Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships - Worker Rights Consortium (Washington, DC)

[Theresa Haas]

The Worker Rights Consortium (WRC) is seeking a Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships.

The WRC is a non-profit labor rights organization dedicated to ending sweatshop conditions and protecting the rights of workers in factories around the world that produce clothing and other consumer products. The organization conducts factory investigations, identifies and reports on working conditions, and presses for improvements. The WRC also advocates for systemic change in the labor practices of global brands and retailers. The WRC is supported by more than 175 universities and colleges in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom; the WRC aids these institutions in ensuring that the clothing that bears their names and logos is made under decent working conditions.

The WRC is based in Washington, DC and has sixteen staff, located in the US and in eight countries in Latin America and Asia.

The Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships is a new full-time position, created by the WRC in order to expand our donor base and increase organizational revenue, strengthen relations with existing donors and affiliates, and enhance the organization’s efforts to tell key constituencies about our work. The Director of Development will report to the Executive Director and will be based at the WRC’s office in Washington, DC. S/he will be a member of the leadership team and will participate in the development of organizational strategy and financial planning.

To fill this position, the WRC seeks a talented, creative and energetic fundraiser with a strong record of achievement in one or more fundraising spheres. S/he will be charged with leading the WRC’s overall fundraising operation, securing funding from institutional and high-dollar individual supporters, developing new fundraising programs, maintaining relations with existing donors, overseeing development administration and data and communications systems, and developing and maintaining a comprehensive strategy for organizational growth.

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships include:

• Develop and implement overall fundraising strategy
• Build the organization’s donor base and pipeline of prospects by crafting and implementing short and long-term strategies to raise funds from foundations, other institutional and organizational donors, governments and individuals
• Prepare work plans, budgets and forecasts related to fundraising activities; set near and long term objectives and have systems in place to benchmark and track developments; report regularly to organization leadership on progress against agreed goals
• Create appropriate written communications and related media, geared to engaging the interest of various categories of donors
• Direct research to identify new sources of institutional giving; identify and cultivate contacts; draft and submit proposals and manage the application process
• Manage grants, including drafting grant reports in collaboration with program staff, ensuring that all agreed activities/deliverables are completed, and ensuring that all reporting deadlines are met
• Develop and implement an individual donor program
• Cultivate, enhance and maintain donor relationships through personal contact and other forms of communication
• Assist the Executive Director in maintaining relationships with university affiliates
• Manage development infrastructure and data systems, including record-keeping, communications software, research tools, etc.

Qualifications

In order to be qualified for this position, candidates must have:

• A commitment to advancing the goal of worker rights
• A minimum five years of relevant experience in fundraising for non-profit organizations  and/or progressive causes or campaigns
• Proven track record cultivating, soliciting and maintaining relationships with various donor constituencies
• Excellent written and oral communications skills, including the ability to write grant proposals, as well as promotional and explanatory material geared to specific constituencies
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to maintain working relationships with people from diverse backgrounds
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills and rigorous attention to detail
• Ability to maintain high standards of ethics, integrity and professionalism
• Energy, enthusiasm, and a strong work ethic
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and knowledge with donor management and research databases
• Bachelor's Degree or foreign equivalent
• Willingness to travel a moderate amount of the time

The following are not required, but are desirable:

• Experience with non-profit financial management
• Experience working with charitable foundations and/or federal government donor agencies
• Experience identifying and cultivating relationships with high-dollar individual donors
• Experience with a human rights or labor rights organization or project and/or familiarity with international labor rights issues
• Knowledge of languages other than English
• Experience planning events

Compensation

Competitive non-profit salary, commensurate with experience, and an excellent benefits package, including 100% employer paid family health insurance, retirement plan; five weeks paid vacation.

Equal Opportunity

The WRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. You are encouraged to apply regardless of your race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity, marital status, religious creed, medical/physical/mental condition, sexual orientation, veteran status, or age.

To Apply

Send the following documents, by electronic mail, to lynnette...@workersrights.org (place “Director of Development” in the subject line):

• A cover letter, explaining your relevant experience and the basis of your interest in the position
• A résumé or CV
• Two writing samples: 1) a solicitation or other communication that demonstrates your ability to inform and engage current and prospective donors and 2) a grant proposal, a grant or project report, or a similar document that demonstrates your ability to describe an organization, campaign, activity or project in depth

Applications that do not include all of the required materials will not be reviewed.

Note: This position will be open until filled; however, applicants are strongly encouraged to send in their material as soon as possible.

Job announcement also available via http://www.workersrights.org/about/WRC%20Job%20Announcement%20-%20Development%20Director.pdf.