Director of Development

Job content

Information Location: La Grande Boissière campus (main office)

Application closing date: 16/07/2021

Starting Date: 01/09/2021

Contract: Full time - 40 hours

The Role And Responsibilities

The role

To create, implement and drive a Development strategy which will increase philanthropic engagement and income, to support the delivery of Ecolint’s overall strategy and mission and to maintain the momentum that has been established in the past two years since the creation of the Office of Development and Alumni Relations.

Reports to

Director General

Key Relationships

Director General, Governing Board, Conférence des Directeurs, Campus Principals, colleagues across each School, and the newly established Governing Board Development Committee.

Key Responsibilities

▪ In collaboration with the Director General and Governing Board, shape and drive fundraising for Ecolint.

▪ Lead the Development team to develop and implement a strategy for revenue and capital fundraising at Ecolint, including setting long- and short-term financial targets, and delivering on those targets.

▪ Implement a more integrated institutional approach to major gifts and regular giving fundraising, identifying and prioritising key projects and opportunities with the greatest potential for funding.

▪ Represent Ecolint internally and externally for the purposes of increasing the Development team’s profile, as well as fundraising activity and results.

▪ Work collaboratively with colleagues across Ecolint to ensure that the work of the Development department is fully integrated and supports the delivery of Ecolint’s overall objectives.

▪ Create an environment in which the Development team can deliver results and are motivated to produce their best work, through inspirational leadership, collaboration, support, and promoting confidence and capability within the unit.

▪ Assess and evaluate the environment and offering to maximise long-, short- and medium-term opportunities for fundraising.

▪ Monitor and evaluate fundraising initiatives undertaken on a regular basis and ensure that Ecolint’s income generation is efficient, particularly that the cost-to-income ratio for fundraising is in line with, or better than, industry standards.

▪ Ensure that the Development team works with other Ecolint staff in embedding a cultural awareness of fundraising and advancement throughout the organisation.

▪ Engage effectively with Ecolint’s network of donors and supporters, and actively develop and grow this network.

▪ Manage the annual expenditure and staffing budgets for the department, including budget management for Ecolint’s fundraising activities, including reporting and analysis.

▪ Work collaboratively with Ecolint’s UK and US Foundations to maximise fundraising activities in these and other key international regions.

▪ Contribute to Ecolint’s strategic planning and long-term success as a key member of the Conférence des Directeurs.

Person specification

Essential Experience And And Knowledge For The Position

▪ A strong track record in philanthropic fundraising, gained in organisations of comparable scale and complexity.

▪ Significant major gift fundraising experience with a proven and current track record of securing seven figure donations and more, from local and international high net worth donors.

▪ Proven experience of shaping, directing and delivering successful capital fundraising projects.

▪ Successful track record of managing and working with high-level volunteer boards and leadership.

▪ Proven experience managing complex and nuanced donor relationships which require a bespoke approach and a high level of judgement.

▪ A thorough understanding of best practice in philanthropy and experience developing strategic fundraising as well as regular income generation.

▪ Fluent in English and French.

Desirable Experience And Knowledge For The Position

▪ Experience in fundraising gained in an international environment, ideally within Switzerland and/or continental Europe.

▪ Knowledge of schools’ fundraising

Skills, Abilities & Attitudes

▪ Strategic and analytical operator.

▪ Demonstrable and strong leadership skills, with an open, approachable and inclusive style which inspires trust.

▪ Sophisticated relationship-building and communication skills with the ability to liaise, network and influence at all levels.

▪ Highly nuanced political and cultural sensitivity.

▪ Entrepreneurial flair, with the ability to spot income- generating opportunities and push activity forward to increase income.

▪ High level of motivation and initiative, and a desire to succeed and achieve results.

▪ Clear thinking with sound judgment and the ability to take decisions where there are contested areas.

▪ Capacity to negotiate through personal influence.

▪ The ability to innovate; to be opportunistic, responsive, resourceful and resilient.

▪ Diplomatic, discreet, and persuasive.

▪ Significant experience managing and developing teams, with proven success of achieving ambitious targets.

How To Apply

Applications should be sent directly to: director.general@ecolint.ch and include:

• A comprehensive curriculum vitae giving details of relevant achievements in recent posts as well as your education and professional qualifications.
• A covering letter that summarises your interest in this post, providing evidence of your ability to match the criteria outlined in the Person Specification.
  

The International School of Geneva values and encourages diversity among its staff. As such, we welcome applications from candidates with a wide range of backgrounds and experience. The School is seriously committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

All successful candidates will be subject to rigorous conduct and child protection checks appropriate to their position, including prior checks with their previous employers and the authorities.