Role Overview

The Senior Development Officer for Foundations works under the general direction of the Director of Foundations and Corporate Partnerships, and is a member of the Foundations and Corporate Partnerships leadership team. As such, they play a leading role in the creation, oversight, and execution of the overall strategy to raise funds from US-based professional foundations. This is a key position that supports the team in meeting or exceeding its ambitious fundraising targets in a highly competitive environment.

In carrying out their role, the Senior Development Officer works closely with the Foundations and Corporate Partnerships team as well as with other stakeholders across the organization including other senior development managers/officers, prospect researchers, channel leads, communications, program, legal and finance staff.

The Sr. Development Officer manages a personal portfolio of professional foundations. In this capacity, they identify, develop, manage, and grow strategic relationships with high value foundation donors. This includes developing proposals and funding relationships around priority MSF activities and initiatives and coordinating closely with appropriate MSF personnel (within MSF-USA, and occasionally with MSF offices in Europe and the field) to identify and secure new or renewed funding.

In addition, the Sr. Development Officer for Foundations directly supervises the Sr. Associate, Foundations and the Development Officer for Foundations.

Department Accountabilities

Prospecting

Pursue strategic opportunities in coherence with MSF-USA´s strategy, that create long-term value for the movement by identifying and developing new audience segments or donors for its mission.

Donor Cultivation, Engagement and Management

Build trust and loyalty with potential and existing donors. At the simplest level, update donors on activities. At a more complex level, build long-term relationships with key donors and key donor segments. Take overall responsibility for designing, developing, and delivering the donor engagement strategy. May be through channels or through personal relationships.

Fundraising

Secure reliable, sustainable and efficient resources in alignment with MSF-US commitments.

Brand Positioning

Drive awareness and consideration through brand positioning based on the brand strategy and implement brand plans.

Best-in-Class Fundraising Systems and Capabilities

Deploy and champion the latest technological systems and capabilities that push the boundaries of what Development can produce for its donors.

Roles Specific Outcomes

Leadership and Direction

Communicate the actions needed to implement the function's strategy and business plan within the team; explain the relationship to the broader organization's mission, vision and values; motivate people to commit to these and to doing extraordinary things to achieve local business goals.

Improvement and Innovation

Identify shortcomings in existing business practices, then suggest and implement improvements while developing and delivering projects or a work stream within the organization's change management program. Involves working with guidance from senior colleagues.

Donor Relationship Development (Prospecting)

Develop and implement a relationship management plan for strategic, complex potential accounts to build key relationships at local and national levels. Coordinate the engagement of own organization with the donor organization to ensure effective two-way flow of information and resolution of issues.

Donor Relationship Management (Account Management)

Develop and implement a relationship management plan for strategic, complex existing accounts to build key relationships at local and national levels. Coordinate the engagement of own organization with the donor organization to ensure effective two-way flow of information and resolution of issues. Manage key client and donor relationships, often through account teams, to ensure their ongoing satisfaction and loyalty.

Key Account Management

Manage and develop important donor relationships with guidance from senior colleagues and/or manage an account team delivering day-to-day support. Donor organizations are likely to include mid-tier foundations, multinational foundations, and similar.

Customer Relationship Management Data

Oversee the implementation and maintenance of the donor relationship management system within the area of responsibility, identifying and communicating opportunities for system improvement that may enhance the management of donor relationships.

Donor Renewal

Drive and secure donor renewals through exceptional service interactions, ensuring the donor is consistently gaining value from the product/service; this role will often have a renewal quota to fulfill.

These core accountabilities should not be construed to contain every function/responsibility that may be required to be performed by an incumbent in this job. Incumbents are required to perform other functions as assigned.

Complexity and Problem-Solving Skills

• Operates as a recognized expert to shift into and out of a mental mindsets associated with assessing the facts and circumstances of the current situation and/or environment and making the appropriate/innovative adjustments to thinking and work habits to thrive in any scenario. Typically known as a subject matter expert.
• Applies expertise to act as an authority to accurately identify and understand the key donation influences pertaining to an opportunity.
• Applies expertise to act as an authority to quickly and effectively establish trust within the client’s organization.
• Applies expertise to act as an authority to orient MSF-USA around delivering to the key needs of their donors.

Behavioral Competencies

THOUGHT: How MSF USA staff understand the organization, manage complexity, and contribute by creating the new and different.

People Focus

Builds strong relationships and delivers solutions geared to aiding others. Solicits feedback and data; conveys a clear understanding of the level of service the team is providing; takes action when standards are not met by team; aligns processes with organizational needs.

Manages Complexity

Makes sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems. Consistently looks at complex issues from many angles; obtains a rich and deep understanding; swiftly cuts to the core issue; skillfully separates root causes from symptoms.

Global Perspective

Takes a broad view when approaching issues, using a global lens. Shows global thinking at work; adjusts organizational practices to meet the unique needs of different regions or countries. Uses a broad perspective when addressing issues and challenges.

