Director of Development

Start Date: July 1, 2017

Location: Preference given to applicants in, or willing to relocate to, Boston area (MA), New York (NY), New Orleans (LA) and Durham (NC). Consideration for remote employment possible.

Terms: Full time

The Public Laboratory for Open Technology and Science (Public Lab) is a community -- supported by a 501(c)(3) non-profit -- which develops and applies open source tools to environmental exploration and investigation. By democratizing inexpensive and accessible Do-It-Yourself techniques, Public Lab creates a collaborative network of practitioners who actively reimagine the human relationship with the environment.

Position Summary

The Director of Development is responsible for delivering on Public Lab's fundraising goals; the director oversees and implements the fundraising and strategic development efforts of Public Lab with the aim of raising $1M in the first year. This position works closely with the Executive Director, playing an important role in growing Public Lab's capacity by establishing funded high-level partnerships with organizations. The Director of Development is responsible for securing, growing, and diversifying revenue streams (grants, corporations, individual giving, in-kind support), supporting team members as they generate revenue via sales from the Public Lab online store, and setting a strategic course for organizational growth and excellence into the future.

The ideal candidate will be responsible for:

• Successfully cultivating and stewarding funder relationships, serving as the main point of contact by proactively maintaining open lines of communication, relaying positive program outcomes and press coverage, and crafting messaging to resonate with funder priorities.
• Achieving established yearly financial goals.
• Leading the creation and implementation of a fundraising strategy that supports growth and the strategic direction of the organization, with support from Board Fundraising Committee and Executive Director.
• Grant writing and grants management (foundation, corporate, and governmental), including leading efforts on prospecting, drafting, budget creation, reporting, and relationship management.
• Developing compelling, factual, quality, timely, relevant (to funder guidelines) and comprehensive grant proposals (narrative, budget, and supplementary materials), grant evaluation, and grant reporting, with few or minimal edits needed from the Executive Director or program staff.
• Strengthening and driving board participation in fundraising efforts via the Board Fundraising Committee.
• Successfully cultivating and stewarding relationships with high-level partner organizations (government agencies, universities, community organizations) in pursuit of mutually-beneficial funding opportunities by developing positive rapport, maintaining clear communication, and defining clear responsibilities and timelines.
• Developing annual organization budget and strategic plan with the Executive Director.
• With the Kits Fulfillment Coordinator, setting and monitoring sales goals and strategies for the Public Lab online store, and tracking trends against milestones.
• Managing individual giving and sustaining member programs, including maintaining positive relationships with donors, organizing and executing the annual appeal, keeping clean records using an online CRM, preparing thank you letters, and shipping premiums.
• Coordinating design, printing, and distribution of marketing and communication materials for development efforts as well as for membership premiums.
• Working with the Community Development team to provide assistance and resources to Public Lab community members when they are seeking fundraising and partnerships development support.
• Completing support activities to the organizations for which Public Lab acts as a fiscal sponsor, including approving proposals, budgets, and reports, and monitoring grant progress, prospecting, and budget spend down to ensure they align with approved MOU.
• Acting in the place of the Executive Director when they are unavailable, especially in conducting organization oversight, administrative backstopping, and acting as a lead representative of Public Lab.
• Providing general support for administrative tasks (as defined by policies and procedures).
• Maintaining and adhering to nonprofit policies and procedures, Public Lab values and the Code of Conduct.

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities Required

• Knowledge and appreciation of Public Lab (community & nonprofit) and its mission, approach, programs and services, and the ability to communicate them effectively.
• High level of attention to detail.
• Experience with nonprofit financial management systems and knowledge of best practices required.
• Excellent self-organizational and administrative skills.
• Strong communication skills--in written, verbal and online formats.
• Ability to work collaboratively, both in-person and with remote co-workers, to envision and promote positive change, and to be supportive of others.
• Ability to facilitate activities amongst a highly diverse community of people from many different fields and experience sets.
• Ability to identify and solve problems as a team member, and to make decisions and involve others in the decision-making process where appropriate.
• Ability to create a work environment that fosters shared goals and objectives, and to be part of a cohesive online and offline community.
• Familiarity with the social issues and boundaries our work bridges, and recognition of the importance of equity in the broader Public Lab community.
• Travel is required occasionally, up to 15% of the time.

Compensation is based on experience and qualifications. Relocation expenses are not available. Please send a cover letter and resume to jobs@publiclab.org by April 27th at 8pm ET. No phone calls please.

Public Lab is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse, multicultural work environment. We encourage people with different ability sets, people of color, and people of all sexual orientations, gender expressions and identities to apply.