Senior Director, Development & Communications

Sansum Diabetes Research Institute; Santa Barbara (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Sansum Diabetes Research Institute seeks a Senior Director, Development & Communications to lead all fundraising, development operations, marketing, and donor engagement. You will drive major gifts, foundations, corporate partnerships, and community outreach while partnering with the CEO and Board to advance SDRI's mission.

The role blends strategy with hands-on leadership, focusing on expanding visibility, sustaining revenue, and building strong relationships with donors, volunteers, and

Qualifications

• Leadership in philanthropy, fundraising, communications, and external relations.
• Experience securing major gifts of $100,000+ and grants.
• Strong relationship-building with executives, boards, donors, and partners.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute fundraising strategies to meet revenue targets.
• Manage major donor portfolio; collaborate with CEO and Board.
• Oversee all philanthropic revenue streams including grants and partnerships.
• Lead marketing, communications, and community engagement strategies.
• Direct event fundraising and oversee Taste of the Vine and related activities.

Skills

Fundraising leadership

Donor relations

Strategic planning

Marketing & communications

Budget management

Board relations

Stakeholder engagement

Grant writing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Nonprofit Management, Communications, Marketing, Public Relations

Tools

Raiser's Edge NXT

Microsoft 365

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the Senior Director, Development & Communications serves as a member of SDRI's Executive Leadership Team and leads all fundraising, development operations, marketing, communications, donor engagement, community relations, and external affairs activities.

This role is both strategic and hands-on, responsible for advancing philanthropic support, strengthening organizational visibility, expanding community engagement, and supporting the long-term sustainability of the organization. The Senior Director works collaboratively with executive leadership, the Board of Trustees, donors, foundations, corporate partners, volunteers, community leaders, and external stakeholders to advance SDRI's mission and achieve annual fundraising and organizational goals.

The Senior Director serves as a key member of SDRI's Executive Leadership Team and provides strategic leadership across fundraising, communications, community engagement, and organizational growth initiatives.

The title and level of the position will be determined based on the selected candidate's qualifications, experience, leadership background, and demonstrated development and fundraising expertise.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Major Gifts & Philanthropy

• Develop and execute comprehensive fundraising and advancement strategies that support SDRI's strategic priorities, annual operating needs, and long-term sustainability, while achieving revenue goals established by leadership and the Board.
• Manage a portfolio of major donors and prospects through identification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and retention activities, partnering closely with the CEO, Board of Trustees, and volunteer leaders to advance philanthropic investments.
• Oversee all philanthropic revenue streams, including major gifts, foundations, grants, corporate partnerships, sponsorships, institutional funding, and planned and legacy giving programs.
• Direct donor stewardship, recognition, moves management, fundraising forecasting, analytics, and reporting to strengthen donor engagement and support informed decision-making.
• Establish and monitor fundraising performance metrics, pipeline activity, and revenue projections, and lead special fundraising campaigns and strategic initiatives as assigned.

Marketing, Communications & Community Engagement

• Lead SDRI's marketing, communications, public relations, and community engagement strategies to strengthen organizational visibility, enhance stakeholder engagement, increase public awareness, and support fundraising objectives.
• Partner with the CEO to communicate SDRI's mission, impact, research and clinical advancements, strategic priorities, and community benefit through compelling and consistent messaging across all channels.
• Oversee brand management, donor communications, annual reports, fundraising campaigns, newsletters, website content, social media, digital marketing, media relations, storytelling initiatives, and public awareness efforts.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with donors, community leaders, healthcare organizations, civic groups, elected officials, media representatives, strategic partners, and other key stakeholders while serving as a visible ambassador for the organization.
• Manage external marketing, public relations, graphic design, digital media, and creative services providers, while monitoring performance metrics and identifying opportunities to expand community partnerships and organizational reach.

Signature Fundraising Events

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for Taste of the Vine and other fundraising events, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and annual revenue goals.
• Direct all aspects of event fundraising, including sponsorship development, donor cultivation, auction activities, volunteer engagement, and revenue-generating initiatives.
• Partner with sponsors, committees, volunteers, donors, and community stakeholders to maximize participation, visibility, fundraising performance, and attendee experience.
• Oversee event planning, budgeting, execution, and post-event evaluation to ensure operational excellence and achievement of financial objectives.
• Analyze event outcomes and implement continuous improvements to strengthen revenue generation, donor engagement, and long-term event sustainability.

