Associate Vice President of Development Operations and Outreach

Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We take on the biggest, most precedent-setting cases across the country. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health; to preserve magnificent places and wildlife; to advance clean energy; and to combat climate change. We partner with thousands of groups, supporters, individuals, and communities to engage the critical environmental issues of our time and bring about positive change. We are guided by a passionate, ambitious vision for the future for people and our planet: until justice stands for all, we will never rest. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.

Founded in 1971, Earthjustice has a distinguished track record of achieving significant, lasting environmental protections. We achieve this by hiring people who share a passion for justice and a healthy environment. Our headquarters are in San Francisco with offices in Anchorage, Bozeman, Chicago, Denver, Honolulu, Houston, Juneau, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Sacramento, Seattle, Tallahassee and Washington, D.C.

The Associate Vice President of Development Operations, Digital and Public Fundraising (“AVP of Development Operations and Outreach”) reports to the Vice President of Development and is responsible for the day-to-day management of three Development subteams, including Development Operations, Research and Evaluation; Outreach and Membership Services; and Digital Fundraising and Engagement (together “Development Operations”). This includes providing department-level leadership in the areas of planning, systems, policies, database operations, financial management, fundraising performance, prospect management and research; advancing a long-term strategy for growth of digital and direct response fundraising, and ensuring that staff on each subteam are successful, ethical and effective.

The AVP of Development Operations and Outreach proactively identifies opportunities to enhance and improve the functioning of the Development Department, including essential business processes, and works in collaboration with the Senior Vice President of Development, Vice President of Development, and Development Leadership Team (“DLT”) to establish metrics, set policy and develop and maintain compliance standards and operating procedures. The AVP of Development Operations and Outreach ensures that operational system and technology, including the CRM and analytic tools, are streamlined and support the strategic fundraising and stewardship efforts of the department. The AVP of Development Operations and Outreach analyzes and reports on department performance metrics and advises DLT and colleagues on strategies and results. The AVP of Development Operations and Outreach is also responsible for overall strategic leadership, partnering with the Director-level leads of the digital and direct response membership t programs which collectively raise over $25 million annually from individuals. Earthjustice is half-way through a $825 million, five-year fundraising campaign of which $119M will be raised from annual giving and mid-level multi-channel donors.

This role will be based out of the San Francisco, CA, Seattle, WA, or Washington, DC Office or it will be based remotely from New York, NY. Earthjustice staff will be working two days a week in the office. After six months, the Executive Leadership Team will evaluate whether to adjust our hybrid work plan.

Responsibilities

Management (40%)

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of their team, ensuring that each subteam is developing and executing on increasingly sophisticated and effective public fundraising and operational strategies.
• Supervise the Director-level leaders of three teams: Development Operations, Research and Evaluation; Outreach and Membership Services; and Digital Fundraising and Engagement, working with each to ensure a professionally challenging and personally enjoyable workplace for them and their staff.
• Prepare and conduct performance reviews for direct reports.
• Establish performance standards and priorities for subteams and staff.
• Prepare and submit annual budgets and work plans for subteams, manage the implementation of those budgets and work plans and ensure the staff’s best effort to meet those targets.
• Develop, document and implement effective development systems and operational procedures.
• Develop strong, cooperative relationships between the Development department and other units, especially Operations, Information Technology (IT), and Finance, ensuring mutual understanding of shared goals and objectives and thoughtful decision making.
• Ensure that donor restrictions are communicated and honored in our budgeting and that we have appropriate systems in place to spend donations for the purposes that they were committed and to report back to donors on the use of their funds.
• Recruits and hires qualified candidates who fit position requirements and the work environment.  
• Promotes change in terms of the expected benefits, as well as removing or lowering the impact of potential obstacles. 
• Sets clear team direction that aligns with Earthjustice strategy, mission, and vision.
• Develops staff by identifying and encouraging training and professional development opportunities appropriate to role and creating development plans for all staff.
• Provides staff with consistent performance feedback – both positive and constructive -- and acts as a coach and mentor.
• Creates a learning culture, by encouraging debriefing after completion of significant stages of projects.
• Ensures that any direct reports who have supervisory responsibility are properly executing those functions.
• Creates a respectful and inclusive work environment for team and models respectful and inclusive behavior.
• Promptly addresses micro-aggressions and other concerns brought to their attention.
• Resolves interpersonal conflict among team members and brings in outside facilitators as needed.
• Communicates regularly with existing employees and encourages staff to raise concerns and to provide ongoing feedback.
• Creates or identifies strategic opportunities for team building and individual and overall staff engagement with one another in order to strengthen teamwork, interaction and collaboration.  
• Values and uses individual differences and talents to improve employee satisfaction and the quality of collective work. 
• Celebrates successes and helps team members to understand and manage setbacks.

