Chatsworth, CA
Director of Development Since its founding in 1972, Sierra Canyon School has embraced academic and personal excellence in their student body. A premier independent college preparatory school, serving 1000 EK-12 students from 82 zip codes throughout Los Angeles county, Sierra Canyon is committed to empowering its students to realize their greatest creative, ethical, intellectual, and physical promise. Situated on a beautiful 42-acre campus in Chatsworth, CA, the school fosters a community of excellence through impressive academic, athletic and arts programs, dynamic faculty, and a vigorous commitment to community outreach. Sierra Canyon is a collaborative and welcoming environment where the faculty are diverse in their backgrounds and passions. This diversity fosters a spirit of inquiry in the classroom and allows for a vibrant learning experience and positive growth. As a growing school, there are many opportunities to get involved and an entrepreneurial attitude is prevalent throughout the faculty and staff. As an institution, Sierra Canyon defines itself by its energized, attentive, and diverse student-teacher culture and is committed to developing students who realize their potential and aspire to face the challenges of fast-changing world. Director of Development: Reporting to the Head of School, the Director of Development works closely with the Head of School and the Board of Trustees, including staffing the Development Committee. The Director of Development provides visionary leadership to the development, constituent relations (parents, grandparents, alumni parents, alumni and friends), and communications and marketing programs in support of the school’s mission, vision and goals. Engages and manages strong volunteer participation in advancement programs. The Director of Development will provide professional leadership to any campaigns that the school mounts. S/He serves as a member of the Head's Senior Leadership Team.
Major Functions and Responsibilities: •
Provides direction and support to the Head in fulfilling her advancement responsibilities, ensuring prudent use of her time.
•
Oversees internal and external communications to develop an appreciation of School’s mission, vision and goals.
•
Oversees marketing efforts to expand and enhance the School's visibility, image, and reputation.
•
Oversees alumni and constituent relations efforts to establish and strengthen ties with the School’s constituents, including alumni, parents, grandparents, alumni parents and friends.
•
Oversees fundraising activities designed to attract private funds to support Sierra Canyon's priorities and strategic initiatives.
•
Oversees programs and activities directed at local elected officials and community leaders.
•
Leads strategic planning for advancement which is driven by and supports the school’s strategic plan, priorities and goals. • Establishes organizational structure for the advancement and supervises personnel. • Ensures that each staff member has an annual performance plan and performance standard and monitors progress in achieving performance standards. • Develops ongoing professional development program for staff. • Recognizes staff for accomplishments using creative and personalized rewards.
•
Develops policy and directs the ongoing activities of development, alumni relations and communications as they relate to defined goals, procedures, staffing, budget, and timetables.
•
Assists the Head in providing support to the Board of Trustees and its committees, including utilizing the talents and ideas of the Board to expand Sierra Canyon's fundraising efforts.
•
Develops strong working relationship with the Board members and other key constituents of Sierra Canyon.
•
Provides periodic analysis of advancement program results and status to the Head and the Board of Trustees. Represents Sierra Canyon effectively to its internal and external publics, including serving as spokesperson for Sierra Canyon on key issues and projects.
Major Gifts • • • • • • • •
Personally contacts, develops relationship, solicits, and stewards major gift prospects and donors. Facilitates relationship between potential and current donors and the Head, Board of Trustees, and others as appropriate. Assists prospective donors and their advisors in clarifying gift planning goals, presenting appropriate proposals and completing major gift agreements. Finalizes specific strategies for the cultivation and solicitation of major donor prospects. Coordinates nature and number of contacts that assigned prospects receive. Reviews prospect strategies regularly for refinement. Completes contact reports on any substantive contact with a prospect or donor. Develops long-range plans for current and prospective donors' involvement in the life of the School.
Campaigns • • • • • • •
• • • •
Translates campaign plan into action in order that the campaign proceeds on schedule and successfully. Plays a key role in identifying, recruiting, and training campaign leadership. Staffs the Head, Board of Trustees and Campaign Committee members in fulfilling their responsibilities. Coalesces the efforts of the entire advancement team on the success of the campaign. Oversees prospect identification, evaluation, assignment, and tracking to the extent necessary to ensure the success of the campaign. Updates the Head and the Campaign Committee regularly on the status of the campaign. Staffs Campaign Committee: • Plan and write agendas for committee meetings, including scheduling date, time and place. • Provide support materials. • Ensure that meeting minutes and actions are recorded and distributed. Supervises the preparation of prospect proposals, including editing as necessary. Writes scenarios for cultivation and solicitation meetings with prospects. Cultivates and solicits major gift prospects personally and with Campaign Committee volunteers and others. Oversees events structured to support the campaign.
Experience and Skills: Impressive track record in fundraising, communications and/or alumni administration. Proven track record of creatively building and leading successful organizations. Experience in conceiving, planning, and executing fundraising campaigns. Demonstrated ability to improve the effectiveness of an organization. Deep appreciation and understanding of the School’s mission and the ability to articulate its values and vision internally and externally. Capacity to contribute to the overall strategic planning of the School. Ability to conceptualize, plan, and implement a cohesive strategy for advancement. Thorough grasp of the current trends in advancement and the issues facing independent schools. Ability to work effectively with volunteers and boards. Ability to assert visionary leadership that inspires and motivates others. Demonstrated ability to focus the Head on advancement efforts, particularly in the area of major donor cultivation and solicitation. Ability to work with senior administrators, principals and faculty on a collegial basis. Excellent communication skills. Proven ability to balance multiple priorities in a complex environment. Ability to delegate authority and motivate and empower others. Ability to direct the efforts of staff and hold individuals accountable for the accomplishments of objectives.
Compensation and Benefits: The appointment is a full-time, year round, administrative position and the compensation package will be very competitive nationally and commensurate with experience, degree attainment and the national independent school and college markets. Interested Persons Contact: Jonathan K. Ball Managing Associate Carney, Sandoe & Associates 617-933-3450 (dir) jball@carneysandoe.com All inquiries and nominations are kept confidential. Sierra Canyon School does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, religion, race, color, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability, or national or ancestral origin in the administration of its educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic and other School-administered programs, or in the administration of its hiring and employment practices. The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.