Vice President -Vice President of University Relations

The University of Maryland, College Park, invites applications and nominations for the vice president for university relations (VP), who also serves as president of the University of Maryland College Park Foundation. The VP will lead a comprehensive program that includes development, alumni relations, and communications and will work in partnership with the university's president, Wallace D. Loh, the foundation board, and the University of Maryland Alumni Association to express a bold and ambitious vision for the future. University Relations has a staff of approximately 200 and an annual operating budget exceeding $21 million. It is an integrated operation, with shared responsibility with deans for the development operations in each of the University's twelve colleges as well as oversight of a large central operation. The VP will assist the university in completing its $1 billion "Great Expectations" capital campaign, which is due to close in December, 2012. To date, the university has gift commitments totaling in excess of $920 million toward that goal. The new VP will also lead efforts to lay the groundwork for the university's next major effort.

The VP is a senior advisor to the president and a member of his cabinet. The VP provides leadership, vision, and strategic planning for University Relations and is also responsible for building the campus' relationships with all stakeholders: faculty, staff, students, alumni, major donors, volunteers, corporate and foundation communities, the media, and the general public. The VP will assume leadership for a rich and complex matrix of institutional and volunteer leaders engaged in advancement and will have the opportunity to become immersed in the case for support of areas as disparate as biosciences, engineering, architecture, behavioral and social sciences, education, and business in addition to vibrant programs in the arts and humanities. To this end, the successful candidate will have the experience and acumen necessary to build strong relationships across such a diverse institution, to galvanize professionals and volunteers to action, and to organize the whole in order to optimize fundraising outcomes.
Minimum Qualifications: A bachelor's degree is required; an advanced degree is desirable.

Required are: an understanding of higher education and the academic enterprise, and familiarity with a campus shared governance environment; demonstrated skills in strategic visioning and planning, relationship-building, and program execution; knowledge of alumni relations, and marketing and communications; the ability to manage and lead a strong team; excellent human relations, listening, communication (oral and written), and creative problem solving skills; and an understanding of the role that diversity plays in the attainment of excellence.

The position requires a collaborative, transparent management style; political savvy; conflict management skills; and an ability to work calmly and effectively under pressure.

The VP will have substantial leadership experience and a proven track record in fund raising at a large and sophisticated institution; and a high level of integrity and energy. A full leadership profile is available upon request. Inquiries, nominations and applications should be directed to the university's consultants, Emanuel D. Berger and Elizabeth K. Bohan, via e-mail to UMDVP@wittkieffer.com. This is a confidential search. The desired starting date for the appointment is summer or fall 2012. To make an inquiry by phone, please call:
Manny Berger at (617) 536-6171 or Elizabeth K. Bohan at (630) 575-6161.

The best consideration date is April 1, 2012. This position is open until filled.
The University of Maryland, College Park, actively subscribes to a policy of equal employment opportunity, and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry or national origin, marital status, genetic information, or political affiliation. Minorities and women are encouraged to apply.