Associate Director of Development

Associate Director of Development

The Termeer Institute is a non-profit organization that advances innovation to bring life-changing therapies to patients worldwide. We support and empower life science innovators through values-driven leadership development, mentorship, and network activation — strengthening the human capabilities required to translate scientific breakthroughs into patient impact. We address a critical gap in the life sciences ecosystem — the human variable — by cultivating and connecting leadership capacity across a diverse community of innovators spanning industry and academia. Our programming supports leaders at every stage, from emerging founders to experienced executives, and strengthens collaboration, judgment, and resilience in pursuit of solving healthcare’s greatest challenges. Learn more at www.termeerinstitute.org.

The Opportunity

The Termeer Institute is seeking a relationship-driven Associate Director of Development to build and lead our major donor program while strengthening core development systems and engagement strategies. Working closely with the CEO and Board, this leader will translate strong relationships and ecosystem engagement into a structured, intentional, and scalable fundraising strategy — with particular emphasis on major gifts and leadership philanthropy. The position blends strategy and execution and is ideal for someone energized by developing programs, cultivating meaningful relationships, and shaping the future of a mission-driven organization operating at the intersection of leadership, science, and patient impact.

Key Responsibilities

Major Donor Program — Build & Lead

• • Design and manage major donor strategy, including tiering, moves management and cultivation
  • Steward and grow an existing donor/prospect portfolio (~125–150 relationships)
  • Expand pipeline through research, referrals, and ecosystem engagement
  • Partner with CEO and Board on donor outreach, cultivation, and solicitations
  • Support progress toward a $2M major donor goal (FY26) and advise on FY27+ goal achievement

CEO & Board Fundraising Enablement

• • Prepare CEO and Board for donor meetings and solicitations
  • Activate Board members in identification, cultivation, and asks
  • Develop briefing materials, talking points, and follow-up strategies

Alumni & Community Giving Strategy

• • Develop strategy to deepen philanthropic engagement across Genzyme and Termeer alumni communities
  • Work with CEO and Board to set annual fundraising goals; segment and grow annual fund and major gifts
  • Partner with community champions and explore matching initiatives

Annual Fund Leadership

• • Design and manage annual giving strategy and campaigns
  • Align annual giving with major donor pipeline development and retention

Events as Strategic Cultivation

• • Develop disciplined framework for using events as stewardship and cultivation tools
  • Plan donor-specific events
  • Ensure relationship follow-up and pipeline integration

Systems, Reporting & Infrastructure

• • Strengthen CRM use, donor tracking, and moves management
  • Build reporting dashboards for CEO and Board
  • Improve fundraising discipline and decision-support analytics

Ideal Candidate

We seek someone who:

• • Brings entrepreneurial energy and relationship-based fundraising experience
  • Is excited to build structure, not inherit it
  • Demonstrates strong organization and follow-through
  • Is confident engaging senior leaders, board members, and major donors
  • Is motivated by mission and values alignment
  • Thrives in a collaborative, lean, high-trust environment
  • This position requires a command of successful fundraising principles with experience managing people laterally, driving timelines, and independently following through with tasks and projects
  • Experience closing 5- and 6- figure asks and ability to grow into larger donations
  • Has fundraising experience in a biotech or healthcare setting; specific experience with Boston area donors a plus

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Experience in and understanding of entrepreneurship and start-up company environment in life sciences/biotechnology.
• 10+ years of industry experience with 5-7 years of progressive fundraising development experience, track record of successful major gifts solicitations in $100,000+ donor category.
• Growth mindset, interest in working at a start-up social good organization and a very high level of motivation and eagerness to contribute to a team environment.
• Excellent written, verbal, and empathetic communication skills are a must.
• Focused attention to detail, execution of tasks, and accountability.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work independently and collaborate across internal and external stakeholders.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience representing proficiency in the areas of responsibility may be substituted for education and experience requirements.
• This position is hybrid, requiring regular, weekly in-person donor meetings and 1-2 x week team meetings at our Cambridge office, with occasional evenings (average 2-3x per month) and weekends (average 2-3x per year).

Salary Range: $110,000-$130,000 with competitive benefits.

This role requires a background check.

The Termeer Institute is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Generous medical, dental, and vision plans, flexible time off and holidays, 401k plus match, parking and commuter reimbursements!