Senior Vice President of Development and Strategic Relationships

Senior Vice President of
Development

and Strategic
Relationships

Cosmosphere 

Hutchinson, Kansas
(Remote/Hybrid Position)

The Moran Company is pleased to partner with
the Cosmosphere to recruit the organization’s
new Senior Vice President of Development and Strategic
Relationships.

Background 

Founded in 1962, the Cosmosphere International SciEd Center
& Space Museum’s mission is to “Inspire the future through
space exploration.”

The Cosmosphere is home to
the largest collection of U.S. space artifacts, second only to the
Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, and the largest
collection of Russian space artifacts outside of Moscow. One of the
first affiliates of the Smithsonian Institution, the Cosmosphere
hosts over 100,000 visitors per year, including over 30,000
students through in-person and online resources. Entertainment
venues at the Cosmosphere include the Hall of Space Museum, Carey
Digital Dome Theater, Justice Planetarium, Dr. Goddard’s Lab, and
CosmoKids, an interactive STEAM area. Recently, the organization
completed the “Revitalization Campaign” for facility improvements,
which has raised over $11 million since 2014, and renovations are
in progress.

The Cosmosphere provides leading-edge STEAM educational
programming, from field trips to summer camps. It seeks to enhance
and expand this programming in the coming years. To maximize
potential, additional space is being considered.

SpaceWorks, a division of the Cosmosphere, is the most highly
regarded space artifact restoration, replication, and design
organization in the world. Its work has been utilized by museums,
private collectors, and numerous film and TV productions, such as
the movie Apollo 13.

For more information, please visit www.cosmo.org.

Position Summary

The Cosmosphere is seeking a seasoned executive level
development professional to assume a new position, Senior Vice
President of Development and Strategic Relationships. Collaborating
closely with the President and CEO and the executive team, the new
Senior Vice President will play a key role in advancing the
Cosmosphere with current and new audiences. The Senior Vice
President will be responsible for growing the development program,
increasing strategic relationships, and strengthening recognition
of the Cosmosphere nationally and internationally. This
professional will plan, direct, and coordinate all development
activities, including major gift fundraising, annual giving,
planned giving, campaign management, and special activities. In
addition, the Senior Vice President is expected to build new
relationships and strengthen current connections with supporters
across the nation, especially those in the air and space industry
such as NASA, the Smithsonian, Space X, and others.

The Cosmosphere is located in Hutchinson, Kansas. While there is
the opportunity to work remotely, the Senior Vice President of
Development and Strategic Relationships will be expected to have
regularly scheduled time at the Cosmosphere in order to interact
with team members, meet and have relationships with members of the
Hutchinson community, and fully know and embrace the culture of the
Cosmosphere. A hybrid work schedule to accommodate essential travel
is expected.

Responsibilities

Strategic and Management Responsibilities

• Interpret the vision and goals of the Cosmosphere to strengthen
  awareness of the museum and education center and elevate its
  presence nationally and internationally.
• Develop and execute the Cosmosphere’s overall fundraising
  strategy and annual fundraising plans in support of Cosmosphere’s
  services, programming, and endowment, as well as support for
  strategic priorities for growth and sustainability.
• Develop, increase, and manage the fundraising capacity of the
  Cosmosphere, including planned giving and future campaign
  opportunities.
• Maintain and build strategic relationships with current and
  potential individual, corporate and organizational donors across
  the country to identify possible funding opportunities and new
  revenue growth.
• Supervise and direct the work of the Development
  Coordinator.
• Work in close partnership with the President and CEO and assist
  with administrative duties as
  assigned. 

Development Responsibilities 

• Create and implement the annual development plan and
  strategy.
• Identify and cultivate prospective major gift, corporate and
  planned giving donors.
• Initiate, plan, support and participate in fundraising
  solicitations.
• Travel as necessary to be successful in cultivating, soliciting
  and stewarding donors.
• Identify grant opportunities to support the Cosmosphere’s
  mission, including federal, state, and local grant opportunities.
  Coordinate proposal writing and management of successful
  grants.
• Coordinate activities and goals with the fundraising committee
  and board members on annual and targeted campaigns.
• Coordinate development of publications to solicit donations and
  raise awareness of needs that require funding.
• Serve as public spokesperson on museum needs and fundraising
  activities.
• Maintain high ethical standards for fundraising activities and
  train new board members and committee members on those
  standards.
• Train and lead other staff to support fundraising and marketing
  efforts.

Qualifications 

• Education: BA is required, MA is a plus.
• 5+ years of demonstrated leadership success in non-profit
  fundraising and development, including cultivation and solicitation
  of individual donors, foundations, and corporations, as well as
  grant writing and grant management.
• Knowledge of museum development and experience with science and
  space programs is a plus.
• Proven leadership and management capabilities and
  experience.
• Experience working with senior level executives in a corporate
  environment.
• High energy, positive, “can-do” attitude, flexibility,
  teamwork, and attention to detail; high degree of initiative.
• Strong verbal and written communications skills.
• Demonstrated ability to prospect, cultivate, and manage new
  donors.
• Strong relationship-building skills.
• Willingness to engage in significant travel regionally and
  nationally.
• Good computer skills and knowledge of database programs (the
  Cosmosphere currently uses Versai Museum Management Software.)

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $100,000 – $130,000. The
Cosmosphere offers a generous benefits package, including PTO,
health insurance, retirement plan, and social membership in Prairie
Dunes Country Club.

The compensation range for the individual hired as the Senior
Vice President of Development and Strategic Relationships will be
competitive and in accordance with the background and experience of
the selected candidate.

Non-Discrimination 

The Cosmosphere is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the
policy of the Cosmosphere to provide fair and equal employment
opportunity to all qualified  applicants and employees, and to
not discriminate based on any class protected by applicable
laws.

Application Process

The search for the Cosmosphere’s Senior Vice President of
Development and Strategic Relationships is being conducted by The
Moran Company.

To apply for this position, submit a cover letter and resume to
Jane Lampo, The Moran Company. Resume should include all relevant
professional education and experience,  dates of employment
(month and year) and position/title and organization names. The
cover letter should articulate relevant experiences and fit with
the stated preferences of the position.
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