Job Description:

Berklee is proud to have cultivated one of the most accomplished and extensively connected alumni networks in the creative industries. Berklee graduates lead, innovate, and inspire across every corner of the global arts and entertainment landscape. Notable Berklee College of Music alumni include Quincy Jones, Gary Burton, Esperanza Spalding, Juan Luis Guerra, Terri Lyne Carrington, Charlie Puth, and Danilo Pérez. Prominent Boston Conservatory at Berklee alumni include Gabriella Reyes, Ebony Williams, Jonathon Heyward, and Mike Mosallam, to name only a few.

Berklee is celebrated as the unrivaled global leader in music and performing arts education, consistently earning top honors from the Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, Newsweek, and Playbill. From its world-renowned campuses to its innovative online programs, Berklee sets the standard for excellence, creativity, and influence in the industry.

Berklee’s YouTube channel is the most viewed college/university channel in the world, with more than 430 million views and over 1.65 million subscribers.

Berklee has experienced significant growth over the past decade. The institution currently serves 7,608 undergraduate and 840 graduate students, as well as roughly 5,000 à la carte, certificate, and pre-college students. This community is guided by 386 full-time and 769 part-time faculty members, supported by a staff of 899.*

For more about Berklee, please visit About Berklee, Fundamental Values, and Mission and Vision.

*Source: 2023–2024 Berklee Factbook

President Jim Lucchese

Lucchese brings to this role 20 years of experience innovating artist-focused services. A Boston-born musician who has served Berklee in many advisory roles over the course of his career, Lucchese is uniquely positioned to lead Berklee in providing unmatched learning experiences for today's students and realizing the institution’s vision to build the future of arts education.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Berklee is deeply committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, physical disability, mental disability, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic which may be specified by law or institutional policy. For more on Berklee’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, please see the Diversity Values Statement and visit Human Resources or the Office for Diversity and Inclusion.

Position Summary

As Berklee embarks on its next chapter, President Jim Lucchese, the institution's fifth leader, draws on his rich history of championing artists to drive student growth and foster innovation. In this transformative era, he is committed to a bold strategic vision for Berklee as a global leader in music education and innovation. To support President Lucchese’s bold new vision for Berklee, the institution is seeking an innovative, dynamic, and accomplished Institutional Advancement executive to serve as Senior Vice President for Institutional Advancement (SVP).

The SVP will be a strategic partner to the President and be an accomplished leader with demonstrated capacity to build upon the existing advancement base, strengthening and transforming it into an operation that is the envy of institutions across the U.S. Beginning with a strategic assessment of existing philanthropic strengths and assets, this individual will have the opportunity to create a road map for long-term growth that includes creative and entrepreneurial fundraising strategies, metrics for success, and accountability measures, as well as applications for data-informed risk-taking and decision-making.

Specifically, the SVP will enhance the Advancement division to develop, support, and empower a top-tier advancement team. They will oversee the integration of and coordination across the various functions of the advancement office, including advancement services, alumni affairs, annual giving, corporate and foundation relations, gift planning, major and principal gifts, and special projects. The SVP will partner with the President to take a holistic view of Advancement – including key partnerships, community engagement and other strategic approaches to build upon Berklee’s leadership in the arts.

The SVP is responsible for directing a robust advancement program that can anticipate changing social, cultural, and technological climates globally, and that best positions Berklee to lead and inspire through the evolving nature of philanthropy and the institution’s increasingly diverse staff, alumni, and parent populations. An active and visible leader on campus and in the broader community, the SVP will possess a deep appreciation for the mission, history, achievements, and aspirations of Berklee. The successful candidate must also possess the authenticity and cultural competence necessary to effectively represent the institution, and the desire and ability to build bridges and collaborative relationships across the Berklee community as a key liaison to its diverse internal and external constituencies.

