National Marine Sanctuary Foundation · 3 days ago
Director of Development Operations
Foundation Headquarters, Silver Spring, MD, US
Full-time
Hybrid
Director/Executive
$95K/yr - $110K/yr
6+ years expThe National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is a national nonprofit partner to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, dedicated to protecting America's ocean and Great Lakes areas. They are seeking a Director of Development Operations to implement strategic plans and oversee daily operations for the Development team, focusing on donor engagement, operational strategies, and continuous improvement.
Public Policy
Responsibilities
Partner with Development team members to identify major gift and institutional funding opportunities, refine cultivation strategies, and track progress
Build and maintain a clear, accurate Salesforce pipeline that illustrates projections, supports management, and informs strategic decision-making
Develop dashboards, reports, and longitudinal analyses that track team and individual performance, reveal trends, and identify inefficiencies or opportunities for improvement
Provide timely, actionable reporting for Development leadership, board committees, and key stakeholders to demonstrate progress and impact
Work closely with Development leadership and colleagues across Marketing and Communications, Finance, and Program Operations to develop and execute an integrated fundraising strategy
Ensure seamless coordination so frontline fundraisers can maximize donor cultivation and revenue generation
Evaluate and enhance development processes by implementing technology, tools, and standardized workflows that improve efficiency, strengthen data utilization, and elevate the donor journey
Drive continuous process innovation with a proactive, solutions-focused approach
Manage departmental budgets and resource allocation to support strategic priorities
Build and maintain strong vendor relationships to ensure high-quality, cost-effective products and services
Align operational goals and systems across departments to support organizational objectives and fundraising success
Ensure accurate and efficient gift entry, data integrity, donor acknowledgment, and the creation of notes, actions, and dashboards that support real-time fundraising insights
Develop and implement standardized yet customizable workflows for a segmented national donor portfolio, ensuring a consistent, high-quality donor experience across all touchpoints
Build systems for regular data evaluation and hygiene, configure automated interactions to increase reach and efficiency, and equip the VP of Development and frontline fundraisers with the tools, reporting, and strategy needed to drive effective moves management and sustained donor engagement
Manage the operational workflow for multi-channel fundraising campaigns (print and digital), ensuring accurate data pulls, segmentation, tracking, and donor record management within a CRM environment (Salesforce preferred)
Work with external vendors and internal teams to coordinate production and delivery of direct mail packages, digital appeals, renewal series, stewardship communications, and year-end campaigns
Strategize, design and implement segmentation strategies, testing plans, and automated donor journeys that improve retention, sustainer conversion, and lifetime value
Build dashboards, reports, KPIs, and performance analyses that inform fundraising strategy for individual giving, sustainer programs, and major donor pipelines
Utilize CRM and digital fundraising tools to streamline campaign execution, track donor behavior, and identify opportunities for improved ROI and efficiency across channels
Ensure data hygiene, audience accuracy, and consistent donor experience across print, email, SMS, social, landing pages, and integrated giving platforms
Support the VP of Development and frontline fundraisers in moves management by providing insights from direct response performance, donor analytics, and behavioral trends
Translate complex campaign results into actionable improvements in process, technology, stewardship, and budget planning
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree or higher with a minimum of six to ten years' experience; extensive work experience in operations
Mission-driven with strong leadership, analytical, interpersonal, management, and problem-solving skills
Proven track record of Development Operations campaign and systems management
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Proficiency with database management, particularly donor management systems and CRMs, direct (digital and print) fundraising tools and campaign familiarity
Proven ability to manage budgets, contractors, and resources effectively
Proven ability to analyze, visualize, and communicate data and create actionable insights for a wide audience
Experience with strategic planning and process improvement initiatives
Ability to lead and mentor a team
Ability to foster a culture of inclusion and belonging
Assist in the development of annual performance and professional development goals, support and monitor progress towards goals, and conduct annual performance evaluations
Approve travel requests, timecards, and time off requests
Regular attendance required
Preferred
Ability to travel up to 15%
Benefits
Generous leave policy, plus paid time off the week between December 25 and January 1; and 12 paid holidays
Health benefits: Medical with an FSA option; dental, and vision
Foundation paid Life and Disability Insurance
Preparing for the Future: 403(B) with employer contribution after one year of service
Commuter Benefits
Company
National Marine Sanctuary Foundation
The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization that connects people to the most valued places in our American ocean--national marine sanctuaries.
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageLeadership Team
Joel R. Johnson
President and CEO
Veronica Ali
Chief Financial Officer
Company data provided by crunchbase