Development Operations

• Provide leadership and oversight of development operations, including donor database administration, gift processing, prospect management, stewardship systems, fundraising reporting, and CRM optimization.
• Ensure the accuracy, integrity, security, and confidentiality of donor and fundraising data while maintaining compliance with applicable regulations, reporting requirements, and privacy standards.
• Develop and monitor departmental budgets, revenue forecasts, key performance indicators, fundraising dashboards, and operational goals to support strategic decision-making.
• Establish and maintain efficient systems, policies, and procedures that support fundraising effectiveness, donor stewardship, and organizational accountability.
• Continuously evaluate and enhance processes, reporting capabilities, and technology platforms to improve operational efficiency and fundraising performance.

Leadership & Organizational Management

• Serve as a member of the Executive Leadership Team, contributing to organizational strategy, long-range planning, growth initiatives, decision-making, and sustainability efforts.
• Act as a strategic advisor to the CEO and Board of Trustees on fundraising, communications, community engagement, external relations, and organizational visibility.
• Lead departmental planning, budgeting, goal setting, performance measurement, resource allocation, and strategic initiatives to ensure alignment with organizational priorities.
• Supervise and develop staff, consultants, volunteers, and vendors while fostering collaboration, accountability, professional growth, and operational excellence.
• Present fundraising, communications, and organizational performance data to executive leadership and the Board, while supporting Board engagement in fundraising, stewardship, advocacy, and ambassador activities.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, abilities, education, and experience necessary to perform the essential functions of the role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Training and support may be provided as appropriate to facilitate successful job performance.

• Demonstrated leadership and strategic expertise in philanthropy, fundraising, communications, communications, external relations, and stakeholder engagement.
• Demonstrated success securing, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gifts of $100,000 or more, as well as grants and institutional funding from individuals, corporations, foundations, and philanthropic partners.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills with executive leaders, board members, donors, community stakeholders, grant funders, and strategic partners.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and public speaking skills.
• Strong strategic planning, organizational, analytical, and project management skills.
• Experience developing and monitoring departmental budgets, fundraising forecasts, performance metrics, and operational goals.
• Experience leading fundraising campaigns, donor stewardship initiatives, and community engagement programs.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications, including Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams, and SharePoint.
• Experience using donor database and CRM systems, preferably Raiser's Edge NXT.
• Demonstrated professionalism, sound judgment, discretion, and commitment to maintaining confidentiality.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends and travel as needed for donor, community, and organizational activities.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Nonprofit Management, Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience, required.
• Master's degree in a related discipline and/or Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential preferred.
• Minimum seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in nonprofit development, philanthropy, advancement, fundraising, communications, or related fields.
• Strong preference for candidates with ten (10) or more years of relevant fundraising and development leadership experience.
• Demonstrated success leading comprehensive fundraising programs, including major gifts, foundation relations, planned giving, donor stewardship, corporate partnerships, and revenue growth initiatives.
• Experience partnering with executive leadership and governing boards to advance organizational priorities, fundraising objectives, and community engagement efforts.
• Experience within healthcare, medical research, academic medicine, public health, higher education, or other mission-driven nonprofit organizations preferred.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read, write, understand, and communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing, as necessary to perform the essential functions of the position.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee is regularly required to communicate effectively, remain stationary for extended periods, and operate a computer and other standard office equipment. Frequent use of hands and fingers for computer keyboarding, document preparation, and other administrative functions is required. The employee must be able to work at a computer and view a computer monitor for extended periods.

The employee may occasionally be required to stand, walk, reach, bend, and climb stairs while performing job duties, attending meetings, or participating in organizational events. Movement between offices and facility areas located on separate floors may be required. The employee must occasionally lift, carry, push, or move items weighing up to 25 pounds.

This position requires the ability to communicate effectively in person, by telephone, and through virtual communication platforms. Attendance at meetings, fundraising events, community activities, and donor engagements may require prolonged periods of standing or walking.

The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment is primarily an office setting. The employee may be required to move throughout SDRI facilities, including administrative, clinical care, and clinical research areas located on separate floors, in the performance of their job responsibilities. Attendance at meetings, community events, fundraising activities, and donor engagements may require occasional evening or weekend work. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position. The noise level in the work environment is typically moderate, and lighting is primarily artificial office lighting.

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by individuals assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Management reserves the right to modify, assign, or remove duties and responsibilities as organizational needs change. Other duties may be assigned as required.