Vice President For Institutional Advancement

Category:: Administrative / Staff
Subscribe::
Department:: 01-53-5355-VP Advancement
Locations:: Longmeadow, MA
Posted:: Apr 18, 2024
Closes:: Open Until Filled
Type:: Full-Time Salaried (Exempt)
Position ID:: 174864

About Bay Path University:

When Bay Path opened its doors to students in 1897, it had a very clear goal: to provide a practical, affordable, and career-oriented education to prepare students to not only meet the needs of companies, organizations, and communities but to also thrive in their professions, identify and realize their dreams, and make a lasting difference in the world. From the beginning, Bay Path prided itself on being entrepreneurial, constantly pushing the boundaries of the academic experience to fit the student...to start them on the road of success. That spirit and philosophy is best reflected in our shared vision, "At Bay Path, every learner's dreams of a better career, a richer life, and a brighter future will be realized."

Recognizing that our learners come first, we know it is equally important that we develop, cultivate, and sustain a culture that binds us together as a community. As part of the University's ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, we draw upon our eight Core Values-beliefs that provide the internal framework and a moral compass for how we work and interact with each other.

Bay Path University, an independent and not-for-profit institution, was named Among Fastest Growing Baccalaureate Colleges and Graduate Programs by The Chronicle of Higher Education Almanac, and is a member of the Women's College Coalition. With a main campus in Longmeadow, MA, and a satellite location in East Longmeadow, MA, Bay Path offers undergraduate, graduate (for women and men) degrees, and professional certificates.

For 125 years, we have been committed to preparing our students to navigate a constantly changing world. Whether it is one of our innovative academic programs, groundbreaking online learning platform, or We Empower Learners and Leaders initiative, we educate our students in ways that will help them to grow, learn to adapt, and always to flourish. Be part of the change. Be Bay Path.

We invite you to visit our website at www.baypath.edu where you can learn more about Bay Path University.

Job Description:

Supervisor: President

Position Code: VPIA

Status: FT

Hours: 8:30AM-5:00PM, occasional nights and weekends required.

Job Location: Longmeadow/Hybrid

Exempt (Yes/No): Yes

JOB SUMMARY:

Bay Path University seeks an accomplished, high achieving, seasoned leader for its Development Program. The Vice President will join a visionary President as she charts the future course for Bay Path and its diverse students who ardently embrace Bay Path's motto: Carpe Diem (Seize the Day).
The Vice President for Institutional Advancement will lead the Advancement team to cultivate, solicit, and steward individuals, and provide strategic leadership for fundraising programs for the University including responsibility for annual giving, corporate, major gifts and gift planning, endowment, comprehensive campaigns, and alumni and constituent relations efforts, stewardship, and advancement services.
The candidate selected for this position will possess excellent communication skills with a talent for developing strategies and setting goals to achieve fundraising targets. Position will engage in networking, proposal writing, presenting, and leading a team of fundraising professionals. Position sets target donation goals and sees them to fruition via events and comprehensive campaigns, on time and on budget.
S/he/they will work collaboratively to create, develop, implement and achieve donor centric strategic plans in preparation for the University's next comprehensive campaign with a new set of priorities supported by increased private individual and organizational support incrementally and exponentially as a new vision for Bay Path is implemented.
The Vice President will be an important force and advocate for strategic campaigns to sustain and expand Bay Path's mission impact and outcomes, working collaboratively with Trustees, administration, faculty, staff and voluntary leadership. The Vice President will work closely with the President to effectively communicate the "new vision" and build a new base of major gift donors, who deeply value Bay Path's institutional priorities and may be open to making significant contributions toward these priorities.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Lead the Advancement Office: Annual Fund, Alumni Engagement, Major & Planned Gifts, Stewardship, Administrative Services, expanding the participation rates of Alumni giving, as well as increasing gifts; building key donor-centric programs to motivate and engage Alumni in deepening their commitment to Bay Path; increasing the pipeline of donors entering the major gift levels ($25,000+ annual or restricted gifts); strengthening all data and technology infrastructure supporting the development program; ensuring that stewardship & recognition of all donors remains a priority. In addition, the Vice President will oversee the Alumni and Advisory Councils.
• Lead "full scope" development strategies, including Corporate and Planned Giving programs: Vice President will build a stronger focus on corporate support and sponsorship (with understanding of the dynamics of corporate philanthropy), and fully integrate planned giving (legacy) opportunities into the development program.
• Institute Comprehensive Planning: Develop and implement annual development plans grounded in prior year(s) experience with "metric goals" for each type and level of giving and detailed timetables for strategies and tasks, with accountability clearly described. At the same time, create aspirational or "stretch" goals that motivate staff and donors alike to reach new levels of achievement.
• Manage Major Special Events (Annual): Lead and support voluntary leadership to implement one or more major "special events" each year to meet specific fundraising goals, and to deepen Bay Path's connections and relationships in the region and nation among its alumni, friends, corporate & individual supporters and boards.
• Adopt Gift-Cycle Focus: Ensure that the major phases of fundraising activity (research & identification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship and recognition) are "institutionalized" into development planning and ideation.
• Foster Cross-Segment Relationship Building: Cultivate, preserve and strengthen donor relationships and loyalty among alumni, friends, existing donors, board members and other volunteers
• Develop and Execute a successful and aspirational comprehensive campaign. Work in partnership with the President and the University's top leadership volunteers to plan all aspects of a comprehensive campaign. Bay Path's most recent comprehensive campaign concluded in 2016.

