Save the Children partners with schools, communities, industry leaders and policymakers to increase Kindergarten readiness and grade-level proficiency among children in rural America, and to protect kids when disaster strikes. The Senior Director of Partnership Development will lead public fundraising efforts for Save the Children’s U.S. Programs & Advocacy (USPA) division, focusing on generating public resources to support rural education programs, including Head Start, and emergency preparedness, response and recovery programs. The Senior Director will supervise and work in concert with their team to develop and implement public fundraising strategies, with the responsibility of substantially increasing and diversifying the division’s public funding portfolio. The Senior Director will also pursue broader opportunities to increase/improve state and federal investments in early childhood education in rural America, working in close partnership with Save the Children’s advocacy arm Save the Children Action Network (SCAN). Finally, the Senior Director and team will partner with Rural Education colleagues to develop a pipeline of schools and communities for expansion. As a member of USPA’s Senior Management Team, this role will contribute to the development and execution of division-wide strategies, collaborate with other departments to drive efficiency and impact, and promote a positive workplace culture within their department and across the division.
Portfolio Planning and Pipeline Management (50%)
- Develop and implement a strategy to substantially increase and diversify USPA’s public funding portfolio.
- Set and execute annual targets for local, state and federal funding that encompass earmarks, competitive grants and other public funding streams.
- Develop and implement annual stewardship plans, working in close partnership with colleagues in SCAN, Rural Education, Head Start, Resource Development and Finance.
- Oversee the management of the public funding pipeline, ensuring proper tracking, collaboration and communication from the time a prospect is identified through the time an award is received.
- Ensure submission of timely and accurate reports.
Partnerships and Advocacy (30%)
- Cultivate relationships and raise the visibility of Save the Children with key policymakers and other necessary allies at the local, state and federal levels.
- Identify and pursue opportunities to increase/improve state and federal investments in early childhood education in rural communities; serve as lead for all federal fundraising.
- Oversee and support activities that build support among legislators, government leaders, and artist ambassadors and influence increased public funding investments in Save the Children’s programs.
- Work with Rural Education colleagues to develop a pipeline of schools and communities for expansion.
Leadership and Team Management (20%)
- Build and maintain a high-performing team; directly supervising a staff of two (currently) and overseeing local, state and federal consultants charged with generating public funds.
- Promote staff learning and development goals, and conduct regular staff check-ins and annual performance reviews.
- Foster collaboration between Partnership Development Team and other internal stakeholders; ensuring timely and effective communication and alignment between funding requirements, program design and implementation capacity.
- Oversee the development and management of team annual budget and plan; submitting periodic reports and status updates on achievements and challenges.
- Actively participate as a member of the USPA senior management team meetings and SCUS extended senior management team, contributing to the overall strategy and direction of the division and agency.
- Minimum 10-15 years' experience in advocacy at the state and federal level, including experience organizing and implementing large-scale advocacy campaigns
- Extensive experience working with state and federal budgets.
- Remote workforce management skills and experience providing technical and managerial direction to a diverse team of professionals across a wide geography.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills; demonstrates a clear understanding of, and ability to convey, issues related to poverty in rural communities.
- Demonstrated ability to engage and influence a wide range of external stakeholders including program partners, coalitions, celebrities/influencers, bureaucrats and elected officials
- Experience developing funding proposals and reports for grants, foundations, private donors and public funders.
- Ability to travel approximately 30% of the time
Preferred Qualifications
- Advanced degree in Public Administration, Public Policy or related field
Save the Children US offers outstanding benefits that include health, dental, vision and life insurances, pet insurance, short-term and long-term disability coverage, an Employee Assistance Program, 403(b), generous vacation, personal sick leave, family leave, parental/adoption leave, commuter benefits, dress for your day, and much more.