Senior Director of Development

Senior Director of Development Location: Coconut Creek, FL 33066 Schedule: M-F 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM Position Type: Full-time Why Join Junior Achievement of South Florida? Junior Achievement of South Florida (JA) empowers our youth with the knowledge, ability, and confidenceto navigate their futures, drive our economy and lead our community. We are looking for individuals who are passionate not only to our mission, but also about being part of the innovative and energetic culture at JA. JA provides real-world training in financial literacy including budgeting, spending, investing and the use of credit; offers cutting-edge skill-building opportunities that enable young people to explore meaningful, productive careers; teaches students how to start businesses; and introduces entrepreneurial values that strengthen workplaces. Last year, with the help of over 5,000 trained corporate and community volunteers, JA delivered various programs to almost 70,000 students in classrooms throughout Broward and South Palm Beach counties and at JA World Huizenga Center at the Lillian S. Wells Pavilion, a first-class facility housing JA BizTown and JA Finance Park. What We Offer: Employer Paid Medical and Vision Ample Time Off Retirement Plan Matching Work Environment – Innovative and energetic culture! Growth Opportunities – Professional development assistance Position Summary: The Senior Director of Development is a senior fundraising professional responsible for securing approximately $3 million annually in philanthropic contributions from individuals, family foundations, and corporate partners. This role manages a portfolio of high‑capacity donors, leads strategy for major and leadership gifts, and plays a critical role in advancing the organization's long-term financial sustainability. The ideal candidate is a relationship‑driven strategist with a strong track record of closing five-, six-, and seven‑figure gifts, exceptional communication skills, and the ability to engage donors in a mission that transforms lives. This role will be heavily focused on three key elements: Major & Leadership Gift Strategy (50%) Develop and execute a comprehensive major gifts strategy to meet and exceed an annual fundraising goal of ~$3M. Manage a portfolio of 100–125 qualified prospects with capacity to give $25,000–$1M+. Conduct a minimum of 120 meaningful donor interactions annually, including visits, calls, and personalized stewardship touches. Create customized donor engagement plans, proposals, and impact reports. Donor Cultivation, Solicitation & Stewardship (40%) Identify, cultivate, solicit, and close major and leadership gifts. Partner with the Executive Team and board members to position key organizational leaders for successful fundraising conversations. Assist in planning and executing small cultivation events, donor briefings, and personalized site experiences. Work with the Development Team to ensure world‑class stewardship strengthens long-term donor relationships and retention. Internal Collaboration & Leadership (10%) Work closely with the Development Team to support annual campaigns, planned giving, events, and stewardship. Provide donor insights and strategy briefings to senior leadership and board members. Use CRM systems to document moves, track pipeline, and report progress. To achieve success, you will be expected to showcase the following qualifications and attributes: 7+ years of successful fundraising experience, including major gifts. Demonstrated history of closing 6‑ and 7‑figure gifts. Strong strategic thinking, relationship‑building, and communication skills. Ability to manage a sophisticated, dynamic donor portfolio. High emotional intelligence, integrity, and comfort engaging with high-net-worth individuals. It would be beneficial (but not essential) if you also have: Experience in education, workforce development, youth development, or nonprofit organizations of similar scale. Familiarity with impact storytelling, donor analytics, and philanthropic trends. Knowledge of South Florida donor landscape (or willingness to learn quickly). Key Competencies: Relationship Builder: Skilled at building trust with diverse, high‑level stakeholders. Strategic Fundraiser: Understands donor motivations, wealth indicators, and cultivation science. Compelling Communicator: Excellent writing, speaking, and presentation abilities. Mission‑Driven Advocate: Passion for youth, education, and community impact. Results‑Oriented: Meets goals, manages pipeline, and drives revenue growth. Collaborative Leader: Works well across departments and with senior leadership. Plus: Incorporate all of JA's values: Commit to Growth: Embrace continuous learning and development to achieve personal and professional advancement. Deliver the Wow: Consistently exceed expectations and create remarkable experiences for customers, clients, and colleagues. Be bold, innovative, and creative: Foster a culture of daring exploration, original thinking, and imaginative problem-solving. Do it with passion: Approach tasks and challenges with enthusiasm, dedication, and a genuine love for what you do. Own your actions: Take responsibility for your decisions and outcomes and hold yourself accountable to high standards of integrity. Build awesome relationships: Cultivate strong, supportive connections with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders based on trust, respect, and collaboration. Bring fun & energy: Infuse positivity, enjoyment, and vitality into the workplace environment and interactions. Celebrate uniqueness: Value diversity in perspectives, backgrounds, and contributions, fostering an inclusive and supportive atmosphere. Drive and embrace change: Proactively seek opportunities for innovation and improvement, adapting positively to evolving circumstances and challenges. Be true, be you: Embrace authenticity, integrity, and honesty in all interactions, staying true to your values and identity. Important Information: Junior Achievement of South Florida participates in the federal government's E-Verify program, which confirms employment authorization of all newly hired employees and most existing employees through an electronic database maintained by the Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security. For all new hires, the E-Verify process is completed in conjunction with the Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification on or before the first day of work. E-Verify is not used as a tool to pre-screen candidates. For up-to-date information on E-Verify, go to and click on 'E-Verify' located near the bottom of the page. An Equal Opportunity Employer We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, or any other status protected by law or regulation. It is our intention that all qualified applicants are given equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on job-related factors.