Director of Development Strategy
About The Position
The Out-of-Door Academy in Sarasota, FL is seeking an experienced Director of Development Strategy to serve as a strategic partner to the Chief Advancement Officer (CAO), translating philanthropic vision into operational excellence. This role will lead and supervise the development team while overseeing the strategic design and execution that support the School's fundraising goals. The ideal candidate will be: A demonstrated expert in gift processing, database management, and analytics, with a track record of establishing data integrity standards and generating actionable insights. A proven team leader who provides strategic direction to the development team while fostering professional growth and accountability. A systems thinker with comprehensive understanding of moves management, prospect research, CRM platforms, compliance protocols, and financial reconciliation practices.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree required; Master's preferred.
- Minimum 10 years of development experience, ideally at an educational institution; independent school experience is preferred.
- Minimum of 5 years of management experience.
- Strong project management skills with a proven ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.
- Excellent computer skills are required, proficiency in Raiser's Edge & RE NXT preferred.
Nice To Haves
- Master's preferred.
- ideally at an educational institution; independent school experience is preferred.
- proficiency in Raiser's Edge & RE NXT preferred.
Responsibilities
- Translate the CAO's philanthropic vision into aligned operational data and engagement strategies that support the School's development goals.
- Lead operational design and implementation of the School's comprehensive campaign, translating the CAO's philanthropic vision into coordinated execution across prospect management, analytics, and donor engagement pathways.
- Provide strategic direction and supervision to the development department (3 direct reports) while overseeing the division's budget and expenditures.
- Serve as gift processor with direct responsibility for all gift entry, acknowledgements, database management, and reporting, while ensuring data governance, compliance, and financial reconciliation in partnership with Finance.
- Live the school's mission and core values of respect, integrity, service, excellence, and responsibility.
Benefits
- Compensation is highly competitive and commensurate with experience and includes a comprehensive benefits package.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
