Director of Growth Strategy and Development - Civic Builders Inc

*A cover letter is not required to apply for this role. Instead, all candidates will provide written answers to the application questions. Your responses will be shared with the hiring managers as well as the hiring committee for this search, so please put forth your best effort.  Up to 3 paragraphs maximum per response, please.


Location: NYC HQ or Remote 

*see Work Environment, Compensation and Benefits section for more information

Status: Full time

Salary: $130,000 - $150,000

Reports to: Ellen McBurney, Chief Operating Officer

Direct Report: Development Coordinator (to be hired)

Department: Strategy Development

Desired start date: May/June 2024

Director of Growth Strategy and Development

About Civic Builders:

Civic Builders creates paths for affordable access to permanent facilities for high performing public charter schools that deliver excellent educations to students in communities where the need is greatest. Since 2002, Civic has supported the growth of 83 schools nationwide, educating more than 42,500 students annually. Civic offers school facility development services, access to low-cost capital, and strategic advisory services to public charter schools. Our portfolio represents $1.5 billion invested into economically distressed communities to ensure access to safe, positive, and student-centered learning environments.

About the Position:

The Director of Growth Strategy and Development is a brand new leadership role for our organization. The Director reports to the COO and will work closely with her and the Founder and CEO, David Umansky. The Director will hire and manage one direct report, a Development Coordinator, to support development operations and help build a strong development infrastructure.

The Director will join Civic at a time when demand for our services are at their highest, and as we launch our next multi-million ($10M) dollar campaign for our Lending and Real Estate Development programs. This leader will oversee and manage this campaign as well as our $2MM annual operating fund. Thanks to a strong earned income revenue stream, and the hard work of Civic’s team and Board of Directors, the operating fund and lending and real estate development campaign have existing support and commitments, so the leader who assumes the role will not have to start at ground zero. 

Civic Builders has an atypical nonprofit operating model that spans real estate development, financial and strategic advisory services. Given the technical nature of our work and the innovative way we raise money, we seek a leader able to unravel the technical aspects to communicate our impact, and who has demonstrated experience identifying, cultivating and securing 6 and 7 figure gifts from institutional funders.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced, entrepreneurial and results-oriented development leader who is passionate about Civic’s mission and energized by seeking out new institutional partners to support our growth. This is a highly external role, so a leader with strong relationship-building and communication skills who can skillfully represent the organization to donors, prospects, and the broader public is a must.

Responsibilities:

Growth Strategy Development

• Create and successfully execute strategies for development campaigns, the annual operating fund and other organizational fundraising needs; track progress toward goals and make adjustments as necessary
• Serve as internal thought leader and advisor on growth and development; manage up to the COO and CEO in support of the organization’s development work and help craft and make compelling asks of funding partners and prospects
• Develop a keen understanding of Civic’s unique business model; translate the impact of our work through the power of narrative to non-technical audiences to inspire and motivate new investment opportunities 
• Grow and diversify the network of funders committed to Civic’s mission

External Relations

• Serve as an outward facing presence and brand ambassador for the organization
• Attend funder meetings with and without the CEO and COO; make compelling asks of funder partners and prospects 
• Organize and attend cultivation events to engage stakeholders and elevate Civic’s brand (introductory meetings, school building tours, fundraising pitches, fundraising events and more)

Management 

• Mobilize, support and coach Civic’s Board of Directors to fundraise for the organization and support recruitment of future Board members
• Hire, support and develop the Development Coordinator to build and manage the systems and structures necessary to successfully run Civic’s development operation
• Collaborate interdepartmentally to understand the variety of projects that require funding, and develop compelling development campaigns to support those needs
• Support the creation and maintenance of an inclusive and supportive culture that values all colleagues and partners and enables them to leverage their capabilities, perspectives, and background in pursuit of our organizational mission

Qualifications:

• 7 years of development leadership, with evidence of ongoing experience serving as lead strategist and fundraiser for multi-million dollar campaigns (foundations and corporations)
• Familiarity with NYC and the national education funding landscape is a requirement; knowledge and experience within the education reform sector is preferred
• Passion for Civic's mission to support high-quality education options for under-resourced communities is a must 
• Strong relationship building capabilities with the desire to be out in the philanthropic community forging new relationships and promoting Civic’s work.
• Capacity to absorb complex and technical information and distill clear and compelling stories of impact for non-technical audiences
• Able to identify and share the best next steps in all funder engagements, and craft and make compelling asks
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills across various mediums, including interpersonal communications and presentations
• Ability to work collaboratively with various stakeholders, both internal leadership and external stakeholders, while also leading projects and relationships independently.
• Ability to prioritize and execute effectively in a dynamic environment

Work Environment, Compensation and Benefits:

• Civic is located in New York, NY and has a hybrid/remote, collaborative work environment. Local NYC team members work two days on-site weekly and telework the rest of the week. The entire organization also meets quarterly for a week in NYC. This position will require monthly, in office time if the candidate is not local to the NYC region.
• The salary range for this role is $130,000 - $150,000 commensurate with experience.
• We want you to be well and thrive. Our excellent benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision coverage, up to 4% employer match 401(k), and generous PTO. 
• Additional benefits and perks include flexible spending accounts (FSA) and health savings accounts (HSA), short-term & long-term disability insurances, group term life insurance, commuter benefits program, 12 weeks paid parental/family leave, cell phone plan reimbursement and equipment replacement, professional development reimbursement, home office setup, and social and educational outings.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Racial Justice:

Civic Builders believes that diversity, in all its forms, enriches society and our organization. Because we support students in the highest-need neighborhoods, we have a particular charge to understand our schools and their communities. When our staff, board, and partners reflect, value and embrace the voices and perspectives of those most impacted by what we do, we have a deeper understanding and connection to their needs and more effectively achieve our aspiration of improving lives, revitalizing communities, and helping children receive the education they deserve.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer:

Civic Builders is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Civic Builders provides employees with a safe and welcoming environment free of discrimination and harassment.

As an equal opportunity employer, we prohibit any unlawful discrimination against a job applicant on the basis of their race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, family or parental status, disability, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.

How To Apply:

We encourage you to apply even if your experience is not a 100% match with the job description; we will consider people from a variety of backgrounds and career experiences.

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