New York Hall of Science is hiring: Director, Donor Communications in Corona

Position Title

Rate of Pay

Director, Donor Communications

$95,000 - $100,000

Department

Work Location

Institutional Advancement

Hybrid

Reports to

Work Schedule

Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement

Monday - Friday (9 am - 5 pm)

FLSA Status

Position Classification

FLSA Status: Exempt

Full-Time, Regular, Non-Supervisory

Since its founding at the 1964-65 New York World's Fair, the New York Hall of Science (NYSCI) has inspired millions of people - children, teachers, and families - by offering innovative, participatory ways to learn and encouraging people to explore their curiosity and nurture their creativity. Located in Queens, the most ethnically diverse county in the country, NYSCI welcomes 400,000 visitors each year and serves thousands more through outreach in schools, teacher professional development, and participation in a variety of public events and research initiatives.

NYSCI is a leader in the science museum field, recognized for its highly regarded exhibitions, programs, and products, all of which are informed by our inclusive, research-derived approach to STEM learning and engagement called Design, Make, Play. The defining characteristics of Design, Make, Play - open-ended exploration, imaginative learning, personal relevance, deep engagement, and delight - are the ingredients that invite broad participation in STEM and make engagement and learning irresistible. Through this transformative model for STEM exploration, NYSCI engages diverse communities of learners in STEM, by fostering the excitement of self-directed exploration and by tapping into the joy of learning intrinsic in young people's play.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Director, Donor Communications, is a critical member of the Institutional Advancement (IA) team that overall raises $6-$7 million annually to support NYSCI's work from private and public funders such as individuals, foundations, corporations, and government agencies. NYSCI is seeking a highly motivated, self-directed professional with superior communication, organizational, multi-tasking and problem-solving skills. This position is ideal for an experienced development grant writer and communicator who thrives working in close collaboration with fundraisers, program staff and organizational leadership in crafting compelling and high quality funding proposals, reports, presentations, etc.

Reporting to the Sr. VP of Institutional Advancement, the Director, Donor Communications contributes to and implements the organization's development-specific communication strategy - with the goal of planning and creating communications that educate, cultivate and inspire philanthropic support for and engagement with NYSCI.

The Director's primary responsibilities are to propose, create and execute new communications for internal and external audiences; evaluate, track, and measure results of communications activities across the department; provide day-to-day management of the communications calendar; and drive cross-departmental collaboration on the scheduling of communications to ensure well-timed engagement with key audiences.

The role is designed for a hybrid work schedule, typically involving attendance 2-3 days per week on-site at NYSCI's museum in Corona, Queens for team meetings, site visits, and special events.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Write and edit letters of inquiry and funding proposals that build a compelling case for funders to support NYSCI.
• Manage the full-cycle process for grant awards, including the internal tracking of program deliverables and reporting deadlines; coordinate with other teams as necessary to ensure that funder requirements are met.
• Own day-to-day management of development communications plan and calendar, identifying partners and processes that support collaboration; train others in use of the calendar, proactively identifying potential scheduling conflicts and proposed solutions.
• Data and Analytics: Utilize data to evaluate the effectiveness of communication strategies, audience engagement, and messaging, using insights to inform future efforts. Partner with NYSCI's Marketing & Business Development Team to ensure all the materials produced by and for the IA team reflect the organization's look and feel, as well as its brand guidelines.
• Oversee the writing of briefing notes, talking points, and other prep materials for the CAO and the CEO in advance of key donor / prospect meetings.
• Manage the work of two freelance grant writers who support the IA Team's communications efforts.
• Assist in generating grant budgets and expenditure reports, in partnership with program and finance staff.
• Build strong working relationships with other teams to collaboratively shape individual funding requests, as well as NYSCI's overall programmatic fundraising strategy.
• Use a CRM database (Raiser's Edge) to track past submissions and upcoming deadlines.
• Collaborate with the Institutional Advancement leadership team to design and implement a strategic fundraising plan, focused on expanding contributed revenue to NYSCI.
• Stay informed of trends in philanthropy that may influence NYSCI's approach to fundraising.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's Degree in Communications, English, Museum Studies, Non-Profit Management, a related field of study, and/or its work experience equivalent
• 5+ years of fundraising / advancement experience, with an emphasis on grant writing, record keeping and stewardship systems, and experience working within a complex organization.
• Commitment to the philosophy and mission of the New York Hall of Science.
• Experience collaborating with diverse teams (within department, cross departmental, and with external partners) including the ability to effectively lead and manage projects as well as harness team creativity and translate it into effective fundraising.
• Experience fundraising for a science center/natural history museum/children's museum or STEM education institution is preferred but not required.

REQUIREMENTS

• Superior writing skills and demonstrated ability to develop original proposals, reports, and accompanying financial materials. Strong ability to express ideas clearly both in written and oral communications.
• Highly developed project management skills and ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously, prioritizing tasks as needed based on deadlines and workflow.
• Sophisticated understanding of record keeping and stewardship systems to support and grow a successful donor relations program (Raiser's Edge, MS Excel, Word & PowerPoint, Google Docs & Sheets, etc.).
• Occasional evening and weekend availability to participate in events outside the workday schedule.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Stationary workstation: The employee must be able to remain in a stationary sitting position for up to 8 hours a day with appropriate breaks.
• Manual dexterity: The role requires the frequent use of hands for typing, writing, and handling office equipment.
• Visual acuity: The employee must have the visual ability to perform extensive computer work for long periods, including reading and analyzing data on a computer screen.
• Requires the ability to communicate clearly and effectively in both written and verbal forms.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's Degree preferred

BENEFITS

NYSCI strives to be an inclusive place to work. We work to foster multiple voices and perspectives, empower staff as problem solvers, and support professional growth for all.

The New York Hall of Science also offers generous benefits and perks for all regular full-time employees. These currently include:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance options
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare, dependent care and commuter benefits
• Pension plan and 401k plan
• Free life insurance coverage

• Paid vacation and sick leave
• 13 paid holidays off
• Flexible work schedules
• Employee Assistance Program

• Free onsite parking

HOW TO APPLY

Please upload your resume and cover letter through our online careers page.

Please note that while careful consideration will be given to each submission, the Museum will only be able to contact those applicants whose knowledge, skills, and work experience best fit the requirements of the position.

Interview Process

1. Introductory phone interview
2. Virtual interview / panel interview
3. Successful candidates will be asked to submit a professional writing sample and references

Application Deadline: Applications accepted on a rolling basis.

No phone calls or faxes please.

The New York Hall of Science is an equal-opportunity employer committed to fostering an innovative environment with the best employees. We provide employment opportunities without regard to age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, military service, marital status, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. We support a drug-free workplace.

If there are preparations we can make to help ensure you have a comfortable and positive interview experience, please let us know.

We recognize that it is highly unlikely that an applicant meets 100% of the qualifications for a given role. Therefore, if much of this job description describes you, then you are highly encouraged to apply for this role.