The Director of Development Services will be responsible for operationalizing the CDO’s strategy and charged with ensuring that the entire Development team is functioning at the highest level of effectiveness by developing systems that align with LDF’s vision of excellence.

Responsibilities include:

• Partner with the CDO to develop a growing and efficient department, by establishing new protocols, implementing best practices in development operations, developing goals and metrics for all team members, and regularly measuring progress toward goal;
• Collaborate with the Senior Director of Major Giving and the Senior Director of Institutional Giving to ensure they develop work plans and timelines, evaluate data and create reports to advance strategy and secure philanthropic contributions;
• As a team builder, the Director of Development Services will oversee a data-based approach that ensures gift officers execute strategies that result in the meaningful engagement and successful solicitation of prospects;
• Work with the Director of Special Events and Strategic Partnerships to ensure that events and stewardship programs are fully integrated across all areas of the Development Departments and running efficiently and effectively;
• Supervise Prospect Research Manager to assign prospective donors to gift portfolios, specifically by using data to identify potential new donors and to grow a robust pipeline of leadership gift prospects;
• Supervise the Database Manager to ensure the data team is accurately recording, tracking and reporting gifts;
• Develop and implement protocols and efficient systems for acceptance policies, acknowledgement letters, list management etc.;
• Utilize data to identify regions where LDF may expand its development efforts and provide recommendations to implement;
• Serve as Development Department liaison for the Finance Department, assess current reporting processes to ensure efficiency and be responsible for producing timely reports for the Finance Department teams;
• Partner with the CDO to prepare reports for LDF’s Board of Directors, Development Committee, volunteer leadership committees, and senior management team;
• Mastermind the Development calendar and meeting schedules, both internal and external, to optimize the time spent executing the fundraising strategy;
• Create systems to ensure effective communication between internal and external stakeholders;
• Manage relationships with key vendors and ensure effective systems for purchasing and maintaining Development materials and supplies;
• Other responsibilities as assigned

Qualifications include:

• Minimum 10 years of experience in development, preferably in development operations;
• Bachelor’s degree required; Advanced degree preferred;
• Highly organized individual with strong project management skills and the ability to prioritize and manage deadlines; experience managing vendors to implement new software processes/database conversion a plus;
• Strong communication skills, both written and oral;
• Strong interpersonal skills;
• Experience working with senior executives and high-profile donors and volunteer leadership;
• Flexibility and ability to work independently and as a team player with a range of constituents and colleagues;
• Experience with fundraising databases; familiarity with Raiser’s Edge a plus;
• Commitment to the mission and growth of LDF;
• Experience with civil rights, human rights, or educational organizations a plus;
• Excellent computer skills and advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Power-point, Word) programs.

Critical Competencies for Success:

• Track record of developing systems, policies and protocols, leveraging data to create gift portfolios, metrics and evaluative methods;
• Display understanding of gift reporting by various types of financial institutions;
• History of developing statements of support in writing with the highest level of attention to detail;
• Demonstrated ability to solicit, cultivate and steward donors, maintaining their engagement with an organization.

Other Characteristics: The successful candidate will be passionate about the mission of The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and value how fundraising contributes to that mission. He/she will be a seasoned professional capable of proactively developing systems to maximize fundraising potential and articulating strategies while working in a fast-paced environment, maintaining flexibility and a sense of urgency. The ideal candidate will be organized and entrepreneurial, able to work with senior management as well as manage a collaborative team, enabling staff to perform at the highest level to achieve the best possible outcomes. The candidate must have the organizational and systems skills to create protocols and metrics that measure and advance a development team’s goals.