Executive Search
Western Washington University
Recruiting for Associate Vice President of Advancement
Western Washington University (WWU), a public university located in Bellingham, Washington, is renowned for its commitment to academic excellence, sustainability, and social responsibility. With a strong focus on undergraduate education and a dedication to fostering an inclusive community, WWU offers a comprehensive and enriching educational experience. As part of its continuous efforts to strengthen its leadership team, WWU sought to fill the critical role of Associate Vice President of Advancement. The university turned to Another Source, a recruitment firm with extensive experience in higher education, to assist in finding the right candidate for this key position.
The Story
WWU, established in 1893, has a long-standing reputation for providing quality education across various disciplines, including arts and sciences, business, environmental studies, and education. The university’s commitment to social justice and equity is reflected in its recent resolution with the WWU Divest Apartheid Coalition, further solidifying its values of equity and inclusion. With this backdrop, WWU was in search of an Associate Vice President of Advancement who could align with the university’s mission and drive its fundraising and development efforts forward. To accomplish this, WWU partnered with Another Source, a recruitment firm known for its customized and efficient approach to higher education talent acquisition.
The Challenge
When Western Washington University first partnered with Another Source, the challenge was clear: the role of Associate Vice President of Advancement required a very specific set of skills and experiences. As the partnership began, it became apparent that there was a need to fine-tune the alignment between the candidates being presented and WWU’s unique expectations for the role. This role demanded candidates with recent major gifts experience, a strong higher education background, and proven supervisory skills, all within the context of a competitive job market and budget constraints. Additionally, attracting top-tier candidates who met these criteria and were willing to work in Bellingham posed another layer of complexity. Recognizing this, Another Source saw the opportunity to refine their approach to better meet WWU’s needs and ultimately build a candidate pool that aligned with the university’s high standards.
Why Another Source
- Extensive Higher Education Recruitment Experience: Another Source’s deep understanding of the unique dynamics and requirements of advancement departments made them the ideal partner for this search.
- Customized Recruitment Strategies: Another Source tailored its recruitment approach to the specific needs of WWU, ensuring that the candidate pool was well-aligned with the university’s expectations.
- Efficient Process and Quick Turnaround: The firm’s ability to deliver results within a short period allowed WWU to fill the role efficiently, avoiding lengthy delays.
- Diversity and Inclusion Focus: Another Source emphasized building diverse candidate pools, a crucial factor for WWU, which is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion within its staff.
How Another Source Responded
After receiving critical feedback from WWU, Another Source quickly adjusted its sourcing and outreach strategy. The team engaged in probing discussions with WWU to better understand what was missing from the initial candidate pool. This led to a refined approach, focusing on candidates with the necessary experience in major gifts, higher education, and leadership. Through direct outreach and targeted advertising on development and fundraising-specific job boards, Another Source successfully built a strong candidate pool.
The Result
Another Source interviewed 17 candidates and presented them to WWU, of which 10 were interviewed by the university, and three moved into the final round. The refined recruitment strategy resulted in a final candidate pool that exceeded WWU’s expectations, leading to a successful hire. This experience not only filled a critical leadership role at WWU but also transformed the partnership from one of initial hesitation to one of trust and ongoing collaboration.