VP of Membership & Development Operations

Pheasants Forever•White Bear Lake, MN

5d•$100,000 - $120,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Vice President of Membership and Development Operations leads membership and annual giving strategy and establishes the development operations infrastructure, standards, and accountability needed to support fundraising growth across Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. The role provides organizational oversight of membership and donor gift processing, supporter services, stewardship, data standards, and reporting. In partnership with the Chief Development Officer and cross-functional colleagues, the Vice President strengthens Development Team capabilities, guides operational investments, and supports organization-wide capital campaigns. The position is located at Pheasants Forever’s National Office in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. Some travel is required, including for annual Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic and other member- and donor-related events. The anticipated start date is January 2027.

Requirements

Commitment to the mission of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever and appreciation for conservation, hunting, and the outdoors.
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
At least seven years of progressive nonprofit fundraising, membership, annual giving, or development operations experience, including staff leadership.
Demonstrated success growing membership or annual giving programs and leading gift processing, stewardship, or fundraising operations.
Strong knowledge of CRM systems, data management, and fundraising reporting.
Ability to translate data into strategic decisions, establish effective organizational practices, and lead staff training and development.
Strong communication, collaboration, and leadership skills, including the ability to guide cross-functional initiatives and organizational change.
Sound judgment and commitment to donor confidentiality and responsible stewardship of organizational resources.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Microsoft Dynamics.
Experience supporting capital campaigns, major gifts, or planned giving.

Responsibilities

Lead an integrated development operations strategy that supports membership, annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, and capital campaigns, with clear ownership and accountability across teams.
Oversee membership and donor gift processing, including gift entry, designation, acknowledgments, receipting, pledge administration, recurring payments, and membership benefit fulfillment.
Establish organizational policies, standards, and accountability for development operations, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and consistency across fundraising programs.
Partner with Development, Finance, and Information Technology on reconciliation, gift acceptance, donor privacy, and data access.
Lead organizational stewardship and recognition strategies that protect donor intent, communicate conservation impact, and strengthen member and donor relationships.
Provide strategic oversight of supporter services and operational partnerships, aligning service quality, capacity, and investment with organizational needs while reducing administrative demands on fundraisers.
Develop and oversee strategies for annual and life membership acquisition, renewal, retention, upgrades, and reactivation.
Lead annual giving and recurring giving programs to deepen engagement, attract new donors, and grow philanthropic support.
Provide strategic direction for coordinated direct mail, email, digital, and AutoPay initiatives, including segmentation, messaging, premiums, testing, and evaluation.
Collaborate with Development leadership to connect members and annual donors with major, planned, and campaign giving opportunities.
Provide strategic oversight of membership and annual giving activities at National Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic and other priority membership and donor events.
Establish consistent data definitions, quality standards, and reporting practices that produce accurate, reproducible membership and fundraising results.
Guide development technology and reporting priorities in partnership with Development and Information Technology, ensuring systems support fundraising strategy and informed decision-making.
Oversee dashboards and analysis of membership, donor, campaign, and operational performance, translating findings into recommendations for strategy and resource allocation.
Advise the Chief Development Officer and senior leadership on membership growth, fundraising infrastructure, operational risks, and investments needed to achieve organizational goals.
Lead and develop the Membership and Development Operations Team through clear priorities, coaching, performance management, and professional development.
Set Development Team training and professional development strategy to ensure consistent application of fundraising best practices and organizational standards, including CRM use, gift documentation, reporting, and stewardship.
Develop and manage departmental budgets, revenue goals, staffing plans, and operational objectives aligned with organizational strategy.
Build effective cross-functional partnerships and communicate progress, challenges, and recommendations to senior leadership.
Perform other duties as assigned.