Deputy Director of Development

Who We Are The Alliance for Decision Education (the Alliance) is a national nonprofit and field builder with the mission of improving lives by empowering students with essential skills and dispositions for making better decisions. Founded in 2014 and backed by experts in decision sciences, business, and education—including several Nobel laureates—the Alliance believes that better decisions lead to better lives and a better society. As a field builder, the Alliance partners with teachers, academic and business leaders, families, and community members to raise awareness and lead the growing call for Decision Education to be taught in schools across the country. The Alliance is committed to an inclusive, supportive, and collaborative culture. Our diverse team comprises educators, researchers, subject matter experts, and other professionals dedicated to our mission. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. What We Offer The Alliance offers a comprehensive total rewards package, inclusive of competitive compensation: Annual Salary: $100,000- $115,000 per year, commensurate with experience and qualifications* Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision insurance (100% employer paid) Basic life insurance and AD&D (100% employer paid) Long-term disability insurance (100% employer paid) Employee Assistance Program 401 (k) retirement plan with up to a 5% employer match Flexible Spending Accounts (healthcare and dependent care) Up to 20 days of Paid Time Off per calendar year (prorated the first year based on hire date) Unlimited paid sick time Hybrid work schedule Paid lunch stipend while working on-site *Salary range is a good-faith estimate based on external benchmarking and the industry standards, and may vary based on qualifications and experience. Benefits are subject to change at the organization’s discretion. Job Overview The Deputy Director of Development will lead the operational execution and foundational infrastructure of the Development Department, enabling the Head of Philanthropy and the Senior Manager of Major Gifts to focus exclusively on donor cultivation, solicitation, and relationship management. This role will establish scalable systems, policies, and processes to build a strong and efficient foundation for departmental growth, ensuring compliance, data integrity, and seamless cross-functional support. Reporting to the Head of Philanthropy, the Deputy Director will oversee daily operations, drive process improvements, and foster team cohesion, without managing a personal donor portfolio. This position supervises two direct reports: the Philanthropic Grants and Donor Communications Senior Manager and the Development Services Manager. As a pivotal leader in a growing department, the Deputy Director will foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and mission alignment to sustain long‑term philanthropic success. Location and Schedule This full‑time role requires an 8‑hour day and a 40‑hour work week. It is an Exempt position under the FLSA, meaning it is not eligible for overtime pay. The Deputy Director of Development will follow a hybrid work schedule, requiring on‑site presence at the office in Bala Cynwyd, PA, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with flexibility to work remotely or in the office on other days. Non‑local candidates will be considered, with occasional travel to the office required. Additionally, the role may require 10-15% travel for stakeholder engagements, events, and internal team meetings. Job Responsibilities Foundational Structure and Operations (35%) Build and maintain robust systems for prospect management, gift processing, and acknowledgments, donor communications calendars, LYBUNT/SYBUNT tracking, and CRM integrity (Salesforce). Oversee data management, analytics, and reporting; produce monthly dashboards to track fundraising trends, pipeline health, and departmental metrics for the Head of Philanthropy and leadership. Enhance best‑practice policies for compliance (federal/state regulations), process improvements, and scalability; lead initiatives to streamline gift entry, prospect research coordination, and event logistics. Manage biweekly departmental meetings, annual retreats, and the development plan, incorporating strategic adjustments and cross‑departmental input. Maintain the Alliance’s profiles on philanthropic evaluation platforms (e.g., GuideStar, Charity Navigator) and ensure accurate integration with finance and reporting systems. Leadership and Team Management (30%) Supervise the Development Services Manager, overseeing prospect research, data entry/storage, activity tracking, invitation lists, event support, scheduling/agendas for leadership prospect meetings, and liaison roles with other departments on joint projects/timelines. Supervise the Philanthropic Grants and Donor Communications Senior Manager, providing guidance on grants strategy (foundation/government/corporate), lifecycle management (research, proposals, submissions, reporting, stewardship), donor communications (impact stories, support