ECHO Position Opening, Director of Development & Communications (VT)

ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain is actively seeking a new Director of Development & Communications. 

ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain

Position Description

Job Title: Director of Development & Communications

Reports To: Executive Director

FSLA Status: Exempt

Date Last Approved: October 2015

Summary:  ECHO’s mission is to educate and delight people about the Ecology, Culture, History, and Opportunity for stewardship of the Lake Champlain Basin.  ECHO is a dynamic, nationally acclaimed, science center and lake aquarium committed to engaging diverse public audiences and providing experiential, relevant and lifelong educational experiences for all our guests. ECHO is the public face of the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, a waterfront campus partnership between the University of Vermont Ecosystem Lab and Vessel, Lake Champlain Sea Grant, Lake Champlain Basin Program, and the Lake Champlain Navy Memorial.  ECHO employees are expected to contribute to a productive, respectful workplace by modeling humor, communication, collaboration and accountability to our colleagues, animals and guests.

The Director of Development & Communications is responsible for all aspects of ECHO’s external relations, including: community relations, fund raising, capital/endowment campaigns, membership development, marketing, partnership development, and brand positioning. The position reports to the Executive Director and works closely with the Board of Directors.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Direct reports include the following:

  • Marketing Manager

  • Communications Coordinator

  • Development Coordinator

  • Grant Program Managers

  • Voices for the Lake Manager

Essential Duties and Responsibilities Include the Following:

  • Work closely with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to implement the following activities:

    • Yearly sponsorships, membership, annual giving

    • Support for capital projects

    • Build endowment

    • Oversee the process for grant development and submission

    • Build strategic partnerships

    • Brand expansion

  • Direct all communications activities.

  • Define and manage departmental budget.

  • Direct convening projects (Voices for the Lake, Leahy Center Environmental Summit).

  • Participate in institutional strategic planning.

  • Promote ECHO’s mission externally and internally.

  • Work across departments to ensure a seamless visitor experience.

 

Other Duties:  This job description is not intended to be a complete statement of the position; it is intended merely to be a guide to the general work to be performed.

 

Qualifications:  To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals who lack one or more of the following to perform the essential functions.

 

Education and/or Experience:

  • Bachelor’s Degree required.

  • Minimum five years development and fund raising experience required.

  • Demonstrated experience running capital/endowment campaigns.

  • Background in building strong donor relationships.

  • Understanding of brand management and promotion.

 

Essential Job Skills and Activities:

  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to engage internal and external partners.

  • Understanding of complex development functions.

  • Facility to create and manage complex marketing plans and programs.

  • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment where being a creative and flexible team player is essential.

  • Working knowledge of analytical tools and industry-specific software.

  • Must be able to work with community leaders and the public to enthusiastically promote the mission and goals of ECHO.

 

Work Environment:  The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

The duties of the Director of Development & Communications are performed both in, and not in, a regular office setting.  The position should expect to work some weekends, holidays, and weekday after-hours.

Salary: Commensurate with experience.  Excellent benefits package and profes
sional growth opportunities.

Application Instructions:  ECHO is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes resumes from individuals who will contribute to our diversity.  Send resume and letter that tells us (in 150 words or less) why you’re the most qualified fundraiser for this position. Send materials via email to: ECHO Job Search, Director of Development & Communications in the subject line.  Send to: jobs@echovermont.org.

Application Deadline:  Monday, November 23, 2015