Executive Director, Optica Foundation

Executive Director, Optica Foundation

Optica is looking for a Executive Director, Optica Foundation .

This position is responsible for leading a small team to increase the Optica Foundation’s impact by engaging corporations, foundations, and individuals to raise money that supports critical programs that advance the Optica Foundation’s mission of providing science and professional development resources for students in the optics and photonics field around the globe.  In this senior leadership position, the ability to set revenue goals and work with diverse constituencies to achieve them is critical, as is the ability to inspire others to support the Foundation in advancing its mission.

Primary Responsibilities

1. Lead a small team to develop and implement strategies to raise money and awareness of the opportunity to have an impact for students through the Optica Foundation in the academic and industrial communities.
2. Partner with CEO and Optica Foundation Board of Directors to set annual and long-term fundraising goals that successfully increase both the number of donations given and total dollars raised.  Engage the Optica Foundation Board as partners in the important work of achieving these goals.
3. Lead the effort to continuously develop a pipeline for giving and a culture of philanthropy across the optics and photonics community. Engage corporations, foundations, and individuals capable of making gifts at all levels, with a special focus on those capable of making major and principal gifts.
4. Work with the Optica Foundation staff, the Optica Foundation Board, and key volunteers in donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.  Partner with applicable staff within Optica to provide introductions to potential donors.
5. Establish performance measures, monitor results and partner with the CEO and the Optica Foundation Board to evaluate the effectiveness of the fundraising and donor communications program.  Partner with the CEO and Optica IT to ensure that the Optica Foundation has the tools to accurately, effectively, and efficiently maintain a record of donor communications and report on results.
6. Ensure a balanced donor communication strategy and a tailored solicitation program that will enable the Optica Foundation to attract, retain and motivate donors (corporate, foundation, and individuals) and fundraising volunteers. With the team, raise awareness of the impact of the foundation and giving through email, the Optica Foundation website, social media and print strategies.
7. Ensure that philanthropy and fundraising efforts are carried out in keeping with the organization's values, mission, vision and plans.  Maintain excellent relationships with other Optica leaders.
8. Provide the Optica CEO and Optica Foundation Board with regular updates on the status of fundraising efforts.

Secondary Responsibilities

1. Manage the Optica Foundation team and build a culture of accountability and engagement.
2. Ensure staff has the tools and resources to be successful and is using those tools appropriately.  This includes ensuring that staff is entering donor and donation information in a database within a reasonable timeframe and that reports are timely and accurate.
3. Keep informed of developments in philanthropy and fundraising as well as the general fields of management, the not-for-profit sector and optics and photonics more specifically
4. Represent the Optica Foundation at special events, e.g., cultivations activities, ceremonies, receptions, etc.
5. Develop and oversee the Optica Foundation’s fundraising budget and achieve targets.
6. Ensure that the department is adequately staffed and that work is distributed appropriately and equitably.

Education and Experience

• BA or MA, preferably in the physical sciences
• Experience working in an academic or scientific nonprofit foundation environment
• 10-15+ years expertise in a position with direct responsibility for major donor fundraising, alumni or member relations, foundation giving and related activities.
• Experience managing staff and donor relationships.
• Successful experience in all aspects of major donor fundraising program research, planning, implementation and tracking.
• Fundraising experience in a membership or alumni organization.

Skills and Abilities

• Proactive approach to staff/volunteer management.
• Able to successfully build relationships with volunteers, members and donors.
• Skill in developing and implementing sophisticated strategies for successful cultivation and solicitation of annual and major gifts.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to make persuasive oral presentations.
• Ability to relate to student member population
• Excellent research and data collecting skills and a strong attention to detail.
• Excellent managerial skills and the ability to collaborate with other teams.
• Ability to think strategically and develop and implement strategic plans.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and deadlines simultaneously.
• Ability to see "Big Picture" and act to benefit the Optica Foundation.

About Optica

Located in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, DC, Optica offers a competitive salary and benefits. Please send your resume and cover letter with salary requirements to resumes@optica.org.

Optica is an equal employment opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, age, sex, national origin, disability, religion, maritial status, veteran's status, personal appearance, political affiliation, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation, or any other basis prohibited by law.