Defend is Hiring a Director of Development and Community Engagement

Defend Our Health is hiring a Director of Development and Community Outreach. Defend is a public health and social justice nonprofit that works to create a world where all people are thriving, with equal access to safe food and drinking water, healthy homes, and products that are toxic-free and climate-friendly. We apply the best science and grassroots power in strategic campaigns that persuade decision-makers in government and industry to advance solutions. The role is particularly focused on developing and building a major donor program, and engaging staff and board in fundraising participation. The salary is $100k – $120k, the organization is located in Maine but the position can be remote. Are you interested? Do you know someone who might be? Apply today and spread the word!

Full description below:

Director of Development & Community Engagement

Full-Time (Location: Remote with frequent travel, or in our Portland, Maine headquarters)

Join the fight for public health and environmental justice! Help secure equal access for all people to safe food and drinking water, healthy homes, and products that are toxic-free and climate-friendly. Help empower impacted communities, end racial disparities, prevent plastic pollution, and much more.

Defend Our Health works nationally and at the state level to fix our broken chemical safety system and promote a just and sustainable materials economy. We use the best science and grassroots power to persuade decision-makers in government and industry to act on solutions.

We’re looking for a seasoned leader to help significantly grow our revenues from individual giving, especially major gifts. The successful candidate will be an external-facing fundraiser who loves to talk with people every day, whether they’re old friends or cold contacts; an excellent organizer who knows how to task, motivate, and hold team members accountable; and a strategic thinker who thrives on relationship building, organizational development, and growth.

You’ll report directly to the Executive Director. You’ll supervise a development team with responsibility for raising more than $2 million annually that supports 14 staff members.

Major Responsibilities

• Grow our major donor development program, lead our moves management system for stewardship and cultivation, and manage donor portfolios for yourself and other leaders
• Lead a staff development team also responsible for grants management, fund appeals, events, corporate gifts, database management, and development-related research
• Lead all analysis and planning for fund development, including forecasting revenue and expenses, to support our annual budget, fundraising campaigns, and strategic plan
• Collaborate with our Communications and Program Teams, and Board of Directors, to build a culture of philanthropy that integrates fundraising activities across the entire organization
• Advise the Executive Director on organizational priorities and strategic direction

Minimum Qualifications

• Seven years of directly relevant experience with progressively increasing responsibility
• Demonstrated success leading major donor development and major gift campaigns
• Strong external-facing communications ability to listen, engage, and build relationships
• Extremely well-organized with excellent attention to detail and follow-though
• Proven ability to organize, support and motivate others to engage in grassroots fundraising
• Experience with fundraising metrics and analytics, revenue forecasting, and budget planning
• Fully capable in the use of contact relationship management and spreadsheet software
• With a demonstrated commitment to racial, economic, and environmental justice.

Desirable Qualifications

• Direct experience in raising funds to support advocacy and organizing campaigns
• Experience in working on environmental public health and environmental justice issues
• Ability to work with subject matter experts to translate complexity into plain language
• Spanish-language fluency and/or other measures of multi-cultural competency

Compensation: $100,000 to $120,000 annual salary, depending on experience

Benefits:  Very competitive, with health insurance, retirement, flexible work schedule and more

TO APPLY: Go to https://careers.jobscore.com/careers/defendourhealth click on this position title, and upload a cover letter and resumé and submit a brief job application.

This position will remain open until filled.

Defend Our Health is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, justice and access in all that we do. Candidates from historically under-represented constituencies are strongly encouraged to apply. Currently, fifty percent of our staff identify as people of color and a majority are women, and are represented at all levels of the organization.

Our physical office is located in Portland, Maine – one the of best small cities in America that enjoys a high quality of place. Currently, most staff work remotely in eight different states with semi-regular in-person forays to the central office and with frequent virtual communication.