Job description

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Chief Advancement Officer, the Senior Associate Director creates and implements comprehensive strategies to identify, cultivate and solicit high-capacity donors and prospective donors to the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL). This position builds engagement of these individuals with the MBL and creates and refines gift opportunities based on the MBL’s priorities. A successful candidate for this role will be someone who has demonstrated a success in major gift frontline fundraising for 3+ years prior, a familiarity with planned giving and experience closing life income and/or estate gifts and has experience closing gifts at the $250K+ level. The ideal candidate will be entrepreneurial, curious, enthusiastic, and detail-oriented, have a passion for working with people, wants to be an integral part of a high-performing and strategic team, and is dedicated to advancing the MBL’s mission. This is a hybrid position, although candidates seeking a fully remote status will be considered if residing in the greater Boston/Cambridge area.

Responsibilities:

Plan and implement strategies for a coordinated program of fundraising activities for the MBL in one or more geographical regions with required travel to region(s) – approx. 40%.
Plan and implement strategies to grow membership and coordinate activities associated with MBL Council leadership donor group and 1888 Society of planned giving donors.
Work with the Associate Director of Events and Community Engagement on events for the MBL Council and the 1888 Society, as well as select donor events for donors and prospective donors in portfolio.
Identify, cultivate and solicit MBL alumni, prospects and donors who have the capacity to make financial commitments of $100,000+ or planned gifts at similar levels.
Plan and execute a target of 100 prospect visits per year.
Maintain strong communication links with various MBL and University colleagues to ensure a coordinated approach to strengthening the prospect's/donor's relationship with the MBL.
Deliver timely and effective follow-up in various forms to prospects and donors, which would include generating customized fundraising proposals, gift agreements and stewardship reports.
Manage one or more MBL-specific fundraising projects, which could include monthly oversight of fundraising progress on project(s), developing a fundraising strategy for project(s), assisting in the coordination of fundraising activities associated with project(s), partnering with appropriate colleagues on collateral pieces and other elements associated with project(s).
Partner with the Chief Advancement Officer, and the team, on strategy and planning for the MBL’s strategic programmatic priorities. Solicit annual and endowed support on behalf of these areas.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Education:

Bachelor's degree or higher required.

Experience:

A minimum of four years of professional work experience in nonprofit management, development, alumni relations, marketing, public relations, sales or similar professional work experience required.
A minimum of three years of soliciting and closing major gifts experience or equivalent donor work.
A minimum of two years of experience with project or initiative leadership strongly desired.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

Willingness and ability to travel to MBL and/or non-MBL locations for MBL business.
Willingness and ability to work evenings and weekends.
Access to reliable transportation to visit field sites and day travel via boat

Required profile