Vice President of Institutional Advancement

About Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts: At MCLA, we're here for all, and focused on each of our students. Classes are taught by educators who care deeply about teaching, andabout seeing their students thrive on every level of their lives. In every way possible, the experience at MCLA is designed toelevate our students as individuals, leaders, and communicators,fully empowered to make their impressions on the world. In additionto our 130-year commitment to public education, we have fortifiedour dedication to equitable academic excellence. MCLA has appearedon U.S. News & World Report's list of Top Ten Public Collegesfor 11 consecutive years, earning the No. 6 spot on the list of TopPublic Liberal Arts Schools in the nation for 2026. The College'sfocus on affordable education and economic prosperity is reflectedin additional 2026 U.S. News rankings: No. 6 for Top Performer onSocial Mobility for liberal arts colleges in the state and No. 4for Top Performer on Social Mobility for public liberal artscolleges in the country. These rankings measure how well schoolsgraduate students who receive Federal Pell Grants. Learn more at Job Description: POSITION SUMMARY: The Vice President for InstitutionalAdvancement (VPIA) serves as the College's lead advancement officerand a member of the President's Cabinet. Reporting directly to thePresident, the VPIA provides visionary, strategic, and operationalleadership for all institutional advancement activities, includingfundraising, alumni and constituent engagement, advancementservices, foundation relations, donor stewardship, grantsdevelopment, communications, public relations, and campaignplanning and execution. SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Reports directly to thePresident. SUPERVISION EXERCISED: Provides leadership, supervision,professional development, and performance management for allpersonnel assigned to the Institutional Advancement division,including professional, classified, and student employees. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Strategic Advancement Leadership 1 Develop, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive institutionaladvancement strategy aligned with the College's mission, strategicplan, and institutional priorities. 2. Serve as the College's chief strategist for philanthropy, donorengagement, and resource development, ensuring the integration offundraising, alumni relations, communications, stewardship, andadvancement operations. 3. Advise the President, Cabinet, and Foundation Board onfundraising opportunities, philanthropic trends, constituentengagement strategies, and advancement best practices. 4. Establish annual and multi-year fundraising goals and keyperformance indicators, utilizing data analytics and benchmarkingto evaluate effectiveness and support continuous improvement. 5. Represent the College as a member of the MA State UniversityAdvancement Group Fundraising and Resource Development 1. Lead all aspects of the College's comprehensive fundraising program, including: Major and principal gifts Annual giving Planned giving Capital and comprehensive campaigns Corporate and foundation relations Government and public-sector funding opportunities Foundation grants Special fundraising initiatives and events 2. Maintain an active portfolio of major and principal giftprospects and personally cultivate, solicit, negotiate, and stewardsignificant philanthropic investments. 3. Work closely with the President, Foundation Board members,alumni leaders, and volunteers to identify, cultivate, solicit, andsteward transformational gifts and strategic partnerships. 4. Direct campaign planning, readiness assessment, implementation,and evaluation for major fundraising initiatives and capitalprojects. Foundation Leadership and Governance 1. Serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the MCLAFoundation, Inc. 2. Report regularly to the Foundation Board of Directors regardingfinancial performance, fundraising results, strategic initiatives,and organizational effectiveness. 3. Support the work of the Foundation Board, Corporators, andcommittees by developing agendas, facilitating strategicdiscussions, and ensuring implementation of board priorities. 4. Ensure Foundation operations, investment activities, andstewardship practices comply with all applicable legal, regulatory,fiduciary, and ethical standards. 5. Manage Foundation owned properties. Alumni and Constituent Engagement 1. Provide strategic leadership for alumni engagement initiativesthat strengthen alumni participation, volunteerism, advocacy,lifelong affinity, and philanthropic support. 2. Develop programs that enhance connections among alumni,students, families, community partners, and friends of theCollege. 3. Oversee donor stewardship and recognition programs that ensuremeaningful engagement, accountability, and long-term donorretention. Communications and External Relations 1. Provide executive oversight for advancement-relatedcommunications, publications, marketing efforts, digitalengagement, social media strategies, and donorcommunications. 2. Collaborate with campus leadership to strengthen the College'spublic image, reputation, and visibility among internal andexternal audiences. 3. Serve as an ambassador for the College throughout the region andCommonwealth by cultivating relationships with business leaders,elected officials, philanthropic organizations, and communitystakeholders. 4. Supervision of campus Conferencing & Events program. Advancement Operations and Data Strategy Ensure effective advancement services operations, includingProspect research Database management Gift processing Data integrity Reporting and analytics Campaign tracking Stewardship systems 1. Utilize data, technology, and predictive analytics to improvedonor engagement, portfolio management, fundraising performance,and resource allocation. 2. Maintain policies, procedures, and systems that support ethicalfundraising, donor confidentiality, and exemplary constituentservice. Leadership and Administration 1. Recruit, develop, mentor, and evaluate a high-performingadvancement team characterized by collaboration, accountability,innovation, and continuous learning. 2. Develop and administer divisional budgets and resources inaccordance with institutional and Foundation policies. 