Chief Advancement Officer, The Wharton School

Chief Advancement Officer, The Wharton School

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title
Chief Advancement Officer, The Wharton School

Job Profile Title
Chief Advancement Officer

Job Description Summary
The Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) will shape the vision, direction, and culture of all Wharton fundraising and engagement programs across External Affairs' (EA) 90+ person division. Leading by example, the CAO will create a culture of excellence, collaboration, and innovation. As a member of Wharton's senior leadership team, the CAO will guide, support, and leverage the dean in her role as lead spokesperson, serving as an advisor and strategist in setting fundraising priorities, cultivating highest-level donors, soliciting transformational gifts, and operationalizing bold new ideas. In partnership with the dean, the CAO will lead overall strategic planning efforts, resource analysis and allocation, and organizational development for EA. In addition, the CAO will work with central DAR leaders, including the VP, to help facilitate organizational goals, increase organizational capacity, and strengthen the overall performance of the university-wide philanthropic enterprise.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

The CAO will address a wide range of specific opportunities and challenges, including but not limited to the following:

• Partner closely with a forward-thinking dean to develop and implement a school-wide strategic advancement plan that will reflect a long-term vision for growth and align with the Wharton School's distinctive global brand.
• Build upon and further leverage Wharton's deeply engaged and passionate 100,000+ alumni community comprised of some of the most influential and transformational philanthropists and thought leaders in the world.
• In partnership with the dean, continue to grow Wharton's principal and transformational gift pipeline while simultaneously investing in the middle of the giving pyramid and best-in-class annual fund and alumni relations programs.
• Lead high-touch and highly curated member engagement across Wharton's nine advisory boards, including its prominent board of advisors, and other high-level volunteers and next generation board prospects nationally and internationally. Establish effective volunteer leadership structures that position these ambassadors as key partners in Wharton philanthropy, engagement, and advocacy efforts.
• Educate, engage, and inspire key faculty and school leaders to engage with Wharton EA in mutually impactful ways while setting clear and transparent expectations that appropriately balance faculty and school-wide priorities while maintaining a donor-centric approach.
• Strengthen collaboration and cohesion internally among Wharton fundraising, engagement, and operational units; ensure that Wharton EA upholds university prospect management principles, and has a positive relationship with DAR and other schools and centers.
• Assess and further refine existing systems and structures, ensuring that Wharton's EA enterprise aligns with modern best practices, using data analytics and metrics to support and drive philanthropy.
• Motivate and empower staff of all levels and roles, ensuring each member can professionally develop and achieve their goals and understands how their role fits into a greater cohesive vision.
• Ensure an optimal organizational design and staff structure of Wharton EA, particularly within the context of a possible future campaign.
• Effectively respond to the challenges of the current political climate across Wharton, Penn, and higher education at large - both in terms of its impact on Wharton EA staff, and on internal and external leaders' engagement with Wharton and Wharton EA.

This search is being led by Isaacson, Miller, an executive search firm. Interested candidates should submit their materials through the Isaacson, Miller website, as application review will begin immediately and continue until the conclusion of the search.

Qualifications

Significant and impactful leadership experience in and knowledge of all major functions of development and alumni and constituent engagement are required, as well as substantive leadership experience in a complex, matrixed research university environment or the equivalent.

Additional qualifications and experience include:

• Evidence of creative, strategic, transparent, collaborative, and empathetic leadership within a fast-paced, complex institutional environment.
• A record of achievement in building and retaining high-performing teams who are unified and mobilized around a clear strategic vision and organizational direction.
• A decisive and data-driven decision maker who gives clear direction, sets short-term and long-term goals, and leads teams to consistently deliver measurable results.
• Intellectually curious and mission driven with demonstrated gravitas and self-assuredness.
• A deep level of experience and confidence in working with highly influential and ultra-high-net-worth individuals.
• An expert communicator and negotiator who can establish credibility and trust with a multitude of internal and external constituencies, navigate competing priorities, and balance multiple perspectives in a highly complex environment.
• A successful track record in campaign planning and implementation, ideally at the $1 billion+ level.
• A deeply experienced principal and transformational gift fundraiser who can delegate and balance external presence with the need for operational leadership, culture building, and organizational development.
• Knowledge of and experience using data and data systems to drive strategy and improve performance; ability to shift priorities in response to results and trends; and high skill in the areas of planning, critical thinking, and analysis.
• Experience working with senior leaders in setting aspirational goals, building key projects to meet those goals, and developing philanthropic opportunities.
• Experience in leading change in complex organizations; experience leading through influence.
• Proven collaboration and partnership skills to accomplish shared goals involving colleagues and other senior leaders.
• Significant experience overseeing substantial budgets and operations and directing/managing multiple complex projects concurrently.
• A master of Science and Over 10 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required., as is a willingness to travel and to participate regularly in campus and community events, including weekend and evening engagements.

Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
This search is being led by Isaacson, Miller, an executive search firm. Interested candidates should submit their materials through the Isaacson, Miller website, as application review will begin immediately and continue until the conclusion of the search.

Department / School
Development and Alumni Relations

Pay Range
$204,000.00 - $525,000.00 Annual Rate
Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job's level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

Special Requirements
Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family's health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.
• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn's Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.
• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family-whatever your personal needs may be.
• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you're newly hired, you won't have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That's why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.
• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.
• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University's libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There's always something going on at Penn, whether it's a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you're right in the middle of the excitement-and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.
• Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.
• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.
• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.
• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

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To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay


Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.


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