Director of Advancement

Director of Advancement

Director of Advancement 150 150 CookSilvermanSearch
Northern Light School
Published
January 3, 2022
Location
Oakland
Job Type
Contact Name (not public)
Victoria Silverman

Description

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Director of Advancement (DOA) oversees the Development department and ensures that the department meets annual and capital revenue goals.  The DOA works closely with the Director of Admissions and Marketing to help plan and execute marketing and communications strategies as well.  The Director of Advancement works with the Head of School, Board of Directors, teacher leadership, and committees (Development, Finance, Executive, and Governance) to garner support for the fulfillment of NLS’ mission and programs. This is an exciting opportunity for an advancement professional to play a key leadership role in driving and sustaining NLS’s 5-year strategic plan. The Director of Advancement will be responsible for building an Advancement team with necessary staff additions.

To be successful in this role, you’ll be someone who will feel at home working in an environment that requires you to juggle multiple priorities and competing deadlines while never losing sight of the overarching goals and desired outcomes. The ideal candidate is both a big picture strategic thinker and has the ability to roll up their sleeves to move projects forward, a calm and thoughtful communicator, flexible, and resilient. The candidate must also collaborate well with others to consolidate efforts among various departments and constituency groups.

 

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

The Director of Advancement position reports to the Head of School and plays a critical role in the advancement of the Northern Light School (NLS) mission.

 

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Collaboratively design, implement, and oversee a comprehensive fundraising program designed to broadly support the mission and strategic goals of the school.
  • Oversee all development efforts and programs, including annual giving, major gifts, alumni relations, stewardship, events, capital, endowment, and planned giving goals.
  • Create, maintain, and monitor the annual budget and goals for the Development & Marketing departments.
  • Lead and collaborate with the Development Team, Head of School, and Board to evaluate and execute NLS’s fundraising programs and case for support messaging.
  • Shape messaging that articulates and amplifies our commitment to academic excellence, social justice, and community outreach.
  • Support the Head of School in all advancement activities.
  • Identify, cultivate, solicit, close, and steward strategic individual donor relationships and corporate partnerships at the major gift level.
  • Prepare and partner with organizational leadership or other influencers involved in furthering donor relationships.
  • Work collaboratively with Finance on forecasting and to reconcile budgets.
  • Collaborate with the Head of School and the Board Chair on creating opportunities for meaningful engagement and solicitation of individuals.
  • Oversee a comprehensive moves management system including identification, research, strategizing, cultivation, solicitation, acknowledgment and stewardship for major donor, annual fund, and planned giving efforts.
  • Partner with the development team to create, implement, and manage any stewardship or fundraising events and effectively coordinate development activities with other NLS departments.
  • Author and teach others key organization (and case for support) messages.
  • Create, maintain, and monitor the annual budget and goals for the Development & Marketing departments.
  • Support marketing efforts to develop and implement a strategic plan to incorporate all communications tools and platforms, including newsletter, social media, press releases, etc.
  • Maintain active presence in local media, submitting press releases, & tracking media coverage.
  • Oversee development office personnel activities, including hiring and staffing.
  • Collaborate with the Director of Admissions and Marketing to address the School’s various communications needs.
  • Provide fundraising & marketing reports and analysis to the Head of School, Board, and Development Committee, and champion a culture of internal philanthropy at NLS.
  • Collaborate with the Director for Admissions and Marketing in developing a plan to increase mission-appropriate applicants through recruitment, advertising, and visibility.
  • Act as a contributing member of NLS’ leadership team, setting strategic priorities which align with our 5-year strategic plan, ultimately ensuring NLS can meet its long-term goals.

 

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Master’s degree or equivalent experience required
  • 7+ years of broad fundraising experience in most fundraising vehicles (major gifts, direct mail, planned giving, foundations, special events, and capital campaigns)
  • 3-5 years of experience managing an organization’s marketing & communications, including annual reports, web pages, emails, and other organizational messages and publications
  • Ability to successfully engage, cultivate, and steward long-term partnerships that will ensure the philanthropic success of NLS
  • Strong work ethic, high level of integrity, and ability to handle sensitive information with discretion
  • Capacity for strategic leadership and vision to work with senior leadership on fundraising priorities and metrics to ensure accountability
  • Demonstrated organizational, staff and project management abilities
  • Excellent communication skills, including writing and public speaking
  • Proficient computer skills, including Microsoft Office suite and Google online platform; experience in Salesforce or similar donor database preferred
  • Constant Contact or similar email platform experience a plus
  • Deep appreciation and understanding of NLS’ values and mission

All employees of Northern Light School are vaccinated against COVID-19.  This position is 100% in school.

 

SALARY OR SALARY RANGE

The salary range for this position is $125,000 to $150,000 plus full benefits.

To demonstrate our commitment to equity and equal pay for all, Cook Silverman Search will continue to post salary ranges on all of its job descriptions moving forward. The practice of not posting salaries perpetuates the gender wage gap and discriminates against people of color by causing individuals to negotiate from a disadvantaged starting point.

 

DEI STATEMENT

At Northern Light School (NLS) we believe a diverse, inclusive, and equitable school community is critical for preparing passionate learners and engaged citizens. Inspired by the core ideals of the civil rights movement, NLS is deeply committed to advancing the cause of social justice through culturally responsive programming that affirms the diversity of our community and gives young people the tools to “promote the moral advancement of humanity,” as our mission powerfully states. We encourage all stakeholders – supporters, families, faculty, and most of all, students – to embrace differences, honor identity and value full membership and belonging for all.

Northern Light School is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions based on merit.  We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex (including gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender, pregnancy, and breastfeeding), sexual orientation (including heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality), national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, marital status, age, medical condition, genetic characteristics or information, military and veteran status, physical or mental disability, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state or local laws.

How To Apply

TO APPLY

To apply for this position, or for additional information on the opportunity, please send a copy of your resume with a cover letter to Victoria Silverman at apply@cooksilverman.com.

All applications and inquiries will receive a response and be kept strictly confidential.

Northern Light School is an Equal Opportunity Employer.