Associate Vice President – Strategic Partnerships

Penn Information Systems & Computing

Associate Vice President for Strategic Partnerships leading strategic direction for University Development and Alumni Relations. Engaging C-suite executives and managing high-value institutional partnerships.

Posted 6/17/2026full-timePhiladelphia • Pennsylvania • 🇺🇸 United StatesJuniorMid-Level💰 $167,379 - $290,000 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

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

Requirements

What you’ll need

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

Benefits

Comp & perks

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

ATS Keywords

✓ Tailor your resume

Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools

strategic partnershipsfundraisingproposal developmentnegotiationproject managementperformance metricsstakeholder engagementphilanthropic investmentscross-disciplinary initiativespartnership management

Soft Skills

strategic thinkingproblem-solvingcommunicationleadershiporganizational skillsinterpersonal skillsteam motivationcollaborationdiscretionintegrity

Certifications

Master of ScienceMaster of Arts