Vice President, Development Operations

About The Kennedy Center

“I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for victories or defeats in battle or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit.” – President John F. Kennedy

The Kennedy Center is the nation’s cultural center and living memorial to President John F. Kennedy. Located on the banks of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., the Center presents performances across all genres, and is also home to artistic affiliates Washington National Opera and National Symphony Orchestra.

At the Kennedy Center, we strive to foster belonging and empowerment at work. We are able to advance our mission because of our committed and passionate employees. We are fortunate to be able to leverage their diverse perspectives, life experiences and skills to inform how our workplace can be a safe, transparent, and replenishing community. The Kennedy Center is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant based on race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition, or any other basis protected by law.

Mission Statement: As the nation's performing arts center, and a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, we are a leader for the arts across America and around the world, reaching and connecting with artists, inspiring and educating communities. We welcome all to create, experience, learn about, and engage with the arts.

Why Join Us

We offer a comprehensive range of benefits to all full-time employees including:

• Staff offers for discount tickets
• Retirement plan with organization matching (after 1 year of employment)
• Qualifying employer for the Public Student Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
• Commuter programs including pre-tax options for discounted parking and SmartBenefits (WMATA)
• Annual Leave, Sick Leave, and Personal Days available immediately upon hire
• 11 paid holidays per year
• Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits with FSA and HSA options, and paid FMLA
• Flexible work arrangements
• We like to have fun! Check out the Kennedy Center National Dance Day 2024 staff video!

Job Description

The Development Office at the Kennedy Center is a dynamic, and creative group of more than 80 professionals responsible for finding new, creative, and sustainable ways to meet or exceed the institution's $80M annual contributed income goal. These funds support the organization’s extraordinary programming—world class performances on our stages at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.; local, regional, and national education programs reaching students, teachers, families, and budding artists; and community-driven social impact programming that upholds the legacy of President Kennedy in our role as his presidential memorial.

The Vice President of Development Operations creates data-driven strategies for diverse, sustainable year-over-year revenue growth opportunities. These strategies pursue the institutional intention of achieving fiscal health, leveraging new and emerging technologies and tactics where possible. This position oversees departmental strategic planning, ensuring alignment with institutional strategic planning as well.

The Vice President oversees 4 direct reports and a team of 14 FTEs in four divisions: Development Systems, Friends of the Kennedy Center, Donor Services and Lounge Operations and Prospect Development, Intelligence, and Analytics. The Strategic Planning initiative utilizes a cross department working group to activate this work. This role reports to the Senior Vice President of Development and works as a close strategic partner to the leadership of the Development Office of the Kennedy Center and other institutional leadership

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Planning and Leadership

• Create, draft, and implement the Development Office Strategic Plan. Ensure active participation and thought-partnership from across the department, demonstrating a commitment to inclusion across teams and employment levels.
• Identify key metrics to success and evaluative measures. Provide transparent progress reporting to all departmental staff.
• Use the strategic plan to develop annual departmental priorities with the Senior Vice President.
• Serve as the departmental representative in institution-wide strategic planning.

Prospect Development, Intelligence, & Analytics

• Provide vision and leadership to Prospect Development functions by designing and overseeing strategies for using prospect intelligence to drive strategic, data-driven fundraising practices.
• Develop strategies to expand funding pipelines. Leverage institutional data and emerging technologies in machine learning, AI, etc. to identify new prospects.
• Overseeing a strategic portfolio assignment process, setting portfolio standards and guidelines, monitoring performance, and devising strategic recommendations for frontline staff as they move prospects through the fundraising cycle.
• Ensure the thorough, continuous, and transparent reporting of global fundraising performance and pipeline management efforts.

Development Systems

• Provide leadership to the Development Systems team through long range planning and resource allocation.
• Serve as department liaison with our Finance team.

Friends of the Kennedy Center

• Provide oversight, advice and counsel to the Friends of the Kennedy Center professional staff.

Donor Services and Lounge Operations

• Provide oversight to the Donor Services and Lounge Operations team ensuring that all of our front facing Circles activity exceeds the expectations of our Circles donors.

Supervision

• Oversee a team of 17 FTEs and any consultant/part-time staff, managing their job performance and professional development.

Other duties as assigned.

Key Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of progressive fundraising experience in complex nonprofit organizations.
• Familiarity with the philanthropic industry and best practices in fundraising; experience advancing and executing fundraising strategies.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with campaigns, pipeline and contributed revenue growth, endowment fundraising, prospect research, donor stewardship, constituent relationship management systems, and philanthropy operations.
• Eagerness to explore new technologies and systems for continued improvement of systems.
• Experience leading and coaching experienced team members and managing highly effective and collaborative teams.
• Proficiency in database management. Experience with Tessitura strongly preferred.

Additional Information

• Travel up to 20% may be required.
• This position is eligible for hybrid working arrangements, but must be based in the DC area