 Strategic Leadership (30%)

• Lead development of the Department’s strategic technology plans, ensuring that systems and processes run smoothly, and that Development staff have the tools and training they need to do their jobs effectively. This includes ensuring the integrity, security, and cost-effectiveness of the Department’s overall technology solutions, providing timely solutions for system issues, workflow improvements, and opportunities to enhance donor engagement through information sharing.
• Collaborate with the Senior Vice President of Development, Vice President of Development, and DLT to lead the exploration, development, evaluation and implementation of long-term strategic plans.
• Collaborate with the Senior Vice President of Development, Vice President of Development, and DLT to create metrics and reports for the Board of Trustees, Development Committee and Finance Committee to highlight progress and areas of growth for the Development Department.
• Attend Earthjustice Board of Trustee meetings and Development and Marketing Committee meetings of the Board.
• Lead constant efforts to improve team, including adopting creative and innovative approaches to digital donor stewardship and engagement, cutting edge developments in donor research and analysis, and a drive for continuously improving public fundraising efficiency.
• Collaborate with the VP of Development and DLT to determine logistics and agendas for annual retreats for the Development Department, and quarterly retreats for DLT.
• Maintain professional relationships with counterparts in other non-profit organizations, and keep abreast of latest developments in fundraising rules and regulations, best practices and demographic changes.

Operations and Planning (30%)

• Ensure that Development’s operations are highly efficient, effective, and emulate best-in-class practices.
• Ensure the donor database and other tools utilized and maintained by the Department are sophisticated, adaptable and highly efficient operationally.
• Manage annual revenue budgeting and financial systems between Development and Finance.
• Liaise with Earthjustice’s IT department, external consultants and vendors supporting the donor database and other tools utilized and maintained by the Department.
• Develop and maintain organizational data for reporting and analysis with the IT team.
• Liase with the General Counsel on matters around donor privacy and security, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and laws.
• Develop, disseminate, and document policies, procedures, and data solutions that support end-user needs, both within the Development department and as it relates to cross-departmental compliance. Lead working groups/task forces in Development to review and adopt changes to policies including gift acceptance, donor confidentiality, financial reporting, etc.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Three Direct Reports
• Senior Director of Outreach and Membership Services
• Senior Director of Development Operations, Research and Evaluation
• Director of Digital Fundraising and Engagement

Advance Earthjustice’s diversity, equity, and inclusion goals:

• Assist in efforts to cultivate diversity, equity and inclusion within the organization and the broader environmental movement.
• Contribute to Earthjustice’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) mission through involvement in trainings and internal working groups.
• Proactively pursue and utilize internal and external resources to support a personal and professional development journey that increases awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations.
• Participate in internal committees and working groups to further institutional priorities and build an inclusive and equitable work environment that encourages and celebrates differences.
• Ensure the incorporation of inclusive practices in all duties and responsibilities, on a consistent and ongoing basis, including but not limited to verbal and written interactions with constituents and Earthjustice staff.
• Elevate and build capacity of partner organizations by supporting them in their organizational journeys, elevating their work with donors as appropriate and assisting them in securing access to philanthropic resources.
• Support each team’s supporter diversification efforts and ensure they are at par, or exceed efforts in place at peer organizations.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will have a minimum of 10 years of experience in increasingly responsible positions in development and nonprofit management.  A minimum of five years of management experience, leading development programs. Prior capital campaign experience is a plus.

Management:

• Ability to effectively manage and lead a diverse team with emotional intelligence (self-awareness and understating of the impact of their behavior) and cultural humility (an understanding of the need for additional learning about different cultures, backgrounds and orientation and implementation of that learning daily management practices);
• Ability to give and receive regular formal and informal feedback in a timely, constructive, respectful, and consistent manner and to incorporate debriefing into the team’s operations;
• Strong team mentorship and communication skills;
• Understands the individual and team strengths and areas for development and develops plans accordingly; and 
• Commitment to and experience in developing team skills and talents to meet the evolving needs of an organization.

Other desired qualifications and attributes include:

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and ability to inspire and motivate others toward stated goals;
• Demonstrated skills with applying technological solutions in a Development setting, including CRM and business intelligence tools;
• Strong operational skills, ability to see opportunities for better program integration and effectiveness;
• Proven track record in diversifying donor base;
• Superior written and oral communications, interpersonal and presentation skills;
• Entrepreneurial approach to building fundraising and development program;
• Highly sophisticated relationship building skills;
• Ability to think strategically and creatively;
• Highest level of personal and professional integrity;
• Collaborative interpersonal style and high level of emotional intelligence;
• Ability to demonstrate grace under pressure;
• Good sense of humor;
• Believes in the importance of Earthjustice mission and programs;
• Demonstrates an awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds and orientations; and
• Contributes to recruiting, hiring, developing and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce.

Salary is based on experience and location.

Salary range in San Francisco, CA and New York, NY: $233,300 - $259,200

Salary range in Seattle, WA or Washington, DC: $221,700 - $246,300

We offer a mission and employee-focused work environment and a competitive compensation package including excellent benefits.  Earthjustice is an equal opportunity employer and highly values diversity. As a 501(c)(3) organization, Earthjustice is a qualifying employer for purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.

To Apply:

Interested candidates should submit the following via Jobvite by August 22nd, 2022, and applications that come in after will be considered on a rolling basis:

• Resume
• Cover Letter

All application materials should be submitted online via the Jobvite system.

Please, no phone calls, hard copies, or drop-ins. If you're having technical difficulties submitting your application, reach out to jobs@earthjustice.org.

Earthjustice is driven by a passion for justice, partnership, and excellence. Our core values lead us to seek a broad range of perspectives and backgrounds to achieve our mission and to maintain an inclusive environment where all staff are valued and respected. As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to employment practices that ensure that employees and applicants for employment are provided with equal opportunities without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, or any other factor that is not related to the position.

For positions located within the City and County of San Francisco: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment-qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

For positions located within the City of Los Angeles: We will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.

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