Managing Director of Development - Southern Region

Ducks Unlimited, Inc. • AL, US, TN

3d • Remote

About The Position

Ducks Unlimited, Inc. seeks a Managing Director of Development to provide strategic direction and leadership for major-gift fundraising in the Southern Region, covering Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. The position also identifies, cultivates, and solicits major gifts from individuals, corporations, and foundations to support the organization’s conservation mission.

The position reports to the National Director of Development and works remotely from a mutually agreed-upon city within the Southern Region. Significant overnight travel is required, along with work hours outside the typical workday and workweek throughout the year. Remote employees may be asked, with reasonable notice, to attend meetings or conduct business at a Ducks Unlimited office or another designated location.

The Managing Director maintains a personal portfolio of high-net-worth prospects, advances assigned leadership prospects in partnership with the National Director, and guides Directors of Development in major-donor strategy. The role leads and supports a cohesive regional fundraising team, oversees staff performance and development, builds relationships with conservation and event staff and volunteers, and represents development on regional and organization-wide leadership and prospect-management teams.

Requirements

• Four-year degree from an accredited university.
• Six years of fundraising experience, including at least four years of development or major-gift experience.
• Superb communication, writing, and presentation skills, with the ability to persuasively convey Ducks Unlimited’s mission.
• Computer literacy and proficiency with Microsoft Office products, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Power BI.
• Experience with complex customer relationship management software.
• Proven success building and maintaining long-term relationships with fundraising constituents and soliciting and securing major gifts.
• Willingness to work outside typical workday and workweek hours throughout the year.
• Willingness to undertake significant overnight travel.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with comprehensive fundraising campaigns.
• Relationships in the Southern Region’s philanthropic community.
• Interest in outdoor conservation activities.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a personal portfolio of high-net-worth major-gift prospects to cultivate, solicit, and steward.
• Partner with the National Director to move assigned leadership prospects toward philanthropic commitment.
• Guide Directors of Development in developing strategies to cultivate and solicit major-donor prospects.
• Delegate assignments and evaluate staff performance in prospect management, solicitation, and follow-up activities.
• Promote a cohesive regional fundraising team of staff and volunteers to implement a comprehensive major-gift program and support other fundraising activities.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with regional conservation and event staff to advance the development program and Ducks Unlimited’s mission.
• Work with staff and volunteers to develop state campaign and Director of Development work plans that foster growth and improvement in the development program.
• Partner with the Managing Director of Gift Planning to ensure teams identify and pursue blended gifts.
• Represent development on the Regional Leadership Team.
• Serve on the development management and leadership prospect-management teams.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding and training, coaching, performance, and retention of a cohesive team.
• Identify, cultivate, and solicit major gifts from individuals, corporations, and foundations.

Benefits

• Comprehensive group medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance, including spouse and dependent coverage.
• Three weeks of paid vacation.
• Paid sick leave.
• Ten paid holidays.
• 401(k) plan with partial employer match.
• Tuition reimbursement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director