Director Of Development, Principal And Major Gifts

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) seeks a Director of Development, Principal and Major Gifts to lead a dynamic major gift team, while actively managing a portfolio of existing donors to support the ambitious and strategic fundraising growth of the organization. This position will be responsible for leading the team to drive WHOI’s For Our Ocean Campaign to secure leadership and transformational gifts.  In this role, will balance the day-to-day management of a team of Major Gifts development professionals, as well as the management of a select portfolio of individual donors with the capacity to make 6- and 7-figure gifts. Working closely with the Chief Development Officer, the Director will also be responsible for the strategic identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of Principal and Major Gifts prospects who are at various stages in their relationship with WHOI. They will work closely with the Events team to ensure cultivation and stewardship events are well positioned for the team’s success. 
The ideal candidate will be highly professional and able to adapt to emerging opportunities within a fast-paced environment. They will have 10+ years of fundraising experience and at least five years managing frontline fundraisers with a proven ability to motivate, engage and work collaboratively at all levels. The demonstrated ability to plan, execute and close 6- and 7-figure gifts is essential, as is a proven track record of success in identifying new donors. Experience raising Major Gifts for a research institution is preferred.
The Director reports to WHOI’s Chief Development Officer. The candidate will be an engaged and energetic fundraiser who relishes the cultivating, soliciting, and stewardship of donors. They will be a natural relationship builder who takes a solutions-focused approach to development. They will be a natural leader with the presence, interpersonal skills, and energy to build relationships at all levels in service to WHOI; a true team player who has collaborative instincts, an inclination to integrate efforts, and the tolerance for ambiguity and uncertainty in a complex environment. This is a hybrid position. Interested applicants should include both a cover letter and curriculum vitae (CV) as part of the application.

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT

• Work closely with the Chief Development Officer to deliver a strategic, multi-faceted development plan for WHOI, one that translates institutional priorities into development opportunities and enables the organization to meet annual fundraising metrics and goals.
• Ensure the development of fundraising strategies for all major gift prospects and oversee the collective execution of these strategies.
• Champion innovation, excellence, and expansive thinking when considering fundraising opportunities across the institution.
• Inspire, mentor, and evaluate a team of major gift fundraisers, striving towards ideal outcomes of best-in-class major gift cultivation and solicitation.
• Support the team in strategic and tactical pipeline building activities including prospect management, prospect development, discovery, and qualification.
• Oversee the annual operating budget for the Major Gifts team; ensure efficient use of office resources.
  

FUNDRAISING & RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT

• Manage a select portfolio of 80 major and principal gift prospects to meet your own philanthropic revenue goals.
• Travel locally and nationally to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward prospects and donors.
• Increase the philanthropic capacity of all constituencies, identifying areas for growth, and developing strategies to meaningfully involve staff, volunteers, and donors at all levels.
• Develop a meaningful donor engagement strategy designed to improve donor retention.
• Establish collaborative working relationships with Development colleagues to enhance the role and outreach of the major gift fundraising team.
• Provide and analyze data and information for the Chief Development Officer and the Vice President for Advancement & Chief Marketing Officer to maximize development opportunities and to track progress towards goals.
• Maintain records of activities and engagements in Raiser’s Edge.
• Some work is required nights and weekends.

Non-Essential Functions

Performs other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 10+ years progressive experience with exposure to the sciences, technology, and/or engineering-related subjects preferred.
• 5+ years of management experience leading teams of frontline fundraisers.
• Demonstrated ability to plan strategically to carry out the vision, goals, and fundraising aspirations of the organization.
• Proven success in fundraising at the major and/or principal gifts level (six- and seven-figure gifts).
• A supportive and accessible management style, the ability to lead and motivate a diverse staff and to encourage change and growth in both people and programs, and a strong commitment to personal and professional development.
• Evidence of entrepreneurial approaches in engaging prospects and developing a prospect pipeline.
• Experience evaluating the strengths of existing philanthropic programs and identifying opportunities for improvement. Evidence of elevating development programs to higher performance levels across all metrics.
• Demonstrated ability to work closely with high-level decision makers and other top-level volunteers.
• The interpersonal skills necessary for building relationships with external (donors, prospects, volunteers) and internal (scientists, advancement colleagues, staff) constituents.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Highly collaborative in approach.
• Able and willing to travel domestically to develop and maintain relationships with prospects and donors.

Physical duties for this position include but are not limited to, ability to lift less than 25 lbs independently and carry 0-10 lbs independently. Other physical tasks are mostly sedentary; use of hands for basic/fine grasping and manipulation, and repetitive motion. Other occupational requirements include talking, working around others, with others, and independently. Physical duties are subject to change.