Director of Development

This full time, permanent position offers competitive benefits including fully covered medical, dental, vision, life, and short-term disability insurance. The Aquarium additionally offers a 403b matching retirement account, 16 vacation days, 9 holidays, paid sick time, and an Employee Assistance Program. 

Based on experience, this position is eligible for hybrid work. This position is Exempt according to the Fair Labor Standards Act. As needed, travel up to 10% may be required. 

Please email a Resume and Cover Letter to: jobs@aquarium.org

Closing Date: First review of candidates will be November 10th, and the position is open until filled.

POSITION TITLE: Director of Development 

REPORTS TO: President/CEO 

JOB SUMMARY: The Director of Development oversees the Development Department of the Oregon Coast Aquarium. They are responsible for generating contributions to fund programs, general operations, capital projects and endowments. The Director develops strategies for the progressive engagement of donors through various communications, activities, solicitations and acknowledgments including, but not limited to: memberships, grants, episodic/annual/year-end giving, major gift cultivation, reports and stewardship. The Director supervises department staff, and is the liaison to the Board Advancement Committee. 

LEADERSHIP ACCOUNTABILITIES

Works toward the success of the Oregon Coast Aquarium as a whole while upholding the Aquarium’s core values, strategic pathways, mission and vision.

• Regularly communicates and demonstrates through actions the norms, values and vision of the organization. Functions effectively inter-departmentally to achieve Aquarium goals. 

Ensures that internal and external customer expectations are met or exceeded through practices that use continuous quality improvement principles.

• Consistently projects a customer service focus. 
  
  

  • Fosters awareness of donor/member expectations.

  • Models responsiveness to donor requests.

  • Resolves complaints to the donor’s satisfaction.

• Continuously applies quality improvement principles.

  • Demonstrates personal commitment to quality improvement.

  • Builds quality improvement processes into departmental procedures.

Plans strategically and manages resources to produce results consistent with Aquarium plans and goals.

• Develops and manages a departmental strategic plan that supports the future direction of the Aquarium and its financial needs.

• Sets and achieves results within budgetary parameters

Builds and maintains a work environment that reflects a positive atmosphere, high employee satisfaction and competence and strong evidence of teamwork.

• Makes high quality staffing decisions and effectively delegates work appropriate to staff capabilities

• Ensure department staff have adequate resources to complete work and achieve departmental goals

• Encourages successful team development by actively involving staff in planning, decision making and solving team conflicts

• Creates an environment in which diversity is encouraged and honored

• Understands, interprets and consistently applies Oregon Coast Aquarium policies and procedures

• Recognizes employees for their positive contributions and accomplishments.

Communicates effectively

• Establishes and communicates clear expectations.

• Practices open, clear, consistent communication.

• Demonstrates effective listening.

• Provides feedback in a constructive manner.

 Takes responsibility for development of self and others

• Continues own professional development to strengthen knowledge to attain current and future goals.  

• Assists staff in developing their skills and abilities.

GENERAL ACCOUNTABILITES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Performance will be up to standard when the following key result area needs are met in a professional and proactive manner.  Timeliness in execution, attention to detail, thoroughness, and positive energy should be clearly displayed.  As with all fundraising programs, the final measure of success will be achieving fundraising goals and milestones.

Key Result Areas 

Requirements

1. Ensures philanthropy and fund development are carried out in keeping with the Oregon Coast Aquarium’s values, mission and goals.

2. Acts as staff liaison with Board’s Advancement Committee.

3. Oversees grant strategy, calendar submission and review of all submissions.  Coordinate with other departments as needed to execute submission.

4. Develops, plans and directs strategies for operating and capital fund development.

5. Identifies, cultivates and solicits major gifts from individuals, foundations and corporations.

6. Works strategically with Senior Management Team to identify and solicit prospects for program/project support.

7. Prepares knowledgeable and inspiring presentations to potential donors.

8. Assures development, design and implementation for cultivation, acknowledgement and recognition program for all donors.

9. Prepares and delivers weekly development status reports for the President/CEO and Senior team, as well as periodic reports to the Board of Directors

10. Ensure timely and thorough reports to grantors and major donors

11. Identifies and implements cultivation strategies to increase the number of bequests that will grow the Oregon Coast Aquarium’s endowment.

General

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the Oregon Coast Aquarium; Oregon as a community; and the general Zoo and Aquarium industry. Initial understanding must be achieved in four (4) weeks with in-depth understanding within the first year of work at the Aquarium.

2. Required to focus on strategies that expands the Aquarium’s target audience through community relations, speaking engagements and other endeavors that will connect with potential donors. Achieve high visibility at all Aquarium social events including special event fundraisers.

3. Learn the Aquarium development and membership systems to ensure a productive department. 

4. Collaborate with the Senior Management Team for the betterment of the Oregon Coast Aquarium in coordinating VIP tours, site visits, and marketing for successful fundraising endeavors.

5. Identify potential funding sources such as foundation/corporate grants, in-kind donations, government sources, fundraising events/campaigns and marketing opportunities.  

6. Interact with prospective donors daily, and record emails and documents shared in moves management system.

7. Oversee timely membership programs, and donor acquisition activities that ensure financial objectives and goals are met.

8. Prepare annual budgets for the Development and Membership Departments in coordination with the Director of Finance.

Major Gifts

1. Maintain a weekly, continually updated major prospect top-10 progress report for the Aquarium President/CEO.  In addition, steward a top-50 prospect list of grantors. Include President/CEO in site visits when appropriate.

2. Prepare professional letters of inquiry (LOIs), grant applications, supplemental information, reporting and communications to foundations and corporations for approval by the President/CEO. Delegate grant and/or report assignments to staff as appropriate.

3. Provide tours (when requested), reporting and timely communication with top-100 Rockfish Society ($1000+ individual donors) 

4. Prepare fundraising and membership marketing materials with Marketing to the satisfaction of the Aquarium President/CEO.  

5. Establish appropriate social events in support of the Aquarium and expand to key cities where a critical mass of Aquarium members reside.

6. Cultivate prospects toward gifting to the Aquarium using progressive engagement strategies and assertive solicitation techniques consistent with organizational values.

7. Oversee the Board Advancement Committee. Support the volunteer chairman of the Board Advancement Committee to keep this chairman enthusiastic about the Aquarium and major gifts.

8. Continue relationships with donors after their contributions to communicate the impact of their initial gifts (stewardship).  Follow through on leads donors suggest.

COORDINATING ROLE

1. Be an integral member of the Aquarium’s Senior Management Team in information sharing, planning, operations, and culture to provide synergy and energy in collective decision making.

2. Coordinate weekly update meetings with the Aquarium President/CEO.

3. Submit weekly progress reports to the President/CEO.

4. Become a respected member of the Oregon fundraising community through involvement in professional and community activities.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This position supervises Development and Membership staff.

KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES (Minimum levels)

• Must have a minimum of five (5) years in direct major gift solicitation experience – specifically with five and six figure gifts.

• Extensive knowledge of fundraising techniques and sources of funding for nonprofits

• Possess excellent and dynamic oral, written and interpersonal skills.

• Must have foundation and/or corporate grantwriting or proposal submission experience 

• Knowledge of data base and video conferencing systems, a working knowledge of computers, and proficiency in Word, Excel (or other accounting), Google docs, and other cloud-based software.

• Must be able to travel.

• Be goal oriented and close attention to detail. 

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business or a related field.