Senior Director, Annual Giving Programs - Hybrid

Wellesley College • Wellesley, MA

1d • $130,000 - $140,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Director, Annual Giving Programs is the chief architect and strategist for Wellesley College’s annual fundraising ecosystem. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President, Development and Campaign Director, the Senior Director provides visionary leadership for a comprehensive program that secures essential unrestricted and current-use support. This role is responsible for the design, execution, and continuous optimization of a multi-channel operation that engages alumnae and friends to support Wellesley’s mission: to provide an excellent liberal arts education to women who will make a difference in the world. The Senior Director holds explicit accountability for meeting and forecasting annual revenue goals ($12M+) and overseeing the strategic growth of the donor pipeline. A high-priority mandate is to drive participation among young alumnae (2010s/2020s) and ensure annual giving strategies are seamlessly integrated with broader Campaign priorities. Leading a high-performing team focused on volunteer management and frontline fundraising, the Senior Director serves as a key bridge-builder with the Wellesley College Alumnae Association (WCAA) and Communications and Public Affairs (CPA).

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Experience: 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in educational fundraising or a related field.
• Leadership: Proven track record of managing staff and large-scale, multi-channel projects.
• Financial Oversight: Proven experience managing budgets and accountability for eight figure revenue targets.
• Strategic Architect: Ability to align annual giving with long-term campaign goals and major gift pipelines.
• Modernization & Digital Depth: Expert knowledge of the modern digital landscape, including digital acquisition, peer-to-peer tools, and omni-channel orchestration; ability to work collaboratively across departments (CPA/Marketing) to execute digital initiatives.
• Collaborative Leadership: Ability to navigate a complex institutional environment, specifically partnering with Communications, the Alumnae Association, Fundraising Analytics, and Information Strategy/LTS.
• Analytical Application: Ability to interpret complex data and reports from the Fundraising Analytics team to pivot strategies and improve performance metrics.

Responsibilities

• Revenue Accountability & Strategic Growth: Direct ownership of annual dollar and participation goals. Responsible for revenue forecasting and the design of multi-year strategies to reverse national participation trends, with a specific focus on the 2010s and 2020s cohorts.
• Reunion Giving & Campaign Alignment: Lead the overarching strategy for Reunion Giving, ensuring annual fund goals are aligned with broader Campaign priorities and Major Gift objectives. Drive strategy for milestone reunions to maximize both immediate revenue and long-term donor lifetime value.
• Omni-Channel Strategy & Digital Depth: Lead a sophisticated omni-channel approach with an emphasis on digital acquisition, peer-to-peer fundraising, SMS, and the adoption of emerging technologies to emphasize modernization. Serve as a key strategic partner to CPA and Development Marketing in the design of Giving Day.
• Team Leadership & Volunteer Management: Supervise a team of frontline fundraisers and support staff. Oversee high-level volunteer recruitment and training, fostering a culture of high-stakes results and professional mentorship.
• Data-Informed Strategy: Partner with the Fundraising Analytics team to translate data-driven insights and models into actionable fundraising tactics. Incorporate provided analytics to identify leadership prospects and refine segmentation strategies.
• Budget & Vendor Coordination: Manage the Annual Giving departmental budget and maintain relationships with external direct response agencies. Coordinate with LTS and the AVP of Information Strategy and Operations on technology-related vendor partnerships and platform integrations.

Benefits

• Competitive Compensation
• Exceptional Benefits Package: Access a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, vision and pre-tax saving benefits, life insurance, disability coverage, and more to safeguard your health and that of your loved ones.
• Commuting and Transportation: Enjoy the convenience of free parking on our picturesque campus, easily accessible from major roadways. We are also accessible via the MBTA commuter rail.
• Paid Time Off: Take advantage of paid vacations, personal days, sick time, and holidays to recharge and maintain a healthy work-life harmony.
• Retirement Savings: Plan for the future with our retirement savings plan. Wellesley College contributes up to 10.5% towards your 403(b) plan for eligible employees
• Work/Life and Wellness: A hybrid work environment for select positions (additional details will be provided during the interview process), caregiving support through Wellthy, legal plan insurance, pet insurance discount and a variety of other resources including retirement planning, and access to cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.
• Professional Development: Enhance your skills and explore growth opportunities through continuing training and pathways for growth within our supportive environment.
• Tuition and Education Benefits: Invest in your education with tuition benefits, and access resources to navigate student loan forgiveness, reinforcing our commitment to your ongoing learning.
• Campus Privileges: Enjoy free use of our state-of-the-art athletic and fitness facilities with onsite fitness classes, Library resources, and seize opportunities to attend diverse campus events that contribute to a vibrant community.

What This Job Offers

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