Director, Strategic Insights & Development Operations

Echoing Green has partnered with DHR Global to conduct our search for a Director, Strategic Insights & Development Operations. To apply for this role please send your resume to our search partner Sara Garlick Lundberg at slundberg@dhrglobal.com.

Resumes submitted through this link will not be reviewed.

Echoing Green identifies tomorrow’s transformational leaders today. Through its Fellowships and other initiatives, Echoing Green spots emerging leaders and invests deeply in their success to accelerate their impact. The organization has established a global community of emerging leaders who have launched hundreds of innovative social enterprises to drive social good.

Echoing Green supports visionary leaders who are transforming their communities by addressing challenges in focus areas related to economic development, racial and gender equity, environmental sustainability, and more. Since its founding, Echoing Green has provided more than $54 million in funding to nearly 1,000 Fellows who have worked in more than 86 countries and 39 U.S. states.

Together, they’ve established a global community of leaders who have launched Teach For America, City Year, One Acre Fund, SKS Microfinance, Last Mile Health, Hot Bread Kitchen, Public Allies, and hundreds of others. These organizations have leveraged Echoing Green’s seed investment to raise more than $5 billion in funding for the public good. Echoing Green unleashes long-lasting change at the intersection of social justice and social innovation by finding the best and the brightest leaders, bringing them together, and launching them on their path to success.

Those who work at Echoing Green have a front row seat to the brightest leaders with the most innovative ideas driving social progress across the world. They are fired up to be their partners, their advocates, and their biggest champion. You can learn more about the organization by reading its 2022 Annual Report and by learning about their 2023 Fellows.

The Director reports to the VP of Development and will serve as a thought and execution partner, in collaboration with the team, in implementing a new 5-year strategic growth plan (going into effect July 1, 2024).  This is an opportunity for a systems-oriented, creative, collaborative, and metrics-driven individual to contribute to a growing team with a vibrant and supportive culture (currently 6 people with 2 additional open positions).

The Director will have proficiency in Salesforce, Excel, and PowerPoint and be adept at and interested in using Salesforce to maximize fundraising operations. This role will oversee an excellent Salesforce architect (a consultant deeply familiar with the organization and development team) and will liaise between the team and the Salesforce architect to implement systems across the department. The team structure is strong and there are already excellent dashboards and policies in place. This role will iterate and improve on these systems to ensure best in class reporting and tools as the team grows.

Specific Responsibilities

Reporting Insights and Thought Partnership

• Develop and manage data and insights necessary for an effective fundraising team through report ideation, dashboard iteration, and assisting with benchmarking.
• Work alongside VP to align data tracking and reporting with long-term Development goals.
• Iterate on and improve upon daily, weekly, monthly, and annual reports and closeout processes and analysis.
• Create compelling and insightful decks and materials for reporting to the team and board.
• Build on and maintain an existing book of policies, systems and procedures to create a more effective and efficient Development operation; educate the team on new protocols and ensure their adoption.
• Respond to ad-hoc requests, and related reporting and analysis requests.
• Keep updated on emerging trends and technologies to meet current and future needs of a fast-paced, high-performing Development team.

Collaboration and Management

• Contribute to the growth of a high-performing team by creating systems, processes, evaluating and solving for resource gaps, mentoring, and recommending goals.
• Manage pipeline building, forecasting, reforecasting, and cross-team projects affecting multiple portfolios.
• Partner with frontline fundraisers in building and managing portfolios and a robust prospect pipeline to support fundraising goals and objectives. This includes providing data, research, and historical context to inform strategic partnership opportunities for annual and special campaign prospects.
• Promote policies, processes, projects, and strategies that drive effective donor qualification, relationship development, and solicitation.
• Centralize and oversee gift acknowledgement process and own the development portion of the annual report.
• Project manage cross team projects and implementations.
• Other duties as assigned.

Finance and Budgeting

• Oversee and manage Salesforce database including accurate gift accounting, reporting and reconciliation with Finance.
• Monitor revenue and work proactively with the Development team to forecast shifts in revenue expectations.
• Manage the annual revenue and expense budgeting process for the department.
• Optimize and manage relationships with vendors.

Requirements

• Minimum eight years of relevant experience in nonprofit fundraising.
• Advanced work with Excel and PowerPoint; administration of Salesforce NPSP database a plus.
• Demonstrated experience with nonprofit fundraising analysis and experience in supervising staff and directing day-to-day activities are required.
• Ability to accurately synthesize, analyze and translate data for financial and activity reports.
• A metrics-driven mindset that informs strategy and work.
• An entrepreneurial approach to work.
• Ability to identify problems, develop solutions, and take action to resolve in areas of responsibility.
• Ability to liaise between stakeholders and collaborate with colleagues with varying levels of knowledge and experience in data and systems.
• Fluency in Microsoft Office suite / Google Suite.
• Ability to articulate solutions clearly to facilitate user-empowerment and strategic fundraising.
• A high level of discretion and ethical approach to work.
• A high level of awareness of data trends and best practices.
• Proven ability to meet deadlines with competing timelines.

Professional Attributes

• The successful candidate will be a collegial and collaborative team player, an excellent writer, an experienced project manager, and a thoughtful advocate of systems and order. 
• Proactive, bias towards action and improvement.
• Discretion, strong initiative and problem-solving skills.
• Attention to detail and the ability to establish priorities and perform under time constraints.
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to establish effective working relationships with stakeholders and staff across the organization.
• Alignment with the mission and vision of Echoing Green.

Benefits

Echoing Green offers a full benefits package including 20 days of Paid Time Off, medical, dental, vision insurance, life insurance, and a 403(b)-retirement savings plan with an employer match.

As an equal opportunity employer, Echoing Green encourages applications from all individuals regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, marital status, physical ability, or any other legally protected basis.

The expected compensation range for this role is $140,000 to $165,000.

Interested candidates should contact the DHR Search Team:

Sara Garlick Lundberg

Managing Partner, North America – Nonprofit

New York, NY

E: slundberg@dhrglobal.com

Emma Kemper

Associate

Denver, CO

T: +1 720-262-7574

E: ekemper@dhrglobal.com

Morgan Phillips

Executive Assistant | Office Manager, Chicago

Chicago, IL

T: +1 312-782-1581

E: mmiller@dhrglobal.com

Echoing Green provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. Echoing Green complies with all applicable laws.