Director of Development

Minnetrista Museum & Gardens; Dubai; On-site; AED 257,000 - 331,000; Full time

Job summary

A cultural organization in Dubai is seeking a Director of Development to lead fundraising and membership programs. The role involves building community relationships, managing a team, and overseeing the grants and sponsorship initiatives. Candidates should possess a bachelor's degree and at least five years of fundraising experience, alongside strong organizational and communication skills. This position requires flexibility in work hours and a collaborative mindset. Benefits include opportunities for professional development and a supportive work environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in fundraising, with a strong focus on grant writing and corporate sponsorships.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating on projects.
• Proficiency in understanding professional fundraising principles and ethics.

Responsibilities

• Administer the Institutional Giving program and prepare sponsorship proposals.
• Oversee the grants program and support proposal preparation.
• Manage department budget and support institutional leadership initiatives.

Skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Project management

Customer service

Education

Bachelor's degree and at least five years of experience in fundraising

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Raiser’s Edge

Job description

MINNETRISTA MUSEUM & GARDENS

Position Title: Director of Development
Department: Development
Reporting Supervisor: President
Location: Minnetrista Center Building
FLSA Status: Exempt, Full-Time
Organizational Function: Senior Manager

PURPOSE

Administer and grow the fundraising and membership programs at Minnetrista. Work to build intentional relationship pathways between community members and Minnetrista. Implement donor-centered programs in annual fundraising, memberships, and special projects. Maintain and grow the fundraising portfolio, increase contributed revenue, and achieve the overall success of the development program at Minnetrista. Manages full-time fundraising staff. Key participant in strategic and operational discussions and decision‑making as a member of the Leadership Team.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree and at least five years of experience in fundraising, with progressive responsibility. CFRE, CFRM, or master’s degree preferred.
• Direct experience with grant writing, raising funds from individuals, and securing corporate sponsorships is highly preferred.
• Be highly organized, detail oriented, dependable, and able to prioritize and execute multiple tasks, on time and on budget.
• Complete tasks independently and collaborate effectively on project‑oriented teams.
• Have outstanding communication skills be an active listener, articulate speaker, and a clear and persuasive writer.
• Possess strong organizational and project management skills.
• Work with diverse members of the public and have a strong customer service mindset.
• Demonstrate sound knowledge of professional fundraising principles, ethics, and practices, including maintaining a high standard of integrity, professionalism and accountability.
• Understand the many tools available for business communications and marketing and know how to strategically implement these tools.
• Lead, motivate, and delegate to department staff.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, and experience working with data and ensuring data integrity. Strong understanding of institutional databases and CRM; Raiser’s Edge, Altru or Blackbaud product experience preferred.

To be successful in this position, an individual must be aligned with Minnetrista’s cultural values and visitor‑centric focus. The incumbent ensures effective working relationships by cultivating and maintaining professional credibility with all staff, administration, and volunteers. The individual demonstrates maturity, sound judgment, positive attitude, and works collaboratively with peers and colleagues throughout the organization and community.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Achieve the organization’s purpose by demonstrating Minnetrista’s vision, values, mission, goals, and strategies daily.
• Help others achieve the organization’s purpose through collaboration and teamwork.
• Carry out your job function through completing the following essential duties directly or through subordinate personnel.

JOB DUTIES

• Administer the Institutional Giving program, including:
• Prepare high quality sponsorship proposals and supporting documents in collaboration with colleagues from across the organization.
• Build strong business partnerships, matching potential funding opportunities with Minnetrista programs.
• Oversee the grants program and support staff in research, proposal preparation, and reporting requirements.
• Administer the Annual Fund & Membership programs, including:
• Create effective appeals and manage membership and annual fund acquisition and renewal processes.
• Create strategic pathways to cultivate patron relationships to grow membership and donation revenue.
• Management of the Museums for All program, including growing beneficial community partnerships.
• Oversee fulfillment of donor and member benefits for all giving programs.
• Serve as the main point of contact for donors and members, responding to information requests and other needs.
• Coordinate with the President in qualifying annual fund donors for major gift and planned giving appeals. Act as the main manager for contact reporting and portfolio management.
• Provide high-level oversight of institutional CRM database management processes and guide data collection, analysis, and reporting efforts.
• Manage department budget, including development and approval/tracking of expenses.
• Support institutional leadership initiatives as a member of Leadership Team and represent fundraising efforts as a regular attendee at Board meetings.
• Support development and membership events.
• Engage in professional development and maintain an understanding of trends in fundraising in order to make strategic decisions related to this work.
• Participate in development department success by improving processes, sharing information, and contributing new ideas.
• Perform all other duties as required.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Primary sedentary office environment with desk, computer, phone, some physical files; remote work may be appropriate as facilitated through President. Must be able to move about 40‑acre main campus. Work hours require flexibility with some evenings and weekends.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Minnetrista values diversity and inclusivity and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.