Associate Director, Stewardship & Engagement

Date: May 6, 2024

Location: New York City, NY, US, 10006 Washington, D.C., DC, US, 20036

Organization: Doctors Without Borders | Médecins Sans Frontières

About MSF-USA | Doctors Without Borders

 

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international humanitarian organization providing medical care to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from health care in over 70 countries. We were formed in France in 1971 as an association by a group of doctors and journalists to go to emergency situations and to treat patients with dignity while bearing witness independently of geopolitical boundaries. MSF is now a global movement of more than 25 MSF organizations, working in over 70 countries. We cooperate as an international, independent, medical humanitarian association that offers medical assistance to populations in distress, victims of natural or manmade disasters, and civilian victims of armed conflict, without discrimination and irrespective of race, religion, age, gender/sex, national or ethnic origin, color, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, or political affiliation and provides assistance to the population in distress and intervenes worldwide. MSF staff also “bear witness” by speaking out about our work and what is experienced on the ground, not only to draw the world’s attention to crises, but to stand in solidarity with our patients and colleagues who are experiencing these emergencies firsthand.

 

We welcome candidates who bring a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences to join us in working toward MSF’s social mission.

 

Role Overview

The Associate Director, Stewardship & Engagement leads a growing team to cultivate and steward donors in meaningful ways to grow our robust, evolving giving program covering mass market and midlevel donors (from acquisition to $24,999 cumulative). Reporting to the Senior Director, Individual Giving & Strategic Philanthropy, this new role will lead the team in engaging donors through high touch stewardship strategies and personal outreach to retain, upgrade and move them through our pipeline. The role is a leader in a multidisciplinary subunit with an eye towards innovation.

 

The Associate Director will oversee staff managing donor portfolios, a concierge solution, and innovating new engagement opportunities. They will formulate strategies to support long-term growth and expansion. This role will seek opportunities to invest to bring unmanaged and managed donors closer to our work and bring new donor pools into the higher end of the program. The role will manage and coach officers to maximize their relationships and meet targets, using a culture of permission-based asking and other best practices. They will optimize moves management strategies up and down the pipeline, while collaborating across functions to bolster positive donor journey experiences. They ensure we are maximizing retention and minimizing value attrition.

 

The Associate Director will also own a portfolio of key donors for the area. Taking a donor-centered approach, they will uncover giving motivations, interests, and philanthropic aspirations to maximize donor financial support. They will listen for financially savvy vehicles and non-cash gift opportunities, elevating unrestricted and multi-year giving, while successfully closing gifts.  They will develop a strategy for cultivation and stewardship of people of interest, ensuring appropriate treatment and discretion for high profile individuals. They will team with our Peer-to-Peer Fundraising colleagues in influencing opportunities, stewarding individual relationships.

 

This role will play an integral part in annual and strategic planning for the subunit. The role will be responsible for budgeting and revenue projections for their area, helping inform investment decisions to deliver revenue to the Movement.

 

The Associate Director inspires loyalty and commitment amongst our donors. They persuade and galvanize individuals to take action.

 

 

Department Accountabilities

Key Account Management               

Take overall responsibility for designing, developing and delivering the organization's account management strategy. May also personally manage a few relationships with the most strategic donors. 

 

Donor Development 

Pursue strategic opportunities in coherence with MSF-USA´s strategy, that create long-term value for the movement by cultivating partnerships or identifying and develop new geographies, markets or donors for its mission. 

 

Donor Relationship Development 

Build trust and loyalty with potential donors. At the simplest level, update donors on activities. At a more complex level, build long-term relationships with donors, especially large corporations or foundations.  

 

Brand Positioning 

Develop brand positioning based on the brand strategy and implement brand plans. 

 

Roles Specific Outcomes

Leadership & Direction
Identify, communicate, and lead the the function's strategy and action plan within a business area or department; while explaining how it ties in to MSF’s mission, vision, and values. Inspire and motivate others to drive commitment – and achieve extraordinary results.

