Director/Senior Manager, Development and Communications
Job Location: In-person in Raleigh, NC with occasional remote flexibility
Days/Hours: Largely 9-5 Mon-Fri but with regular evening/weekend availability (hours worked nights/weekends will decrease 9-5 Mon-Fri hours)
Full/Part Time: Full Time
Exempt/Non-Exempt: Exempt
Job Profile and Description:
The Director/Senior Manager, Development and Communications is responsible for all facets of donor cultivation, solicitation, and management (prospects, current, and lapsed), fundraising activities and events, and communications to deliver the financial resources needed to support the mission of Second Chance Pet Adoptions, Raleigh’s oldest no-kill animal rescue organization. They are responsible for developing and gaining Board approval for the Annual Development Plan and associated Communications Plan. They will be in charge of implementation, management, oversight, and results of all Plan activities. They will be very involved in doing the detailed work.
Key Areas of Responsibility:
1. Develop, execute, monitor, and deliver results of the comprehensive Annual Development Budget and Plan, including strategies, tactics, and metrics directed at donor cultivation and management, cultivation and management of corporate and special event sponsors, fundraising campaigns, web presence, communications, marketing materials, and social media engagement. Plan will be approved by Development Committee and Board of Directors. Provide the Board with ongoing and regular monitoring and evaluation of progress towards the plan goals.
2. Co-lead the Development Committee, a fundraising-focused group consisting of staff, Board members, and volunteers.
3. Responsible for donor relations and communications: Responsible for all aspects of eTapestry, the online fundraising and donor management solution (CRM) currently used by Second Chance. Responsible for maintaining complete and accurate data and working with Blackbaud on any issue resolution. Manage iContact email database. Serve as point of contact for all donors and ensure regular communications. Proactively network with the community, leading to pipeline development and solicitations for new donors and other opportunities.
4. Serve as staff lead on the Evening of Pawsibilities (annual gala) and Racing for Rescues (annual 5K/fun walk) Steering Committees. In this capacity, will develop agenda, facilitate meetings, and keep notes for each Steering Committee meeting.
5. Maintain, develop, and enhance all development and communications-related content on the Second Chance website, including SEO (Search Engine Optimization).
6. Research, identify, write, and submit grants to support Second Chance programs and operations that are consistent with the Annual Plan. For approved grants, complete all required reporting to the grantor.
7. Support activities, as needed, at the Second Chance adoption center. Activities may include helping visitors or other activities as directed by Senior Director, Operations.
8. Identify volunteer role needs and work with the Volunteer Manager to recruit and train volunteers. Lead volunteers and other staff to ensure successful execution of fundraising and donor cultivation events.
9. Supervise and mentor a Development and Communications staff member, who is responsible for content generation, daily content publication, leading some events, communication with media, responding to inquiries from the public through social media channels, some donor communications, and more.
10. Monitor fundraising/communication trends and changes, and proactively propose ways that Second Chance can engage all stakeholders.
11. Build relationships with media and community partners. Field requests for interviews and prepare messaging for organizational principals, if necessary, or serve as the spokesperson for the organization.
12. Assure compliance with all federal and state fundraising policies, procedures, standards, and applicable regulatory requirements.
13. Other responsibilities as delegated by Senior Director, Operations.
14. Demonstrate and support the values of Second Chance, including promoting a humane and caring attitude toward all animals and treating all animals with respect and compassion at all times. Treat people with respect; contribute to effective teamwork; foster good public relations beneficial to the organization and its programs. Work courteously and cooperatively with staff, volunteers, and board members to ensure that all established procedures and policies of the organization are followed. Establish strong, professional relationships with donors and stakeholders who support the organization.
Qualifications:
1. Education: Bachelor’s degree preferred. Associate’s degree with relevant experience considered.
2. Development: At least 3 years of development experience (donor acquisition, cultivation, and management, as well as fundraising events) as well as experience in developing an integrated Development Plan with metrics. Experience with fundraising and donor management platform (CRM software) required (eTapestry experience preferred). Major and/or planned gifts experience preferred. Successful grant-writing experience preferred.
3. Communications: Must have excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, and must be detail-oriented. Proficiency with social media platforms and analytics (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok preferred). Photography and/or videography skills a plus. Possess excellent skills in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat) or similar creative suite (Canva acceptable). Website management experience highly preferred.
4. Productivity tools: proficient with Microsoft Office, Word, PowerPoint, Excel and/or Google Suite.
5. Soft skills: Proven ability to effectively develop, manage, and work collaboratively with teams of volunteers/staff. Must be self-directed and able to prioritize and manage multiple projects at once. Must love animals and be able to work in a noisy environment with cats and dogs, which often requires suddenly shifting gears. Must have compassion for and patience with the public as well as critical-thinking and problem-solving skills in stressful situations.
Salary/Benefits:
Salary range: $60,000 to $80,000 yearly, dependent on experience, with bonus opportunities
Benefits: Paid time off; vision; dental; SEP (simplified employee pension) IRA after 6 months of employment; non-commute mileage reimbursement; professional development assistance.
Working Conditions:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and/or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and work with dogs and cats.
Organizational Overview:
Second Chance Pet Adoptions is a 501(c)(3) non-profit animal rescue organization. Our mission is to champion homeless cats and dogs who are healthy or treatable in the quest to find their forever home and engage with our community to promote responsible pet ownership, ultimately reducing future generations of homeless animals. Learn more about us at www.secondchancenc.org.
Limitations and Disclaimer:
The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties requested by their supervisor in compliance with federal and state laws.
Second Chance Pet Adoptions is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or marital status. All job requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees/volunteers.
How to Apply: Send resume and cover letter to Second Chance’s Senior Director of Operations, Lisa Imhof, at Lisa@SecondChanceNC.org.
