Discovery Place - Director of Campaigns and Development Operations

Company: ThinkingAhead
Location: Charlotte
Posted on: March 29, 2025

Job Description:

Discovery Place - Director of Campaigns and Development OperationsCharlotte, North CarolinaAbout Discovery PlaceDiscovery Place, Inc, (DPI) a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has been a cornerstone of science education and nature exploration in the Carolinas for over 75 years. The largest cultural institution in Charlotte, NC, DPI operates four museums and is poised for growth, with plans to expand by adding new sites over the next five years. Located in Uptown Charlotte, Discovery Place Science offers interactive exhibits, live shows, and educational programs that ignite curiosity and foster a passion for learning among visitors of all ages. The Science Museum features the Carolinas' largest IMAX Dome Theater and a planetarium, providing immersive cinematic experiences. The Charlotte Museum of Nature, under construction in Freedom Park, is scheduled to open in early 2026. The Discovery Place Kids Network has locations in Huntersville and Rockingham, each offering unique, hands-on learning experiences. Discovery Place brings science, nature, and design together through its collective of museums to create transformative experiences that enable the community to understand, enjoy, and apply science to their lives.Position SummaryDiscovery Place is seeking a dynamic and strategic Director of Campaigns and Development Operations to lead the operational aspects of its fundraising and capital campaigns. Reporting to Chief Advancement Officer Rachel Cusick, this individual manages a Development Associate and plays a critical leadership role in the advancement team. They collaborate closely with finance, marketing, and program teams and manage the operations of multi-faceted campaigns while ensuring seamless coordination with museum leadership, board members, volunteers, consultants, donors, and internal teams.We are excited to hire a proactive, detail-oriented professional with strong skills in project management, data analysis, and fundraising operations to help structure and manage campaigns effectively while ensuring alignment with institutional priorities. This role is hybrid, with the expectation of three in-office days per week, and requires travel to museum sites across Charlotte, Huntersville, Rockingham, and other locations.The OpportunityThis is a high-impact leadership opportunity for a strategic, detail-oriented, and results-driven fundraising professional to help shape the future of one of the Carolina's most dynamic and growing cultural institutions. As Discovery Place continues to expand, the Director of Campaigns and Development Operations will lead and refine fundraising operations, ensuring campaign efficiency and effectiveness at a pivotal moment for the organization. This person is a key decision-maker, bringing structure and innovation to fundraising efforts. The position provides a blend of autonomy and collaboration, allowing the right candidate to develop strategic initiatives, enhance donor engagement, and directly contribute to major fundraising milestones. With the opportunity to influence multiple capital campaigns and long-term development strategies, this role is a chance for someone to leave a lasting mark on an institution dedicated to inspiring learning, fostering innovation, and serving the community through science and education.Responsibilities

• Act as a strategic partner to the Chief Advancement Officer, providing recommendations on campaign structure, donor engagement, and best practices while ensuring seamless execution across teams.
• Provide strategic guidance and partner with leadership, board members, and volunteers on campaign initiatives. Prepare briefing materials, coordinate meetings, and develop tailored engagement strategies to maximize fundraising success.
• Oversee all aspects of campaign management, including prospect pipeline development, tracking, strategy execution, task assignment, and timeline oversight. Implement and maintain structured systems for monitoring donor engagement, solicitation cycles, and campaign progress.
• Develop and maintain campaign reports, dashboards, and prospect research tools to provide leadership and board members with clear insights into fundraising trends and donor engagement.
• Support donor cultivation and stewardship efforts by ensuring personalized follow-up, timely recognition, and strategic engagement opportunities. Maintain a master campaign calendar to align cultivation activities with institutional priorities.
• Craft compelling donor communications, including solicitation proposals, stewardship materials, and follow-up correspondence, to enhance engagement and fundraising efforts.
• Collaborate cross-departmentally with finance, marketing, and programming teams to align fundraising efforts with institutional goals and ensure operational efficiency.
• Ensure the integrity of campaign data through meticulous documentation, proactive database management in Salesforce, and streamlined gift processing and pledge management.
• Develop financial and fundraising reports with key performance indicators to support data-driven decision-making at the leadership level.
• Manage and mentor a direct report, fostering a culture of collaboration and professional growth within the development team.Skills & Attributes
  • Proven fundraising and campaign leadership - Demonstrated experience leading multi-year fundraising campaigns, including strategic planning, execution, and performance evaluation. Frontline fundraising experience is preferred.
  • Strong organizational and project management skills - Ability to oversee complex fundraising initiatives, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities while managing multiple deadlines, stakeholders, and competing priorities effectively.
  • Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills - Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to craft compelling donor narratives, present fundraising data clearly, and engage senior leaders, board members, volunteers, and cross-functional teams in campaign efforts.
  • Data-driven decision-making - Experience leveraging data analytics, CRM systems (preferably Salesforce), and prospect research tools to drive donor engagement strategies, optimize fundraising performance, and ensure accurate campaign tracking and reporting.
  • Strategic and collaborative mindset - Ability to think proactively and work collaboratively with leadership, colleagues, and external partners to develop and implement fundraising strategies that support long-term organizational growth.
  • Attention to detail and process improvement - Skilled in maintaining accurate donor records, tracking solicitation cycles, and refining operational systems to improve efficiency and maximize fundraising outcomes.
  • Experience working with high-level donors and institutional partners - Comfortable engaging with corporate, foundation, and individual major donors, as well as working closely with leadership to develop cultivation and stewardship strategies.
  • Commitment to Discovery Place's mission - Passion for education, science, and community engagement, with a dedication to advancing Discovery Place's impact through innovative and effective fundraising initiatives.To ApplyDiscovery Place has retained the services of ThinkingAhead Executive Search. Interested applicants should send a resume and statement of interest to Jessica Martinez at jmartinez@thinkingahead.com and Chris Spagnola at cspagnola@thinkingahead.com.ThinkingAhead Executive Search is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a work environment that supports, inspires and respects all individuals. Personnel processes are merit-based and applied without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, disability, national or ethnic ancestry, military service status, citizenship, or other protected characteristic. This applies to every aspect of employment including hiring, training, advancement and termination. The firm is committed to creating a just culture of diversity, equity and inclusion by practicing, within the company and the marketplace we serve, intentional strategies that serve marginalized individuals and groups.Reach out to learn more or nominate a qualified candidate.
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Keywords: ThinkingAhead, Charlotte , Discovery Place - Director of Campaigns and Development Operations, Executive , Charlotte, North Carolina