Vice President & Chief Development Officer

Position Location: Hospital for Special Care Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40 Work Shift: First Shift Department: Administration

We are dedicated to creating an environment of care and engagement that makes us one of the most desirable places to work, providing exceptional care to each patient each and every day!

VICE PRESIDENT (VP) & CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER (CDO)

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Master’s degree preferred in nonprofit management, business administration, healthcare administration, or a related field.
• Professional certification strongly preferred, including Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and/or Fellow of the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (FAHP).
• Minimum of 8–10 years of progressively responsible nonprofit development experience, including at least 3–5 years in a director-level leadership role.
• Demonstrated success leading hospital-based or complex healthcare philanthropy programs, including capital campaigns, comprehensive campaigns, endowment growth, and major gifts.
• Proven, sales-oriented fundraising leader with a documented track record of securing seven-figure major gifts and significant corporate partnerships, using sophisticated solicitation, negotiation, and closing strategies.
• Experience partnering with CEOs and Board of Directors to set fundraising strategy and achieving ambitious philanthropic goals.
• Extensive experience across development functions, including major and principal gifts, planned giving, annual giving, corporate and foundation relations, grants, stewardship, special events, prospect research, and development operations.
• Strong financial and analytical acumen, with experience forecasting revenue, managing budgets, and reporting outcomes to executive leadership and boards.
• Advanced proficiency with fundraising CRM systems (e.g., Raiser’s Edge/RE NXT or comparable platforms) and Microsoft Office tools.
• Exceptional leadership presence, communication, presentation, and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence senior leaders, physicians, board members, donors, community leaders, and corporate executives.
• Highly developed relationship-building and consultative sales skills, with a consistent record of advancing prospects from qualification through close.
• Ability to cultivate long-term, trust-based donor partnerships.
• Strategic, analytical, and results-oriented leader with the ability to adapt fundraising strategies based on data, trends, and organizational priorities.

JOB SUMMARY

The VP, Chief Development Officer (CDO) serves as the organization’s leader for philanthropic fundraising strategy and execution. Reporting to the President and CEO, the VP/CDO provides leadership and operational oversight for all development and foundation activities, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, governance expectations, and long-term sustainability. The CDO functions as the organization’s principal architect and lead strategist for fundraising, working in close partnership with the CEO, executive leadership, and the Board of Directors to secure major, corporate, and transformational philanthropic support.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership & Governance

Serve as a member of the executive leadership team, integrating philanthropy into organizational strategy, capital priorities, and growth initiatives. Act as the primary staff liaison to the Board of Directors and designated committees (e.g., Foundation or Development Committees), providing pipeline reporting, performance metrics, and strategic recommendations. Align fundraising strategy with enterprise priorities and prepare the CEO and executive leaders for high-level donor and corporate solicitations. Engage, coach, and mobilize board members, executive leadership, and physician leaders as effective fundraising partners through targeted solicitation planning and accountability frameworks.

Capital, Comprehensive Campaigns & Major Giving

Provide overall leadership for capital, comprehensive, and endowment campaigns, including feasibility studies, campaign planning, goal setting, prospect strategy, solicitation sequencing, and post-campaign evaluation. Lead the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of principal and transformational gift prospects, often in partnership with the CEO, Board members, and senior clinical and administrative leaders. Ability to employ advanced sales, negotiation, and closing techniques to secure transformational gifts. Develop and oversee campaign governance structures, including campaign committees, leadership roles, volunteer engagement strategies, and accountability frameworks. Ensure alignment between campaign priorities and organizational capital plans, strategic initiatives, and long-term financial sustainability.

Comprehensive Development Program Oversight

Provide leadership and operational oversight for all development functions, including:

• Major, principal, leadership, and annual gifts
• Corporate and foundation relations
• Planned giving and legacy programs
• Annual giving and donor acquisition
• Grant strategy and compliance
• Special events and community engagement
• Donor communications, recognition, and stewardship
• Prospect research and development operations

Operations, Finance & Accountability

Oversee foundation operations, ensuring efficient use of staff, systems, and financial resources and adherence to ethical, regulatory, and governance standards. Develop and manage fundraising and operating budgets, revenue forecasts, and performance dashboards for executive leadership and the Board. Leverage technology, data analytics, and fundraising intelligence to optimize performance, enhance donor engagement, and support informed decision-making. Ensure compliance with organizational philanthropic policies, gift acceptance standards, donor intent, and industry best practices.

Talent Development & External Leadership

Recruit, lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing development team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and sales excellence. Represent the organization externally with donors, corporate partners, community leaders, and regional and statewide healthcare philanthropy networks, including active engagement within the Connecticut Hospital Association. Monitor trends in healthcare philanthropy, nonprofit governance, and fundraising innovation, advising the CEO, Planning, and Business Development, and the Board on emerging opportunities and risks.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Combination of sitting, standing, walking, and occasional lifting of materials under 40 pounds.

COGNITIVE DEMANDS

Continuous application of judgement, discretion, negotiation, analytical, presentation, salesmanship, and communication skills. Ability to work collaboratively with staff, stakeholders, donors and other hospital staff. Ability to manage multiple priorities independently under deadlines.

WORK DEMANDS

Flexible schedule required including evenings and weekends for donor and community events. Primarily indoor, climate‑controlled environment.

Compensation & Benefits

At Hospital for Special Care, we are committed to supporting the health, financial well‑being, and professional growth of our team members. The wage range for this position is $208,000 to $329,000.

• employer-subsidized medical and dental, vision insurance
• a 403(b) retirement savings plan with an employer match of up to 6%
• paid time off
• employer-paid life insurance
• short-term and long-term disability insurance
• a Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer contributions
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• tuition reimbursement and professional development opportunities
• voluntary benefits, including pet insurance
• employee wellness programs with access to our onsite fitness and aquatics center
• an employee referral bonus program
• meaningful employee recognition and appreciation initiatives

Eligibility for certain benefits is based on scheduled hours worked.

At HFSC, we are a family. Each person who is a part of our team of 1,300 employees and volunteers offers unique talents and perspectives.

We all believe in keeping the same shared value of making our patients the center of what we do.

By combining all of our unique skills and shared values we are able to make a positive difference in the lives of our patients.

We are dedicated to creating an environment of care and engagement that makes us one of the most desirable places to work.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and offer a competitive benefits package.