Development Operations Coordinator

Seattle Symphony Orchestra Inc; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The Seattle Symphony Orchestra Inc. is seeking a Development Operations Coordinator to support donor relations, VIP ticketing, contributions processing, and donor benefits.

You will work with Tessitura, Stripe, and the volunteer program to maintain donor data, produce acknowledgments, and ensure accurate records across Finance and Development systems. The role emphasizes exceptional customer service, strong organization, and a willingness to work a hybrid schedule after onboarding milestones.

Qualifications

• Minimum of one year experience in a high-volume, fast-paced role; relevant non-profit experience preferred
• Previous donor or customer facing roles providing exceptional service via phone and email
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Extremely well-organized, detail oriented and able to meet deadlines
• Proficient user of Office365, including Excel, Word and Outlook
• Experience using Tessitura or other fundraising/customer databases is preferred
• Experience using Asana or other project management software is preferred
• Knowledge of and enthusiasm to learn about fundraising best practices
• Ability to be a team player in a dynamic, fast-paced environment
• Ability to adhere to Symphony policies and support management decisions in a positive and professional manner
• Availability to flex schedule outside of typical office hours, including evenings and weekends approximately two to four times per month

Responsibilities

• Partner with Development Operations colleagues to execute Donor Relations and VIP Ticketing functions in a timely manner
• Fulfill Donor Relations needs, fielding donor calls and emails, and resolving donor questions, providing exemplary customer service in all interactions
• Support VIP Ticketing, fielding donor calls and emails, fulfilling ticketing requests, ticket changes, and processing subscription renewal orders for major donors; providing major donors with exemplary ticketing concierge experience
• Proactively use and learn Tessitura functionality, updating donor information, performing regular data hygiene, and merging records
• Process contributions within one business day of receipt of funds or pledge notification
• Produce and send acknowledgement letters and related donor benefit collateral within two business days after contributions are received
• Support daily documentation and reporting to ensure accurate record keeping and reconciliation between Finance and Development systems
• Support the monthly giving program through regular maintenance of donor records, including managing subscriptions and patron records in Stripe and Tessitura
• Support operations, data and customer service needs across a variety of annual campaigns and special projects focused on the solicitation and stewardship of donors
• Partner with Development Operations colleagues to support the Seattle Symphony Volunteer program
• Ensure volunteers are scheduled for upcoming opportunities, including proactively communicating with volunteers about service needs and expectations
• Support new volunteer onboarding, including maintaining new volunteer records and working Volunteer Open House events throughout the season
• Proactively use and learn volunteer CRM, including recording service hours and reconciling volunteer information with Tessitura; perform regular data hygiene
• Provide exemplary customer service to volunteer members, fielding volunteers calls and emails, and resolving questions in a timely manner
• Process annual volunteer dues in Tessitura and support volunteer membership benefit fulfillment, including monthly discount ticket offer
• Work Development events and concert duty as required; including evenings and weekends
• Provide general support to the Development department as needed

Skills

Donor relations

Customer service

Communication

Organization

Team player

Attention to detail

Evenings/weekends flexibility

Tools

Office365

Excel

Word

Outlook

Tessitura

Asana

Stripe

Job description

Description

*The Seattle Symphony operates on a 35-hour work week.

Why Seattle Symphony?

Thank you for considering the Seattle Symphony for the next chapter in your career. Our mission is to unleash the power of music, bring people together, and lift the human spirit. With Music Director Xian Zhang just beginning her tenure with the orchestra and our Amplify capital campaign transforming Benaroya Hall for a new era, these are exciting times at the Seattle Symphony. We are seeking a talented Development Operations Coordinator to help connect our community to our mission through philanthropy.

As a member of the Development team, you’ll play an important role in cultivating the dedicated community members who provide critical resources that keep our music playing, and in expanding our reach to connect with new audiences as we seek to unlock opportunities for growth.

The orchestra is made up of world-class musicians who dedicate their lives to sharing their passion and talent with audiences. Since our first performance in 1903, our impact has grown to reach the highest levels of artistic excellence. Our donor family gives generously, and this role provides ample opportunity to make an impact. If you believe in the power of music and love executing all the details, we want to hear from you!

About our Culture

Working in the Development Department at the Seattle Symphony is fast-paced and results driven. We like to say “yes” and aren’t afraid to try something new. As a team, we value hard work, ingenuity, and attention to detail. We are supportive of each other and are personally committed to delivering our best each day. As the largest performing arts nonprofit in the Pacific Northwest, our team loves the energy, variety, and opportunities for connection this brings. At our core, we care deeply about our work together and we are committed to ensuring an excellent experience for our donors and guests at Benaroya Hall, whose support makes our mission possible.

Position Overview

The Development Operations Coordinator is an integral member of the Development Operations team, providing support across all the functions of the Development Department. Day-to-day, this role focuses on providing donors with exceptional customer service, through responding to donor inquiries via Donor Relations, fulfilling VIP ticketing requests, processing donations and acknowledgement letters, and fulfilling donor benefits. The Development Operations team also serves as liaison to the Seattle Symphony Volunteers, building relationships and managing systems to connect our volunteers to opportunities to support the mission of the Symphony.

