility, prepares them for careers and graduate study, and encourages them to welcome the opportunities of a constantly evolving and multicultural world. By charter, Wilkes is non-sectarian and is governed by an active, 29-person Board of Trustees. Its current Carnegie classification is Doctoral/Professional, assigned to institutions awarding at least 20 research/scholarship doctoral degrees and spending less than $5 million on research, or awarding 30 or more professional practice doctoral degrees across at least two academic programs. Wilkes is a positive force for economic, social, and cultural development in the region. It contributes 2,300 jobs and over $250 million in impact to Pennsylvania's economy, as well as more than 120,000 annual hours of hands-on community service by students, faculty, and staff.

The Brookings Institution has ranked Wilkes 14th overall among all colleges and universities and sixth among selective four-year private colleges and universities of its size for helping students from middle-class families raise their income level over previous generations. Wilkes University is among the nation’s top colleges and universities included in Washington Monthly’s annual rankings of higher education institutions based on their contribution to the public good in social mobility, research, and promoting public service. The Economist has ranked Wilkes 25th in the nation for economic value. Wilkes University is listed by Princeton Review as one of the “Best in the Northeast” colleges.

A bachelor’s degree is required for this position as is at least seven years of increasingly responsible fundraising experience, preferably in a higher education setting. All applications must be accompanied by a cover letter and résumé. Cover letters should be responsive to the mission of Wilkes University as well as the responsibilities and qualifications stated in the prospectus.

To apply for this position, visit: https://opportunities.aspenleadershipgroup.com/opportunities/1049