cases, stewardship reports), trend monitoring, and mentorship of team members in proposal development. Collaborate with the Head of Philanthropy to assess staffing needs, contribute to recruitment, and promote professional development, growth, and a collaborative team culture. Act as a key cross‑departmental liaison (e.g., with Communications, Research, Operations) to gather input for grants/proposals, align on priorities, and execute joint initiatives. Philanthropic Strategy and Culture (20%) Serve as a thought partner to the Head of Philanthropy in executing the development plan, identifying operational opportunities/risks, and monitoring philanthropy trends to inform foundational enhancements. Support coordination of fundraising events, annual appeals, employee giving, and end‑of‑year campaigns in collaboration with the Communications department and the Development Services Manager. Ensure the timely, creative, and budget‑conscious production and dissemination of donor‑facing materials (proposals, reports, collateral) in partnership with the Senior Manager of Philanthropic Grants and Donor Communications. Board and Executive Support (15%) Prepare materials, agendas, and tracking for Board‑driven fundraising initiatives and prospect engagements led by the Executive Director or Head of Philanthropy. Facilitate prospect management meetings to align team efforts on research, ratings, move tracking, and template maintenance for donor materials. These responsibilities may change or expand over time, consistent with the organization’s needs and initiatives. Job Qualifications Minimum Requirements 7+ years of development experience with proven outcomes in building operational foundations, process improvement, revenue support systems, and team management. 3+ years in a leadership role (e.g., managing teams, operations, or projects in a growing nonprofit). Proficiency in CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) for data management, analytics, reporting, and compliance. Experience overseeing grants programs, donor communications, prospect/data operations, gift processing, and cross‑departmental collaboration. Skilled in operational writing (e.g., policies, reports, dashboards) and implementing data‑informed strategies. Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent experience considered. Preferred Requirements Expertise in establishing development infrastructure in scaling organizations, including grants lifecycle, donor stewardship systems, and analytics. Background in education, behavioral science, or cognitive science. Track record of leading process improvements and fostering inclusive team environments. Skills, Characteristics, and Attributes Strategic thinker with strong analytical, problem‑solving, and project management skills to build sustainable foundations. Self‑starter with entrepreneurial spirit, initiative, and ability to work independently while maintaining a collaborative, team‑oriented mindset. Excellent communication skills (written, verbal, interpersonal) with professionalism, integrity, and discretion in handling sensitive information. Detail‑oriented, adaptable, and able to thrive in a fast‑paced environment while meeting deadlines and pivoting priorities. Team builder with emotional maturity, positive presence, and commitment to inclusive practices. Open‑minded, intellectually curious, and passionate about advancing Decision Education. Reflects the Alliance’s core values and standards: Humanism: valuing others as human beings Rationality: thinking and skills to help answer “What is true?” and “What to do?” Education: growth mindset; dedication to developing knowledge and skills Conscientiousness: diligent work ethic; professionalism; high‑quality work Initiative: owner’s and founders’ mentality; leadership skills Mission Alignment: dedication to the organization’s mission and goals Successful completion of the pre‑employment screening process. Comply with all company policies and procedures. Understand and demonstrate safe work practices to ensure a safe work environment. Complete special projects and other duties as assigned by management. Physical and Environmental Demands Primarily desk‑based work involving sitting at a workstation. Occasional walking, standing, or lifting/carrying up to 10 lbs. Constant hand/finger dexterity for typing, writing, or handling objects. Good vision and hearing are required for reading, computer work, and communication. The Alliance is committed to providing reasonable accommodations that enable individuals with disabilities to fulfill essential functions, including the use of assistive technologies such as screen readers, captioning, amplified phones, and speech‑to‑text software. The Alliance for Decision Education is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment based on merit and without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status. Employment with the Alliance for Decision Education is at will. This means that the employee or the company can terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice. #J-18808-Ljbffr JobsForSustainability