The Opportunity:The Bruce Museum stands at a pivotal moment. With a recently completed $68 million transformational expansion that tripled gallery space, the Museum is building upon institutional momentum to secure its long-term sustainability and philanthropic growth. The Museum seeks an experienced development professional to serve as Director of Development—providing strategic department leadership, operational excellence, and team management for the Museum\'s comprehensive development program during this critical phase. This is a compelling opportunity for an accomplished development leader to build and lead a high-performing team during a pivotal period of institutional growth. The incoming Director will shape the department\'s structure, recruit key roles currently in development, establish the operational infrastructure that will sustain the Museum\'s philanthropic growth, and drive sustainable results across all revenue streams during an active comprehensive campaign. Working in close partnership with the Director and CEO, the Vice President of Strategic Advancement and Principal Gifts, and the Board of Trustees, the Director of Development will serve as the institution\'s senior development operations leader, responsible for translating philanthropic vision into executable strategies, managing department staff and systems, and ensuring accountability and continuous improvement across all advancement functions. Position Summary:The Director of Development serves as the Museum\'s senior leader for development operations and annual philanthropic growth, responsible for the strategic planning, management, and execution of the Museum\'s comprehensive development program. Reporting to the Executive Director and CEO and serving as a member of the senior leadership team, this role provides direct management and professional development for the development staff and ensures accountability, operational excellence, and continuous improvement across all fundraising functions. The Director of Development provides strategic and operational leadership for the Museum\'s core development functions, including major gifts, annual giving, membership, institutional giving (foundations, corporations, and government), database management, donor relations, and stewardship. The Director of Development works in close partnership with the Vice President of Strategic Advancement and Principal Gifts—who focuses on principal gift relationships ($250K+) and campaign leadership—to coordinate prospect strategies, support campaign execution, and ensure that annual operations and campaign priorities are aligned and mutually reinforcing. The Museum is engaged in a multi-year comprehensive campaign that will strengthen both annual operations and long-term institutional sustainability. The Director of Development plays a central role in translating campaign priorities into effective operations and ensuring that annual fundraising and campaign activity advance together. This position does not supervise the Vice President of Strategic Advancement and Principal Gifts but collaborates closely to integrate campaign activity with the Museum\'s broader advancement program and ensure organizational readiness for comprehensive campaign success. Key Responsibilities:Strategic Leadership and PlanningDevelop and execute a comprehensive annual development plan with measurable goals, strategies, timelines, and accountability metrics aligned with campaign priorities and institutional objectivesEstablish and monitor key performance indicators for all development functions, including major gifts, annual fund, membership, institutional giving, and donor retentionLead strategic planning processes for the development department, ensuring alignment with Museum priorities and Board expectations Partner with the Executive Director and CEO and Vice President of Strategic Advancement and Principal Gifts to develop institutional fundraising strategy and positioningProvide regular reporting and analysis to Museum leadership and Board of Trustees on fundraising performance, pipeline development, and departmental operationsTeam Management and DevelopmentDirectly supervise and provide professional development for development staff, including team members engaged in running major gifts, institutional giving, membership, annual fund, special events, data operations, and support staff.Establish clear roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations for all team members Conduct regular performance reviews, goal-setting, and professional development planning Foster a collaborative, high-performing team culture with clear accountability and mutual supportRecruit, onboard, and retain talented development professionalsProvide coaching, mentoring, and career development opportunities for staffCreate systems for effective internal communication, coordination, and cross-functional collaboration Operational Excellence and Infrastructure.Develop and implement policies, procedures, and best practices for all development operations, including gift processing, donor acknowledgment, stewardship protocols, and data management.Ensure database integrity, utilization, and strategic deployment for prospect identification, donor tracking, campaign management, and reporting.Oversee budget development and management for the development departmentEstablish standardized processes for proposal development, grant management, and institutional givingImplement moves management systems and portfolio management protocols Ensure compliance with fundraising regulations, ethical standards, and institutional policiesCoordinate cross-departmental collaboration with Finance, Marketing, Curatorial, and Audience Engagement to support integrated advancement strategy Major Gifts and Institutional Giving Maintain a personal portfolio of major gift prospects ($100K–$250K) for cultivation, solicitation, and stewardshipOversee major gifts pipeline development, prospect research, and portfolio management across the development teamSupport the Vice President of Strategic Advancement and Principal Gifts with campaign strategy, prospect coordination, and high-level donor engagementEnsure effective coordination of institutional giving strategy, including foundation and corporate relations, grant writing, and reporting Develop compelling cases for support, proposals, and donor-facing materialsStewardship and Donor RelationsOversee comprehensive donor stewardship program, ensuring timely acknowledgment, meaningful engagement, and cultivation strategies for donors at all levelsDirect donor relations programming, including cultivation events, recognition opportunities, and special experiencesEnsure effective coordination of patron programs and donor affinity groupsMonitor donor retention metrics and implement strategies to improve donor loyalty and upgrade potential Campaign Support and CoordinationWork in close partnership with the Vice President of Strategic Advancement and Principal Gifts to support campaign execution, including prospect identification, solicitation coordination, and gift documentationEnsure operational support for campaign activities, including database tracking, reporting, volunteer coordination, and donor communications Coordinate staff participation in campaign activities and ensure alignment between annual operations and campaign priorities Required Qualifications:Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive fundraising experience, with at least 3–5 years in a management role overseeing development staff and operationsDemonstrated success in major gifts fundraising, including personal solicitation experience securing gifts of $50K or moreProven track record of building, leading, and developing high-performing fundraising teamsExperience developing and implementing comprehensive development plans with measurable outcomesStrong operational expertise, including database management, budget oversight, and process developmentExperience working in cultural institutions, museums, or arts organizations strongly preferredCampaign experience, including participation in feasibility studies, campaign planning, and execution Bachelor\'s degree required; advanced degree preferred Skills and Competencies Strategic leadership: Ability to develop vision, set priorities, and execute plans that generate measurable resultsTeam management: Proven ability to hire, develop, motivate, and retain talented professionals while fostering accountability and collaboration Operational excellence: Strong organizational skills with demonstrated ability to establish systems, policies, and procedures that improve efficiency and effectiveness Fundraising expertise: Deep knowledge of fundraising best practices, including prospect management, moves management, gift solicitation strategies, and donor stewardshipInterpersonal skills: Exceptional relationship-building abilities with diverse constituencies, including donors, Board members, staff, volunteers, and community leaders Communication skills: Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to craft compelling proposals, donor correspondence, and strategic documentsAnalytical capability: Strong data literacy and ability to use metrics, analytics, and research to inform strategy and measure progressCollaborative approach: Ability to work effectively across departments, reduce silos, and build partnerships that advance institutional goalsAdaptability: Comfort working in a dynamic, evolving environment with competing priorities and the ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on executionCommitment to mission: Genuine passion for arts, culture, science, education, and community engagement Personal CharacteristicsProfessional maturity and sound judgmentHigh level of integrity and ethical standardsSolutions-oriented mindset with a bias toward actionEnthusiasm for building organizational capacity and developing talentAbility to inspire confidence and trust among staff, donors, and leadershipResilience and grace under pressureSense of humor and positive attitudeCuriosity about art, science, and their intersectionComfort leading in a transforming institution
