Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Development Officer

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, MERCED

Merced, CA

THE SEARCH

The University of California, Merced (UC Merced) seeks an experienced and entrepreneurial Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Development Officer (CDO) to provide strategic vision and leadership for fundraising activities during an exciting time of growth and expansion. This position ideally will be based in the greater Bay Area. Reporting to the Vice Chancellor and Chief External Relations Officer, the CDO is responsible for designing and implementing strategies and programs that maximize personal engagement and produce increasing levels of support for UC Merced, as well as for guidance and support of the Philanthropy and Strategic Partnerships department. The successful candidate will have a unique opportunity to partner with a dynamic and energetic Chancellor and will play a central role in enhancing the visibility and fundraising capabilities of the institution, assisting UC Merced as it strives to fulfill its mission of teaching, research, and service alongside its peers in the University of California system.

Founded in 2005, the University of California, Merced is the first new University of California campus in 40 years, and the first American research university of the twenty-first century. UC Merced recently experienced a significant milestone, appearing in the U.S News & World Report rankings for the first time as #78 among public universities and #152 overall among national universities, even as the youngest university on the list. Through the 2020 Project—a commitment by the State of California and the University of California to increase access to the UC system for eligible state students and to support a rapidly growing Central Valley region—the campus will nearly double its physical capacity and support enrollment growth to 10,000 students over the next few years, and to as many as 25,000 students within the next two decades. The impact of UC Merced’s rapid growth reaches beyond its campus and continues to transform the region economically, academically, and environmentally. UC Merced maintains a focus on sustainability, research, diversity, and community. It leads the UC system in the percentage of students from underrepresented ethnic groups, low-income families, and families whose parents did not attend college, and has been designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education.

There is a palpable sense of energy and excitement on campus as the community observes the dramatic development of the physical campus that allows for a much needed expansion of the number of California high school and transfer students served. As an emerging university, UC Merced has exceptional freedom and flexibility to pioneer new models for teaching, research, and service. This provides ripe ground for the CDO to be innovative and opportunistic in identifying prospects, implementing strategies, and cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major and principal gifts.

Under the supervision of the Vice Chancellor and Chief External Relations Officer, the CDO will be responsible for leading donor strategy for principal ($1 million plus) and major ($100,000 plus) gifts, and developing and managing the university’s giving program. This will include qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding principal and major gift prospects with an emphasis on seven-figure gifts supporting areas across campus including endowed chairs, scholarships and fellowships, research centers and programs, capital projects, and endowments. The CDO will be an active advisor to the Chancellor and the Chancellor’s executive team on development matters. The CDO will serve in a vital leadership role for Philanthropy and Strategic Partnerships. The CDO will work with the development team, faculty, deans, key administrators, and other university constituencies on gift proposals and solicitations, working to increase the number and size of individual gifts; coordinate and staff donor visits; help develop and implement strategies that promote UC Merced fundraising priorities; and provide meaningful touchpoints for UC Merced philanthropic engagement.

The ideal candidate must possess a minimum of ten years of leadership experience, a keen understanding of best practices in fundraising, a proven track record of managing a major and principal giving program, and a demonstrated record of accomplishment in developing successful strategies to build a highly efficient, effective, and creative development program in a complex university system. The candidate will have a proven track record in personally identifying, cultivating, and soliciting seven-figure gifts. The candidate must possess a high level of integrity and credibility; be a self-starter with a sense of urgency and a clear set of priorities; and have the ability to adapt to changing circumstances in a complex environment. The successful candidate must have extraordinary communication skills and be an open, achievement-oriented professional. The individual should have a collegial, team-building style with a demonstrated ability to motivate staff to keep them engaged, energized, and focused on results and to cultivate productive, collaborative relationships with faculty and staff across the university. The candidate will create a professional work environment that rewards individual and collective success, builds confidence, and promotes diversity in all its forms. A bachelor’s degree is required.

As a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and the most ethnically diverse campus in the UC System, UC Merced is especially interested in recruiting members of diverse communities.

UC Merced has retained Ms. Rachel Ellenport of Isaacson, Miller, an international executive search firm, to assist in conducting this important search. For more information, to submit a nomination, or to apply for this role, please visit www.imsearch.com/6598.

UC Merced is committed to cultural diversity and it is expected that the successful candidate will further this commitment. UC Merced is an EEO/AA/Vet/Disability/Minority Employer.