Director of Direct Marketing Operations

Director, Direct Marketing Operations

Ducks Unlimited National Headquarters has an opening for a full-time, Director, Direct Marketing Operations. Responsible for managing and coordinating the planning and intradepartmental integration for key initiatives and special project in support of direct marketing strategic plan. Oversees operational and project plan development and supports cross-functional integration of group teams and departments.  

The position will report to the Managing Director, Direct Marketing.   

Responsibilities:

• Oversees, coordinates, and ensures a consistent planning process for special projects and strategic initiatives defined by direct marketing leadership.    
• Assist Managing Director of Direct Marketing in creating strategic plan and mapping out the tasks needed to implement strategies.  
• Works collaboratively with direct marketing leaders to define clear processes that support requests for special projects to include concept review and approval by Managing Director.        
• Assist Managing Director with budget preparation and on-going revenue and expense reforecast for Direct Marketing.  Collaborate with Director of Annual Giving and external agency to ensure revenue and costs are reported accurately.   
• Oversee the financial performance and budget preparation for assigned programs including monthly giving, matching gifts, acknowledgments.  
• Leads the marketing and technical development of new program initiatives.  
• Develop and continuously optimize robust strategies for the matching gift program by collaborating with divisional partners (Development, MarComm, Events).
• Implement and continually evaluate an audience-based acknowledgment program (online and offline) to drive incremental revenue and donor experience.  
• Collaborate with Director, Member Services on the CDS partnership.  Oversee caging operations at CDS Global ensuring donations are processed accurately/timely and files are sent to DU with the service level agreement (SLA). 
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with external vendors (CDS Global, Epsilon).  
• Responsible for identifying and implementing ad-hoc campaigns (examples:  Giving Tuesday, World Nature Conservation Day, Wetlands Conservation Day). Research and recommend other ad-hoc campaigns to direct marketing leadership.  
• Oversee the processing of the weekly online and special handling premium file.  
• Collaborate with Director, Member Services on the oversight of the membership fulfillment kit process.        Take the lead role in package creative and content strategies and expense management.
• Responsible for opening and maintaining all permits for direct marketing including both outgoing permits and business reply (BRM) permits.  Audits permits as needs to ensure that DU is receives the cheapest costs possible with permits and closets permits as necessary.         Manages (Enterprise Payment System (EPS) and CDS postal accounts to ensure accounts are properly funded for campaigns.  
• Analyzes mail deliverability on a weekly basis, identifying program concerns and communicating updates to appropriate team members and Managing Director.
• Oversees and develops cross-enterprise strategies for the Charitable Adult Rides & Services (CARS) program.        
• Responsible for the coordination, development and execution of the annual tax receipt mailing.  
• Leads the Employee Giving program for DU developing creative strategies to drive employee donations/memberships.  
• Collaborate with Direct Marketing leaders weekly on departmental updates, challenges, and propose recommendations to enhance performance metrics.  
• Research and communicate direct marketing industry trends and challenges with team.  
• Other duties as needed assigned by leadership.  

 
Qualifications:

Experience and Education:  Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 7 years in direct marketing with demonstrated ability to drive revenue and donor retention.  Understanding of direct marketing best practices and industry trends.

Communication Skills: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (both vernal and written), including strong presentation skills.  Demonstrated ability to build relationships at all levels of the organization and work successfully with them.  

Technological Proficiency: High proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite required.  Experience with Blackbaud CRM a plus.  

Interpersonal Skills: Excellent interpersonal, relationship and team-building skills. Ability to provide leadership and guidance to other fundraising professionals and volunteers. Self-starter who can work independently as well as part of a team and is driven to succeed. 

Analytical Skills: Strong analytical, planning, time management, and organizational skills required.  An ability to manage multifaceted projects and a capacity to perform well independently in a fast-faced, multi-tasking environment are essential.  

SALARY AND BENEFITS PACKAGE:  Salary commensurate with experience. We work hard to encourage everyone at Ducks Unlimited to bring their authentic selves to work every day. DU offers an exceptional benefit package that includes comprehensive group medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance, including spouse and dependent coverage; three weeks paid vacation; paid sick leave and 10 paid holidays; 401(k) plan (including partial employer match); and tuition reimbursement.

DUCKS UNLIMITED, INC. IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

It is the policy of Ducks Unlimited, Inc. to afford equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons regardless of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, military status, disability, age, or genetic information except where age or gender is a bona fide occupational qualification as allowed by the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It is the policy of Ducks Unlimited, Inc. to afford equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons regardless of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions),  sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression,  age (40 or over), disability (physical, mental or visual), genetic information, marital status (including registered domestic partnership status), military and veteran status, immigration status, or any other category protected by federal, state or local law.