WCU-5495 Vice President of Advancement/Executive Director Search Firm

Western Colorado University (WCU) is soliciting proposals from professional search firms to assist in recruiting a Vice President of Advancement/Executive Director (VPA/ED) for the WCU Foundation, located in Grand County, Colorado. The procurement, identified as WCU-5495, requires a search firm to help identify and hire a new executive by July 1, 2025, with a contract term spanning approximately three months from May 1 to August 1, 2025. Mandatory qualifications for the search firm include having completed at least three executive-level searches for higher education clients within the past five years and maintaining a clean financial history. Preferred qualifications involve experience with senior-level advancement positions and a demonstrated ability to recruit diverse candidates. The university will evaluate proposals based on response completeness, capability and experience with higher education searches, personnel qualifications, timeline adherence, and service fees. Key proposal submission dates include a release date of March 31, 2025, with proposals due by April 15, 2025 at 5:00 PM MST/MDST, estimated proposal selection on April 28, 2025, and contract finalization by May 1, 2025.

The solicitation does not explicitly outline specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The search firm will be responsible for comprehensive tasks including refining a leadership profile, building a diverse candidate pool, developing screening matrices, coordinating interviews, conducting background checks, and supporting the search committee throughout the hiring process. While specific budget ranges are not detailed, the contract is subject to the availability of state and/or federal funds, with WCU reserving the right to terminate the contract without liability if funding is not secured. Proposal requirements include detailed information about the firm's background, consultant qualifications, search methodology, professional references, and a comprehensive fee structure. The ultimate objective is to successfully recruit a high-caliber Vice President of Advancement/Executive Director who can effectively lead the WCU Foundation's advancement initiatives.