 

Organizational Capacity Building
Use the organization's formal development framework to identify the team's individual development needs. Plan and implement actions, including continuing professional development specified by professional or regulatory institutions, to build their professional capabilities. Provide informal training or coaching to others throughout the organization in own area of expertise to enable others to improve performance and fulfill personal potential.

Key Account Management
Ensure quality service and profitable business growth by managing a portfolio of complex donor relationships and/or a small team of account managers.

Improvement and Innovation
Spot potential improvements in our existing business practices and bring forward innovative solutions. Develop and deliver these projects within the organization's change management program, working with guidance from senior colleagues.

Strategy Formation and Implementation
Develop tactical plans for optimizing resources and assets being managed within a given area or department.

Budgeting
Develop and/or deliver budget plans with guidance from senior colleagues.

 

Complexity and Problem-Solving Skills

 

 

 

 

Behavioral Competencies

 

THOUGHT: How MSF USA staff understand the organization, manage complexity, and contribute by creating the new and different.

 

People Focus

Builds strong relationships and delivers solutions geared to aiding others. Solicits feedback and data; conveys a clear understanding of the level of service the team is providing; takes action when standards are not met by team; aligns processes with organizational needs.

 

Manages Complexity

Makes sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems. Consistently looks at complex issues from many angles; obtains a rich and deep understanding; swiftly cuts to the core issue; skillfully separates root causes from symptoms.

 

Global Perspective

Takes a broad view when approaching issues, using a global lens. Shows global thinking at work; adjusts organizational practices to meet the unique needs of different regions or countries. Uses a broad perspective when addressing issues and challenges.

 

Cultivates Innovation

Creates new and better ways for the organization to be successful. Approaches professional work in unique or innovative ways. Offers original ideas. Appreciates others' creative ideas and solutions and provides helpful input to enhance them.

 

Strategic Mindset

Sees ahead to future possibilities and translates them into breakthrough strategies.

 

RESULTS: MSF USA staff achieve results by cultivating a forward-thinking environment that produces solutions for changing stakeholder needs.

 

Drives Results

Consistently achieves results, even under tough circumstances. Regularly pushes self to achieve outstanding outcomes; consistently establishes bold goals for own performance; is passionate about excellent results and significant contributions. Shows great tenacity to complete goals/initiatives in a timely way.

 

Ensures Accountability

Holds self and others accountable to meet commitments.

 

PEOPLE: MSF USA staff understand their impact on others through collaboration and inclusion of different perspectives to achieve common goals.

 

Collaborates

Builds partnerships and works collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives. Readily involves others to accomplish goals; stays in touch and shares information; discourages "us versus them" thinking; shows appreciation for others' ideas and input.

 

Communicates Effectively

Develops and delivers multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences. Listens attentively and takes an interest. Keeps others well informed; conveys information clearly, concisely, and professionally when speaking or writing.

 

Values Differences

Recognizes the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization. Confronts stereotyping and offensive comments promptly. Consistently behaves with great sensitivity toward differences in cultural norms, expectations, and ways of communicating.

 

Builds Effective Teams

Builds strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.


Manages Conflict

Handles conflict situations effectively, with a minimum of noise.

 

Builds Networks

Effectively builds formal and informal relationship networks inside and outside the organization.

 

Drives Vision and Purpose

Paints a compelling picture of the vision and strategy that motivates others to action.

 

SELF: MSF USA staff demonstrate self-awareness by having an open mindset and by continuously seeking opportunities to learn, grow, and improve.

 

Instills Trust

Gains the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity. Models honesty and authenticity and encourages others to be up front with one another. Demonstrates reliability and places a strong emphasis on the team meeting its commitments. Fairly represents others' positions.

