Director of Foundation and Corporate Relations

THE OPPORTUNITY

Cancer is, and will continue to be, a major burden on societies
worldwide. This problem is not unique to any single country but
instead is a global challenge that does not recognize borders.

Through many decades of research, a deep understanding of many
aspects of how cancer is initiated, develops and spreads is being
gained. This understanding is now being translated into novel
prevention strategies and a compendium of increasingly advanced
treatments.

However, despite these breakthroughs many tough, stubborn
challenges continue to impede progress. Solving these challenges
holds the key to a decidedly different outcome for the many
millions diagnosed with cancer each year. To make radical progress
against these challenges requires an elite, global community of
cancer researchers to collaborate across borders, with a relentless
focus on solving them. To make the radical progress against these
challenges Cancer Grand Challenges was established.

Cancer Grand Challenges is now seeking to appoint a Director of
Foundation and Corporate Relations. The Director of Foundation and
Corporate Relations will develop and manage the foundation and
corporate relations program that will seek to generate early and
substantial support for Cancer Grand Challenges. Cancer Grand
Challenges is therefore seeking an experienced foundation and
corporate relations professional, who will be responsible for
designing, planning and executing the strategy to develop
partnerships with Cancer Grand Challenges.  Reporting to the
Chief Development Officer, the Director of Foundation and Corporate
Relations will be responsible for building a robust and diverse
foundation and partnership base.

Cancer Grand Challenges

Cancer Grand Challenges supports an elite community of
international research teams to come together, think differently,
and solve some of cancer’s toughest challenges. With a series of
$25 million awards, Cancer Grand Challenges teams are empowered to
rise above the traditional boundaries of geography and scientific
discipline, in order to accelerate scientific progress, and to
ultimately change outcomes for people with cancer.

Founded by the two largest funders of cancer research in the
world – Cancer Research
UK and the National Cancer Institute in the United States – and
uniting an international community of partners, Cancer Grand
Challenges aims to make the radical progress against cancer that is
urgently needed.

American Friends of Cancer Research

American Friends of Cancer Research is an independent 501(c)3
not-for-profit. Its purpose is to support unique, large-scale,
global research collaborations in partnership with other scientific
funders to catalyze transformational breakthroughs in our
understanding of cancer, that could lead to new ways to prevent,
diagnose, and treat cancers.

The principal focus of American Friends of Cancer Research is to
support Cancer Grand Challenges – a flagship global initiatives
developed and led out of Cancer Research UK in partnership with the
U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI).  The incumbent
professional will be employed by American Friends of Cancer
Research to support the Cancer Grand Challenges initiative.

SUMMARY OF THE ROLE’S MAIN PURPOSE

Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, the Director of
Foundation and Corporate Relations will play an integral role in
advancing the mission and generating income for Cancer Grand
Challenges. The Director of Foundation and Corporate Relations will
play a central role in developing and managing the foundation and
corporate relations program that has generated early and
substantial support for Cancer Grand Challenges. Foundation and
Corporate giving and partnerships are a key pillar of a diversified
income generation strategy for Cancer Grand Challenges. Identifying
appropriate foundation and corporate prospects for grant winning,
partnerships and other income, the Director will collaborate with
senior programmatic and scientific leaders on the submission of
proposals and reports, the development of partnerships, and serve
as a relationship manager and strategist for a growing portfolio of
major, regional, and family foundations and prospective global
corporate partners.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Fundraising

• Expand and oversee portfolio of foundation and corporate
  prospects, partners and sponsors
• Individually and collaboratively develop and write proposals
  and reports in support of Cancer Grand Challenges
• Collaborate with leadership to assess foundations and
  corporations’ alignment with and potential to support and/or
  partner with Cancer Grand Challenges
• Develop and implement comprehensive cultivation and stewardship
  strategies for growing portfolio of foundation and corporate
  prospects, partners and supporters
• Draft correspondence and other materials for senior leaders and
  faculty.
• Manage the timely execution of multiple projects, enlisting
  support of other staff where appropriate.
• Represent Cancer Grand Challenges and serve as a liaison to
  foundation and corporate leaders and program staff as
  appropriate

 KEY TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS &
EXPERIENCE

• Exceptional writing and communication skills
• Working knowledge and understanding of the foundation and
  corporate sectors, particularly those organizations that
  historically support cancer and/or fundamental life sciences
  research or academic medical research
• Passionate and knowledgeable about the life sciences and/or
  medicine and the important role fundamental research plays in
  advancing knowledge about and interventions, therapies and
  diagnostics for cancers or other conditions
• Ambition to build and maintain effective partnerships at all
  levels of internal and external constituencies.
• Demonstrated aptitude to thrive in a complex and dynamic
  environment, managing multiple priorities
• A self-starter who uses an entrepreneurial approach to building
  and guiding an organizational fundraising program with the ability
  to expand the pipeline of supporters and partners
• Master’s Degree or equivalent preferred
• 5-7 years of professional work experience in nonprofit
  management, development, alumni relations, marketing, public
  relations, sales or similar professional work experience
  required
• Ability to travel and work irregular hours as needed
• Ability to work effectively with high-level decision makers,
  committee members, and donors
• Experience leading a project team or managing staff
  preferred
• Experience writing and managing independent proposals and
  developing solicitation strategies at the seven figure plus
  level

TEAM BEHAVIORS

• Excited by the opportunity to build on the success and scale of
  Cancer Grand Challenges;
• Willing to go above and beyond the position description to
  ensure this new initiative is a success;
• Demonstrate excellent self-awareness and understand personal
  impact;
• Integrate into, and work well as part of a dynamic and evolving
  team based across different geographic locations, cultures, and
  legal frameworks;
• Respond well to and embrace change and ambiguity;
• Provide and receive feedback to enable individual and team
  development;