Senior Director of Development

Junior Achievement of Georgia’s (JA) mission is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. By bridging the business and education communities with hands-on experiential programs focused on business, entrepreneurship, civic responsibility, career-readiness, and financial literacy, JA aims to achieve the following overarching goals:

• To motivate, engage and inspire students to recognize the value and relevance of education, and to make informed decisions about their own personal education and career pathways.
• To equip students with the key career-readiness skills that will drive success in any environment, and to invigorate innovative, creative, and entrepreneurial thinking among our youth.
• To develop a financially literate generation who understands key business principles and make responsible personal financial management decisions.
• To increase student understanding and appreciation of their civic rights, roles and responsibilities.

JA of Georgia is the local affiliate of JA USA, the nations’ oldest and largest economic education organization with over 105 years of experience. The organization has office and program locations in Atlanta, Lawrenceville, Cumming, Dalton, Savannah, Augusta and Morrow. More information can be found at our website www.georgia.ja.org.

Position Description

The Senior Director of Development (Atlanta) is a seasoned fundraising or sales professional and senior leader on the Development Team. This individual will play a critical role in advancing Junior Achievement of Georgia’s $15 million annual revenue goals through both the management and strategic growth of existing partnerships and the acquisition of new, high-value donors. The Senior Director will be responsible for securing revenue that directly supports JA’s core programmatic impact, including the JA Discovery Centers and 3DE Schools—as well as sponsorships for JA’s signature event, the Atlanta Business Hall of Fame.

This position is ideal for a results-driven professional who thrives in a fast-paced, relationship-based environment. A strong and visible presence in the Atlanta-area business and philanthropic community is essential, as the Senior Director will regularly represent JA externally to build relationships, increase visibility, and expand organizational reach. Over time, this role will evolve to include managerial responsibilities, overseeing staff as the team continues to grow.

Primary Responsibilities

Strategic Fundraising & Stewardship

• Serve as a senior leader on the Development Team, partnering closely with the Vice President of Development on strategy and execution.
• Manage a portfolio of approximately 60 existing corporate donors, deepening relationships and maximizing partnership value.
• Identify and close new corporate partnerships aligned with JA’s mission and revenue priorities.
• Focus on securing high-impact gifts of $25,000+, with an emphasis on six- and seven-figure opportunities.
• Represent JA at corporate, civic, and community events to build relationships, raise visibility, and expand reach.
• Maintain a regular, visible presence in the Atlanta-area business and philanthropic community to promote JA’s work and cultivate engagement.
• Collaborate across internal teams to ensure strong partner engagement across programming, events, and volunteer initiatives.

JA Discovery Centers (45%)

• Ensure all Metro Atlanta Discovery Centers are fully sponsored by corporations, businesses, and community organizations.
• Broaden prospect lists, qualify prospects, and secure sponsorships.
• Collaborate with members of the Development & Volunteer Team towards stewardship and growth of shared partners.

3DE Schools (45%)

• Secure corporate sponsorships for case challenges, case studies, and consultancies in Metro Atlanta.
• Collaborate with the Volunteer Team and 3DE Schools to ensure full sponsorship of case slots and consultancies.

JA Business Hall of Fame (10%)

• Partner with the Brand Strategies Team to increase support and develop creative opportunities for sponsorships.
• Broaden prospect lists and secure increased sponsorships for the event.

Qualifications: Education & Experience

An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience will be considered:

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 10+ years of professional experience in fundraising, corporate relations, or sales/account management.
• Proven track record of securing and managing corporate partnerships of $25,000 or more.
• Experience securing six- and seven-figure gifts is strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with fundraising databases (BCRM experience a plus).
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Comfortable working with senior-level executives and board members.
• Strategic thinker with strong project and relationship management skills.

Core Competencies

• Influence Others: Provide sound rationale for recommendations; Generate enthusiasm for ideas by tapping into shared values; Promote own positions and ideas with confidence and enthusiasm even in the face of resistance.
• Build Relationships: Adjust interpersonal style to a variety of people and situations; Cultivate networks with people across a variety of functions within and outside the organization.
• Support Business Strategy: Demonstrate an understanding of JA's mission, vision and overall strategies; align own activities with organization's goals and strategies.
• Drive for Results: Consistently achieve work objectives; Readily put in time and effort required to achieve goals; Work to resolve routine and unexpected problems.
• Demonstrate Adaptability & Resourcefulness: Overcome obstacles and constraints without becoming discouraged; Maintain a positive outlook and sense of humor in difficult situations
• Make Sound Decisions: Identify novel solutions to old problems; Come up with new ways of looking at problems, processes, or solutions; Define reasonable alternatives; Focus on important information without getting bogged down in unnecessary detail.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that individuals, namely women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At JA of Georgia, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and genuine workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be the best candidate for this role or another within the organization.

Salary: Commensurate with experience. JA also offers a full benefits package.

This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related duties required by their supervisor. This document does not create an employment contract implied or otherwise, other than an "at-will" relationship.