The Opportunity:
Village Health Works (VHW) is a 501(c)(3) global health organization operating in Burundi, East Africa, with offices in New York City. Founded in 2006, VHW’s mission is to build a healthier and more just, peaceful, and prosperous society by providing quality health care (a prerequisite to productive life) in a dignified environment. We seek to be a center of excellence and a premier teaching institution in global health for East Africa. We believe quality health care must address the root causes and social determinants of disease. Accordingly, we offer additional programs in education, agriculture, and economic and community development, in response to community needs.
Village Health Works’ annual budget is roughly $4 million and is growing rapidly. In addition, VHW is conducting a $15 million capital campaign with a view to expanding its infrastructure in Burundi, including a hospital and associated hydroelectric plant, a school and staff housing.
For more information, please visit http://www.villagehealthworks.org/get-involved/career-opportunities
Position Overview
We have secured funding by inviting donors into our work, whether they are individuals, corporations or bi-lateral funders—engaging them in understanding the needs we face and the work we do and finding personally meaningful, high impact ways they can help us save lives in one of the poorest settings in the world.
It is the job of our VP of Development to lead our organizational efforts in fundraising and communications, complementing and supporting this existing engagement process with systematic approaches to ensure we fully attend to our existing and prospective donor base. Reporting to the Executive Director, the VP of Development works closely with board members, senior management, and key friends and allies of VHW to fund our strategic priorities and ongoing operations. Serving as an integral member of the senior management team, s/he focuses the development and communications effort, and ensures it is fully aligned with our strategic goals and priorities. VP of Development establishes fundraising goals and develops and implements strategies to secure funding from a uniquely diverse community of supporters, including individuals and family foundations and corporate foundations and partners. Systems development and process refinement for development and communications will be key to take VHW from start-up to self-sustaining. This will require a significant level of focus from the VP of Development in the first 6 months.
Key Responsibilities:
Set goals, priorities, and strategies and manage a comprehensive development program that drives growth and enables VHW to attract, retain, and motivate donors and fundraising volunteers
Design, implement and manage a multi-year strategic development plan to create and expand giving opportunities and philanthropic support.
Review existing communications, including website, social media, brand, and all publications.
Design and implement multi-year communications plan that is integral to development plan.
Lead and mentor existing development and communications staff, with an eye to growing staff capacity in near future. Manage in a fiscally sound manner by ensuring that the appropriate systems, staffing and procedures are in place to support fundraising goals
Serve as the organization’s front line fundraiser, partnering with the Executive Director, senior advisors, key allies and volunteers to leverage mutually beneficial relationships and networks both internally and externally
Enable the Executive Director, Development Committee, and Board of Directors to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the organization’s fundraising results and overall development programs through regular review of key performance indicators
Capitalize on opportunities to build partnerships that promote philanthropy and enhance giving
Travel both domestically and internationally in order to promote philanthropic support not only in New York city, but across the United States and abroad
Create and sustain a learning environment that supports examination and challenges the status quo
Revamp and lead our existing Development Committee comprised of dedicated volunteers and Board members
Qualifications:
Advanced degree, with at least 5 years senior management experience; track record of effectively leading an outcome-based organization/department and staff; ability to point to specific examples of having developed and operationalized strategies that have taken an organization/department to the next stage of growth
Strategic thinker with demonstrated knowledge of different fundraising and communications programs.
Entrepreneurial, innovative, and results-driven. Record of establishing and achieving ambitious fundraising goals, and demonstrated success identifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding major gifts
Demonstrated development experience is preferred, but not required. We believe skills are transferrable and are interested in candidates without strict development experience if they can make a clear case as to why they would be successful in a mission-driven organization addressing ambitious growth, requiring robust development and communications leverage.
Strong appreciation for VHW’s mission, values, and goals and the ability to effectively communicate them. Culturally sensitive and comfortable with diverse constituencies and partners
Experience leading and managing a team and in creating strong morale and a sense of belonging. Ability to leverage and integrate the capabilities and skills of people across levels and boundaries to create the most effective team
Ability to engage volunteers, partners and cross-department staff in fundraising efforts
Outstanding communication and presentation skills (written and verbal). Creative, positive and flexible
Excellent interpersonal skills
Previous experience working in Africa or with organizations in Africa advantageous but not required
Knowledge of French a benefit but not a requirement
We are seeking candidates who have experience in:
Attracting donors to invest in international programs
Planning, launching and executing on a capital campaign
Engaging donors in investing in organizations with diverse set of activities
Innovating in ways to engage supporters and donors
Providing in-depth reporting and documentation of the impact of donors’ contributions
Establishing and organizing new managerial processes
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