Executive Director, Wilmot Cancer Institute Advancement
University of Rochester
New York, NY
Anticipated Start Date: TBD
Description
The University of Rochester (URochester) seeks a strategic, collaborative, and poised advancement leader to serve as the next Executive Director for Advancement at the Wilmot Cancer Institute. Employed by the University and embedded within the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC), this senior role offers an opportunity for an experienced fundraising executive to advance philanthropic investment in a nationally recognized cancer center during a period of significant momentum and visibility.
The Executive Director will lead an advancement team dedicated to Wilmot and partner across the university. The role will strengthen advisory board engagement, generate philanthropic commitments at the major and principal gift levels, and position volunteer leaders as strategic partners in advancing Wilmot's philanthropic priorities.
Responsibilities
Reporting to the Senior Associate Vice President for URMC Advancement and partnering closely with the Director of the Wilmot Cancer Institute, the Executive Director is a key member of the University's advancement leadership team. The role provides strategic direction for Wilmot's research-centered fundraising enterprise, including developmental therapeutics, early-phase clinical trials, immunology, precision oncology, endowed faculty positions, recruitment packages, and future capital priorities.
The Executive Director will also lead the revitalization of a region-wide grateful patient fundraising program across a 27-county catchment area and Wilmot's 87-bed flagship facility at Strong Memorial Hospital.
Requirements
The successful candidate will provide strategic leadership for a research-centered fundraising program that advances NCI expectations, strengthens major and principal gift activity, deepens partnerships, and maximizes the productivity of a cohesive, high-performing advancement team. The ideal candidate will bring a proven record of major and principal gift success within an academic medical center or complex health system, along with a deep commitment to advancing the mission of the Wilmot Cancer Institute and experience aligned with this work.
The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to translate complex science into compelling donor narratives, partner effectively with physicians, scientists, and senior leaders, and bring intellectual curiosity and a passion for continuous learning to advancing Wilmot's impact during the public phase of the University's most ambitious campaign.
Salary Range and Employee Benefits
The anticipated salary range for this position is $175,000–$190,000, with a generous benefits package.
The referenced pay range represents URochester's good faith and reasonable estimate of the base range of compensation for this position. Individual salaries will be determined within the job's salary range and established based on (but not limited to) market data, the individual's experience and expertise, and consideration of related position salaries.
How to Apply for this Job
Please direct all applications (resumes) and nominations to the WittKieffer consultants supporting this search through the WittKieffer Candidate Portal at
About the Organization
Philanthropy has been central to Wilmot’s evolution—from early foundational investments by the Wilmot Foundation to more than $50 million in support for fellowships, endowed positions, and cancer genomics. This is a particularly compelling moment for Wilmot, with the National Cancer Institute designation achieved in 2025 and the public launch of For Ever Better: The campaign for the University of Rochester, positioning the Wilmot Cancer Institute for greater national prominence and expanded philanthropic opportunities.
URMC is the academic medical center of the University of Rochester and the cornerstone of its clinical, research, and education missions. The health system includes eight hospitals, hundreds of outpatient sites, and nationally recognized programs across a broad range of specialties. Wilmot serves more than 7,000 new cancer patients annually, supported by 198 oncology physicians and more than 500 oncology nurses, and operates one of New York State's largest blood and marrow transplant programs. NCI designation elevates expectations for alignment among science, clinical excellence, and philanthropy and provides a compelling platform for transformational giving.
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