VP Advancement & Strategic Partnerships

Position Purpose

The Vice President, Advancement & Strategic Partnerships serves as a member of the Executive Leadership Council and provides executive leadership for Gateway Technical College's integrated resource development strategy. In partnership with the President and Executive Leadership Council, the Vice President advances institutional priorities by mobilizing philanthropic and grant resources, developing strategic partnerships, strengthening alumni and Foundation relationships, and providing executive leadership for integrated marketing communications and the College's radio station.

As Gateway's inaugural Vice President, Advancement & Strategic Partnerships, this position serves as a systems-building executive leader responsible for strengthening the College's relationships, resources, reputation, and regional impact. The Vice President connects Gateway's institutional strengths and priorities with external opportunities, translating the College's mission and strategic direction into sustained partnerships, investment, engagement, and visibility.

Working through an enterprise lens, the Vice President aligns advancement activities across the College and collaborates with the President, Executive Leadership Council, Foundation Board, and internal and external partners to identify opportunities that extend beyond individual divisions and strengthen institutional capacity. The position exercises executive authority and accountability for establishing strategy and priorities, deploying assigned resources, leading organizational improvement, and delivering results across the portfolio.

Key Executive Responsibilities

• Leads Gateway's integrated resource development strategy in alignment with the College's strategic priorities and the governance direction of the District Board of Trustees.
• Aligns philanthropy, strategic grants, alumni engagement, strategic partnerships, and marketing and communications to strengthen institutional capacity and advance the College's mission.
• Develops and stewards enterprise-level relationships and cross-sector partnerships that expand Gateway's regional impact and long-term sustainability.
• Mobilizes philanthropic and grant resources and strengthens relationships with donors, funders, alumni, and the Gateway Foundation Board.
• Provides executive leadership for integrated marketing and communications that strengthen institutional alignment, public trust, visibility, reputation, and investment.
• Connects Gateway's expertise, capabilities, and strategic priorities with regional needs, opportunities, and partners.
• Translates institutional priorities and outcomes into compelling opportunities for participation, partnership, and investment.
• Serves as a trusted adviser and strategic partner to the President and Executive Leadership Council, integrating executive priorities and external opportunities into coordinated institutional action.

Qualifications

Required

• Master's degree from an accredited institution in communications, marketing, advancement, nonprofit leadership, business, public administration, higher education leadership, organizational leadership, or a related field.
• Substantial progressively responsible executive leadership experience in advancement, philanthropy, strategic partnerships, marketing and communications, higher education, nonprofit leadership, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated experience leading professional teams and coordinating complex initiatives across organizational boundaries.
• Experience leading or supporting comprehensive institutional resource development involving philanthropy, strategic grants, strategic partnerships, marketing and communications, and executive collaboration.
• Demonstrated executive leadership across several of the following areas: philanthropy, Foundation leadership, strategic partnerships, strategic grants, alumni engagement, marketing and communications, Board relations, organizational development, and resource development.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement strategies aligned with institutional priorities and measurable outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships with diverse internal and external constituencies.
• Exceptional written, verbal, interpersonal, facilitation, and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated judgment in handling confidential, sensitive, high-profile, and reputational matters.
• Demonstrated commitment to student success, inclusive excellence, ethical leadership, and the mission of technical and community colleges.

Preferred

• Executive-level experience in higher education, a public institution, a nonprofit organization, or a complex mission-driven organization.
• Experience working directly with a governing or Foundation Board.
• Experience with comprehensive fundraising, major gifts, institutional campaigns, or Foundation development.
• Experience providing executive oversight for integrated marketing and communications.
• Experience leading cross-sector partnerships, regional initiatives, collaborative networks, or other complex initiatives requiring shared leadership across organizational boundaries.
• Experience building or expanding an alumni-engagement program.
• Familiarity with the educational, workforce, philanthropic, and community environment of southeastern Wisconsin.