Senior Director, Development and Partnerships

About Project Scientist

Project Scientist is on a bold mission: to ignite confidence, curiosity, and career pathways for girls in STEM — building the most diverse future workforce the world has ever seen. We are scaling rapidly, with the goal of serving 10,000 students annually within three years and expanding to at least 2–3 additional countries, while doubling our revenue to $5M+ by 2028.

With proven corporate and foundation partnerships, nationally recognized programming, and a powerful brand, Project Scientist is poised for transformative growth.

The Opportunity

The Sr. Director of Development & Transformative Partnerships will be the architect and driver of a diversified fundraising strategy that sustains Project Scientist’s national and global expansion. Reporting directly to the CEO and serving as a core member of the Executive Leadership Team, the Sr. Director will:

• Lead the organization’s comprehensive advancement efforts across corporate, foundation, individual, event, and emerging revenue streams.

• Manage projections, build a robust development pipeline, and deliver sustainable year-over-year growth.

• Serve as a strategic thought partner to the CEO, enabling her to maximize visibility and influence, while ensuring the execution is seamless and results-driven.

• This is a unique opportunity for a visionary fundraiser and strategist who thrives on both high-level planning and hands-on execution — someone passionate about equity, education, and innovation who wants to shape the future of girls in STEM.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Fundraising Leadership

• Design and implement a multi-year revenue growth plan to expand the budget from $2.0M to $5M+, aligning with programmatic and global expansion goals.

• Drive growth across corporate partnerships, foundations, and individual giving, with emphasis on corporate partners and scalable annual giving campaigns.

• Manage annual revenue projections, dashboards, and reporting systems to ensure accountability and informed decision-making.

• Partner with the CEO to steward high-level relationships collaborating to cultivate and close six- and seven-figure partnerships.

Partnership Development

• Build and steward a national and global portfolio of corporate and foundation partners, particularly in sustainable industries (technology, biotech, health innovation, clean energy, aerospace, financial services).
• Launch and grow an individual donor strategy, including donor circles, monthly giving programs, and board-aligned networks.
• Expand visibility and impact of signature events, such as STEM Girls Run the World, by securing sponsorships and positioning them both as fundraising and movement-building platforms.

Organizational & Board Leadership

• Lead and mentor the Development team, fostering a culture of philanthropy and accountability across the organization.

• Manage the Development Committee and partner with the Board to expand networks, open doors, and achieve a $250K+ annual board give/get.

• Collaborate with program and communications leaders to ensure alignment between fundraising, storytelling, and program delivery.

Candidate Profile

• Fundraising Achiever: Proven success raising $3M+ annually through diversified revenue streams, with particular strength in corporate and foundation partnerships.
• Strategic Operator: Skilled at building projections, systems, and structures that drive accountability and results.

• Partnership Builder: Adept at cultivating high-level relationships, closing six- and seven-figure gifts, and sustaining long-term commitments.

• Collaborative Leader: Experienced in leading teams, engaging boards, and fostering cross-departmental alignment.

• Innovator: Embraces technology, storytelling, and emerging revenue strategies to fuel growth.

• Mission-Driven: Deep passion for equity, girls’ empowerment, and STEM futures.

Qualifications

• A strong passion for empowering girls in STEM and a commitment to Project Scientist’s mission.
• Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in fundraising, advancement, or partnerships, with demonstrated success raising $3M+ annually.
• Alignment with Project Scientist Core Values
• Proven ability to cultivate major gifts and secure six- and seven-figure donations.
• Expertise in managing and mentoring teams, driving measurable growth in fundraising performance.
• Experience leveraging CRM systems (Salesforce preferred) and technology for fundraising success.
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.

Compensation and Benefits

• Pay Range between $95,000-$130,000 annually
• Fully Remote
• Flexible schedule
• 14 days of accrued PTO, federal holiday closures, 3 personal days, and 6 sick days
• 403 (b) Retirement Plan and 3% match (vested after 12-months)
• 100% Paid Medical, Dental, Vision
• Technology stipend
• Parental Leave
• Professional development opportunities and the ability to make a lasting impact on girls’ futures in STEM.

We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. Candidates from all backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. Final offers of employment are contingent upon completing a background check that may include employment history, a national criminal background check, a national sex offender registry search, and a driving history check.

Project Scientist does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, military, genetic information, ancestry, marital status, age, citizenship, or any other basis prohibited by law in any of its policies or programs.

Our goal is to maintain a company culture where each individual, regardless of background or identity, feels safe, respected, and valued as a leader or contributor to our organizational mission, vision, and purpose. We strive to be an example for other organizations seeking to create diverse, equitable, inclusive, and belonging working environments, systems, and processes.