Director of Development

PSE Healthy Energy•Oakland, CA

36d•Remote

About The Position

PSE Healthy Energy is an independent scientific research institute that specializes in bringing science to energy policy. Our mission is to generate energy and climate solutions that protect public health and the environment. At PSE, we design our research around real-world challenges and proactively connect our audiences with actionable, evidence-based information they can trust. Our team of scientists, engineers, and public health professionals lead multidisciplinary research within our five practice areas: Clean Energy Transition, Environmental Public Health, Climate, Energy Equity, and Oil and Gas. The Development Department drives our organization’s fundraising and partnership efforts through collaboration, strategy, and relationship building. Working closely across departments, our team leads initiatives that strengthen donor relationships, develop funding proposals, and support organizational growth. We use Salesforce CRM to manage relationships, track progress, and inform decisions with data. As we continue to expand, we’re seeking a Director of Development to help shape our fundraising strategy and enhance team coordination. The ideal candidate will be an adaptable, strategic thinker with a passion for collaboration and system building. SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIPS This position reports to the Executive Director and currently supervises the Development Associate and a planned Proposal Development Manager role. As the department grows, the Director will lead the design, recruitment, and supervision of additional positions that support institutional partnerships, individual giving, and development operations. The long-term vision is to build a cohesive development structure that advances both institutional and individual donor fundraising, supported by Salesforce integrations and collaborative processes. SUCCESS IN THE ROLE Success will be defined by the Director’s ability to meet or exceed fundraising goals, strengthen donor and partner relationships, and build high-performing development functions that grow sustainably. Effective leadership will result in resilient financial planning, reduced funding gaps, and a stronger foundation for long-term mission impact. The Director will focus on strategic leadership, revenue governance, and cross-departmental alignment, supported by a Development Associate, a Proposal Development Manager, and close partnership with the Executive Director and executive team. Together, this group will advance organizational strategy while the Director delivers quarterly updates that help manage financial, operational, and growth risks.

Requirements

Deep commitment to PSE's mission and values, with a strong passion for climate, energy policy, clean energy solutions, and environmental public health
Bachelor's degree in Nonprofit Management, Business Administration, Communications, or a related field; advanced degree preferred
A minimum of 7 years of demonstrated progressive experience in fundraising and development, including 5+ years in a leadership or supervisory role managing teams and scaling operations
Proven track record of developing and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies, including multi-year planning, scenario forecasting, and successfully securing $5M+ annually from diverse sources (foundations, government, major donors, etc.)
Strong expertise in grant lifecycle management, proposal development, donor cultivation, stewardship, and compliance with government and funder regulations
Proven excellence in written and verbal communication, with a track record of crafting compelling proposals, reports, presentations, and donor materials that effectively convey an organization’s value proposition and impact to diverse.
Ability to build and maintain trust-based relationships with diverse internal and external stakeholders, balancing relational and depth with strategic foresight to foster cross-functional collaboration, shared purpose, and effective team leadership across the organization
Proficiency with Salesforce or similar CRM systems, including data management, reporting, integration, and using insights for strategic decision-making
Strong analytical, project management, and organizational skills, with meticulous attention to detail and the agility to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, evolving environment
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States

Nice To Haves

Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential
Experience building organizational infrastructure to support rapid growth, including scaling teams, implementing new systems, and redesigning processes to increase efficiency, transparency, and accountability
Demonstrated engagement with domestic and international (non‑U.S.) grantmaking and nonprofit communities
Familiarity with the climate, energy, or environmental policy sectors, with a track record of securing grants from climate- and energy-focused foundations, individual donors and government agencies
Strong proficiency in communications and branding principles, paired with hands-on experience using creative tools like Canva for developing fundraising materials
Familiarity with digital and online fundraising platforms (e.g., Classy, Donorbox, etc.) and tools for optimizing online donations

Responsibilities

Develop and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies, including annual and multi-year targets for restricted and unrestricted revenue, aligned with organizational priorities, budget, and long-term vision.
Conduct scenario planning for organizational growth, including structure, initiatives, projects, and resource needs, in close collaboration with Finance, Programs, and executive teams.
Identify and pursue new funding opportunities, including unrestricted funds to offset indirect costs and as a buffer for growth, strengthen reserves, and mitigate gaps arising from no-cost extensions or over-budget projects.
Monitor fundraising data, analyze trends, and adjust strategies, providing cross-functional insights for financial forecasting and decision-making.
Own the unrestricted vs. restricted balance, and partner with the Director of Finance to forecast and manage funding risks, set funding thresholds for new initiatives, and align staffing growth with revenue capacity.
Continuously assess and manage funding risk, including potential government sources (e.g., federal, state, or foreign opportunities, etc.), reducing overreliance on any single source and preparing PSE for their distinct timelines, compliance requirements, reporting, and cash flow planning.
Bring resourcefulness and entrepreneurial mindset in PSE’s fast-moving environment, continuously monitoring and adapting to the evolving philanthropic and fundraising landscape to innovate revenue strategies, capture emerging opportunities, and build financial resilience.
In collaboration with the Director of Scientific Programs, decide which initiative receives priority funding when capacity is constrained, ensuring funding thresholds exist before programs scale.
Build and maintain strong relationships with donors, philanthropic partners, and collaborators to advance stewardship, reporting, and strategic partnerships.
Design and lead moves management framework for development audience segments, in partnership with the Communications Director and staff.
Collaborate with Communications to create campaigns, donor materials, presentations, and impact reports. Identify opportunities to partner with funders’ and external partners’ communications teams to elevate PSE’s branding, visibility, and credibility as a trusted scientific authority.
Partner closely with the Director of Communications to develop and implement ongoing development communications to ensure the acquisition of new philanthropic partners and the ongoing cultivation of existing relationships through consistent, mission-aligned engagement.
Partner with Communications, Finance, Operations, Programs, and key teams to establish, standardize, and continuously improve cross-departmental processes, organizational efficiency, and enhance visibility into project-level information (e.g., status updates, upcoming deadlines and deliverables, timeline pivots, or funding needs, etc.) to smooth dependencies.
Oversee the grant lifecycle (application to compliance), delegating tasks to team members as the department grows, while focusing on strategic alignment and process improvements.
Partner with Finance to manage the financial dimensions of fundraising, forecasting, reserve tracking, and growth limits, ensuring real-time accuracy and alignment with PSE policies, laws, and grants requirements.
Establish robust systems and processes for donor data, proposals, and reporting, including supervising CRM (Salesforce) development and integration with administrative tools.
Drive investments in tools, contractors, or technology to support fast-paced development and cross-departmental workflows.
Govern core financial risks such as no-cost extensions by collaborating across teams to identify emerging funding gaps and raising additional funds (restricted and/or unrestricted) as needed.
Model PSE's mission, values, and norms as a member of the executive team, attending weekly meetings.
Collaborate with the ED and Board to set goals, steward resources, and evaluate progress, including organization-wide decisions and change initiatives.
Lead the Development department by managing the budget, building and mentoring the team through thoughtful leadership, phasing departmental growth that aligns with organizational strategy, and fostering a culture of shared success.
Develop departmental standard operating procedures and policies, ensuring cross-functional alignment and staff compliance.
Perform other duties as assigned.