Job Description

The Advancement team identifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards individuals, as well as foundation, government and corporate partners who invest in the Society to drive impact through science, technology, education, exploration, and storytelling. The team collaborates across the Society to build transformative and impact-driven strategic partnerships. The team also produces global events that deepen connections and leverage the Society’s power to convene, and directs robust annual, major and planned giving programs empowering the Society with a broad base of public support.

Reporting to the Vice President of Leadership Giving, the Director of Major Gifts leads and directs a team consisting of Major Gift Officers with regional portfolios, as well as a Senior Manager of Leadership Giving Societies. The Director will work with the Senior Manager on the management and strategic direction of two leadership giving recognition societies known as the Hubbard Council ($50,000+) and the Clark Council (25,000+).

The Director works closely with the Vice President of Leadership Giving and senior Advancement leaders to track metrics to measure fundraising performance, perform data analysis to drive strategy, and exceed advancement goals. This leader is proactive, responsible and has experience supervising, building, and maintaining strong professional relationships in a fast-paced work environment.

The Director of Major Gifts is responsible for developing and executing an effective international fundraising strategy. The Director will be an exceptional communicator and relationship builder with the creativity and skills to organize and develop an international fundraising program (including portfolio development, multi-day event execution, and executive-level meeting strategy coordination) from the ground up.

• Develop, lead, and mentor a high-quality team that is prepared to meet aspirational fundraising goals. Empower staff through active communication and delegation.
• Set clearly defined and measurable goals for team members. Celebrate achievements and establish expectations for future success.
• Maintain accountability to the Advancement database, administrative systems and procedures.
• Oversee Senior Manager of Leadership Giving Societies’ day-to-day management and long-term strategy development for the Hubbard Council and the Clark Council.

• Develop, in conjunction with the Chief Advancement Officer and Vice President of Leadership Giving, an advancement work plan, implementing short-term and long-range plans for international fundraising.
• Manage a portfolio of 40-60 international major and principal donor prospects—personally and in support of Senior Leaders-and move them through the donor cycle, raising at least $1.5M in year one and $2.5M-$4M in subsequent years.
• Strategize, cultivate, and solicit international major and principal gift donors to meet and exceed annual revenue fundraising goals and metrics.
• Serve as the day-to-day primary contact for all international Advancement work and potentially serve as point of contact for a signature program(s) and/or Explorer(s).

• Commitment to the mission of NGS – must adhere to the highest ethical standards, demonstrate an empathetic disposition and perseverance, and convey sensitivity to the needs of donors, staff and volunteers.
• Skilled at collaborating across multiple departments in a complex organization.
• Excellent attention to details and follow through as demonstrated through effective project management experience.
• Strong communication skills, both oral and written.
• Presents a high degree of sophistication, self-confidence and self-motivation – ability to keep calm under pressure.
• Comfort multi-tasking multiple deadlines and projects and follow through.
• Ability and willingness to travel internationally multiple times per year for extended periods of time.
• Skill in exercising a high degree of initiative, judgment, discretion, and decision-making to achieve organizational objectives.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a goal-oriented team environment.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment independently when responding to inquiries and interacting with high net worth donors, volunteers and staff.
• Strong personal and professional integrity.

• Proficiency in a second language is a plus.
• Proficiency with fundraising CRM (Raiser’s Edge NXT, DonorPerfect etc.).
• Proven fundraising experience for environmental causes.

Remote - Our Remote designation continues to require that staff work in another location in the U.S. or abroad, such as our regional leads for our Education and International teams or regional fundraisers in Advancement. Staff may also be designated as Remote by their supervisors (with approval by the Senior Team lead) because of their duties or personal circumstances, and are afforded this status when it is beneficial to NGS, their respective team, and the employee.

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