Development Manager Jobs

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

Optometry Cares (“OC”), a 501(c)(3) organization within the American Optometric Association (“AOA”) is committed to generating financial support from individual, corporate, and foundation funders to empower the optometric profession. Providing public awareness and access to health and vision is the foundation’s primary mission. Reporting directly to AOA’s Chief Operating Officer, and in partnership with OC’s Board of Directors, the Development Manager will be responsible for providing leadership on all fundraising initiatives including special events, major gifts, planned giving, sponsorships, donor cultivation and grant writing.

As an employee of the American Optometric Association (“AOA”), you’ll be part of an organization dedicated to driving the success and serving as a voice for over 48,000 optometric professionals, including the doctors and students of optometry and paraoptometric team members who deliver more than two-thirds of primary eye care in the United States. Since 1898, the AOA has been focused on providing innovative educational opportunities, tools, and practice resources. Learn more online at https://www.aoa.org and https://aoafoundation.org

YOUR MISSION AS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

• SERVE AS BOARD LIAISON – Partner closely with OC’s Board of Directors and cross-functionally with key AOA leadership to drive a development strategy around new donor identification. Support Board Members as they solicit donations and annual gifts on behalf of OC. Provide updated reports to AOA’s COO and the OC Board, reflecting all fund development activities and program updates.

• CREATE COMPELLING DONOR COMMUNICATIONS – Drive engagement through the creation and development of compelling donor communications, including direct mail and digital campaigns. Lead all social media efforts. Support the redesign of OC’s website, working closely with IT and third-party partners.

• ATTEND MAJOR DONOR EVENTS – Serve as lead for OC’s involvement in 3-4 major AOA annual events, including Optometry’s Meeting and AOA on Capitol Hill. Partner cross-functionally with AOA’s meeting and event planning team, industry relations and corporate partners team on organizing and administering fundraising efforts.

• SUPPORT BUDGET MANAGEMENT & DONOR DATABASE – Manage OC’s development budget in partnership with AOA’s COO, including all annual budgeting, ongoing reconciliations, and other fiscal management responsibilities. Manage and oversee donor database to ensure tracking of all solicitations, contributions, and proposal activities.

IS THIS A MATCH FOR YOU?

• You believe in the mission of AOA and OC and want to play a key role in helping advance the profession by supporting its philanthropic and charitable efforts in driving awareness and access to health and vision care for the public.

• You have gained 3-5+ years of fundraising and development experience, including event management, marketing, donor and board relations experience.

• You are well-versed in proactively communicating with a wide array of internal and external stakeholders. You confidently interact with donors and team members at all levels and react with diplomacy and tact. You bring experience communicating a vision and prospective road map to donors, internal stakeholders, senior leadership and Board Members.

• You have superior organization and project management skills with an ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines simultaneously. Serving as both player-and-coach is a natural leadership style for you.

• Solid technology and computer skills including proficiency with MS Office, and CRM systems. Familiarity with DonorPerfect is a plus, yet not required.

• You have a strong business and financial acumen, including budget management experience.

• Ability and willingness to travel for major AOA meetings and related events. Estimated at less than 10%.

• A four-year college degree is preferred, but not required.

WHY JOIN AOA?

• WE ARE MISSION DRIVEN – As a member-centric organization, we are dedicated to advocating for the optometry profession and to providing our member base with access to the very best clinical resources, continuing education, practice management and career development tools as well as engaging events and experiences.

• OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD & INNOVATE WITH BEST PRACTICES – You will have the opportunity to build, innovate and guide us with creativity and best practices to achieve success in mission advancement efforts.

• WE ARE COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY & INCLUSION – We are committed to enhancing the diversity of the profession of optometry and fostering a staff culture that embraces the value of diversity and inclusion through ongoing training and collective efforts aimed at reinforcing the importance of a diverse and inclusive team.

• COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION & BENEFITS PACKAGE – AOA offers a competitive base salary as well as a comprehensive benefits package with medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurances; 401(k); HSAS/FSA; paid time off; volunteer time; parental leave; health and wellness reimbursement; and employee assistance program.

LOCATION & TRAVEL

This position will be based in St. Louis, Missouri and is hybrid with an onsite expectation of 3 days/week. Occasional travel to AOA meetings and events will be required (estimated: less than 10%).

READY TO APPLY?

Take the next step and share your resume with Occhio Search & Recruitment. To apply, visit www.occhiosearch.com and or apply online via LinkedIn. For questions, contact [email protected]. All resumes, referrals and general inquiries will be held strictly confidential. No direct inquiries with AOA, please. We ask that you direct all questions, referrals, and applications to our retained search consultants at Occhio.

AOA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome differences in form of gender, race, ethnicity, disability, geography, socioeconomic status, age, politics, religion, philosophy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression and veteran status. All applicants who share this goal are encouraged to apply and we look forward to hearing from you!