Senior Vice President, Development

Position description

The Senior Vice President, Development is the primary development partner of Human Rights First’s President and CEO, board of directors, board committees, and members of the organization’s leadership team. The SVP is responsible for the comprehensive planning, implementation, management, and oversight of all fundraising that will result in the implementation of strategies to support the overall financial growth of the organization’s financial base from individuals, law firms, businesses, foundations, government entities and others.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Design and implement a robust development strategy that maintains and broadens the organization’s financial support from individuals, law firms, businesses, and others, by nurturing existing relationships as well as identifying new and diverse sources of funding.
• Lead the department’s annual process of setting goals and priorities including the preparation of Human Rights First’s annual fundraising plan that sets out strategies, timelines, and budgets for reaching fundraising goals.
• Work closely with the President and CEO, senior management, the director of institutional giving, and the director of donor relations to raise funds in support of the organization’s mission and to coordinate and integrate the work of the development department across the organization.
• Work with board members to identify, cultivate, and solicit prospective donors; coordinate and facilitate the board’s involvement in meeting fundraising goals.
• Develop and execute donor engagement strategies, increasing supporter satisfaction and loyalty.
• Work closely with the communications team to develop and execute consistent and compelling donor communications and solicitations.
• Oversee strategic development of partnerships and alliances in support of development, including Human Rights First’s board of advocates, the private sector, and other stake holders.
• In conjunction with senior management, develop and execute distinctive brand positioning to attract new supporters and build brand familiarity; work closely with the communications team and senior management to ensure consistent messaging.
• Familiarize the organization’s staff with fundraising goals and strategies and promote donor cultivation efforts across the organization.
• Develop and lead a highly effective fundraising team skilled in the latest strategies for identification, cultivation, solicitation and management of individual, law firm, corporate, and other donors; facilitate the exchange of creative ideas and resources, set clear objectives, foundations, and government, and evaluate results against goals set by the President and CEO, Chief of Staff and/or the CAO.
• Travel to meet organizational goals as required.
• Other duties as requested are based on departmental and/or organizational need.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Competencies

Human Rights First acknowledges the existence of systemic and structural biases and believes it is necessary to be strategic and intentional in pursuing diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of governance, operations, and programming. As an employee, you are expected to:

• Support adoption of best practices to create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive work experience for colleagues and external partners.
• Strive to consider the people, places, and cultures that might be missing from your work and look for opportunities to increase inclusivity in all the work you do.
• Support the mission of Human Rights First in all interactions with colleagues and stakeholders.
• Dedicate efforts to enriching DEI consciousness through active participation in relevant educational opportunities and initiatives. This includes Human Rights First Town Halls and Crucial Conversations and/or other professional development opportunities.
• Foster a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion by promoting adherence to the standards delineated in the Culture of Respect and Teamwork statement in the Employee Handbook.

Supervisor Responsibilities

As a supervisor you are responsible for the performance of your direct-report(s). You should guide, train, support, and motivate your team member(s) to help them accomplish their job-specific goals. As a supervisor it is your responsibility to be knowledgeable of your direct-report(s) responsibilities and know how to get the tasks accomplished in their absence. You should continually work to earn the respect and credibility of your direct-report(s) by building an inclusive and supportive learning environment. As such, building trust with your team members is vital to a healthy work relationship. Specifically, you will:

Performance Management 

• Meet with direct-report(s) on a weekly basis to discuss progress on projects, priorities, and goals.
• Assist direct-report(s) with workflow/bandwidth management and ensure that direct-report(s) understand their duties and delegated tasks.
• Provide timely and ongoing constructive feedback, including soliciting feedback from colleagues from other departments with whom direct-report(s) collaborate.
• Document progress of individual direct-report(s) goals by administering an annual performance review.
• Support and assist in planning direct-report(s) professional development activities; assist with finding professional growth opportunities.

Administration

• Maintain a safe and healthy work environment by establishing and enforcing organization standards and adhering to legal regulations.
• Develop and update employee job descriptions, as necessary.
• Approve timekeeping records in a timely manner.

Leadership

• Assist direct-reports with ongoing coaching and counseling.
• Provide quick and appropriate resolution of all challenges, discrepancies, and miscommunications.
• Share, support, and carry out decisions made by the organization’s management.
• Ensure adherence to Human Rights Firsts’ personnel policies and practices.
• Focus on creating a culture where accountability and fairness are present in every situation.
• Support an innovative workplace that fosters creativity, encourages new ideas, and supports examining different approaches to existing initiatives.
• Recognize the contributions of your direct reports in ways that are meaningful to them.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher and a minimum of 10 years in the development field in positions of increasing scope and responsibility; a minimum of five years of senior management experience (preferably in a nonprofit environment); professional experience in the human rights realm highly valued
• Demonstrated commitment to the mission, core values, and pillars of Human Rights First.
• Demonstrated commitment to the highest professional and ethical standards.
• Breadth and depth of development experience with a personal record of success in garnering individual major gifts, creating successful fundraising strategies, improving financial results, improving relationships, building consensus, and providing leadership for a comprehensive development program including foundations, digital marketing, comprehensive campaigns, and special events.
• Professional and personal confidence and presence to guide and enhance the impact and results of the fundraising activities of the President and CEO, board of directors as well as other individuals of influence and affluence.
• Superb written and verbal communication and people skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with board members, senior leadership, staff, donors, and other supporters.
• Outstanding management skills with the ability to provide leadership for an effective fundraising team in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Ability to embrace management challenges, confront situations head-on, delegate with ease, and motivate and mentor others.
• Strong analytical skills based on intellectual depth with the ability to regularly exercise good judgment.
• Knowledge of accessing and managing donor database systems.
• Strong ability to organize and set and accomplish priorities in a timely manner.

Application instructions

Please be sure to indicate you saw this position on tendersglobal.net