 

Manages Ambiguity

Operates effectively, even when things are not certain or the way forward is not clear. Responds effectively to unclear situations, seeks to resolve ambiguity and make progress. Seeks guidance on how to adapt to changes, responds with appropriate composure and effectiveness.

 

Situational Adaptability

Adapts approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations. Serves as an example of adaptability and provides guidance and support to help others adapt to new situations. Considers the needs of clients, constituents, and the organization; shifts priorities appropriately.

 

Being Resilient

Rebounds from setbacks and adversity when facing difficult situations.

 

 

Technical Competencies

 

Plans and Aligns

Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with MSF-USA goals.

 

Financial Acumen

Interprets and applies understanding of key financial indicators to make better business decisions.

 

Tech Savvy

Anticipating and adopting innovations in organizational digital and technology applications.

 

Data Collection and Analysis

The ability and skill to determine and analyze trends from data that is collected to assist in compiling reports that will help in decision-making.

 

Project Management Skills

The ability and skill to plan and manage small project work assignments within desired cost, time and quality parameters.

 

Presentation and Written Communication Skills

Adapts approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations. Serves as an example of adaptability and provides guidance and support to help others adapt to new situations. Considers the needs of clients, constituents, and the organization; shifts priorities appropriately.

 

Organizational Insight

Applying knowledge of MSF-USA and the industry to advance the organization’s goals.

     

 

Supervisory Responsibility

This role supervises a team. Manage, coach and develop staff focused on KPIs and workplans.

 

Desired Qualifications & Experience

 

Required

  • Minimum 7 years of professional fundraising experience in Leadership Giving, Midlevel Giving, Major Gifts, or Individual Giving.
  • Experience leading team of front-line fundraisers with diverse experience levels, forecasting, attaining revenue targets, and meeting key business objectives. Financial acumen and disciplined approach to managing budget with integrity.
  • Demonstrated success in securing gifts from individuals at the five and six-figure level. Track record of building long-term, trusted donor and business relationships.
  • Ability to understand fundraising priorities and translate into enticing giving opportunities.
  • Experience launching new initiatives and developing new business practices. Unintimidated by ambiguity.
  • Collaborative approach to working across functions, especially with Major Gifts, Planned Giving, and Prospect Research, to deliver positive donor experience in moving through pipeline. Effectively applies moves management.
  • Knowledge of current trends in charitable giving and financial vehicles donors utilize for high impact philanthropy.
  • Familiar with permission-based asking. Utilizes donor-centric approach in managing portfolio. Stays abreast of new trends and open to new ways of working.
  • Excellent storytelling, presentation, and persuasive skills both written and oral. Superior active listening, observation, analytical, and problem recognition and solving skills.
  • High level of discretion with donor’s private information and motivations.
  • Embraces the mission, principles, and messaging of Doctors Without Borders with enthusiasm. Willing to professionally advocate for humanitarian issues.
  • Commitment to principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion and to building and leading a diverse team.

 

Preferred

  • Experience working with celebrities and people of interest. Demonstrated effectiveness creating strategies to cultivate high profile individuals. Collaboration with peer-to-peer colleagues on influencer stewardship.
  • Prior experience in vendor and agency management.
  • Success driving donor engagement and overseeing variety of engagement activities including virtual and in-person gatherings, webinars, peer-to-peer texting.
  • Knowledge of fundraising databases such as Salesforce NPSP and experience optimizing reports and functionality to meet business needs.
  • Working knowledge of project management systems and productivity tools. Comfortable learning new software applications.
  • Maintains tact and diplomacy with all levels.
  • Collaborative leadership, management, coaching and development of diverse staff.
  • High emotional intelligence and the ability to connect and communicate with a diverse range of personalities.

 

Travel Requirements 

 

Ability to travel for donor stewardship and engagement activities, MSF events and industry meetings.

 

Compensation

 

$124,346 - $155,432 (based upon experience)


Nearest Major Market: Manhattan
Nearest Secondary Market: New York City