The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is a non-profit, bipartisan public policy organization established in 1962 to provide strategic insights and practical policy solutions to decision makers concerned with global security and prosperity. Over the years, it has grown to be one of the largest organizations of its kind, with a staff of approximately 200 employees, including more than 120 analysts working to address the changing dynamics of international security across the globe.

Today, CSIS is one of the world’s preeminent public policy institutions on foreign policy and national security issues. The Center’s more than 240 full-time staff and large network of affiliated scholars conduct research and analysis and develop policy initiatives that look to the future and anticipate change. They organize conferences, publish, lecture, and make media appearances that aim to increase the knowledge, awareness, and salience of policy issues with relevant stakeholders and the interested public. CSIS is regularly called upon by Congress, the executive branch, the media, and others to explain the day’s events and offer recommendations to improve U.S. strategy. CSIS has impact when its research helps to inform the decision-making of key policymakers and the thinking of key influencers, working toward a vision of a safer and more prosperous world.

CSIS is in the process of updating its strategic plan. At the core of this plan is a shift in the Center’s approach to raising revenue to a top-down focus to increase the amount of money raised centrally by the organization. CSIS seeks a Senior Director of Development Operations who will support the Chief Development Officer (CDO) by ensuring smooth operations of the fundraising team and its processes. The Senior Director of Development Operations will also act as the day-to-day manager of fundraising operations staff and provide guidance to members of the development team.

The salary range for this position is $150,000-$200,000 based on experience.

Essential functions may include, but are not limited to the following:

Reporting to the CDO, the Senior Director of Development Operations will be responsible for the execution of processes and strategies to achieve agreed-upon long-term fundraising and development goals. The Senior Director of Development Operations will also manage fundraising staff.

• Work in partnership with the strategic fundraising leads and program colleagues to ensure seamless execution of prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship across CSIS’s portfolios of corporation, foundation, and individual donors.

• Oversee effective execution of fundraising operations and processes, including budgeting, forecasting, finance platforms, and integration of workday adaptive planning with Salesforce.

• Serve as primary liaison with the Finance and Accounting department, ensuring alignment on systems implementation and strategy.

• Work in partnership with President & COO, VP for Programs, and scholars across the Center to ensure MOUs adhere to all CSIS guidelines, playing an integral role in the review and approval process for all MOUs.

• Manage external and internal communications, including sharing Center-wide updates, around fundraising and development processes.

• Provide regular Center-wide trainings for new staff and continuing education for current staff on the latest fundraising and development processes.

• Enhance, maintain, and oversee a highly efficient donor acknowledgment process in partnership with the Strategic Planning team, CSIS research programs, and the Office of the President, to include thank you letters and other forms of donor acknowledgment across CSIS.

• Cultivate and maintain strong internal relationships, particularly with key program directors and their administrative staff, and ensure effective collaboration across the fundraising team to maximize opportunities.

• Collaborate with CSIS’s External Relations team and iDeas Lab to oversee the development of donor stewardship materials, including CSIS’s Annual Report.

The Senior Director of Development Operations will manage Development Office staff responsible for operational functions.

• Agree on objectives and annual operating plans for direct reports.

• Manage workload and performance through regular one-to-one line management discussions.

• Plan and implement personal and professional development programs for team members in relevant skill areas.

• Undertake quarterly and annual performance reviews.

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in roles specifically focused on systems management and fundraising processes.

• Minimum of 10 years of managing complex fundraising and development teams, recruiting and building talent, and setting objectives and performance standards.

• Working knowledge of all areas within development, including foundations, corporations, high-net worth individuals, development operations, and donor stewardship.

• Intellectually curious with a broad understanding of and passion for foreign policy, national security, international development, and other CSIS program areas.

• Strong familiarity with national security and foreign policy issues and ability to keep up with global trends affecting CSIS research.

• Demonstrated ability to successfully work in a nonprofit setting that prioritizes new donor discovery and engagement.

• Experience working in a large, multi-issue organization and coordinating with multiple stakeholders.

• Proven experience working with data and CRM systems, such as Salesforce.

• Experience with utilizing the strength of an organizational brand for charity/business development.

• Ability to operate in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

• Ability to work in a manner that is open-minded, culturally sensitive, and impartial with no partisan bias.

• Enthusiastic, imaginative, creative, and energetic approach with a “can-do” attitude.

This position will be based out of our Washington DC headquarters and is expected to be in-office 3+ days per week. The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee working in an office environment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Short-term and long-term disability

403(b) for retirement planning

Tuition Assistance

Flexible Spending Account

Health Savings Account

Military Leave

12 Paid Holidays

Sick leave

Vacation leave

Interested applicants should submit a résumé and cover letter at http://csis.org/about-us/careers.