ROLE:
The Director of Development at the Wichita Art Museum (WAM) is a dynamic leadership role that crafts and leads the fundraising initiatives for the museum. This individual is responsible for the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of prospective and present donors to WAM. Under the supervision of the Museum Director/CEO, the responsibilities of this multifaceted position include project sponsorship, operating fundraising, patron and general membership, and grant writing along with special event coordination. The position interacts closely with the Board of Trustees, significant patrons, leadership staff, and the Director/CEO to create strategies and solicit funders. The Director of Development is responsible for oversight, proactive planning, and successful execution of a comprehensive fundraising program, meeting financial goals and positioning WAM for future success, growth, and sustainability. The Director of Development supervises development and event staff and is a member of the museum’s leadership team, contributing to WAM’s mission to “connect people, ideas, and art through remarkable experiences.”
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Lead the design and fulfill the museum’s annual fundraising strategy and goals
- Design strategies and tactics for growth and success across all areas of fundraising
- Monitor fundraising results and consistently report progress
- Collaborate internally to develop budgets and forecast projected fundraising outcomes
- Generate new ideas that increase revenue
- Develop and implement plans to obtain needed support for annual budget goals related to exhibitions, programs, special projects, and educational activities
- Develop and coordinate strategies related to annual fund, corporate and foundation sponsorship, major donor cultivation, and planned giving
- Meet with major donors personally for the purposes of gift cultivation
- Write and/or supervise proposals and grant applications, track outcomes and reporting requirements
- In collaboration with the Director/CEO, secure support for WAM’s initiatives through creative, innovative events, and giving opportunities
- Plan, coordinate, supervise and participate in museum special events, ensuring impeccable event logistics and results
- Network with relevant arts and cultural patrons in the region
- Various other responsibilities as needed
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education/Certification: Bachelor’s degree in related field required. Must maintain a valid driver’s license.
Experience Required: Strong track record of achieving tangible fundraising outcomes in a competitive field, 5+ years of relevant experience, 3+ years of demonstrated success within a non-profit organization, 5+ years of supervisory experience.
Skills/Abilities: Clear and effective communication, self-starter and team-oriented work approach, proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook) and fundraising databases, strong attention to detail, excellent interpersonal, oral, verbal and written communication skills, maintain confidentiality of information, maintain accurate computer and paper files as necessary, applied leadership and problem-solving abilities, strong organizational skills, knowledge of development principles and practices.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES AND REQUIREMENTS OF THIS POSITION:
Talking: Ability to speak effectively and communicate clearly.
Average Hearing: Ability to hear average conversations at a standard level in an office environment around visitors, patrons and other Museum personnel
Repetitive Motion: The employee is regularly required to type continuously throughout the day.
Finger Dexterity: The employee is regularly required to use hands to type and maneuver a mouse.
Average Vision: Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust the focus with 20/20 vision (with or without the assistance of eyeglasses/contacts)
Physical Strength: The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds (unassisted). May sit as well as stand, sit, bend, kneel, squat, and walk for long periods of time for long periods of time.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
General professional indoor museum environment with climate control and adequate lighting. Occasional hours worked during evenings and weekends in order to meet organizational needs and deadlines. Occasional exposure to outdoor environment and weather conditions.
MENTAL ACTIVITIES AND REQUIREMENTS OF THIS POSITION:
Reasoning Ability: Ability to deal with a variety of variables under only limited standardization
Language Ability:Ability to read, analyze, and interpret documents. Ability to communicate clearly.
INTENT AND FUNCTION OF JOB DESCRIPTIONS:
Job descriptions assist organizations in ensuring that the hiring process is fairly administered and that qualified employees are selected. They are also essential to an effective appraisal system and related promotion, transfer, layoff, and termination decisions. Well-constructed job descriptions are an integral part of any effective compensation system.
All descriptions have been reviewed to ensure that only essential functions and basic duties have been included. Peripheral tasks, only incidentally related to each position, have been excluded. Requirements, skills, and abilities included have been determined to be the minimal standards required to successfully perform the positions. In no instance, however, should the duties, responsibilities, and requirements delineated be interpreted as all-inclusive. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, it is possible that requirements may be modified to reasonably accommodate disabled individuals. However, no accommodations will be made which may pose serious health or safety risks to the employee or others or which impose undue hardships on the organization.
Job descriptions are not intended as and do not create employment contracts. The organization maintains its status as an at-will employer. Employees can be terminated for any reason not prohibited by law.
TO APPLY: Send resume, cover letter and three references to jobs@wam.org. Job posting will remain on WAM.org website until filled.
ABOUT US:
The Wichita Art Museum opened in 1935 and is home to the Roland P. Murdock Collection, one of the premier collections of American art. With a nationally distinguished collection, the museum is a public/private partnership, owned by the City of Wichita and managed by the Wichita Art Museum, Inc. The Wichita Art Museum connects people, ideas, and art through remarkable experiences.
