Senior Director of Development

Job Title: Senior Director of Development

Classification: Full-time, exempt

Reporting to: Executive Director

Salary Range: $150,000-$175,000

Location: Brooklyn, NY (hybrid, 3 days/week in office)

About Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy

Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy (the Conservancy) plays a vital role in creating and energizing the community-focused, world-class urban oasis spanning 1.3 miles along Brooklyn’s East River shoreline. The Conservancy brings the unique park space to life with more than 500 innovative and engaging environmental education, arts and culture, fitness and recreation programs each year. These free and low-cost events create new and exciting opportunities for tens of thousands of NYC residents and visitors to learn, grow, and experience all that Brooklyn Bridge Park has to offer.

The Conservancy works in partnership with Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation (the not-for-profit entity responsible for the planning, construction, maintenance, and operation of Brooklyn Bridge Park) to ensure that the Park reaches its full potential as a dynamic and vibrant public space for Brooklyn, New York City, and beyond by producing diverse and innovative programming for Park visitors and cultivating volunteer and philanthropic support of this special place on the Brooklyn waterfront. 

About Brooklyn Bridge Park

Brooklyn Bridge Park is a world-class waterfront park featuring expansive lawns, rolling hills, riverfront promenades, an Environmental Education Center, lush gardens, innovative playgrounds, a greenway, sports facilities, the popular Jane’s Carousel, and spectacular city views. Its list of amenities continues to grow as it works to revitalize this previously deteriorated industrial space and build a park that allows New Yorkers to rediscover the waterfront.

Position Summary

The Conservancy seeks an experienced and entrepreneurial Senior Director of Development to join its senior leadership team. Building upon the Conservancy’s record of success and the leadership of a dynamic Board of Directors, the Senior Director will have the opportunity to help shape the Conservancy’s strategic fundraising vision for the future. Reporting to the Executive Director, and in close collaboration with the Deputy Director and Board, the Senior Director will create, plan, and execute a fundraising plan to realize the goals and ambitions of the Conservancy, currently leading a team of three to advance these efforts.

Responsibilities

• Build a robust fundraising program to align with the organization’s strategic direction and goals inclusive of individual, government, corporate and foundation support.
• Diversify the Conservancy’s funding streams, to include building out a more robust major gifts program.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to shape other opportunities for expanded philanthropic support.
• Strategize, craft and lead fundraising campaigns, including an imminent capital campaign to fund the expansion the Conservancy’s Environmental Education Center
• Lead direct solicitation of all constituencies with a donor-centric and relationship based approach.
• Maintain a personal portfolio of high net worth individual prospects, carefully cultivating and stewarding their support for the Conservancy.
• Staff the fundraising activities of the Board of Trustees and work with the Executive Director and the Board on board recruitment and development.
• Oversee planning of the annual gala and other fundraising events and ensure that income goals are met by involving volunteers, securing highest-level sponsorships, and by selecting appropriate honorees and engaging them in fund raising.
• Support board, staff leadership, and high level volunteers in their fundraising efforts in alignment with the Conservancy’s internal culture of philanthropy.
• Serve the role of coach, mentor, and leader of the development staff and guide staff in their respective areas of functional expertise, creating opportunities for professional development and continued growth.

You will bring

• Business acumen and fundraising capability to take the Conservancy to its next level of excellence, as well as the talent to motivate the Board, staff and volunteers to work together to realize the organization’s mission and goals.
• Demonstrated experience in building and managing a multi-faceted fundraising program, inclusive of capital, annual and special campaigns as well as major gift programs for a dynamic not-for-profit organization.
• A successful track record of securing gifts from a wide array of constituencies.
• Creativity and experience in growing and formalizing development departments to the advancement of the organization.
• Ability to manage a staff of development professionals, instilling team spirit and motivating them to meet and exceed annual and campaign fund raising goals with excitement and energy.
• The ability to recruit, guide, support, and steward high-level volunteers, board members, prospects, and donors.
• Collaborative approach necessary to create strong working relationships with board members, City officials, Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation staff, and the program staff.
• A sense of integrity and a strong work ethic seasoned with humor and perspective.
• An entrepreneurial spirit, with the ability to think creatively and strategically to solve problems and address challenges as they arise.
• Superior communication skills, both written and oral, with the ability to understand and convey the Conservancy’s mission, programs, priorities, and issues to a variety of audiences authentically and compellingly.
• Proficiency with CRMs; Raiser’s Edge preferred.
• Knowledge of Brooklyn and New York philanthropic marketplace preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 10+ years of experience in a frontline fundraising role with a minimum of 3 years of experience in a supervisory role

Compensation

This is a full-time, exempt salaried position. Base salary will be in the range of $150,000-175,000 annually, commensurate with experience. BBPC offers a robust benefits package to all full time employees.

Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Committed to an inclusive and equitable work environment, BIPOC candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Disclaimer: The information in this job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this classification. It is not designed to contain, nor be interpreted as, a comprehensive inventory of duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and objectives required of employees assigned to this job.