Vice President of Advancement - Mercy Ships

Mercy Ships is adding a new VP of Advancement role to its talented team of professionals delivering world-class healthcare to underserved communities around the world. This is a career-making opportunity for a mission-aligned, passionate, marketing and fundraising leader ready to lead the charge in continuing to tell Mercy Ships’ story to hundreds of thousands of supporters and volunteers. Mercy Ships’ two-ship fleet is the World’s Largest Civilian Hospital. At Mercy Ships, you’ll join an organization dedicated to bringing boundless hope and compassion to those in need around the world. 

The VP of Advancement will oversee direct-response marketing, recruitment marketing, and an in-house creative team, helping Mercy Ships reach current and prospective mass-market and mid-level donors and potential volunteers through powerful storytelling across digital, direct mail, and other channels. Reporting to the Senior Vice President of the US National Office, the VP will serve as a strategic partner and collaborator, actively shaping and driving Mercy Ships’ initiatives. 

Key Responsibilities

• Executive Leadership: Work with senior staff, partnering with Sr. Director of Development and Senior Director of Stewardship Operations to meet organizational objectives.
• Strategic Leadership: Vision casting and stewardship of 30-member department, including 6 direct reports. Lead strategic planning process for the donor experience. Prepare detailed annual budget and revenue projections. Collaborate with agency and media partnerships to monitor direct response and PR initiatives. Develop paid and earned media initiatives to raise brand awareness.
• Donor Acquisition and Cultivation: Create and execute integrated online and offline donor cultivation programs to increase giving levels. Design and executive social media strategies. Oversee direct response marketing initiatives.
• Team Leadership and Development: Advice and collaborate with leaders, peers, and team to advance the mission through fundraising innovation and operational excellence. Oversee core marketing functions. Recruit, hire, onboard, and coach assigned staff. Establish team member goals and objectives.

Qualifications
     The ideal candidate will be: 

• Deep commitment to Mercy Ships' core values, as expressed in the Mission Statement, with a strong personal faith and a servant leadership mindset
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience, with a minimum of 10 years in progressively responsible advancement roles, including staff management, direct fundraising initiatives, and direct response strategy oversight
• Expertise in digital and people-to-people fundraising, data analysis, and donor acquisition across traditional and digital channels
• Proven ability to develop new donor relationships and manage a team of fundraising professionals to achieve revenue goals
• Experience leading large diverse teams of development and marketing professionals
• Demonstrated ability to create and implement strategic, data-driven fundraising and marketing plans
• Experience with donor portfolio management, particularly in engaging mid-level donors and enhancing donor relations
• Proven success in recruiting, onboarding, coaching, developing high performance teams
• Skilled in managing agency partnerships
• High emotional intelligence and adaptability
• Proficient in budget management, financial forecasting, strategic planning for fundraising initiatives
• Strong analytical skills, using data to improve donor engagement strategies
• Experience working with donor databases and systems
• Demonstrated initiative in managing multiple projects
• Commitment to integrity and accountability in all aspects of organizational engagement and fiscal management

If you are a seasoned leader in direct response fundraising and marketing bringing humility, patience, and a servant-leader mindset, we invite you to join Mercy Ships’ Advancement team. With your vision and energy, you’ll help drive strategic, innovative growth to bring life-saving aid to more people worldwide. 

To learn more about this organization and opportunity:  Opportunity Profile

Salary : $180,000 - $200,000