The Senior Director of Engagement (SDE) is a strategic leader on the Advancement team and is responsible for planning, implementing, and managing the comprehensive and effective engagement program for donors, alumni, and friends of the school. Reporting to the Assistant Head of School for Advancement, this position builds strong and sustained relationships with constituent groups and key stakeholders, engaging them in meaningful ways in the life of the school. The SDE works collaboratively to advance the goals of the department and is responsible for the leadership and management of a team of 5-6 staff in effective conceptualization and implementation of engagement programs. The SDE has a demonstrated track record of strategic planning, collaboration, innovation, and creativity, and is well versed in current relationship-driven engagement strategies and tactics.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership and Management
Serve as a member of Advancement Leadership Team that helps guide the strategy, culture, and goals of the institution.
Elevate and integrate the school’s efforts to build a strong culture of philanthropy across all constituent and donor engagement initiatives.
Lead, mentor and hold accountable the Director of Alumni Engagement and the Director of Donor Engagement. Provide support and coaching to additional team members including the Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement, Assistant Director of Donor Engagement, Young Alumni Coordinator, and Engagement Coordinator.
Plan, develop, and implement a robust and creative engagement program that provides meaningful experiences and deepens connections to the school.
Develop and sustain productive cross-functional relationships (individual giving, development operations/analytics, and communications/brand marketing) to advance comprehensive engagement goals.
Serve as a key partner to the Assistant Head of School for Advancement on all engagement activity, identifying opportunities and troubleshooting challenges.
Constituent Engagement and Donor Stewardship
Strategically lead and actively collaborate with the Engagement team and align its initiatives with Advancement’s goals including the comprehensive campaign.
Define, plan, and implement a strategy to support and advance the goals of the school’s alumni and donor engagement and stewardship programs.
Identify and set growth goals and develop and execute a strategy to attain them.
Create and implement high-level engagement opportunities that articulate the school’s priorities and objectives.
Utilize data and metrics to benchmark efforts, inform strategic and tactical decision-making, and identify prime engagement opportunities.
Establish, track and report on engagement plans; manage budgets and proactively forecast shifts in expense expectations.
In collaboration with the Individual Giving Team, manage a dynamic stewardship portfolio of 50 principal and major gift donors, providing personalized, impactful stewardship plans that ensure thoughtful engagement opportunities and high-level touch points.
In collaboration with the Individual Giving team, lead the engagement strategy and be responsible for the William Penn Society and Friends Forever. Oversee the planning and execution of ideas to deepen their engagement.
Support leadership and advancement staff on campaign strategy and execution.
Qualifications
A Bachelor’s degree is required with five to seven years of management experience in donor relations, stewardship or alumni engagement, preferably in a higher-education or independent school setting. The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker who understands sustained relationship management, fundraising, stewardship, and engagement programming. Professionalism, discretion, creativity, and the ability to deal with confidential information are vital in this role.
Required
Skills and Abilities:
Must be able to develop strategy, provide direction and mentorship, and lead implementation of short and long-term plans.
Must be able to organize and prioritize work, be proactive, take initiative, resolve problems, follow through, and simultaneously manage multiple priorities to ensure goals are met in a timely manner.
Demonstrated experience in sustained relationship management and stewardship of charitable gifts.
Ability to create engagement programming for varied constituents.
Knowledge of fundraising principles and best practices in stewardship.
Skill in project and event management, both in-person and digital.
Strong writing and oral presentation skills.
Excellent organizational ability and management skills.
Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively with colleagues.
Ability to self-motivate, work well with others and influence staff of all levels of seniority.
Ability to inspire and lead a team of professionals.
Ability to represent the school with internal and external constituents in the community by attending events and social gatherings as needed.
Desired
Master’s degree in a business-related field.
Experience using The Raiser’s Edge NXT in a non-profit setting.
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About Sidwell Friends School
Sidwell Friends School (SFS) is a PK-12, co-educational Quaker day school with campuses in Washington, D.C., and Bethesda, Maryland. Founded in 1883, the School is a nonprofit, tax-exempt institution governed by an independent Board of Trustees. A Sidwell Friends education aims to help students become the leaders of the future. To that end, the School seeks qualified individuals with the knowledge, skills, and ability to enhance the student experience and strengthen our community. Sidwell Friends maintains a generous salary and benefits package that supports and rewards our employees while helping them to deepen their professional expertise and grow as individuals. For teaching positions, a master’s degree and teaching experience in the field are preferred; a bachelor’s degree is required. For staff positions, we seek candidates with relevant experience, a commitment to excellence, and an enthusiasm for being a member of our vibrant and diverse community.