Administration and Management Job Description

Senior Development Officer, Corporate and Foundation Relations

Summary:

Under the direction of the Director of Development, the Senior Development Officer, Corporate and Foundation Relations has primary responsibility for corporate and foundation relations at the Whitehead Institute including the identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of corporate and foundation support of all research programs, education and outreach activities at the Institute and program development.

Responsibilities:

• In collaboration with other Development staff, develop pool of corporate and foundation prospects for both unrestricted and targeted contributions, evaluate prospect research, and devise successful cultivation and stewardship strategies and programs that will help expand the base of support.
• In collaboration with the Director of Development, set annual goals for budgeted contributions from corporations and foundations.  Additionally, the Senior Development Officer will participate in planning and securing capital support, in keeping with the Institute's strategic plans and priorities. 
  
• Conceptualize, develop and write grant proposals and other reports and correspondence to foundations and corporations in support of philanthropic goals, in collaboration with scientists, staff leaders and others.
  
• Actively and aggressively build relationships with new sources of institutional support while maintaining relations with existing corporate and foundation supporters.
• Develop and maintain systems for communicating funding opportunities to faculty for filling the proposal pipeline.    
• Develop presentation materials and briefing strategies for WI Director, Vice- President,, Director of Development, faculty and volunteer solicitors.  Organize and support all individuals assisting corporate and foundation relations. 
• Cultivate relationships with program officers and decision-makers; manage strategy for all solicitations; and actively solicit and negotiate gifts. 
• Develop and maintain prospect tracking system for foundations and corporations, generate reports on funding progress, and implement other reporting and structural systems that will indicate program progress.
• Serve as liaison between the Development Department and the Office of Sponsored Programs to ensure that the Institute takes maximum advantage of all opportunities and that foundation and corporate grant reporting is handled in a complete and timely fashion.
• Contribute to story ideas and articles about corporations and foundations, as needed. 
• Perform other related responsibilities as necessitated by the position or as assigned.
• Some travel required.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required.  Master’s degree strongly preferred. 
• Minimum of 8 years experience in fundraising, including demonstrated success managing a strong foundation and corporate relations program; at least 3 years in scientific environment.
  
• Proven record of working successfully with senior level scientists. Must be effective in coordinating foundation and corporate proposals in collaboration with science faculty.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to communicate scientific research, especially early stage biomedical research.
• Strong background in program planning and strategic initiative development. 
• Excellent writing, editing and proofreading, and speaking skills.
• Strong leadership, administrative, and budgetary skills.
• Must be able to work independently, adapt to changing priorities and multi-task to meet deadlines.

How to Apply

Last updated November 13, 2007.