3. Foster a culture of philanthropy and engagement across thecampus community by partnering with faculty, staff, administrators,students, and volunteers. 4. Advance the College's mission, vision, values, and strategicpriorities through leadership, decision-making, and relationshipbuilding. 5. Attend and partner with the other MA State UniversityAdvancement Officers. 6. Ensure effective communication within the InstitutionalAdvancement division and throughout the College. 7. Serve as a member of the President's Cabinet, participating ininstitutional planning, policy development, and strategicdecision-making. 8. Ensure that gifts align with the institutional strategicplan. 9. Perform other related duties as assigned by the President. Requirements: Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. Minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsibleleadership experience in higher education advancement, development, nonprofit management, or a closely related field, includingsignificant fundraising responsibility. Demonstrated success personally cultivating, soliciting,closing, and stewarding major and principal gifts. Proven experience leading comprehensive fundraising programs,including annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, corporate andfoundation relations, campaign management, donor stewardship, andalumni engagement. Experience working effectively with governing boards,foundation boards, volunteers, and executive leadership. Strong financial and operational management skills, includingbudget development, resource allocation, and performancemanagement. Demonstrated success using data, metrics, and technology todrive decision-making and improve advancement outcomes. Exceptional interpersonal, relationship-building,communication, presentation, and negotiation skills. Thorough understanding of fundraising ethics, donorstewardship, charitable giving regulations, and nonprofitgovernance practices. Ability to inspire confidence, build consensus, and workeffectively with diverse constituencies, including students,faculty, staff, alumni, donors, community leaders, and publicofficials. Experience utilizing advancement CRM systems and fundraisingtechnologies; familiarity with Raiser's Edge or comparableadvancement platforms preferred. Preferred Qualifications Master's degree or other advanced professional degree. Experience serving in a senior advancement leadership rolewithin higher education. Experience directing comprehensive or capital campaigns withmultimillion-dollar fundraising goals. Knowledge of public higher education governance, finance,policies, and procedures. Demonstrated experience overseeing integrated advancementfunctions, including communications, marketing, alumni relations,advancement services, and foundation operations. Leadership Competencies The successful candidate will demonstrate: Integrity, professionalism, and sound judgment. Strategic and visionary leadership. Commitment to collaboration and shared governance. Entrepreneurial thinking and innovation. Political acumen and relationship-building ability. Accountability for results and measurable outcomes. Commitment to diversity, belonging, and institutionalexcellence. Flexibility, resilience and adaptability in a dynamicenvironment. Additional Information: This is a full-time, permanent, benefited position starting on1/04/2027. Salary for this position is between $200,000 and$210,000 per year. Applications received by 8/31/2026 will receivepreferential treatment. Employee Benefits: Health Insurance: MCLA offers a variety of HMO, POS, and PPO-typehealth insurance plans for eligible employees. Coverage iseffective on the 1st of the month following the date of hire.Exceptions to employees hired on the 1st of the month, coverage iseffective immediately. Retirement: The MA State Employee Retirement System provideseligible employees with a retirement pension following a 10-yearvesting period. In lieu of the retirement pension, eligibleemployees may select the Optional Retirement Plan with a maximum 5%employer matching contribution. Tuition Waivers & Discounts : eligible employees, includingspouses and dependent children, receive reduced tuition at MA statecolleges, community colleges, and universities. Paid Time Off: employees receive 12 paid holidays and generousvacation, personal, and sick leave benefits. Until further notice, in response to the Presidential proclamation,issued on September 19, 2025, imposing a significant fee on theentry of individuals with new H-1B visas, this position is noteligible for visa sponsorship. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts complies with the Americanswith Disabilities Act (ADA) to provide reasonable accommodations toqualified applicants and employees with disabilities. Should youneed to request a reasonable accommodation for the applicationprocess, please email Brenda Stokes, Executive Director of HumanResources. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is deeply committed tofostering a community of excellence, equity, diversity, andinclusion. We provide equal access to educational, co-curricularand employment opportunities for all applicants, students, andemployees regardless of race, color, religion, national origin,age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity,gender expression, genetic information, marital or parental status,veteran status, or membership in any other legally protected class.Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts does not discriminate on thebasis of sex in any educational program or activity that theyoperate, which extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about Title IX, Equal Opportunity, or ADA/504 and othernon-discrimination policies may be directed to MCLA's Interim TitleIX and Equal Opportunity Coordinator, to the Assistant Secretary ofthe Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, or both. Lucas Morrill Interim Title IX and EO Coordinator 375 Church Street, North Adams, MA 01247 Telephone: View phone number on click.appcast.io View email address on click.appcast.io U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights 33 Arch Street, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02119-1424 Telephone: View phone number on click.appcast.io; FAX: View phone number on click.appcast.io; TDD View phone number on click.appcast.io View email address on click.appcast.io #J-18808-Ljbffr