The SVP will also work closely with a generous and passionate board of trustees to effectively maximize their time and success, serving as principal advisor on advancement and the cultivation of high-level donors at Berklee. As a member of the president’s senior leadership team, the SVP will be expected to provide meaningful input on the full range of issues facing the institution, and thus a person with a contemporary and comprehensive knowledge of higher education, the arts and culture is much desired.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

Serve as the central architect to establish and achieve Berklee’s ambitious institutional advancement priorities, in close partnership with the President and senior leadership team.
Develop and execute a strategic, cohesive, and systematic global fundraising and engagement program that is uniquely suited to Berklee’s singular strengths. Substantially broaden fundraising, outreach, and constituent relations activities, in keeping with the mission and core values of Berklee and its dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Take a holistic approach to Institutional Advancement, looking beyond direct fundraising to establish key strategic partnerships that advance Berklee’s long term strategic plan, in partnership with key stakeholders across the institution.
Generate supporter excitement and engagement around Berklee’s 1,000+ performances and events annually around the world, creating a direct connection between supporters and the incredible faculty, staff, students and alumni at Berklee. Develop and implement new and innovative programs to develop and engage new prospective donors, increase donor retention, and upgrade and renew existing donors.
Serve as an active member of the president’s senior leadership team. Participate in and contribute to discussions that guide strategies and policies shaping Berklee’s future.
Lead as a “Player / Coach” able to personally manage select relationships with principal supporters of Berklee, deepening connection to the Berklee mission and achieving clear goals; while also managing and motivating a high-performance, highly accountable diverse advancement team. Lead donor stewardship to ensure strong donor relationships and deep satisfaction with the impact of donor contributions.
Ensure the President and all key leaders have a deep understanding of all key Berklee supporters and defining trends that inform Berklee’s overall advancement strategy.
Anticipate new defining trends, moving away from the ‘way it’s always been done’. Experiment and create new approaches to advancement that are always deeply rooted in Berklee’s unique position and mission.
Bring a deep passion for Berklee’s role as a cultural hub in Boston, while maintaining a truly global mindset around Berklee’s global impact, supporters and donors.

The Person

Pivotal Experiences & Expertise

Strategic Fundraising Expertise: Significant leadership experience in development, constituency engagement, and a comprehensive knowledge of strategies employed in all major development and alumni functions. A track record of significant personal success in donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship at the principal gift level. The ability to articulate a vision for the future and develop a department capable of building that future.
Data-Driven Leadership: Experience creating and fostering a metrics-driven and results-oriented work environment that promotes collaboration, achievement, and calculated risk-taking. Expertise using data and benchmarks and the use of a database and other analysis tools to further a fundraising program.
Team Leadership: Experience leading all aspects of a complex team, including managing, mentoring, motivating, retaining, and evaluating staff is essential. Demonstrated experience enhancing professional development and career planning opportunities for advancement staff as a means of retention is highly desirable.
Stakeholder Management: Experience working with a wide array of stakeholders and ability to build trust-driven relationships across the diverse Berklee global community, including performers, staff, faculty, students, alumni, parents, Trustees, community partners and a wide array of supporters. Proven experience working with a large, diverse board of Trustees and institutional donors in a way that informs, builds trust, and generates excitement around the institution.

Culture Impact

Collaboration and Trust: Highly empathetic and able to build trust-driven relationships across the entire diverse Berklee community.
Innovation: A demonstrated track record of innovation, comfortable not only understanding new technologies and industry trends, but able to anticipate those trends, engage thought leaders and translate that knowledge to passionate engagement across a diverse range of supporters.
Ambassador: Articulate communicator and ambassador for Berklee with all audiences; ability to craft a compelling narrative around Berklee’s programs and impact.

Applicants and Inquiries

Berklee has retained Heidrick & Struggles as executive search partners to assist in conducting this search. Confidential applications, inquiries, nominations/referrals, should be sent electronically to the Heidrick & Struggles executive search team at: BerkleeSVPIA@heidrick.com

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Equal Employment Opportunity at Berklee:

We support an inclusive workplace where everyone excels based on personal merit, qualifications, experience, ability, and job performance. Berklee affirms that inequality is detrimental to our faculty, staff, students, and the communities we serve. Our goal is to make lasting change through our actions. Berklee is committed to providing fair and equitable consideration of all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, place of birth, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, or status as a member of the armed forces or veteran of the armed forces, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.

As part of this commitment, Berklee will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact the Human Resources Team at hroperations@Berklee.edu or call 617-747-2375.

Berklee is committed to increasing the diversity of our institution, community, and the curriculum. Candidates who can contribute to that goal are encouraged to apply and to identify their strengths in this area.

*Currently enrolled Berklee students are not permitted to apply for staff or faculty positions.*

Employee Type:

Executive