Senior Director, Prospect Development

AmeriCares

3d•$156,293 - $171,750•Remote

About The Position

The Senior Director, Prospect Development plays a critical leadership role in driving donor movement, portfolio optimization, and pipeline development in support of Americares ambitious growth goals. This position will oversee prospect research and portfolio management functions to identify, prioritize, and manage high-capacity prospects across individual and institutional (corporate and foundation) donor files. As Americares embarks on an ambitious growth effort to expand philanthropic revenue, the Senior Director, Prospect Development will lead a growing team, maintain a holistic, cross‑departmental view of donor engagement and growth; and partner closely with Development leadership to ensure operational alignment in support of organizational goals. Philanthropy & Partnerships (P&P) refers to a grouping of three subdepartments within the broader Development team: Individual Philanthropy (IP), Institutional Giving (IG), and Services.

Requirements

8 - 10 years of progressive , including experience, including managing a team of development professionals, in development operations or supporting a complex, multi-layered fundraising strategy in a health focused organization.
Ability to design and implement a comprehensive prospect development strategy for a global health organization, including pipeline development, portfolio optimization, and KPI-driven performance management
Demonstrated ability to take full ownership of complex functions, drive measurable improvements in pipeline health and donor movement, and deliver against ambitious fundraising targets
Proven experience building, leading, and developing high-performing prospect development teams, while establishing clear accountability, fostering growth, driving a culture of continuous improvement
Strong judgment to prioritize high-impact opportunities, make data-informed recommendations on portfolio assignments and prospect prioritization, and guide leadership with clear, actionable insights
Advanced ability to synthesize data, research insights, and fundraising behaviors to identify gaps, uncover opportunities, and implement solutions that improve portfolio effectiveness and donor engagement
Exceptional ability to translate complex data and research into clear, compelling insights and recommendations for both frontline fundraisers and senior leadership
Exceptional competencies that result in successful internal and external stakeholder relationships and results. Proven ability to work effectively across departments, organizational levels, and within a team structure; skilled at building consensus, navigating organizational complexity, and influencing stakeholders without direct authority.
Ability to manage competing priorities, focusing team efforts on the highest-value activities that drive fundraising impact
Commitment to fostering an inclusive, collaborative team environment and ensuring equitable practices in prospect identification, portfolio management, and team leadership
Proficient use of Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, and CRM databases.
US work authorization is required for this role.
Candidates must be currently living in and will continue to live in one of the following states/territories: CT, DC, FL, GA, IL, MD, MA, NC, NJ, NY, OR, PA, Puerto Rico, TN, TX, VA, or WA.

Nice To Haves

Fluency in languages that are spoken in at least one of our core locations (India, Philippines, Tanzania, El Salvador, Puerto Rico, Colombia, etc.), in addition to English.
Experience working through a growth or capital campaign
Familiarity with Blackbaud CRM (BBCRM) and/or Tableau

Responsibilities

Design and oversee the quarterly portfolio reviews process, including portfolio health analysis, individualized portfolio review meetings, and recommendations for reassignment or strategic adjustment
Maintain a holistic view of portfolio balance, pipeline health, and fundraiser capacity across all giving levels and donor segments (i.e., individual and institutional fundraising teams)
Develop and track KPIs related to portfolio quality, donor movement, and moves management discipline; regularly present and use data to make informed decisions and strategic recommendations to Philanthropy & Partnership and Development leadership
Lead a comprehensive and proactive prospect research and identification program for individual, planned giving, corporate and foundation donors
Oversee the production of high-quality research profiles and other donor-related research information that support fundraisers and senior leadership; ensure the quality, accuracy, and consistency of all research and related data
Proactively identify new prospects and existing donors ready for reassignment, upgrades, or deeper engagement through regular wealth screenings and other strategies; incorporate industry best practices to ensure pipeline development supports the organization’s ambitious growth goals
Establish and lead a consistent, department-wide workflow that ensures every event (Americares Airlift Benefit, Kittings, Cultivation Events, etc) or source of engagement with Americares (planned giving marketing, indirect platforms, employee engagement) feeds directly into Prospect Research and portfolio development processes
Partner with VPs and relationship managers to support strategic portfolio planning and donor engagement strategies where appropriate
Implement Quarterly Business Reviews in support of Philanthropy and Partnership team leadership, including but not limited to Chief Development Officer, Vice President of Individual Philanthropy, and Vice President of Institutional Giving
Contribute to discussions related to fundraising strategy, portfolio goal setting, forecasting and development of KPIs for the Philanthropy and Partnerships team
Partner with the Services team to ensure timely and strategic pre-event research and post-event insights to identify qualification, upgrade, and engagement opportunities to aid pipeline development
Oversee the accurate maintenance of prospect stages in the CRM, ensuring consistency, clarity, and timely updates.
Lead ownership of prospect research databases, tools, and vendor relationships, ensuring teams are equipped with effective, ethical, and well-managed research resources.
Collaborate with Development Operations / Manager of Development Systems to co-develop dashboards, pipeline reports, and other data tools that facilitate transparency around donor movement
Other duties and responsibilities as assigned
Actively model and contribute to Americares values, work culture and mission.
Engage in and contribute to team spaces with openness, global competencies, and a growth mindset
Bring leadership, fostering organizational culture and effectiveness, working with peers and counterparts across the organization to identify areas for continuous improvement, suggest and implement solutions
People manage staff, ensuring their success in meeting objectives while also supporting their professional growth