Senior Director of Development and Leadership

Job Description

Job Description

The Senior Director of Development & Leadership is a senior leadership role on the Aaron Family JCC of Dallas's (the J) Development team, reporting to the Chief Development Officer (CDO). The role carries dual responsibility: assisting in executing comprehensive fundraising strategies that grow and diversify the J's donor base spanning major gifts, the annual campaign, planned giving, special events, and capital initiatives, and strengthening the J's volunteer leadership infrastructure by building a deep, diverse pipeline of lay leaders grounded in shared values, across governance, philanthropy, and community building.

The Senior Director partners closely with the CEO, CDO, Board Chair, and key committee chairs (Governance, Development, Nominating) to translate the J's fundraising and leadership priorities into ongoing strategy, donor relationships, and results, while also serving as the organization's primary staff resource for board governance and leadership development. This position is classified as Exempt and is eligible for benefits. The Jewish Community Center is an equal opportunity employer (EOE).  

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS 

Fundraising & Donor Development

• Partner with the CDO to set annual revenue goals and diversify funding across foundation, corporate, and individual giving.
• Assist in the execution of donor solicitation, cultivation, and stewardship strategies that honor donor intent and ensure meaningful, timely recognition.
• Manage and grow a personal portfolio of donor relationships, including identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major and planned/legacy gifts.
• Assist in the planning and execution of the annual campaign, signature fundraising events, and capital or endowment campaigns as assigned.
• Utilize donor tracking tools, including moves management and CRM systems, that support cultivation and stewardship grounded in data.
• Represent the J at community, donor, and J events as a visible ambassador for the organization's mission.

Leadership Pipeline & Volunteer Development

• Strengthen the J's volunteer committee infrastructure, building a deep, diverse pipeline of lay leadership with particular emphasis on Board members, Annual Campaign leadership, and committee chairs.
• Design and operationalize systems that identify, track, develop, and sustain high-potential lay leaders across governance, philanthropy, and programming; build leadership pathway tools in the J's tracking platforms to support succession decisions informed by data.
• Develop clear onboarding and offboarding procedures for Board and committee leaders, along with strategies for engaging past leaders.
• Cultivate diverse leadership pathways reflecting the breadth of the Dallas Jewish community, with intentional attention to geographic and generational diversity across the greater DFW metro area.
• Develop and oversee leadership programming, including jointly facilitating a flagship, yearlong Community Leadership Program with the CDO and CEO designed to develop the J's top communal lay leaders and future board members.
• Cultivate strategic partnerships (e.g., Dallas Jewish Historical Society, Rabbis, and universities) that bring Jewish learning and thought leadership to lay leaders and professionals.

Team & Organizational Leadership

• Oversee, coach, and develop assigned staff and volunteer fundraising and leadership talent.
• Collaborate with the CDO, CEO, and Board of Directors (and relevant board committees) on donor cultivation, solicitation strategy, campaign priorities, and governance strategy.
• Serve on the Department Head working group 
• Foster a culture of strategic clarity, professional growth, and trust between lay and professional leadership across the organization.

REQUIRED EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree a plus.

• 8+ years of progressive nonprofit experience spanning fundraising, governance, or organizational leadership, ideally within a J, Jewish Federation system, or comparable Jewish communal/nonprofit organization.
• Demonstrated success securing major and planned/legacy gifts, with a track record of meeting or exceeding revenue goals.
• Experience managing complex governance structures, volunteer leadership, and board relations.
• Proven supervisory experience and the ability to lead, coach, and develop staff and volunteers at multiple levels.
• Proficiency with donor CRM/database systems (Amelia or comparable platforms).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including grant writing, donor correspondence, facilitation, and presentations to board audiences.
• Strong ability to build relationships and comfort engaging high net worth donors, lay leaders, and Board members.
• Strategic thinker with strong project management, budgeting, and analytical skills.
• Working knowledge of Jewish communal life, donor culture, and community structures (Federation system J network).