Vice President of Development

Embarc Collective, a 501c3 non-profit and the state of Florida’s leading startup hub, invites applications for the position of Vice President of Development. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, our work depends on the generosity of corporate and university partners, philanthropic donors, and community investors who share our vision for a thriving Tampa Bay innovation economy. The Vice President of Development will lead the organization’s full range of fundraising activities, including gifts from individuals, corporations and universities, government, and foundation sources for annual operating needs as well as programmatic or capital projects. This is a pivotal moment in Embarc Collective's growth — and we are seeking a seasoned fundraising leader to help us seize it. The Opportunity The Vice President of Development is a newly created leadership role that will define and execute Embarc Collective's fundraising strategy and a significant organizational investment — a signal of Embarc Collective’s commitment to building a sustainable, diversified funding base to power its next chapter of growth. This leader will be responsible for establishing and maintaining Embarc Collective’s development strategy, infrastructure, and relationships needed to raise funds from individual donors, corporations and universities, institutional investors and service providers, philanthropic foundations, and local, state, and federal government agencies and related entities. The Vice President of Development will secure funding for both annual operating needs and targeted programmatic or capital projects, while serving as a visible ambassador for Embarc Collective’s mission across the Tampa Bay and state of Florida business and philanthropic community. This is an exceptional opportunity for a leader who is energized by mission-driven work, excited to build something new, and eager to play a significant role in shaping the startup and venture ecosystem in Tampa Bay and across the state. The Vice President of Development is expected to be equally comfortable writing a grant proposal, making a major gift ask to a donor, and representing the organization to diverse audiences, including corporate executives and university leadership, elected officials and policymakers, major donors and other funders, investors, and media. Finally, the right candidate will collaborate closely with Embarc Collective’s Vice President of Finance and Administration and external legal counsel on contract strategy and execution, while serving as a trusted advisor to the CEO and board of directors. This role is on-site and structured within a 40-hour workweek, but there will be some after-5 pm work events required, so your schedule may fluctuate on a week-to-week basis. About Embarc Collective Embarc Collective, a 501c3 not-for-profit and Florida’s largest and fastest growing startup hub, is a central landing zone for some of the most driven and focused startup builders in Florida. Founded to address a critical gap in Florida’s innovation infrastructure, Embarc Collective provides a comprehensive platform of programming, community, and resources designed to give early-stage tech founders every advantage. Embarc Collective’s startup platform offers founders curated programming and a constantly-growing repository of startup resources and frameworks, on-demand coaching and mentorship, access to tech and tech-enabled talent, connectivity to corporates, universities, and investors, workspace, assigned offices, conference rooms and event space in our 32,000 sq ft hub in downtown Tampa, and engagement with a peer community of 330+ founders and founding team members that lead 145+ Florida-based early-stage tech startups and growth-stage companies in sixty sectors, including healthcare and life sciences, medical devices and robotics, cybersecurity and data analytics, AI and frontier tech, fintech and legaltech, edtech, renewable energy and climate tech, and defense and national security, among others. Embarc Collective also hosts more than 350 events annually that draw 11,500+ participants into entrepreneurship, technology, and innovation conversations in downtown Tampa. In addition, more than 20,000 professionals, including hundreds of seed, venture, and growth equity investors, visit Embarc each year to engage with founders in our community and the high growth tech companies they lead, marking our efforts to demonstrate the vibrancy and strength of Tampa Bay’s startup and innovation ecosystem and helping lead the way for Tampa Bay and the state of Florida on the national and international stage. What we’re looking for: At least ten (10) years of experience in progressive fundraising, grant writing, or corporate relations experience, ideally within an economic development, startup hub or entrepreneurial support organization, or tech-adjacent nonprofit, with a demonstrated track record of securing significant gifts from individual donors, corporations and universities, institutional investors and service providers, philanthropic foundations, and local, state, and federal government agencies and related entities. Exceptional relationship-builder that can build trust quickly and cultivate and sustain long-term relationships with major donors, corporate sponsors, and philanthropic foundations over time and is comfortable pitching Embarc Collective’s value proposition to prospective donors and/or investors. Ability to Identify and evaluate local, state, and federal government and private funding opportunities for annual, programmatic capital, capacity building, and special projects. Experience conducting research and drafting grant proposals targeted at philanthropic foundations, economic development agencies, and/or local, state, and federal government agencies and related entities. Experience identifying and tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) and reporting fundraising progress, creating and delivering customized impact reports and stewardship plans, and regularly communicating to donors to keep them informed and engaged. Ability to “dot connect” making introductions and connections between different stakeholders (companies, investors, corporates, etc.) and to plan and execute fundraising communications strategies across all platforms. Excellent written and verbal communication skills and people skills. Strong project management and organizational skills. Ability to manage and work with different personalities/work styles. Highly organized, self-directed, and action oriented. Thrive in a fast-paced startup setting where adaptability is essential. Driven, initiative-taking, enthusiastic and with a “can do” attitude. Experience in or a genuine connection to the Tampa Bay region and/or state of Florida is a plus; a willingness to be deeply embedded in the local ecosystem is a must. Bachelor’s degree is required (preferably in business, marketing, public relations, or strategic communications); Master’s degree is preferred. If this sounds like you, we want to connect: You have demonstrated success in developing and managing relations with prospective donors and personally closing philanthropic commitments. You have experience developing and executing a multi-year fundraising strategy, identifying and vetting prospective donors, setting annual fundraising goals across different funding sources, and tracking progress against both operating and programmatic or capital project targets. You combine strategic thinking with a strong bias for execution. You have an inventive mind that can articulate the value of contributing to an organization whose mission is to engage, serve, and support a community of driven, focused startup builders and can set a vision and roll up your sleeves to make it happen. You are a strong relationship-builder. You excel at building trust, unifying teams around a shared vision, and driving organizational impact and performance by ensuring clear, consistent messaging and you can sustain those relationships over time. You are a compelling communicator and comfortable in public settings. You are comfortable representing Embarc Collective to diverse audiences including elected officials and policymakers, major donors and other funders, corporate executives and university leadership, investors, and media. You are deeply curious about the startup and venture landscape. You are excited to support Embarc Collective’s mission and help position Florida as a leading hub for tech startups; you remain current on funding trends, emerging sectors, and the evolving needs of founders; and you’re eager to learn about ecosystem building that advances innovation and the broader startup community. You thrive in a collaborative environment. This role requires collaborating closely with team members across the organization, and you have a record of success in teamwork and managing multiple projects simultaneously in a mission-driven environment. Compensation and Benefits Compensation package that is competitive with the market and commensurate with experience, including base salary, performance bonus eligibility, and benefits package. We strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply. Embarc Collective does not discriminate based on race, sex, color, religion, age, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other reason prohibited by law in provision of employment opportunities and benefits. Get to know us and keep up with Embarc Collective: Visit our website,read our blog, check out our newsletter, and follow us on LinkedIn, X, and Instagram. #J-18808-Ljbffr