Vice President External Relations

Vice President for External Relations

The Vice President for External Relations will report to the President and Director of the Whitehead Institute. They will serve as a key member of the Institute's leadership team, working alongside world-class faculty dedicated to improving human health through basic biomedical research. This individual will play a vital role in promoting the Whitehead Institute as a leader in discovery science.

The Whitehead Institute seeks a proven, visionary, and innovative leader motivated to advance fundraising for this pioneering scientific institution, possessing the skill and enthusiasm to elevate the Institute's profile both within and beyond the scientific community. The Vice President will manage a portfolio of high-net-worth prospects and donors, representing key institutional relationships. They will develop and define a vision for the Institute's external relations efforts, from advancement to communications and public affairs, working closely with the Institute's leadership team and other key constituents to set the Institute's philanthropic strategy.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Institutional Advancement

• Provides the strategic vision and collaborative leadership necessary to plan and execute an effective and comprehensive advancement program that ensures the sustainability of Whitehead Institute and its research.
• Designs and implements an infrastructure to support a comprehensive, best-practices program and fosters a culture of philanthropy, furthers organizational priorities, and attracts and cultivates new philanthropic support from individual and institutional donors.
• Provides dynamic leadership for fundraising efforts. Assesses the fundraising potential of Whitehead and crafts a multi-year strategic plan that includes ways to diversify the funding base, increases unrestricted and restricted funds from all constituencies, and ensures internal resources are appropriately leveraged. Brings together senior staff, development staff, and board members as a cohesive and cooperative unit.
• Serves as the chief fundraising advisor to the president and director, strategizing with Dr. Lehmann regarding key donors and prospective donors; appropriately using her time to engage in philanthropic activities.
• Provides counsel to the Board of Directors on development / communications-related matters. Collaborates strategically to develop fundraising / communications strategies to meet philanthropic goals.
• Systematically identifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards new and existing individual and institutional donors capable of making significant contributions to Whitehead at the seven-, eight-, and nine-figure level. Educates potential donors about Whitehead's unique position within the biomedical field through its mission and programs and develops specific strategies and tailored cases for support.
• Maintains existing donor relationships and deepens those alliances through regular, relevant communications, events and stewardship. Provides comprehensive, timely and innovative stewardship; elevates the importance of stewardship in order to strengthen donor interest in, satisfaction with, and commitment to Whitehead.
• Builds and leverages events and presentations to increase the Institute's visibility with donors, volunteers, and the scientific community; identifies and recruits new donors and prospective volunteers for leadership roles.

Communications and Public Affairs

Management

Experience and Qualifications

An ideal candidate will bring the following professional experience and personal characteristics :