Chief Development Officer

DTSF; Sioux Falls (SD); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance (Single Plan)

Paid Time Off

Holiday Time Off

SafeHarbor 401k with 4% Company Match

Dental & Vision Insurance

Term Life Insurance

Supplemental Insurance Options

Parking Pass

Job summary

Downtown Sioux Falls, Inc. (DTSF) is seeking a Chief Development Officer to lead the Membership Department and drive growth in membership and sponsorship revenue. You will oversee Events, Marketing, Membership, and Content, aligning them to deliver member value and strengthen partnerships.

The role requires building scalable programs, staff, and accountability while cultivating relationships with business, civic, and community leaders in Sioux Falls.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in business development or nonprofit growth with revenue responsibilities.
• Proven ability to develop relationships, build a pipeline, close opportunities and retain partners.
• Experience leading people and managing multiple functions.
• Strong strategic judgment and ability to set direction and priorities.
• Strong written and verbal communication and representation with leaders.
• Highly organized with CRM, pipeline management and metrics to drive results.
• Collaborative and proactive, able to work across functions in a fast-moving org.
• Knowledge of Sioux Falls and Downtown business/economy preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own the membership strategy: acquisition, retention, engagement and growth.
• Own the sponsorship strategy, pipeline, renewal and revenue performance.
• Lead the Membership Department across events, marketing, content and administration.
• Strengthen member experience and develop programs that increase value.
• Build and manage systems, goals, metrics and staff accountability for growth.
• Serve on the Leadership Team guiding strategic planning and advocacy.

Skills

Business development

Membership

Sales

Marketing

Nonprofit development

CRM

Pipeline management

Tools

CRM

Pipeline management

Job description

Chief Development Officer

Reports to: CEO

Location: On-site
FLSA Status: Full-time - Exempt

About Downtown Sioux Falls, Inc. (DTSF)

DTSF is a mission-driven 501(c)4 organization leading the charge in shaping a vibrant, inclusive, and thriving urban core. We exist to activate the city’s center—through placemaking, storytelling, partnerships, and daily boots-on-the-ground effort.

DTSF administers the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID), managing programs that keep Downtown clean, safe, and welcoming. Our work spans economic development, public space activation, advocacy, marketing, and residential attraction—delivered with pride, precision, and a long-term commitment to the place we call home.

Position Summary

The Chief Development Officer (CDO) leads DTSF’s Membership Department and owns the organization’s membership and sponsorship growth strategy. The CDO is accountable for membership acquisition and retention, sponsorship revenue, member value and engagement, and the overall performance of the department. The role leads the Events, Marketing, Membership and Content functions, ensuring they work together to strengthen relationships, deliver meaningful value and support DTSF’s broader mission. The CDO builds the people, systems and accountability necessary for sustainable growth while personally developing key member, sponsor and community relationships.

Full time, Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM. Required to work some evenings, weekends, and Holidays. DTSF Signature Events may require heavy lifting, exposure to weather, and prolonged standing. Riverfest and Parade of Lights events are considered black-out days for PTO.

Key Responsibilities

• Own DTSF's membership strategy, including acquisition, retention, engagement and growth.
• Own sponsorship strategy, pipeline, acquisition, renewal and revenue performance.
• Lead the Membership Department, aligning membership, events, marketing, content and administration around member value and organizational priorities.
• Strengthen the member experience and continuously develop programs, communications and opportunities that increase the value of DTSF membership.
• Build and manage the systems, goals, metrics and staff accountability necessary to achieve sustainable membership and sponsorship growth.
• Serve as a key member of the DTSF Leadership Team, contributing to strategic planning, organizational decision-making, and long-term district advocacy.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in business development, membership, sales, nonprofit development, marketing or a related field, with demonstrated responsibility for revenue growth.
• Proven ability to develop relationships, build a pipeline, close opportunities and retain partners or customers.
• Experience leading people and managing multiple functions, programs or areas of responsibility.
• Strong strategic judgment with the ability to set direction, establish priorities and hold a team accountable without becoming the default owner of day-to-day execution.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to represent DTSF effectively with business, civic and community leaders.
• Highly organized and comfortable using CRM, pipeline management and performance metrics to drive results.
• Collaborative, proactive and comfortable working across functions in a fast-moving organization.
• Knowledge of Sioux Falls and an understanding of Downtown business, economic development or community-building work preferred.

Benefits

• Health Insurance (Single Plan covered 100% by Employer)
• Paid Time Off (20 days annually)
• Holiday Time Off (12 days annually)
• SafeHarbor 401k with 4% Company Match with immediate vesting
• Dental & Vision Insurance (Employee Paid)
• Term Life Insurance ($25,000 policy covered by Employer for all employees)
• Supplemental Insurance Options, including Short-Term Disability (STD) and other supplemental coverage (Employee Paid)
• Parking Pass (Employer Paid)