Sign upLog in

Associate Vice President (AVP) for Strategic Partnerships

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA

Apply
JOB DETAILS
SALARY
$167,379–$290,000 Per Year
SKILLS
Alliance/Partner Management, Alumni Relations, Closing Costs, Coaching, Communication Skills, Diversity, Entertainment and Media, Establish Priorities, Executive Relationships, Fundraising, Higher Education, Interpersonal Skills, Leadership, Legal, Mortgage, Multitasking, Music, Negotiation Skills, News Reporting, Organizational Development/Management, Organizational Skills, People Management, Performance Analysis, Performance Metrics, Presentation/Verbal Skills, Problem Solving Skills, Project/Program Management, Revenue Planning, Scholarship, Set Goals, Staff Motivation, Staff Requirements, Stewardship, Strategic Planning, Talent Management, Team Player, Theater Production, Time Management, Training/Teaching, University Library, Willing to Travel, Writing Skills
LOCATION
Philadelphia, PA
POSTED
4 days ago


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

Associate Vice President (AVP) for Strategic Partnerships





Job Profile Title

Director E, Development, Fundraising





Job Description Summary

Reporting to the Senior Associate Vice President for Strategic Philanthropy and Partnerships, the Associate Vice President (AVP) for Strategic Partnerships provides leadership, vision, and strategic direction for the University Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) enterprise-wide strategic partnerships program. The AVP will lead the development and execution of strategies to build, manage, and scale high-value institutional relationships that generate transformational philanthropic investment, advance institutional priorities, and strengthen the University’s position as a partner of choice for complex, cross-school initiatives.


Working in a fast-paced and highly collaborative environment, the AVP will serve as a senior strategist and institutional ambassador, engaging C-suite executives, foundation leaders, and major philanthropists while aligning internal stakeholders across schools, centers, and central administration. As a key member of the senior leadership team, the AVP will participate in strategic planning processes, represent Strategic Philanthropy and Partnerships in Development and Alumni Relations (DAR)-wide initiatives, and contribute to advancing the University’s most ambitious interdisciplinary priorities.





Job Description


Job Responsibilities

+ Develop and execute a comprehensive strategy for enterprise-level strategic partnerships aligned with University priorities.

+ Identify, evaluate, and prioritize high-value partnership opportunities across philanthropic, corporate, and foundation sectors. In close partnership with DAR and School/Center colleagues, serve as an institutional liaison for top-tier strategic philanthropic partners, helping to ensure coordinated and high-level engagement. Engage and cultivate relationships with senior executives and high-capacity donors to advance strategic partnerships. At times, serve as the lead fundraiser to advance University-wide priorities.

+ Lead the structuring, negotiation, and execution of complex, multi-year, cross-school philanthropic partnership agreements.

+ Coordinate across Development and Alumni Relations, schools, centers, and University leadership to align priorities, governance, and execution of partnership opportunities.

+ Translate complex, cross-disciplinary initiatives into cohesive and compelling philanthropic opportunities and proposals. Oversee the development of high-quality proposals, presentations, and briefing materials to support partnership cultivation and solicitation.

+ Partner with academic and administrative leadership to advance institution-wide initiatives requiring cross-school collaboration and to support engagement and stewardship of key partners. Represent the University in high-level meetings, negotiations, and external engagements.

+ Ensure strong infrastructure for partnership management, including prospect tracking, reporting, and performance metrics.

+ Lead the planning and execution of cross-school convenings, events, and engagement opportunities that advance partnership goals.

+ Establish performance metrics, revenue targets, and long-term growth strategies for the Strategic Partnerships program.

+ Serve as an active participant and leader in planning and execution of DAR-wide initiatives and strategic priorities.

+ Directly supervise a Director and a Coordinator and jointly supervise a Development Assistant.

+ Maintain confidentiality of highly sensitive and privileged information and demonstrate sound judgment in all aspects of the role.

+ Perform effectively in a deadline-driven environment, managing multiple complex initiatives simultaneously.




Lead and direct a high-functioning team to achieve optimum results by:



+ Establishing priorities and goals for staff


+ Managing staffing needs and identifying opportunities for organizational development


+ Guiding talent development and professional growth in alignment with University diversity and inclusion priorities


+ Setting clear performance expectations and holding staff accountable through ongoing feedback and coaching


+ Ensuring open communication, collaboration, and team engagement


+ Inspiring and motivating staff to achieve program goals





Please provide a resume and cover letter in order to be considered for this role. Please upload all documents in the “Resume/CV” section of the application prior to submitting.




Qualifications



+ Master of Science, Master of Arts, and 7 to 10 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.Minimum of 10–15 years of progressively responsible experience in Development, strategic partnerships, or a related field. Communications experience highly desired.


+ Demonstrated success in securing and managing complex, high-value partnerships or philanthropic investments.


+ Proven ability to operate effectively in a highly matrixed, multi-stakeholder environment.


+ Demonstrated experience engaging senior leaders, including executives, trustees, and major donors.


+ Exceptional strategic thinking, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.


+ Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex information into clear and compelling materials.


+ Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.


+ Demonstrated leadership and supervisory experience with the ability to motivate and develop high-performing teams.


+ Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build collaborative relationships across a diverse organization.


+ High degree of professionalism, discretion, and integrity.


+ Ability to work evenings and weekends and travel as required.





Preferred Qualifications



+ Experience in higher education advancement or a similarly complex institutional environment.


+ Experience structuring enterprise-level partnerships involving multiple stakeholders or business units.


+ Familiarity with interdisciplinary initiatives and cross-organizational program development.







Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania





Department / School

Development and Alumni Relations





Pay Range

$167,379.00 - $290,000.00 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.




​


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



The University of Pennsylvania’s special character is reflected in the wide variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives of the Penn community. We seek talented faculty and staff who will constitute a vibrant community and help create an educational and working environment that best supports the University’s commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and scholarship. 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.

About the Company

U

University of Pennsylvania

Penn's beautiful urban campus provides easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. We offer excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for you and your family, as well as generous retirement benefits, professional development opportunities and flexible work options. Penn is a diverse, multicultural learning community at the cutting edge of research and information technology. Click here to read more about why we're a Best Employer. Not only does Penn offer a unique environment within the city of Philadelphia to work, we also provide a wide array of employee benefits. From a competitive retirement program and comprehensive health care options to health promotion and wellness services and tuition assistance, there's a wealth of opportunities and resources available to you at Penn.

Penn is frequently cited as an outstanding employer:

  • Recipient of the 2010 Terri Lynne Lokoff Child Care Foundation Corporate Leadership Award for commitment to supporting worklife balance programs.
  • Selected as a recipient of the 2010 Healthy Workplace Award by the Philadelphia Business Journal and presenting sponsor UnitedHealthcare
  • Recognized as a 2010 Top Workplace by The Philadelphia Inquirer/Daily News.
  • Recipient of the 2009 Vision Award for commitment to workforce diversity and economic inclusion.
  • Selected for Computerworld's 100 Best Places to Work in IT six years in a row!
  • Recognized by the Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children as a 2006 Best Employer for Working Parents
  • Named a Best Place to Work in the November 2007 issue of Philadelphia Magazine.
  • Designated a Best Workplace for Commuters by the National Center for Transit Research
COMPANY SIZE
100 to 499 employees
INDUSTRY
Advertising and PR Services
FOUNDED
1990
WEBSITE
http://www.cmimedia.com/