Director, Development

Oakland Zoo•Oakland, CA

7d•$111,971 - $122,909•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Development provides direction and manages workflow for all fundraising and donor relations supporting Oakland Zoo's mission. This position is responsible for managing, building, and diversifying Oakland Zoo's base of contributed revenue, driving sustainable revenue growth across major gifts, annual giving, and institutional funding, and ensuring an exceptional donor experience. The Director manages a team of four development professionals and collaborates closely with CCEO, and multiple departments.

Requirements

Minimum of 9 years of progressive development experience, including 5 years managerial experience managing people and projects in development
Demonstrated success developing and executing major gift and campaign strategies
Proven team leadership and people management experience, including experience coaching and developing staff to build technical and interpersonal skills
Budget management and vendor negotiation experience
Proficiency with donor CRM systems such as Raiser’s Edge, prospect research tools, and fundraising analytics platforms
Able to work flexible hours on occasion, including weekends, evenings and holidays.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Nonprofit Management, Business, Communications, or related field
Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) certification or similar professional fundraising credential
Experience with non-profit fundraising at the six-figure level in the cultural, tourism, or entertainment sectors
Knowledge of conservation, environmental education, or wildlife management
Planned giving and capital campaign leadership experience
Bay Area donor and philanthropic network knowledge

Responsibilities

In partnership with CCEO, develop and implement comprehensive fundraising strategies aligned with organizational goals and mission
Lead annual planning process, including goal-setting, budget development, and campaign calendar creation
Analyze giving trends, donor data, and the philanthropic landscape to inform strategic decisions.
Manage a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects.
Develop and maintain gift acceptance policies, donor stewardship standards, and recognition frameworks.
Lead annual campaign initiatives as needed in consultation with the CCEO.
Develop and manage department budget, including staff, fundraising campaigns, and vendor contracts
Track and report on budget performance, ROI, and key performance indicators in partnership with Senior Manager Development Services.
Negotiate and manage relationships with consultants and donor database vendors.
Support the CEO and CCEO in fulfilling their responsibilities to the Board Development Committee, including preparing materials, coordinating agendas and follow-up items, and advancing committee priorities in alignment with fundraising strategy.
In partnership with the CEO and CCEO, oversee donor relations strategy and serve as point of contact for high-level donor stewardship and recognition with CEO & CCEO.
Develop and maintain relationships with key donors, philanthropic advisors, and community stakeholders
In partnership with CCEO, drive strategies to increase major gifts, annual giving, and planned giving revenue
Align annual fundraising campaigns with mission and conservation work.
Collaborate with Marketing and Communications team on donor-facing campaigns and engagement content.
Collaborate with Membership and Admissions team to develop a pipeline of donors.
Oversee grant strategy, proposal development, and compliance/reporting in coordination with program staff
Hires, supervises, develops and oversees performance management of the Individual Giving Manager, Philanthropy Officer, Individual Giving Coordinator, and Senior Manager, Development Services.