Description

Please see the full position statement from RG175.

Sierra Canyon School's next Director of Development will have the opportunity to be a full partner with the incoming Head of School and work with a strong and long-tenured senior administrative team. The candidate will be asked to make their mark by advancing the School’s mission to be a future-ready school that changes students’ lives. As the School continues to innovate, its faculty are leading the way seeking out new tools and ideas to promote rich academic growth and to prepare students for success in college and beyond. This is an incredibly exciting time to join Sierra Canyon. This is a chance to take the School’s Development program to even greater heights by harnessing the School’s energy and promise by winning the trust and admiration of the various constituencies. The Director of Development is responsible for leading all aspects of a well-designed development strategy for all fundraising programs including capital and endowed gifts, annual fund, foundation support, major gifts, and planned giving through research, constituent relations, and stewardship.

THE OPPORTUNITY
Reporting to the Head of School, the Director of Development develops and executes development campaigns and philanthropic events in support of the School’s mission and programming goals while cultivating engagement and impact within the community. As a member of the senior administrative team, the Director of Development serves as a liaison
between the School and the community, including donors, alumni, and volunteers, fostering relationships that support the School. 

The Director of Development provides leadership and daily oversight of an integrated program encompassing all development activities, budget administration, and supervision of staff, including the responsibilities to:

• Develop strategic fundraising plans with short and long-term goals and regularly provide updates on performance metrics to ensure activities are aligned with the School’s mission, strategic planning, and programming objectives
• Direct development activities, through best practice, by identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donor prospects to secure capital commitments with the ability to raise
  six-, seven- , and eight-figure gifts
• Experience with fundraising in Asia (especially in China) is preferred to maximize the International Program opportunities and secure the philanthropic support that drives the School’s institutional advancement.
• Have an external focus; be a visible part of school life.
• Be an effective storyteller who can articulate the case for support of Sierra Canyon
• Work closely with the Director of Communication to develop and execute an effective donor communication strategy including alignment of messaging through various publications and distribution channels
• Build Development office systems and procedures to elevate the Development office functionality
• Assist with governance training of the Board Partner with the Chief Financial Officer to coordinate budget allocation of fundraising results, develop presentations and/or reports, and routinely establish and/or evaluate procedures for endowment and gift accounting
• Collaborate with division heads, senior administrative members, and other department or program heads to align fundraising goals with programming objectives and priorities
• Foster alumni relations by establishing and implementing strategies that align alumni interests with corresponding opportunities for engagement within the School and broader community
• Administer activities that support and benefit various school programs through special events in coordination with parent liaisons and volunteers. 
• Participate in meetings with the Board of Trustees to deliver presentations, communicate updates, and facilitate opportunities for supportive engagement
• Responsible for documentation standards, integrity, and confidentiality in maintaining accurate donor records including the management of fundraising database(s), following appropriate accounting procedures and reporting
• Lead all activities and programs with a commitment to ethical fundraising practices following the Code of Ethical Standards and industry best practices established for
  fundraising professionals
• Oversee all daily and ongoing operational activities for the Development Office staff, including budget, scheduling, performance, goal setting, hiring, professional development, and training programs
• Support the School’s mission, model the School’s core values, and participate in school life

Requirements

Please see the full position statement from RG175.

Are You the Right Person for the Job?

• Are you attracted to the joyfulness and creativity of children?
• Are you committed to getting to know the children and the families well? Do you enjoy getting to know, meeting and engaging families?
• Are you a person of high energy?
• Are you reasonable and level-headed?
• What is your vision of independent school education, especially around access and affordability?
• Are you an excellent listener?
• Do people enjoy spending time with you?
• Do you have the vision and strategic thinking to lead, strengthen and maximize an institution that wants to “get things right,” wise, professional in its operations, and committed to continual improvement?
• Do you know how to thoughtfully communicate your appreciation for people?
• Do you have a growth mindset? Are you comfortable with an experimental and entrepreneurial work environment? Do you think creatively and encourage
  innovation? Are you a curious person?
• What examples can you provide of how you have demonstrated forward-thinking abilities? How have you shown your mental nimbleness?
• Can you encourage and actively support change and innovation while retaining the core values and traditions of a school?
• Do you have the ability to inspire, lead, develop and attract talented staff?
• Are you a person of strength, gentleness, and authenticity?
• Do you know how to prioritize your responsibilities? Do you know how to use technology to maximize your time? Do you know how to delegate?
• Can you handle the considerable range of tasks: from major gift solicitations to helping with the smallest details of an event?
• Do you have the ability to lead, develop, and manage well in all directions? 
• Are you willing “to roll up your sleeves”for all the work that is needed?
• Do you get things done?
• Do you understand the cadence and rhythm of a school year?
• What are examples of how you work with your colleagues in a collegial manner? 
• Do you have a track record of success as a fundraiser and implementing a strategy?
• What is your level of experience in communicating the narrative of an institution?
• Have you had experience in a capital campaign? 
• Do you have business and financial savvy?
• Do you have facility, humility, and desire with equity and inclusion work required to embrace and support a diverse and dedicated community of faculty, staff, students, parents, and
  alumni?
• Are you comfortable with the locational realities of Los Angeles as a major metropolitan center, knowing that Sierra Canyon School has a culture and personality all its own?
• Do you have the ability to work occasional evenings and weekends, means of travel to off-site events, ability to travel, domestically and abroad as needed?