This role provides ample opportunity to become a fundraising data and systems expert and learn how to connect people and processes. A successful candidate will have an aptitude for learning database systems, strong organizational skills, attention to detail, a desire to work on a wide range of tasks in a fast-paced environment, and a keen understanding of what constitutes excellent customer service. They will take pride in completing each day’s assigned tasks and take joy in providing exceptional support for the team and our donor family. An interest in classical music and the mission of the Seattle Symphony is desirable.

This position is eligible for a hybrid in-person/remote work arrangement after onboarding milestones are achieved. The responsibilities of this role require regular in-office work at least 4 days per week. In addition, members of the Development Department are expected to regularly work in-person for concerts and events throughout the season. Most of these shifts fall outside of regular business hours, including evenings and weekends. Each employee will establish a schedule for overtime and remote work in accordance with company policy and supervisor approval. The Seattle Symphony will provide a laptop, but the employee is required to have their own access to a high-speed internet connection for any remote work.

Qualifications

Minimum of one year experience in a high-volume, fast-paced role; relevant non-profit experience preferred

Previous donor or customer facing roles providing exceptional service via phone and email

Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Extremely well-organized, detail oriented and able to meet deadlines

Proficient user of Office365, including Excel, Word and Outlook

Experience using Tessitura or other fundraising/customer databases is preferred

Experience using Asana or other project management software is preferred

Knowledge of and enthusiasm to learn about fundraising best practices

Ability to be a team player in a dynamic, fast-paced environment

Ability to adhere to Symphony policies and support management decisions in a positive and professional manner

Availability to flex schedule outside of typical office hours, including evenings and weekends approximately two to four times per month

Essential Job Functions

• Partner with Development Operations colleagues to execute Donor Relations and VIP Ticketing functions in a timely manner:
  • Fulfill Donor Relations needs, fielding donor calls and emails, and resolving donor questions, providing exemplary customer service in all interactions
  • Support VIP Ticketing, fielding donor calls and emails, fulfilling ticketing requests, ticket changes, and processing subscription renewal orders for major donors; providing major donors with exemplary ticketing concierge experience
• Partner with Development Operations colleagues to consistently execute core team functions and ensure all processes are fulfilled accurately and on schedule:
  • Proactively use and learn Tessitura functionality, updating donor information, performing regular data hygiene, and merging records
  • Process contributions within one business day of receipt of funds or pledge notification
  • Produce and send acknowledgement letters and related donor benefit collateral within two business days after contributions are received
  • Support daily documentation and reporting to ensure accurate record keeping and reconciliation between Finance and Development systems
  • Support the monthly giving program through regular maintenance of donor records, including managing subscriptions and patron records in Stripe and Tessitura
  • Support operations, data and customer service needs across a variety of annual campaigns and special projects focused on the solicitation and stewardship of donors
• Partner with Development Operations colleagues to support the Seattle Symphony Volunteer program:
  • Ensure volunteers are scheduled for upcoming opportunities, including proactively communicating with volunteers about service needs and expectations
  • Support new volunteer onboarding, including maintaining new volunteer records and working Volunteer Open House events throughout the season
  • Proactively use and learn volunteer CRM, including recording service hours and reconciling volunteer information with Tessitura; perform regular data hygiene
  • Provide exemplary customer service to volunteer members, fielding volunteers calls and emails, and resolving questions in a timely manner
  • Process annual volunteer dues in Tessitura and support volunteer membership benefit fulfillment, including monthly discount ticket offer
• Work Development events and concert duty as required; including evenings and weekends
• Provide general support to the Development department as needed

Requirements

Physical Requirements

The physical requirements described here must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The functions of this position are performed primarily in an office environment
• Regular activities include frequent sitting, standing, walking, reaching and bending
• This position may require occasional pulling, lifting and climbing stairs
• Ability to speak, hear and communicate clearly while handling staff inquiries, telephone calls and customer requests
• Specific vision abilities require close visual acuity for viewing a computer screen and reading, preparing, entering and/or analyzing data
• This position requires repetitive motions of the wrists, hands and fingers for typing at a standard keyboard and regular pinching, picking up and holding pencils and other desk tools
• Must have the ability to lift 30 pounds as needed

Other Requirements:

Applicant must submit a Cover Letter to be considered.

Benefits

• Excellent Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance (PPO, low deductible)
• Employer paid Long-Term Disability, AD&D and Life Insurance
• Employer paid ORCA pass for Metro, Sound Transit, the WA State ferries, or other public transport system
• 403b retirement savings plan with employer matching at 1 year
• 10 days Vacation Time, 10 days Sick Time
• 2 personal days
• 11 paid holidays per year
• Your birthday off!
• Employee Assistance Program

Seattle Symphony values diversity and inclusiveness in the workplace. Individuals who bring diverse backgrounds and perspectives are encouraged to apply. It is our policy to provide equal employment opportunity (EOE) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, the Seattle Symphony will provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities.