Senior Director of Philanthropic Operations

Organization Summary

As the leading nonprofit, nonpartisan philanthropic partner of the National Park Service, Trust for the National Mall brings expertise, private funding and in-kind support to time-sensitive restoration and sustainability projects, mobilizes volunteers, and provides educational opportunities to ensure that the National Mall endures and evolves as a vibrant space for all. With over 36 million visits annually to the National Mall, combined with aging infrastructure and the need for better visitor amenities throughout the park, the Trust is helping the National Park Service tackle the more than $800 million needed for critical repairs and improvements.

The Trust is at an exciting time in our history as we gear up for the nation's 250th anniversary. We are a small but growing team and a fast-paced and dynamic environment. We offer competitive salaries, a comprehensive benefits package, and generous time off policies.

Brief Position Summary

The Senior Director of Philanthropic Operations provides senior-level leadership and strategic direction for all operational aspects of the Philanthropy team, ensuring the development and implementation of effective strategies to achieve short-term and long-term fundraising goals. The Senior Director of Philanthropic Operations reports to the Vice President of Philanthropy, serves as a member of the Philanthropy leadership team, and works in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment with the Communications, Operations, Programs, and Projects teams as a key contributor to the Trust's organizational goals and initiatives.

Salary Range: $150,000 to $160,000

Responsibilities

Financial Management and Forecasting (25%)

• In consultation with the VP of Philanthropy and Chief Operating Officer, analyze monthly financial statements and provide quarterly updates on fundraising performance for Board reporting.
• Ensure efficient and accurate recording of gifts and opportunities in the CRM and timely gift reporting and reconciliation with the Finance team.
• Devise models and projections for reliable revenue forecasting to support strategic decision-making and financial planning.
• Develop scenario-based models to test fundraising strategies, donor pipelines and campaign outcomes.
• Lead the preparation and management of Philanthropy team budget, ensuring resources are allocated efficiently to meet fundraising goals and operating revenue targets.

Operational Excellence (25%)

• Oversee development, maintenance and implementation of policies, procedures, templates and documentation for the Philanthropy team.
• Optimize use of the Trust's fundraising systems and licensed resources, driving enhancements and integrations that maximize reporting, fundraising results, and effective pipeline management.
• Enact and model high standards of data integrity and security across all donor management systems incompliance with the Trust's business practices, industry standards and government regulations.

Team Leadership and Development (25%):

• Lead, mentor and develop the Trust's Philanthropy Operations team, fostering professional growth and operational excellence in the execution of prospect research and pipeline development, gift processing and records management, stewardship and donor relations, membership and annual giving programs, and systems administration and reporting.
• Supervise direct reports, including Data and Systems Manager, Donor Relations Manager, Prospect Development Manager, Philanthropy Operations Coordinator and potential recruitment of new permanent or contingent positions. Provide indirect supervision of secondary reports and Philanthropy Assistant.
• Identify, secure, and oversee auxiliary resources that deliver specialized expertise and/or expanded capacity for fulfilling the Trust's fundraising and revenue goals.
• Other duties as assigned.

Strategic Leadership and Oversight (15%):

• Provide broad leadership and administrative oversight in the planning, implementation and improvement of functions, operations and resources within the Philanthropy team.
• Collaborate with the Vice President of Philanthropy and other Trust leadership to align fundraising strategies and activities with organizational goals, project priorities and financial targets.
• Serve as a senior advisor to leadership, contributing to organizational strategy and policy making and helping to implement change management across the organization.
• Support the Vice President of Philanthropy in leading team projects and guiding team members through organizational initiatives including OKRs.
• Actively contributes to building organizational and team culture aligned with the Trust's values.

Fundraising and Donor Relations (10%):

• Direct the growth of the annual giving and membership program, targeting individual donors contributing less than $1000 annually to build the base for major giving.
• Apply fundraising principles to secure renewable revenue sources, including annual giving, membership and event sponsorships, through effective direct response and inbound marketing campaigns.
• Monitor and report on engagement and fundraising performance, establishing metrics and benchmarks.
• Establish and implement creative strategies founded on best practices for prospect management, targeted engagement, and tiered stewardship across all donor levels.
• Work with the Senior Director of Special Events and other Trust teams to ensure donor and prospect engagement efforts are incorporated into event planning and systematically tracked.
• Partner closely with the Communications team, gift officers and external partners to produce creative and relevant content for donor cultivation and engagement that reflects the Trust's identity, mission and priorities.

Key Skills

• Advanced expertise in database systems administration and data architecture.
• Proficiency with modern CRM platforms, preferably Salesforce.
• Well versed in the application of standard accounting principles for gifts administration.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to proactively identify and remediate challenges and leverage opportunities.

Key Competencies

• Effective project and portfolio manager, with ability to drive multiple work streams toward deadlines and adjust to shifting priorities.
• Strong collaborator who engages others with intention and builds trust with both internal and external stakeholders across an organization.
• Skilled people manager with demonstrated ability to build productive hybrid teams and inspire staff at all levels to achieve strategic objectives.
• Top-level communicator who crafts clear, concise, and compelling written and verbal messages.
• Mission-driven professional who models commitment to the Trust's values and displays passion for our work with the National Park Service.
• Resilient practitioner who displays grace and poise under pressure and thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment with a daily commitment to growth.

Education

• Bachelor's degree (Required).
• Advanced degree in Nonprofit Management, Business Administration, or related field preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years' experience in nonprofit operations management with a successful track record of increasing responsibility.
• Demonstrated experience in strategic planning, database management, budget management, financial modeling and forecasting, and fundraising strategy development.
• Experience working on a capital campaign, while not necessary, is a plus.

Application Instructions

• Please submit a cover letter with your resume. Please visit our website at www.nationalmall.org for more information about the Trust.
• If you don't meet 100% of the above qualifications, you should still seriously consider applying. Studies show that you can still be considered for a role if you meet just 50% of the role's requirements.
• We welcome you to inform us confidentiality if you require any special accommodations to be considered for employment at the Trust. Contact us at information@nationalmall.org to notify us of any needs related to completing the job application.
• Applications for this position will close after four weeks or once 100 applications are received, whichever comes first.

We are an equal opportunity employer and consider all qualified applicants equally without regard to race, age, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability status.