Vice President, Philanthropic Advising

WHO WE ARE

Third Plateau is an impact consultancy partnering with philanthropy, nonprofits, and communities to build the infrastructure of change. We are one of Fast Company's Best Workplaces for Innovators!

OUR APPROACH
Third Plateau is built on a simple premise: creating lasting social good requires more than good intentions. Society’s most complex challenges are deeply rooted, interconnected, and resistant to quick fixes.

Philanthropists, foundations, and nonprofit leaders know this and are up for the challenge, bringing their passions and ambitions day in and day out. To realize that potential, they’re looking for a partner who brings the experience to design great strategies and the capacity to see them through. Third Plateau was built exactly for this work. Interested applicants are encouraged to learn more about our approach and our company values. 

Overview
The Vice President will lead and develop Third Plateau’s high-performing Philanthropic Advising department, contribute to the growth and evolution of the team, cultivate new business, and oversee a select portfolio of client relationships and engagements. This person will bring both the perspective of a seasoned philanthropic advisor and the leadership skills to develop people and create the conditions for excellent work.

Essential duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Philanthropic Advising Department Leadership
  • Provide strategic day-to-day leadership for the Philanthropic Advising team, creating conditions for a cohesive, connected, high-performing, and thriving department.
  • Build a strong department culture and operating structure that fosters connection, collaboration, learning, and shared accountability.
  • Directly supervise and develop team members, as appropriate, providing coaching, feedback, and support for their professional growth.
  • Serve as a trusted resource to team members, helping navigate complex client and project challenges.
  • Help determine staffing, resource allocation, and team structures to ensure client needs and organizational priorities are appropriately supported.
  • Ensure the department has the clarity, tools, processes, and resources needed to operate effectively.
  • Identify emerging needs and opportunities within the philanthropic landscape and help evolve our approach and processes to meet these shifts.
  • Serve as a member of the Nonprofits & Philanthropy Division Leadership Team – the division where the Philanthropic Advising department is located - and partner closely with other department and divisional leaders to coordinate priorities, staffing, culture, and operations.

• Learning and Practice Development
  • Develop and advance a clear vision for the philanthropy department in partnership with division and firm leadership.
  • Bring a sophisticated understanding of philanthropy, emerging trends, community needs, and effective approaches to client work.
  • Foster shared learning across the department and ensure the team is informed by emerging philanthropic trends, research, and promising practices.
  • Cultivate a culture of innovation, collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning with in the Philanthropic Advising department.
  • Contribute to thought leadership and other external-facing opportunities that strengthen Third Plateau’s perspective and reputation in the philanthropic field.

• Client Relationships and Engagements
  • Support relationship management for a select portfolio of philanthropic clients, building deep, trusting relationships with individuals, families, foundations, and other philanthropic institutions.
  • Lead select engagements and provide strategic counsel on philanthropic strategy, program development, and opportunities for impact, ensuring engagements are well-designed, appropriately resourced, and deliver high-quality work and strong client experiences.
  • Proactively identify client needs, challenges, and opportunities and work with colleagues to ensure they are appropriately addressed.
  • Build relationship with clients beyond individual engagements, helping identify opportunities to deepen and strengthen Third Plateau’s partnerships and impact.

• Business Development
  • Identify, cultivate, and develop relationships with prospective clients, philanthropic institutions, community leaders, and referral partners.
  • Contribute to the growth of Third Plateau’s philanthropy business by developing and advancing a strong pipeline of prospective engagements.
  • Partner with the Third Plateau Business Development team and other firm leaders to pursue new business, develop proposals, and lead prospective client conversations.
  • Help identify emerging needs and opportunities in philanthropy and translate them into new services, products, partnerships, or other areas of expertise for Third Plateau.
  • Represent Third Plateau externally in professional networks, speaking engagements, convenings, publications, and other opportunities that build the firm’s visibility and reputation.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in philanthropy, including significant experience in a senior leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing high-performing teams, including experience managing senior professionals.
• Significant experience advising philanthropists, family foundations, and other philanthropic institutions, ideally on complex, strategic questions.
• Excellent relationship-building and interpersonal skills.
• Experience contributing to or leading business development efforts, including cultivating relationships, developing proposals, and converting opportunities into engagements.
• Strong understanding of the philanthropic landscape, and the ability to translate emerging trends, research, and ideas into practical implications for clients and colleagues.
• Operational and financial acumen, including experience with resource allocation and budgets.
• Deep commitment to social impact and strong alignment with the organization’s mission and values.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field preferred; advanced degree or relevant certifications a plus.

• Remote-First Approach
• Flexible & Generous Time Off
• 100% employer-paid options for medical, dental, and vision coverage for you, with employer contributions toward dependent coverage
• Employer-paid short- and long-term disability and life insurance
• Employer contribution of up to $850 to your Health Savings Account
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA, DCFSA and Commuter)
• Initial home office stipend of $550, with $250 provided annually thereafter
• An annual professional development stipend of $1,000
• $110/monthly cell phone and home internet stipend
• 13 weeks paid parental and medical leave
• Annual discretionary bonus based on both company performance and individual performance
• Up to $500 annually to invest in your mental, emotional, and physical well-being
• Access to curated learning opportunities and team-based growth experiences to support the professional development of our team 

The base salary for this position is $260,000 annually, depending on experience and skills.

Applications will be accepted through October 9, 2026, at 5:00 PM PST. Applications will be reviewed after the posting closes, and only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Not sure you meet 100% of our qualifications? Research shows that men apply for jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria. Yet, women and other people who are systematically marginalized tend to only apply if they meet every requirement. If you believe you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. Whether you're new to this field, returning to work after a gap in employment, looking to transition, or taking the next step in your career, we would be glad to have you on our radar.

At Third Plateau, we believe in the power of diverse teams. In our recruiting efforts, we always seek to reach a broad and diverse pool of applicants to ensure our final candidates are not a homogeneous group in terms of demographics or experience. You can read more about our company values here. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds. Third Plateau is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to their race, color, age, religious creed, sexual orientation, or other personal characteristics.

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