Deputy Director of Major Gifts

The Deputy Director of Major Gifts is a senior development officer responsible for the cultivation and solicitation of major donors and major donor prospects. S/he helps manage the Major Gifts program and oversees solicitation strategy for the Major Gifts annual goal of over $30 million, while also providing strategy support for the recently launched Transforming the Met Campaign. S/he will help oversee the International Council and will help lead special programs and projects within the department. S/he reports to the Director of Major Gifts.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Manage a personal portfolio of Major Gifts and Patron donors, provide excellent patron service, and cultivate and solicit current donors with an emphasis on upgrades.
• Work closely with Director of Major Gifts and the Director of Research to identify key prospects to support the new Transforming the Met Campaign (goal of $432 million) and schedule in-person meetings with donors and prospects to solicit for six-figure and seven-figure gifts.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit and manage a pool of prospects currently giving or with the capacity to give $25,000+ annually.
• Assist Director in implementing the Major Gifts strategic plan and managing the Major Gifts solicitations, as well as helping provide guidance on solicitations for Transforming the Met Campaign.
• Mentor Major Gifts Officers in donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship and other projects.
• Manage the cultivation and stewardship activities of the Major Gifts team (box parties, Major Gifts events, Grand Tier dining).
• Manage the International Council group, and organize and support related activities.
• Write and prepare original documents for fundraising initiatives, including solicitation letters and new fundraising proposals.
• Assist donor benefit fulfillment activities as needed.
• Host cultivation evenings throughout the season, including weekends, as well as gala events.

Skills & Qualifications:

• BA degree.
• At least 5-10 years of senior-level fundraising experience with an emphasis on individual solicitation. Previous managerial experience is preferred.
• Comfort and poise working with high-level donors, including Board members.
• Experience with international donors.
• Diplomacy, tact, and ability to meet and manage donor expectations skillfully and gracefully.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Strong computer and database skills. Familiarity with Tessitura a plus.
• Detail oriented.
• Familiarity with the performing arts, particularly opera, a plus.

Physical Demands:

• The Metropolitan Opera is a performance venue that requires employees working in the building to be fully vaccinated. Due to the nature of this role, you must be fully vaccinated and receive a COVID-19 booster shot, if you are eligible, at the time your employment is scheduled to start.
• Ability to be flexible and work well with all personality types.
• Ability to multi-task.
• Some evening and weekend work will be required.

The Metropolitan Opera offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package to our full‐time employees including:

*Medical plan and company paid Dental and Vision coverage

*Participation in the 403(b) upon hire. Enrollment in the Metropolitan Opera Pension Plan

*Employer paid Life insurance

*Up to 20 Vacation days in the 4th year of employment

*10 Holidays and up to 4 Floating Holidays

The Metropolitan Opera believes that diversity is critical to our success and growth as a leading performing arts institution and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the communities we serve.

The Metropolitan Opera is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and existing employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), national origin, citizenship status, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information (including characteristics and testing), military and veteran status, or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws.