Careers
Director of Development
Job Posting Date(s): November 1, 2019
Status: Full time exempt. Position reports to General Director
Position Summary:
Opera Birmingham is committed to creating the finest professional opera productions, developing talent through competition and exposure to major artists, and promoting the operatic art form through community-wide education and outreach. In 2020, we seek to build our development capacity within the organization. The Director of Development will play a pivotal role in building the organizations capacity by providing leadership toward the achievement of a $1,000,000 revenue goal.
The Director of Development is responsible for planning, organizing, and managing major gifts; corporate and foundation giving; and planned giving. They will develop new fundraising strategies, focusing on drawing new audiences, and leverage opportunities to generate income. Working with Opera Birmingham’s General Director, board development committee, and finance team, the Director of Development will develop and execute an annual fundraising plan to maintain and grow charitable giving from the individuals and corporations to support the strategic direction of the organization.
Key Roles:
Major Gifts
Identify, cultivate, solicit and steward major donors
Work closely with General Director, develop individual strategies for major donors
Meet with current and prospective donors regularly to build strong, positive and long-lasting relationships
With the General Director, work with members of Board of Directors and Development Committee, to ensure their understanding of their roles, goals and participation in the development plan
Corporate and Foundation Gifts
With General Director, create solid value propositions to mutually benefit foundations and corporations and Opera Birmingham
Work with lead team members on events, directing the strategy and outreach for securing sponsorships
Fundraising Events
Support fundraising events with strategic planning
Raising adequate corporate support for all fundraising events
Planned Gifts
Develop a strategy to implement a new planned giving program
Identify prospects, cultivate and secure planned gifts
Grant Writing and Management
Assist General Director with research, writing, proposal development, submission and reporting requirements
Assist in seeking local, regional and national grant opportunities
General
Maintain Development Calendar with dates, prospects, gifts, asks and notes for individual donors, foundations, corporations
Staff the Development Committee, a group of board and community members
Perform other duties as assigned
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Solid, working knowledge of successful fundraising techniques, particularly major gift fundraising and donor cultivation
Ability to work with team members in successfully accomplishing the strategic goals set by the organization
Proven ability to meet or exceed performance goals
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, using a thorough knowledge of grammar, spelling, and punctuation rules
Ability to provide concise, thorough and articulate reports and presentations to a variety of audiences in both oral and written form
Proficient with Microsoft Office required; experience with fund development software (currently Network for Good); and a willingness to master new programs
Friendly, timely customer service and follow-up
Ability to prioritize responsibilities, delegate tasks and efficiently manage time independently to accomplish a variety of duties with limited oversight
Skill in developing and maintaining positive working relationships with entire team to yield results that enhance mission delivery
Ability to mentor and manage staff as assigned
Ability to practice an appropriate level of confidentiality
Ability to influence others to work cooperatively toward strategic priorities
Requires the physical mobility to sit and walk for moderate periods of time and to occasionally carry or lift objects weighing up to 20 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be provided as necessary.
Qualifications & Requirements:
Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing or similar relevant field of study, with substantial experience in fundraising evident
Five-seven years of experience in positions involving similar job responsibilities required; Experience in non-profit, entrepreneurial or economic development preferred
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Ability to effectively manage people and projects and bring sound decision-making abilities to bear, in order to maximize results
Strategic thinker, skilled problem solver, resourceful and business-minded
Organized and productive, with an ability to plan and execute complex strategies, utilizing good attention to detail
Proven time management and organizational skills
Hard-working with a positive attitude and willingness to accomplish the task at hand
Ability to manage simultaneous tasks or projects while maintaining a team spirit
Ability to effectively work with a variety of people in a professional manner and project a favorable impression of the organization
Proficiency in typical office procedures and routines, and with office equipment
Flexibility to facilitate/participate in meetings and events outside of core business hours (i.e. nights, weekends, etc.)
Valid driver’s license for traveling between local businesses, organizations and other locations as necessary.
To apply, please email your cover letter and resume with references to Keith A. Wolfe, General Director at jobs@operabirmingham.org.
Opera Birmingham is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates for employment are considered without regard to race, age, creed, color, sex, national origin, marital status, HIV status, or sexual orientation.