Director of Advancement

We are excited to announce an opportunity to join the
Smithsonian National Postal Museum in Washington, D.C. as the
Director of Advancement. Join our dynamic team and serve a key role
in driving positive changes at the Smithsonian National Postal
Museum.  As the Director of Advancement, you will direct a
capital campaign to reimagine our Atrium level galleries and public
spaces while revitalizing and enhancing our exhibition experiences,
online and onsite.  The Director of Advancement, working with
the Museum’s Management Team, will help catalyze new programs,
digital engagement, and outreach efforts.  We are seeking a
skilled professional with diverse experience to contribute to our
mission of educating, challenging, and inspiring our audiences
on the breadth of American experiences. 

 With the second largest collection of any Smithsonian
Museum, this is a unique opportunity to help reimagine what a
history museum can and should be today, and tomorrow to help us
achieve our goal of greater reach, greater impact, and greater
relevance. Through our collection, we can tell any story in
American history. The United States Postal Service has issued more
than 2,500 stamps since the first stamps appeared in 1847. The
images represent some of our country’s greatest achievements,
its incredible natural beauty, as well as individual leaders,
artists, authors and more. But we also recognize that not
all-American stories have appeared on stamps. This strategic plan
calls on us to do more in telling less known, though equally
important, stories that deserve to be told to highlight the complex
and complicated history of America.

 Key Responsibilities

The National Postal Museum seeks to hire an
accomplished Director of Advancement with proven fundraising
experience to build and manage a portfolio of prospects and donors
to execute a fundraising program focused on high capacity giving.
The Director directs the Advancement program for the National
Postal Museum, with responsibility for planning and executing major
and annual gift fundraising initiatives including individuals,
corporations, and foundations. The incumbent will secure
contributions by discovering and cultivating a productive
relationship with prospective donors; presenting opportunities for
giving through solicitation efforts; helping to steward advisory
council members and their networks; and crafting and implementing a
multi-year fundraising plan. The incumbent works closely with
the Smithsonian Office of Advancement to coordinate with colleagues
on matters relating to proposals, gift agreements, budgets and
reporting, and other policy and process
areas. The Director supervises three advancement
professionals. The position reports to the Museum
Director. 

 Skills, Knowledge, and Expertise

A minimum of four years of fundraising experience preferably in
complex higher education or a large cultural or environmental
organization is necessary. A proven success in securing significant
contributions through creative discovery and cultivation of
productive relationships with prospective donors should be
demonstrated in your application. Strong organizational,
relationship, collaboration, and communication skills as well as
the ability to work independently are essential. The successful
candidate will have a passion for learning and exploration, and the
desire to join a dynamic and growing operation. National and
international travel will be required. Work during the
evenings and weekends may be necessary.

 Applicants who wish to qualify based on
education completed outside the United States, must be deemed
equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an
organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign
educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility
of the applicant and should be included as part of your application
package.

 Any false statement in your application may result in your
application being rejected and may also result in termination after
employment begins.

 Application Instructions

The Smithsonian Institution values and seeks a diverse
workforce. Join us in “Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and
Discovery.” Interested candidates should submit their resumes and a
cover letter to this
link by February 29, 2024. Resumes should include a description
of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this
job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average
number of hours worked per week. Relocation expenses are not
paid.

 What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy
announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared
against the qualification and experience requirements related to
this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified
candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.

 Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and
Inclusion

The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to
applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants
requiring reasonable accommodation should contact [email protected]. 
Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be
made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the
Smithsonian’s Accommodation
Procedures.

 The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal
Opportunity Employer. We believe that a workforce
comprising a variety of educational, cultural, and experiential
backgrounds support and enhance our daily work life and contribute
to the richness of our exhibitions and programs. See Smithsonian
EEO program information: www.si.edu/oeema