Executive Director of Advancement and Alumni Engagement

California Western School of Law (California Western or CWSL), a private, non-profit, independent law school located in the heart of San Diego, California, seeks a strategic, collaborative, and dedicated Executive Director of Advancement and Alumni Engagement to serve as its chief development and alumni relations officer. The Executive Director (ED) will join during an exciting time for the CWSL community as the school welcomes President and Dean (President/Dean) Miriam Baer. The ED position presents a unique opportunity to implement a culture of philanthropy, re-establish alumni engagement, lead and mentor a growth-phase team, and partner with President/Dean Baer to define strategic priorities that elevate CWSL’s profile while staying true to its mission of making legal education accessible and of developing practice-ready, successful lawyers in all fields and sectors.

As a contributing member of President/Dean Baer’s leadership team, the ED will serve as the principal advisor on all aspects of developing and executing a productive advancement program that improves annual and major giving, creates and deepens professional partnerships with industry and community leaders, and cultivates a strong alumni network of lawyers and law-adjacent professionals. The ED will guide and support the president/dean in her role as CWSL’s leading spokesperson and fundraiser, acting as a thought partner, co-strategist, and coach. They will also collaborate with peers and leaders across the school to advance shared goals. The ED will broaden and diversify CWSL’s philanthropic revenue base, increasing the number of donors, engaged alumni, and contributions – both unrestricted and restricted – for student scholarships, major gifts, centers, clinics, bar support, and other top initiatives. The ED will be looked upon to drive donor identification and solicitation efforts, expand and foster philanthropy-forward relationships, implement and assess progress toward institutional fundraising objectives, and partner collaboratively across CWSL’s internal and external constituencies. The ED will further be tasked with mentoring and growing a team, and providing the President/Dean and Board of Trustees with real-time data. 

This is an exceptional role for an aspirational advancement professional to exercise leadership and become an agent of impact for a mission-driven institution with a rich history and untapped philanthropic potential. With at least five years of leadership experience, this individual must have the ability to build and elevate a comprehensive advancement program, fully leveraging key constituencies in philanthropic efforts and guiding the strategy to create a lasting and sustainable impact for CWSL. The ideal candidate will possess a keen understanding of fundraising best practices and will be data-informed in their approach to building program infrastructure, leading and mentoring a team, as well as developing a vision, goals, and buy-in. Exceptional communication and negotiation skills, political savvy, flexibility, and interpersonal agility to navigate an academic and professional community will be essential. In addition, candidates must demonstrate a deep appreciation for and an ability to articulate the educational mission and aspirations of CWSL. Fundraising experience in higher education in graduate or legal studies is strongly preferred. A bachelor’s degree is required and familiarity with legal education is highly preferred. 

The anticipated salary range for this position is $165,000 to $180,000, commensurate with experience and subject to other negotiated benefits. The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, expertise, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The stated hiring range represents CWSL’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. 

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent below.

Rachel Ellenport is leading this search with Christina Garrison and Rebecca Lyons.