Vice President, Development

The New York Academy of Sciences; New York (NY); On-site; USD 210,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Affordable health insurance

Retirement plan with matching contributions

Generous paid time off

Job summary

A nonprofit focused on scientific advancement is looking for a Vice President, Development to lead their philanthropic strategy and fundraising efforts. This role requires a candidate with at least 15 years of experience in fundraising leadership, capable of engaging high-capacity donors, cultivating partnerships, and overseeing the Development function. The position offers a salary range of $210,000 to $240,000 annually, a comprehensive benefits package, and the flexibility of a hybrid work model.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressively senior advancement or fundraising leadership experience.
• Demonstrated success securing major gifts and corporate partnerships.
• Experience leading advancement programs in complex nonprofit or academic settings.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute the Academy’s philanthropic strategy.
• Cultivate and steward high-capacity donors and partners.
• Oversee Development function including team performance and operations.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Relationship building

Fundraising expertise

Leadership

Analytics and reporting

Job description

The New York Academy of Sciences is an independent, not-for-profit organization that since 1817 has been committed to advancing science for the benefit of society. With more than 20,000 Members in 100 countries, the Academy advances scientific and technical knowledge, addresses global challenges with science-based solutions, and sponsors a wide variety of educational initiatives at all levels for STEM and STEM related fields. The Academy hosts programs and publishes content in life and physical sciences, the social sciences, nutrition, artificial intelligence, computer science, and sustainability. The Academy also provides professional and educational resources for researchers across all phases of their careers. Please visit us online at www.nyas.org.

DEPARTMENT: Development
REPORTS TO: Chief Business and Finance Officer

SUMMARY

The Vice President, Development leads the Academy’s philanthropic strategy and fundraising efforts to secure major gifts, corporate partnerships, and foundation grants that support scientific research, education initiatives, and global collaboration. Serving as both senior fundraiser and strategic leader, this role balances direct donor engagement with oversight of development operations, performance, and long‑term revenue growth.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Lead and execute the Academy’s comprehensive philanthropic strategy to advance strategic priorities and achieve annual and multi‑year revenue goals.
• Serve as a senior fundraiser by personally cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding high‑capacity donors and strategic partners, while maintaining a robust pipeline of major, principal, and planned gifts.
• Partner with the President & CEO, Chief Business and Finance Officer, Board of Governors, and senior leadership to drive donor engagement, fundraising initiatives, and external partnerships.
• Expand and strengthen corporate, foundation, and institutional partnerships, securing multi‑year funding and sponsorship opportunities aligned with mission priorities.
• Oversee and lead the Development function, including team performance, operations, and fundraising infrastructure, ensuring accountability, efficiency, and results.
• Establish and monitor performance metrics, benchmarks, and reporting systems to track progress against fundraising goals and support strategic decision‑making.
• Identify and pursue new philanthropic opportunities that support program growth, innovation, and long‑term sustainability.
• Represent the Academy externally and position it as a leading partner for philanthropic investment in scientific research, education, and innovation.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Personally cultivate, solicit, and steward high‑capacity donors capable of making transformative philanthropic investments.
• Build and actively manage a pipeline of major, principal and planned gifts.
• Partner with the President & CEO, Chief Business and Finance Officer, and Board leadership on strategic donor engagement and solicitations.
• Strengthen relationships with philanthropists interested in science, education, and innovation.
• Lead select high‑level corporate partnerships, sponsorships and strategic fundraising opportunities.
• Serve as a key external ambassador for the Academy with donors and corporate partners.

Strategic Leadership and Department Accountability

• Implement and operationalize the Academy’s development strategy in alignment with strategic priorities and financial goals.
• Maintain robust fundraising performance reporting and analytics for Senior Management and the Board to support strategic decision‑making and revenue forecasting.
• Ensure strong fundraising infrastructure, including donor databases, prospect research, stewardship and compliance with all fundraising regulations, ethical standards, and reporting requirements.
• Foster a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization.
• Perform other related duties as assigned in support of the Academy’s mission.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

The VP sets clear goals and expectations, supports professional development, and fosters a collaborative, high‑performing team culture aligned with the Academy’s advancement priorities for the Development department. The department consists of a Development Coordinator and a Senior Director, Institutional Giving. The VP provides leadership, coaching, and performance management as appropriate to align efforts; ensure accurate tracking, reporting and analytics across all revenue streams; and ensuring strong execution.

REQUIREMENTS

Experience

• 15+ years of progressively senior advancement or fundraising leadership experience.
• Demonstrated success securing major and principal gifts and forging corporate partnerships, including six‑ and seven‑figure commitments.
• Experience leading comprehensive advancement programs at complex nonprofit, higher education, research, or science‑based organizations.
• Proven ability to build and manage high‑performing development teams.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and deliver detailed fundraising performance reports, including tracking progress against annual and multi‑year development goals, and communicating results clearly to senior leadership and board stakeholders.

Skills and Leadership Profile

• Strategic thinker with the ability to align fundraising with mission‑driven programmatic priorities.
• Exceptional relationship builder with credibility among philanthropists, scientific leaders, and institutional partners.
• Strong understanding of philanthropic trends in science, education, and innovation sectors.
• Highly collaborative leadership style and ability to influence across diverse stakeholders.

Preferred Background

• Experience working with scientific, research, or academic institutions.
• Familiarity with global philanthropy and international partnerships.
• Understanding of the science, technology, and innovation ecosystem in New York City and globally.

WORK SCHEDULE

The Academy operates during standard business hours Monday through Friday from 9am-5pm ET. Standard work week is 35 hours, unless otherwise noted.

The Academy offers a flexible hybrid work model, which includes a combination of in‑office and remote work. Specific in‑office days are determined in coordination with the team and leadership. Flexibility is offered where possible, but regular in‑person collaboration is required to support team effectiveness and project goals.

This role requires up to 5% travel, which may include both domestic and international destinations. Travel is typically scheduled in advance and may be required for attending offsite fundraising events.

This position is primarily sedentary and performed in a professional office environment. The role routinely uses standard office equipment, including computers, phones, photocopiers, and video conferencing technology. Employees are regularly required to sit or stand for extended periods, communicate effectively, and occasional walking, bending, or lifting of light items (up to 10 pounds) may be required.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Salary Range: $210,000- $240,000 annually. This is a full‑time, exempt position.

The salary listed represents a target range; final compensation will be determined based on multiple factors, including experience and qualifications.

In addition to salary, the Academy offers a comprehensive benefits package, which includes affordable health insurance, a retirement plan with matching employer contributions, a personal and career development stipend, as well as generous paid time off policies.

Employment Opportunity Statement

The New York Academy of Sciences is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws. We prohibit discrimination in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, benefits, training, and termination, on the basis of any legally protected characteristic. This includes, but is not limited to, actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The Academy is also committed to making good faith efforts to recruit applicants from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, including those historically underrepresented in the sciences.

Reasonable Accommodations

The Academy is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment and employment process, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws. If you need assistance or accommodations during the application or interview process, please contact Human Resources at [e-mail].