Dynamic Leadership:

• The Vice President works together collaboratively with the President and other critical stakeholders to develop effective and motivating "cases for support" for myriad initiatives, time-sensitive projects and potential campaigns (University priorities & vision). Must be aligned with major gift prospects' capacity. Building the case for support requires: a deep understanding of "why" Bay Path is moving in a direction; what motivates and drives the setting of new priorities (always student-centric); and how this aligns with current and future potential among supporters.
• Provides guidance, leadership and education to the development team as it coalesces and matures into a strong department of best practice in both the art and science of fundraising.
• Values Bay Path's commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
• The Vice President will inspire the advancement staff through effective motivation, mentoring and team building. S/he/they will have the management capability to leverage the strengths of individual staff members, driving this staff unit toward incrementally increasing financial goal outcomes.
• Bay Path continues to receive a steady and increasing flow of charitable gifts to support students, faculty, programs, initiatives and facilities; an effective plan is implemented for identifying and developing new prospects who are engaged and moved toward making a major gift; current donors continue to give because of meaningful stewardship; lapsed donors are not forgotten and are made aware of giving opportunities.
• The Vice President will be adept in development best practices and an ardent advocate for adopting strong strategies that move the program forward.

Internal/External Context:

• Inside Bay Path, the Vice President will be working as a peer professional, closely with the President; the Executive Leadership Team composed of Chief Academic Officer, Vice President for University Relations (who is supervisor of institutional marketing and communications, government/private foundations, and corporate grants staff); Deans, and Administrative leadership. The Vice President will also connect with the broader university community of faculty, staff, and students. S/he/their role will include frequent contact concerning university funding priorities and clear communication regarding strategies of cultivation and solicitation.
• Outside of Bay Path, the Vice President will serve as one of the "leading representatives" of the university, building relationships with major donors, community leaders, and successful business people on a continual basis. S/he/they must be able to communicate and navigate well with individuals from all walks of life, as an ambassador for Bay Path, representing the university positively at all times, and articulating strongly the quality and value of a Bay Path education.
• The Vice President will staff the Institutional Advancement Committee of the Board of Trustees, working closely with the Committee chair to develop agendas and present salient information.
• The Vice President, in addition to managing the Institutional Advancement staff, will carry a portfolio of prospective donors, in collaboration with the President.

Fiscal Accountability

• The Vice President has oversight of the development budget, which includes both revenues and expenses.

Requirements:

• Education: B.A./B.S and/or graduate degree, preferred.
• Experience: 10 years progressively responsible leadership in advancement/development in higher education, or equivalent.
• Certification: CFRE is not required but will be a plus
• Ability: Proven ability to acquire 6-7 figure major gifts in higher education or non-profit environments is required for this position, as well as the ability to demonstrate that prior professional coaching of staff has resulted in major gifts, planned or legacy gifts, and/or increasing annual funds.
• Special Considerations:
  • Prefer campaign experience and a successful track record of closing significant gifts from individuals and organizations
  • Knowledge and comfort with technology, including familiarity with analytic platforms for the purposes of both accurate donor base information and analytic planning.
• Valid U.S. driver's license.
• Must successfully pass the online safe Driving Course (within 15 days of hire) and driving record check at time of hire and annually thereafter.
• Ability to adhere to University policies and procedures.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and within FERPA and HIPAA guidelines.
• All new employees must complete the FERPA, Anti-Harassment, and any other required online trainings within 15 days of employment.
• Should be committed to a culture of diversity, equity, respect and inclusion; demonstrated ability to build working relationships with people having a wide variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences different from ones' own.
• General knowledge of the University's mission, purpose and goals and the role this position plays in achieving those goals.

Additional Information:

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Bay Path University is a diverse community devoted to proactively nurturing a campus-wide culture that promotes and ensures equity, respect, inclusion and safety for all members regardless of race, color, national origin, age, gender, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity, socio-economic background, or physical ability. We are one University that opens our hearts and minds to conversations, to learning and to creating a community that is welcoming of all. Regardless of position, it is expected that each employee will embrace this commitment and demonstrate an attitude of respect toward and acceptance of all members of our community.

Application Instructions:

Applicants for this position should attach a cover letter, resume / curriculum vitae, and any other relevant information pertaining to this position and your candidacy. Please apply online. Faxes and emails will not be accepted.

Bay Path University is dedicated to building a culturally diverse and pluralistic faculty committed to teaching and learning in a multicultural environment and strongly encourages applications from minorities, women and all underrepresented backgrounds. An Equal Opportunity Employer, Bay Path University is committed to fostering diversity in its student body, faculty, and staff.

Bay Path University is a smoke and tobacco-free community.

All offers of employment are contingent on satisfactory background checking.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), if you have a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a position please email us at HR@baypath.edu or call 413-565-1157.