Jan 27th, 2025
City University of New York/CUNY
Vice Chancellor for University Advancement
( New York | On-site )
Job Description
Vice Chancellor for University Advancement
The story of The City University of New York (CUNY) (https://www.cuny.edu/) spans more than 175 impactful years. It begins on May 7, 1847, when the Free Academy received its charter from the New York State Legislature. The Academy's mission: to offer an accessible, quality education based on academic worth, and to serve all social classes of New York City. It is a place where “the children of the rich and the poor take their seats together,” in the words of Townsend Harris, CUNY’s visionary founding father.
To chart a new philanthropic path forward for CUNY, Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez (https://www.cuny.edu/about/chancellor/) seeks a visionary, collaborative, strategic, and experienced advancement executive to become the next Vice Chancellor for University Advancement (VCUA). Reporting jointly to both the Chancellor and the Senior Vice Chancellor for Strategy and Policy Implementation, the VCUA is responsible for the development of an overall strategic vision for CUNY advancement as well as the cultivation of philanthropic relationships that can benefit individual campuses and, more critically, multiple campuses or the entire system.
14 staff positions including many new lines are allocated to the Office of University Advancement (OUA), and the new VCUA will have the chance to fill some of these through their own hiring. This presents a unique chance to create a new and innovative culture over the first few years of their tenure as the VCUA develops a vision for CUNY Advancement. The OUA staff oversee a number of specific programs that benefit campuses and units across CUNY: CUNY Tuesday as part of the National Day of Giving, the CUNY Charitable Gift Annuity Program, the New York State Charitable Tax Credit Program, the system-wide naming resolutions process, and professional development training.
In the successful VCUA, the Chancellor and Senior Vice Chancellor seek a leader who has a deep appreciation for the history, mission, achievements, and aspirations of CUNY and the ability to tell its story. The chancellor is also seeking a professional with expert interpersonal and relationship-building skills, a proven track record of closing large gifts, deep experience in advancement program development, the ability to develop aspirational advancement goals and motivate staff to achieve them, successful campaign planning experience, and consummate political savvy both internally and externally.
All applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the Leadership Profile (https://www.wittkieffer.com/position/200809) describing the position.
WittKieffer is assisting the City University of New York in this search. For optimal consideration, candidates should submit their materials by March 14, 2025. Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal (https://apptrkr.com/5957822).
The salary range for this position is $300,000 to $350,000 with competitive benefits.
Nominations and inquiries can be directed to: Senior Partners Greg Duyck and Robin Mamlet, and Senior Associate Maya E. Holt-Brockenbrough, Ph.D. at CUNY-VCUA@wittkieffer.com.
CUNY encourages people with disabilities, minorities, veterans and women to apply