Job Description

Overview

Wentworth Institute of Technology is a leading institution advancing the fields of the built environment, engineering, and applied technology. Wentworth offers interdisciplinary, experiential education that prepares students to lead in a rapidly evolving world through immersive learning and strong industry partnerships. The university delivers a high return on investment while empowering graduates to drive innovation and societal impact.

Founded in 1904 to furnish education in the mechanical arts, Wentworth has grown into a premier STEM and design university. Nearly 3,900 undergraduate students and nearly 250 graduate students pursue degrees across five schools: Architecture and Design; Computing and Data Science; Engineering; Management; Sciences and Humanities. Wentworths academic pathways are flexible, offering accelerated three-year degrees, 3+1 and 4+1 bachelors/masters programs, as well as part-time, hybrid, and online study.

The hallmark of a Wentworth education is its cooperative education program, one of the most comprehensive in the country. Every undergraduate completes two co-op semesters, applying classroom knowledge to real-world settings and building professional networks before graduation. This model yields strong outcomes: 91 percent of graduates are employed or in graduate school within six months, 97 percent work in their field or major, and the median starting salary is over $72,000. 37 percent of the Class of 2023 were hired directly by their co-op employers.

Wentworths distinctive approach and commitment to student success have earned national recognition. The university has received top rankings for earnings, mobility, and diversity; the Carnegie Foundation highlighted it as one of five STEM institutions with Higher Access, Higher Earnings; Forbes has recognized Wentworth among Top Colleges; and the School of Engineering has shown gains in U.S. News & World Report rankings.

Wentworths trajectory is guided by its 20252030 Strategic Plan to position the university as a national destination for STEM and design education, grounded in applied, experiential learning and innovation.

The universitys financial strength supports this mission, including an operating budget of $155 million, an endowment of $161 million, and over $40 million in new philanthropic commitments in FY25.

Located on a 31-acre campus in Bostons Fenway neighborhood, Wentworth offers modern facilities, specialized labs, and a strong focus on student-to-studio ratios. The 2024 Institutional Master Plan outlines major campus enhancements and growth in housing and greenspace to support sustainability and resiliency.

Wentworths story is defined by access and innovation, from military service to coeducation and entrepreneurship initiatives that extend opportunities to todays students through programs such as the Accelerate Co-op for Entrepreneurs (ACE).

Through its strong academic programs, recognized co-op model, industry partnerships, and strategic investments, Wentworth stands as a university of opportunity and innovation.

The Role

Wentworth is seeking a new Vice President for University Advancement to lead the development of a comprehensive campaign, provide robust leadership, secure major gifts, oversee the annual fund, and build out a planned giving program. The VP will report directly to Wentworths President and will be highly influential in integrating fundraising across the university. The VP will collaborate with colleagues up and down the institution to achieve ambitious revenue goals in service to Wentworths mission and will serve as a key member of the Presidents cabinet, enriching team culture and implementing an overall strategy.

Through collaborative team performance, the VP will align major gifts and grants to source and cultivate fundraising opportunities, work at multiple levels of the organization, and support opportunities that drive growth aligned to institutional priorities and the campaign. The VP will develop and execute a unified fundraising plan and communicate fundraising goals, progress, and opportunities clearly to internal constituents. The VP will seek partnerships across Wentworth leadership and subject-matter experts to enhance donor engagement, cultivation, and stewardship.

The VP will leverage data to drive strategic donor engagement and will be a collaborative, goal-oriented, creative, mission-driven leader who can unlock potential to achieve transformational results. The VP will deploy best practices for high-performing advancement teams and stay proximate to Wentworths core work serving students.

The VP will work with a built-in strength of the organization, including a strong reputation and a dedicated team. The VP and the advancement team will steward relationships with cabinet members, Deans, Board members, and other partners to nurture donor engagement and institutional support.

Specific duties and responsibilities

• Deliver significant impact to Wentworth by building, driving, and stewarding the universitys first ever comprehensive campaign.
• Achieve an annual fundraising goal to support strategic initiatives and priorities.
• Secure significant philanthropic commitments in six-, seven-, and eight-figure levels. Align philanthropic investments with high-impact institutional and research opportunities.
• Support the President as a fundraising President and collaborate with the Advancement Team on moves-management strategies to leverage the President to open doors and cultivate top prospects; coach the team to do the same.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to cultivate, solicit, and steward current and planned gift donors; engage Board members, key supporters, and faculty to diversify prospective donors.
• Provide executive management over the Advancement Team, including leadership over principal, major, and planned gifts, events, donor relations, and campaigns. Create and report on fundraising plan progress and budgets.
• Develop strategies and budget resources that advance the Wentworth plan.
• Build a vision for using technology and data analytics to engage current and prospective donors.
• Communicate department goals to key constituents to foster a culture of philanthropy.

• Establish meaningful and measurable team and individual performance goals.
• Lead and develop three direct reports with a broader team of approximately 20; foster a culture of mentorship and real-time coaching.
• Lead by example on campus, engaging with faculty, staff, and students to model integration across the institution.
• Collaborate with finance, marketing, communications, accounting, and IT to align fundraising needs and workflows.
• Recruit, train, and mentor the Advancement Team, maximizing opportunities for growth and success.
• Support donor communications that explain key initiatives and the impact of gifts.

Please note that the VP of Advancement is an onsite role. The expected salary range is $325,000 - $350,000 annually. Wentworth is committed to pay transparency and equal pay for equal work. Please visit the comprehensive benefits page for more information.

Candidate Profile

Wentworth seeks an exceptional, results-oriented VP of University Advancement to build on momentum and take the fundraising program to new levels. Candidates with experience in high-growth, mission-focused organizations and expertise in fundraising and business development are encouraged to apply.

The successful candidate will be an inclusive, dynamic, creative, and mission-driven leader with strong communication skills and the ability to work with senior leadership to achieve superior results. The ideal candidate will be an intellectually curious, decisive, and collaborative leader with a proven record of growing revenue and mentoring others.

The candidate should demonstrate leadership in fundraising with a track record of major gifts, planned gifts, donor stewardship, and experience operating in a complex, matrixed environment, leveraging campaigns, technology, data, and analytics.

Inclusive Excellence

Inclusive Excellence is one of the four pillars of the Strategic Plan. Wentworth seeks to cultivate a diverse and culturally competent institution where each member can reach their full potential. For more information, see the Strategic Plan and Inclusive Excellence resources.

All applicants have the right to accessibility support and accommodations. For accommodations, contact the Executive Director of Equity and Compliance, Catlin Wells, at wellsc1(at)wit.edu.

E-Verify for Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) Wentworth participates in E-Verify to confirm work authorization in the United States.

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