Director of Development & External Relations

Who We Are

Tandem, Partners in Early Learning is a nonprofit organization working at the intersection of early childhood education and social justice in Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco counties. Our mission is to co-create equitable, high-quality early learning experiences for children ages 0–5—grounded in community strengths and tailored to community needs and strengths.

We believe that investing in early learning can interrupt intergenerational cycles of racial and economic inequity. That’s why we prioritize partnerships with communities most impacted by systemic oppression.

The Opportunity

Tandem has developed a bold, three-year program vision and roadmap—that deepens our impact, grows our reach, and builds towards lasting change. It is ambitious, innovative, and shaped by what we have learned from families, educators, and communities.

We are looking for a Director of Development and External Relations to match that energy, and to lead a team that will mobilize the resources needed to make our vision a reality. This leader will work closely with Tandem’s program and finance teams to ensure our fundraising strategy is mission-driven, impact-oriented, and aligned with long-term sustainability.

If you are a strategic thinker, a skilled relationship builder, and someone who lights up at the idea of connecting people to meaningful change, this is your moment. Join us as we turn momentum into movement.

Who You Are

Inspired by Tandem’s mission and values. You understand that the first five years are a critical period in the life of a child and that high quality early learning experiences can promote a variety of positive outcomes for children. You thrive in an organization that values joy as a basic human right; equity; diversity and inclusion; accountability and continuous learning; and work-life balance.

A strategic and tactical development leader. You bring 7+ years of experience in fundraising, with a proven ability to secure at least $2M annually from a range of sources—public funding, foundations, corporations, and individual donors. You are energized by long-term strategy and day-to-day execution.

A relationship-centered connector. You bring a strategic mindset to building and stewarding long-term relationships with major donors, foundations, and public-sector partners. You know how to communicate impact in ways that inspire action. Whether you're cultivating an individual donor or navigating a public-private partnership, you move with clarity, purpose, and trust.

A compassionate supervisor and coach who fosters collaboration. You lead with empathy. You support high performance while caring deeply about your team’s well-being. You give and receive feedback with intention, hold others accountable with kindness, and create space for growth.

An organized and adaptive project manager. You stay grounded in fast-paced environments and are adept at moving complex initiatives forward. You manage timelines, relationships, and competing priorities with focus and flexibility—while keeping the big picture in sight.

Committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. You have a track record of working with low-income communities of color and you have an understanding of how systemic and institutionalized racism operates in the lives of individuals and communities. You have the capacity to reflect on your own growth and learning, relative privilege, and positional power.

What You Will Do

The Director of Development and External Relations leads Tandem’s revenue generation and external visibility efforts in partnership with the Executive Director and Leadership Team. This includes strategic oversight of all fundraising, donor engagement, and communications activities, as well as direct supervision of development staff. The Director plays a key role in positioning Tandem for impact and sustainability by strengthening funder relationships and deepening an individual giving program.

Fund Development (60%)

• In partnership with the Executive Director, develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to meet Tandem’s annual revenue goal ($3.5M and growing), across government grants, foundations, corporate support, events, and individual giving.
• Chart a long-term path to financial sustainability as a $5M+ organization, with a particular focus on increasing unrestricted support from individual and major donors.
• Set the strategic vision for annual fund development and project manage toward clear deliverables and milestones across all revenue streams.
• Stay current on trends in philanthropy and identify emerging opportunities and shifts in the funding landscape.
• Lead cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of key donors and institutional funders; maintain a personal portfolio of major donors.
• Serve as staff lead to the Board Development Committee; guide and support the participation of board members in donor engagement.

External Relations (15%)

• Serve as an external representative of Tandem to funders and donors.
• In partnership with the Executive Director, build and maintain relationships with elected officials, philanthropic partners, and leaders in early childhood education.
• Partner with the Development & Communications Manager to develop messaging, publications, and campaigns that increase Tandem’s visibility; oversee the development of key collateral, including website content, annual reports, and one-pagers.

Organizational and Team Leadership (25%)

• Supervise a 2-person team including the Development & Communications Manager and Development & Community Engagement Associate.
• Serve as a member of the Leadership Team and participate in making organization-wide decisions related to policy, operations, and strategy.
• Collaborate with program and finance teams to ensure alignment between fundraising efforts, programmatic priorities, and organizational sustainability.

Compensation

• A starting salary range of $115,000 - $140,000, depending on experience, with the potential for growth based on performance and revenue milestones.
• Full medical and dental benefits at no cost to the employee.
• A 401K fund that employees can contribute to, with a 2% employer match.
• Time off including 10 vacation days (during the first year of employment and increasing thereafter), 10 sick days, 10 paid holidays annually, and paid time off between Christmas and New Year’s Day and during the week of July 4th.
• Monthly $75 stipend for phone and data charges.

Work Hours and Location

This is a hybrid position. Team members may choose to work from any Tandem office location (Oakland, San Francisco, or Martinez). Our current expectation is two days of in-office time per week but please note that this requirement may change over time. The role also involves local travel across Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco counties for donor meetings, funder visits, and community events. Occasional evening and weekend availability is required to support special events and external engagements.

Other Important Things

At Tandem, we believe that all individuals deserve to be always treated with respect and dignity. To that end, we provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics.

In addition to federal law requirements, we also comply with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the Tandem has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance (and because it’s our value), qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered for employment.

Hiring Process and Timeline

To apply, please submit your cover letter and resume on or before the priority deadline of July 23, 2025. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Hiring Steps

• Initial phone screen: A brief conversation about your experience and interest in the role.
• Panel interview: A longer conversation with Tandem leadership, focused on competencies, values alignment, and strategic thinking.
• Team meet-and-greet: Finalist candidates will meet the team they would supervise.
• Writing samples: If you are a finalist, we will request samples of your past work (e.g., appeal letters, grant proposals, or similar materials). No need to create anything new—please share what best represents your voice and experience.
• Reference checks: Finalists will be asked to provide three references, including at least one former supervisor and one former direct report.

We are aiming for a start date of September 15, 2025, but will be flexible for the right candidate.