Senior Director of Development and Leadership

Jewish Community Center of Dallas; Gifford (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The Jewish Community Center of Dallas seeks a Senior Director of Development and Leadership to lead fundraising strategy and leadership programming on the Aaron Family JCC of Dallas.

This senior role partners with the CEO and CDO, oversees donor relations, governance, and community partnerships, and guides a high-performing team to advance the J's mission.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 8+ years of progressive nonprofit fundraising and governance experience.
• Proven success securing major and planned gifts and meeting revenue goals.
• Experience managing governance structures and board relations.
• Proficiency with donor CRM/database systems (Amelia or comparable).
• Excellent written and verbal communication; grant writing and board presentations.

Responsibilities

• Set annual revenue goals and diversify funding across foundation, corporate, and individual giving.
• Manage a portfolio of donor relationships including major and planned gifts.
• Plan and execute annual campaigns, events, and capital/endowment efforts.
• Utilize donor tracking tools and CRM to support cultivation and stewardship.
• Represent the J at community and donor events as an ambassador.
• Strengthen volunteer leadership infrastructure with emphasis on boards/committees.
• Design systems to identify and develop high-potential lay leaders with data.
• Develop onboarding/offboarding procedures for boards and leaders.
• Cultivate diverse leadership pathways across the Dallas Jewish community.
• Develop leadership programming such as a flagship Community Leadership Program.
• Build partnerships with local organizations and universities.

Skills

Donor relationships

Major gifts

Strategic thinking

Leadership development

Project management

Grant writing

Communication

Board relations

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree (plus)

Tools

Amelia CRM

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Senior Director of Development and Leadership

FullTime Regular Management Jewish Community Center Dallas, Dallas, TX, US

The Senior Director of Development & Leadership is a senior leadership role on the Aaron Family JCC of Dallas's (the J) Development team, reporting to the Chief Development Officer (CDO). The role carries dual responsibility: assisting in executing comprehensive fundraising strategies that grow and diversify the J's donor base spanning major gifts, the annual campaign, planned giving, special events, and capital initiatives, and strengthening the J's volunteer leadership infrastructure by building a deep, diverse pipeline of lay leaders grounded in shared values, across governance, philanthropy, and community building.

The Senior Director partners closely with the CEO, CDO, Board Chair, and key committee chairs (Governance, Development, Nominating) to translate the J's fundraising and leadership priorities into ongoing strategy, donor relationships, and results, while also serving as the organization's primary staff resource for board governance and leadership development. This position is classified as Exempt and is eligible for benefits. The Jewish Community Center is an equal opportunity employer (EOE).

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Partner with the CDO to set annual revenue goals and diversify funding across foundation, corporate, and individual giving.
• Assist in the execution of donor solicitation, cultivation, and stewardship strategies that honor donor intent and ensure meaningful, timely recognition.
• Manage and grow a personal portfolio of donor relationships, including identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major and planned/legacy gifts.
• Assist in the planning and execution of the annual campaign, signature fundraising events, and capital or endowment campaigns as assigned.
• Utilize donor tracking tools, including moves management and CRM systems, that support cultivation and stewardship grounded in data.
• Represent the J at community, donor, and J events as a visible ambassador for the organization's mission.
• Strengthen the J's volunteer committee infrastructure, building a deep, diverse pipeline of lay leadership with particular emphasis on Board members, Annual Campaign leadership, and committee chairs.
• Design and operationalize systems that identify, track, develop, and sustain high-potential lay leaders across governance, philanthropy, and programming; build leadership pathway tools in the J's tracking platforms to support succession decisions informed by data.
• Develop clear onboarding and offboarding procedures for Board and committee leaders, along with strategies for engaging past leaders.
• Cultivate diverse leadership pathways reflecting the breadth of the Dallas Jewish community, with intentional attention to geographic and generational diversity across the greater DFW metro area.
• Develop and oversee leadership programming, including jointly facilitating a flagship, yearlong Community Leadership Program with the CDO and CEO designed to develop the J's top communal lay leaders and future board members.
• Cultivate strategic partnerships (e.g., Dallas Jewish Historical Society, Rabbis, and universities) that bring Jewish learning and thought leadership to lay leaders and professionals.

Team & Organizational Leadership

• Oversee, coach, and develop assigned staff and volunteer fundraising and leadership talent.
• Collaborate with the CDO, CEO, and Board of Directors (and relevant board committees) on donor cultivation, solicitation strategy, campaign priorities, and governance strategy.
• Serve on the Department Head working group
• Foster a culture of strategic clarity, professional growth, and trust between lay and professional leadership across the organization.

REQUIRED EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree a plus.
• 8+ years of progressive nonprofit experience spanning fundraising, governance, or organizational leadership, ideally within a J, Jewish Federation system, or comparable Jewish communal/nonprofit organization.
• Demonstrated success securing major and planned/legacy gifts, with a track record of meeting or exceeding revenue goals.
• Experience managing complex governance structures, volunteer leadership, and board relations.
• Proven supervisory experience and the ability to lead, coach, and develop staff and volunteers at multiple levels.
• Proficiency with donor CRM/database systems (Amelia or comparable platforms).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including grant writing, donor correspondence, facilitation, and presentations to board audiences.
• Strong ability to build relationships and comfort engaging high net worth donors, lay leaders, and Board members.
• Strategic thinker with strong project management, budgeting, and analytical skills.
• Working knowledge of Jewish communal life, donor culture, and community structures (Federation system J network).