Director of Development

PSE Healthy Energy is an independent scientific research institute that specializes in bringing science to energy policy. Our mission is to generate energy and climate solutions that protect public health and the environment. At PSE, we design our research around real-world challenges and proactively connect our audiences with actionable, evidence-based information they can trust. Our team of scientists, engineers, and public health professionals lead multidisciplinary research within our five practice areas: Clean Energy Transition, Environmental Public Health, Climate, Energy Equity, and Oil and Gas.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Development Department drives our organization’s fundraising and partnership efforts through collaboration, strategy, and relationship building. Working closely across departments, our team leads initiatives that strengthen donor relationships, develop funding proposals, and support organizational growth. We use Salesforce CRM to manage relationships, track progress, and inform decisions with data. As we continue to expand, we’re seeking a Director of Development to help shape our fundraising strategy and enhance team coordination. The ideal candidate will be an adaptable, strategic thinker with a passion for collaboration and system building.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Revenue Generation & Risk Governance

• Develop and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies, including annual and multi-year targets for restricted and unrestricted revenue, aligned with organizational priorities, budget, and long-term vision.
• Conduct scenario planning for organizational growth, including structure, initiatives, projects, and resource needs, in close collaboration with Finance, Programs, and executive teams.
• Identify and pursue new funding opportunities, including unrestricted funds to offset indirect costs and as a buffer for growth, strengthen reserves, and mitigate gaps arising from no-cost extensions or over-budget projects.
• Monitor fundraising data, analyze trends, and adjust strategies, providing cross-functional insights for financial forecasting and decision-making.
• Own the unrestricted vs. restricted balance, and partner with the Director of Finance to forecast and manage funding risks, set funding thresholds for new initiatives, and align staffing growth with revenue capacity.
• Continuously assess and manage funding risk, including potential government sources (e.g., federal, state, or foreign opportunities, etc.), reducing overreliance on any single source and preparing PSE for their distinct timelines, compliance requirements, reporting, and cash flow planning.
• Bring resourcefulness and entrepreneurial mindset in PSE’s fast-moving environment, continuously monitoring and adapting to the evolving philanthropic and fundraising landscape to innovate revenue strategies, capture emerging opportunities, and build financial resilience.
• In collaboration with the Director of Scientific Programs, decide which initiative receives priority funding when capacity is constrained, ensuring funding thresholds exist before programs scale.

Relationship Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with donors, philanthropic partners, and collaborators to advance stewardship, reporting, and strategic partnerships.
• Design and lead moves management framework for development audience segments, in partnership with the Communications Director and staff.
• Collaborate with Communications to create campaigns, donor materials, presentations, and impact reports. Identify opportunities to partner with funders’ and external partners’ communications teams to elevate PSE’s branding, visibility, and credibility as a trusted scientific authority.
• Partner closely with the Director of Communications to develop and implement ongoing development communications to ensure the acquisition of new philanthropic partners and the ongoing cultivation of existing relationships through consistent, mission-aligned engagement.

Development Operations

• Partner with Communications, Finance, Operations, Programs, and key teams to establish, standardize, and continuously improve cross-departmental processes, organizational efficiency, and enhance visibility into project-level information (e.g., status updates, upcoming deadlines and deliverables, timeline pivots, or funding needs, etc.) to smooth dependencies.
• Oversee the grant lifecycle (application to compliance), delegating tasks to team members as the department grows, while focusing on strategic alignment and process improvements.
• Partner with Finance to manage the financial dimensions of fundraising, forecasting, reserve tracking, and growth limits, ensuring real-time accuracy and alignment with PSE policies, laws, and grants requirements.
• Establish robust systems and processes for donor data, proposals, and reporting, including supervising CRM (Salesforce) development and integration with administrative tools.
• Drive investments in tools, contractors, or technology to support fast-paced development and cross-departmental workflows.
• Govern core financial risks such as no-cost extensions by collaborating across teams to identify emerging funding gaps and raising additional funds (restricted and/or unrestricted) as needed.

Executive Leadership

• Model PSE's mission, values, and norms as a member of the executive team, attending weekly meetings.
• Collaborate with the ED and Board to set goals, steward resources, and evaluate progress, including organization-wide decisions and change initiatives.
• Lead the Development department by managing the budget, building and mentoring the team through thoughtful leadership, phasing departmental growth that aligns with organizational strategy, and fostering a culture of shared success.
• Develop departmental standard operating procedures and policies, ensuring cross-functional alignment and staff compliance.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Deep commitment to PSE's mission and values, with a strong passion for climate, energy policy, clean energy solutions, and environmental public health
• Bachelor's degree in Nonprofit Management, Business Administration, Communications, or a related field; advanced degree preferred
• A minimum of 7 years of demonstrated progressive experience in fundraising and development, including 5+ years in a leadership or supervisory role managing teams and scaling operations
• Proven track record of developing and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies, including multi-year planning, scenario forecasting, and successfully securing $5M+ annually from diverse sources (foundations, government, major donors, etc.)
• Strong expertise in grant lifecycle management, proposal development, donor cultivation, stewardship, and compliance with government and funder regulations
• Proven excellence in written and verbal communication, with a track record of crafting compelling proposals, reports, presentations, and donor materials that effectively convey an organization’s value proposition and impact to diverse.
• Ability to build and maintain trust-based relationships with diverse internal and external stakeholders, balancing relational and depth with strategic foresight to foster cross-functional collaboration, shared purpose, and effective team leadership across the organization
• Proficiency with Salesforce or similar CRM systems, including data management, reporting, integration, and using insights for strategic decision-making
• Strong analytical, project management, and organizational skills, with meticulous attention to detail and the agility to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, evolving environment
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential
• Experience building organizational infrastructure to support rapid growth, including scaling teams, implementing new systems, and redesigning processes to increase efficiency, transparency, and accountability
• Demonstrated engagement with domestic and international (non‑U.S.) grantmaking and nonprofit communities
• Familiarity with the climate, energy, or environmental policy sectors, with a track record of securing grants from climate- and energy-focused foundations, individual donors and government agencies
• Strong proficiency in communications and branding principles, paired with hands-on experience using creative tools like Canva for developing fundraising materials
• Familiarity with digital and online fundraising platforms (e.g., Classy, Donorbox, etc.) and tools for optimizing online donations

LOCATION and WORK CONDITIONS

Remote within the United States. Extended or irregular work hours will be required during project sprints or rollouts. Position requires computer usage and sitting for extended periods of time, good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand, and finger dexterity, including ability to grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard, operate equipment and read technical information. Overall mobility is essential.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

PSE Healthy Energy is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity and expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

E-VERIFY NOTICE

PSE Healthy Energy participates in E-Verify. We will provide the Social Security Administration, and if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security, with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. Please note that we do not use this information to pre-screen job applicants.

• Health Benefits: Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.​
• Retirement Plan: 401(k) with employer match.​
• Flexible spending accounts
• Flexible time off and 15 Paid holidays
• Professional Development: Opportunities for continued education and training.​
• Work-Life Balance: Flexible working hours and remote work options.​