Cultivates Innovation

Creates new and better ways for the organization to be successful. Approaches professional work in unique or innovative ways. Offers original ideas. Appreciates others' creative ideas and solutions and provides helpful input to enhance them.

Strategic Mindset

Sees ahead to future possibilities and translates them into breakthrough strategies.

RESULTS: MSF USA staff achieve results by cultivating a forward-thinking environment that produces solutions for changing stakeholder needs.

Drives Results

Consistently achieves results, even under tough circumstances. Regularly pushes self to achieve outstanding outcomes; consistently establishes bold goals for own performance; is passionate about excellent results and significant contributions. Shows great tenacity to complete goals/initiatives in a timely way.

Ensures Accountability

Holds self and others accountable to meet commitments.

PEOPLE: MSF USA staff understand their impact on others through collaboration and inclusion of different perspectives to achieve common goals.

Collaborates

Builds partnerships and works collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives. Readily involves others to accomplish goals; stays in touch and shares information; discourages "us versus them" thinking; shows appreciation for others' ideas and input.

Communicates Effectively

Develops and delivers multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences. Listens attentively and takes an interest. Keeps others well informed; conveys information clearly, concisely, and professionally when speaking or writing.

Values Differences

Recognizes the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization. Confronts stereotyping and offensive comments promptly. Consistently behaves with great sensitivity toward differences in cultural norms, expectations, and ways of communicating.

Builds Effective Teams

Builds strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.

Manages Conflict

Handles conflict situations effectively, with a minimum of noise.

Builds Networks

Effectively builds formal and informal relationship networks inside and outside the organization.

Drives Vision and Purpose

Paints a compelling picture of the vision and strategy that motivates others to action.

SELF: MSF USA staff demonstrate self-awareness by having an open mindset and by continuously seeking opportunities to learn, grow, and improve.

Instills Trust

Gains the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity. Models honesty and authenticity and encourages others to be up front with one another. Demonstrates reliability and places a strong emphasis on the team meeting its commitments. Fairly represents others' positions.

Manages Ambiguity

Operates effectively, even when things are not certain or the way forward is not clear. Responds effectively to unclear situations, seeks to resolve ambiguity and make progress. Seeks guidance on how to adapt to changes, responds with appropriate composure and effectiveness.

Situational Adaptability

Adapts approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations. Serves as an example of adaptability and provides guidance and support to help others adapt to new situations. Considers the needs of clients, constituents, and the organization; shifts priorities appropriately.

Being Resilient

Rebounds from setbacks and adversity when facing difficult situations.

Technical Competencies

Plans and Aligns

Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with MSF-USA goals.

Financial Acumen

Interprets and applies understanding of key financial indicators to make better business decisions.

Tech Savvy

Anticipating and adopting innovations in organizational digital and technology applications.

Data Collection and Analysis

The ability and skill to determine and analyze trends from data that is collected to assist in compiling reports that will help in decision-making.

Project Management Skills

The ability and skill to plan and manage small project work assignments within desired cost, time and quality parameters.

Presentation and Written Communication Skills

Adapts approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations. Serves as an example of adaptability and provides guidance and support to help others adapt to new situations. Considers the needs of clients, constituents, and the organization; shifts priorities appropriately.

Organizational Insight

Applying knowledge of MSF-USA and the industry to advance the organization’s goals.

Supervisory Responsibility

• Manages the Sr. Development Associate for Foundations and the Stewardship Associate.

Desired Qualifications & Experience

At a minimum the Job Holder should possess:

• Minimum 7 years of successful fundraising experience, preferably with US Foundations, Corporations, Major Donors, or with multilateral/bilateral funders
• Minimum 2 years of staff management experience.
• Proven track record in all aspects of donor cultivation, stewardship, and solicitation
• Excellent oral and written communication skills including representation and public speaking
• Deep knowledge of the foundation world and its functioning.
• Proven skills in working productively with donors, foundation staff, and/or board members.
• Ability to analyze and synthesize complex and sensitive material and use it to develop proposals and reports, and to present appropriate, well-informed messages to donors.
• Ability to write a range of correspondence from formal business letters to warm thank you notes.
• Excellent judgment and diplomacy.
• Experience with donor databases and contacts management
• Facility with spreadsheets, budgets and forecasting.
• Very strong interpersonal and management skills.
• Ability to handle a large volume of work under pressure and with deadlines.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills.
• Keen attention to detail with ability to track multiple projects at one time.
• Ability to work with a minimum of supervision.
• Familiarity with and commitment to the work of MSF

Preferred:

• French skills preferred. Spanish a plus.
• Knowledge of and strong interest for international humanitarian affairs.

Travel Requirements 

Must be willing to travel for work as needed.

Location

NYC (Hybrid- in office Tuesdays and Wednesdays)

This role is based in New York, where most of the team and operational infrastructure are located. Due to current staffing and budget constraints, we’re unable to support this position in our California office.

Compensation

$101,769 - $152,653; In alignment with MSF USA’s compensation framework, new hires are generally offered between the minimum and midpoint of the range based on relevant experience, skills, and internal equity.