University of Nevada, Reno

Vice President for Advancement

The University of Nevada, Reno seeks an experienced, innovative and entrepreneurial leader in development and alumni relations to serve as its next vice president for advancement (VPA).

The University of Nevada, Reno is a public research university committed to the promise of a future powered by knowledge. Founded in 1874 as Nevada’s land-grant university, the institution serves nearly 22,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The University of Nevada, Reno is a comprehensive doctoral university, classified as an R1 institution with very high research activity by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The University has invested more than $800 million campus-wide in advanced laboratories, residence halls and facilities since 2009. It is home to the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine and Wolf Pack Athletics, as well as statewide outreach programs including University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Small Business Development Center and Nevada Seismological Laboratory. The University is part of the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE). Through a commitment to student success, world-improving research and outreach benefiting Nevada’s communities and businesses, it has an impact across the state and around the world. On January 31, 2020, the University received the Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement by the Carnegie Foundation – a reflection of this positive impact.

Reporting directly to the president, the vice president for advancement serves as the chief development officer and is responsible for carrying out and coordinating fundraising activities across the institution. The vice president also oversees alumni relations and constituent outreach to ensure donors, alumni and volunteers are actively engaged with the University. As part of this role, the vice president serves as a key member of the senior leadership team and works on behalf of the institution to build relationships and generate support for the campus's top priority programs and initiatives. The incoming vice president will be expected to advance critical priorities important to the advancement division and the broader campus community, including: supporting the further development and growth of fundraising and alumni relations program with a focus on best practice tactics and strategies; closing its current comprehensive fundraising campaign while preparing for a future campaign that aligns with the University of Nevada, Reno’s sesquicentennial (150th) anniversary; growing and expanding donor acquisition and pipeline development activities; implementing professional development and career growth opportunities for the existing team while mapping a plan for the expansion of additional human capital as the program grows and develops; and increasing the University's overall culture of philanthropy. 

The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience in best practice fundraising and alumni relations programming while providing executive-level support to the president, key campus leaders and volunteers in the cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of major and principal gift donors (including individuals, corporations and/or foundations). The next vice president should have both experience in and deep knowledge about the important elements and construct of a major, comprehensive fundraising campaign. Furthermore, the vice president should have a commitment to supporting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives as they relate to both the advancement division and broader campus-wide programs. Experience within higher education is highly preferred. The incoming vice president should be a strong communicator with superb management skills and possess a collaborative, transparent and supportive leadership style. A bachelor's degree with a minimum of 10 years of related administrative management and leadership experience, or a master's degree with a minimum of eight years of related administrative management and leadership experience is required. For more information, please visit www.wittkieffer.com.

All applications, nominations and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents,

1. a letter of interest addressing the themes in this profile;
2. a CV or resume; and
3. a brief statement (one page maximum) about how you would contribute toward our mission of creating a culturally inclusive environment in the role for which you are applying.

WittKieffer is assisting the University of Nevada, Reno in this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by May 4, 2021.

Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal.

Nominations and inquiries can be directed to:

Zachary A. Smith, Ph.D. and Kim Brettschneider

UNR-VPAdvancement@wittkieffer.com

The University of Nevada, Reno is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action in recruitment of its students and employees and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, creed, national origin, veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.