Director, Development and Operations

The nonpartisan, nonprofit Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration brings college and university leaders and campuses together on the immigration issues that impact higher education, our students, campuses, communities and nation.  As the only national organization exclusively focused on the intersection of higher education and immigration, we work to support undocumented, international and refugee students, and advance forward-looking immigration policies and practices at the federal level, in our states, and across our college campuses.  The Alliance is composed of 550+ college and university presidents and chancellors of public and private colleges and universities, enrolling over five million students.

The Opportunity

The Presidents’ Alliance is looking for an experienced, energetic, collaborative, and organized individual to serve as our Director of Development and Operations. The Director will drive, lead, and manage Presidents’ Alliance initiatives as they relate to development, membership and revenue-generating activities and operations. The Presidents’ Alliance has built a diverse portfolio of funding streams, including major funders, member institution contributions, and corporate sponsors; the individual will be responsible for stewarding and growing these partnerships in order to raise approximately $3M annually. 

Working with the Executive Director, the director serves as a key staff member and strategic thought partner on Presidents’ Alliance initiatives and the organization’s future directions and priorities. This individual will supervise the Manager of Operations and People, who will assist in membership and operations, and coordinate other operations and event planning consultants. 

Specific Position Responsibilities 

Development  (50%)

The Director will be the primary coordinator for the Presidents’ Alliance development initiatives, working closely with the Executive Director and consultants, to sustain and increase the Presidents’ Alliance funding.  Tasks, some of which may be assigned to consultants hired by the Director, include: 

• Manage the development and operational workflow of grants, budgets, and events in which the Presidents’ Alliance engages by preparing and tracking calendars, grant budgets, and materials; 
• Identify new prospects and funders; prepare briefings for and help coordinate funder meetings; draft grant proposals, reports, and letters; develop 3 month, 6 month, and 12 month strategy and work plans for fundraising work.
• In coordination with the organization’s senior manager of communications, lead and manage the production of the organization’s annual impact report; and lead on the production of fundraising and communications materials.

Membership (35%) 

The Director will oversee membership at the Presidents’ Alliance, including membership records and dues, stewardship of current members, and outreach to potential new members. The employee should be a thought partner in strategically expanding and managing membership while also overseeing the membership operations. Tasks include: 

• Manage, steward, and grow our engagement with member institutions, including those in the Leadership Circle, and the Affiliate Partner program; develop 3 month, 6 month, and 12 month strategy and work plans for membership giving, expansion, and stewardship.
• Oversee management of member records using a membership database (CRMS), and of staff training of the CRMS and manage the administration and tracking of membership contributions and other invoicing. 
• In coordination with the organization’s senior manager of communications, develop materials for outreach to potential new members. 

Operations (15%)

The Director supervises the Manager of Operations and People and oversees the administration of the Presidents’ Alliance operations as related to our grants, budgets, and membership. The Director hires and supervises 1-2 contractor positions to assist with information management, budgetary and financial operations, periodic event planning, and administrative tasks. Responsibilities include:

• In coordination with the organization’s portfolio manager, oversee the financial budgets related to fundraising, grants, and membership contributions.
• With the executive director, strategize and create organizational budgets for upcoming fiscal years. 
• Oversee the organization’s Dashboard, which is used to track the organization’s outputs for funder reports and grants.

 

BACKGROUND, SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES 

The successful candidate will bring  considerable work experience and expertise in one or more of the following areas: fundraising and development, membership engagement, strategic partnerships, and nonprofit management. The individual will demonstrate excellent writing, speaking, and organizational skills, and people, project and budget management experiences.

 

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred
• Minimum 5-7 years professional experience in development or fundraising, including some management experience

 

Competencies:

Preferred competencies include:

• Excellent writing, verbal, and presentation skills, including funding proposals, slide presentations and website content; a good understanding of storytelling approaches
• Ability to fundraise and build relationships, adept at connecting the dots to successfully keep initiatives on track, coupled with the ability to prioritize work, deliver high-quality products, and meet multiple deadlines
• Excellent project management skills and experience, ability to lead projects independently, and solve problems creatively
• Strong quantitative and budget skills is a plus, and familiarity with software and database management
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, (Excel, Word, PPT); Google Suite; Adobe required; experience with WordPress, Canva, Constant Contact, and Qualtrics welcomed
• Experience with Asana or other project management systems; and Little Green Light or other CMS systems preferred 
• Enthusiasm and experience with working with diverse teams and on collaborative projects 
• Experience working with higher education institutions welcomed
• Lived experiences in immigration or background experiences working with immigrant, refugee, or international students strongly encouraged

 

Workplace and Location

The Presidents’ Alliance office space is based at 740 15th Street N.W. Washington, D.C.; however, the work of the organization is conducted primarily remotely and provides staff with a great deal of flexibility. Individuals must be located in the U.S. Some travel to member campuses, conferences, and events may be required. 

 

Position Structure, Salary, and Benefits

This full-time position is structured as a staff employee of the Presidents’ Alliance, which is a partner project of the National Center for Civic Innovation/Fund for the City of New York (NCCI/FCNY). The salary for this director-level position is between $110,000-$125,000 based on experience. Compensation for the role will ultimately depend on several factors, qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience.

The position comes with a very attractive benefits package. This includes 100% medical and dental insurance premium coverage for you and your dependents; fully covered life and long-term disability insurance; availability of pre-tax FSA (health care and dependent care) accounts; generous paid time off, including 20 vacation days, 12 paid holidays, 15 days of sick leave annually, and the opportunity to take an additional 10 days annually of paid leave for vacation, professional development or other reasons; and a 5% employee contribution to 401(k) plan matched by a 10% employer contribution. The Presidents’ Alliance also provides professional development opportunities for staff, a start-up laptop and office supplies package, and monthly $50 tech reimbursement for all employees. 

 

How To Apply:

Applications should consist of a cover letter, a current resume, and a grant or funder writing sample. Please submit applications here. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position will remain open till filled.

 

Consistent with federal, state, and local law, we are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, veteran status, or other protected category. We strongly encourage first generation immigrants, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous individuals and people of color), women, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQIA community, and other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups to apply. We strongly encourage applications from individuals with lived experience in the communities we serve or whose identities are underrepresented in higher education.