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Senior Director, Donor Relations & Volunteer Engagement

ABOUT US:

Scripps Research is a nonprofit biomedical institute ranked as one of the most influential in the world for its impact on innovation. We celebrated our 100-year legacy in 2024. This significant milestone marks a century of seminal discoveries in immunology, infectious diseases (such as COVID-19, flu, HIV), neuroscience, heart disease, cancer, and more. Located in La Jolla, California, the institute houses six research departments, multiple Nobel laureates, a top-ranked graduate school and a leading postdoctoral training program. Scripps Research encompasses two elite and highly innovative institutes, the Calibr-Skaggs Institute for Innovative Medicines and Scripps Research Translational Institute, which merge foundational studies in biology, chemistry and computer science with translational science to produce pioneering drugs and advances in digital and precision medicine. Together, we cultivate new scientific leaders and expand the frontiers of knowledge to deliver medical breakthroughs impacting human health around the globe. If you have a passion for making a difference, this could be your opportunity to join our transformative team.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Senior Director of Donor Relations & Volunteer Engagement provides strategic leadership and vision for Scripps Research's donor stewardship and volunteer engagement strategy. This role unites donor relations, stewardship, and volunteer engagement within the Office of Development under a cohesive framework that strengthens relationships with donors, prospects, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends.

Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Development Services & Administration, the Senior Director leads a multidisciplinary team responsible for stewardship programming, impact reporting, donor recognition, and volunteer engagement, and prospect strategy that advance philanthropy across the institute. The Senior Director directly supervises the Manager, Stewardship & Reporting and the Associate Director, Volunteer & Donor Engagement, and partners closely with gift officers to ensure donor, prospect, and volunteer efforts are aligned, timely, and impactful.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and implement a comprehensive donor relations and volunteer engagement strategy that strengthens constituent relationships and supports fundraising goals.
• Partner with senior leadership to ensure alignment with institutional priorities.
• Manage budgets and resources effectively, ensuring operational excellence and measurable outcomes across all stewardship and volunteer engagement efforts.
• Serve on the Office of Development Office Manager's Team to align priorities, develop culture, and lead with consistency and transparency.

Donor Relations & Stewardship

• Directly supervise the Manager, Stewardship & Reporting, who oversees impact reporting, donor profiles, fund reporting, recognition content, storytelling, mass stewardship, and donor proposals.
• Oversee the Donor Relations and Stewardship function to ensure timely, personalized, and meaningful recognition of donors at all levels.
• Design, produce, and project manage impact and endowment reports, donor appreciation, and recognition events.
• Strengthen a culture of philanthropy through communications, including an annual stewardship report, that highlights the tangible outcomes of giving with key constituencies, including but not limited to alumni, faculty, and staff.
• Collaborate with gift officers to develop customized stewardship and reporting plans for donors and prospects.
• Manage personalized and broad-based donor stewardship, including targeted stewardship for Annual Giving, the Science Trust, and the Legacy Circle.

Volunteer & Board Engagement

• Directly supervise the Associate Director, Volunteer & Donor Engagement, who serves as the primary staff liaison for the Global Ambassadors Council (GAC), the Alumni Board, and the Advancement Committee, as well as individual key volunteers and philanthropic partners.
• Ensure prospect strategy for top prospects is coordinated, implemented, and tracked in partnership with gift officers and leadership.
• Provide strategic oversight of annual engagement calendars, individual stewardship plans, and multi-year strategies for volunteer boards, key volunteers, and philanthropic partners.
• Guide the planning and execution of signature cultivation and stewardship events, including chair celebrations, donor appreciation event, fellowship recognitions, Front Row Dinners, faculty engagement opportunities, and salon dinners.
• Maintain the Office of Development's master engagement calendar and ensure it reflects coordinated priorities across stewardship and volunteer engagement.
• Details of established essential functions for this position will be addressed/discussed during the interview process.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible experience in donor relations, stewardship, or advancement, including at least 5 years leading the function in higher education or a research environment.
• Demonstrated experience managing managers and developing high-performing professional teams.
• Expert knowledge of gift agreement structures, endowment and restricted fund administration, donor intent compliance, and named and endowed recognition programs.
• Demonstrated success leading stewardship initiatives that strengthen donor and constituent engagement.
• Exceptional writing, storytelling, and presentation skills with the ability to translate complex science and philanthropy into compelling narratives.
• Demonstrated ability to advise and influence executive leadership, faculty, Trustees, and principal donors with discretion, diplomacy, and sound judgment.
• Highly proficient with CRM (e.g., Raiser's Edge) and advancement systems and reporting tools, with demonstrated ability to use donor data to drive stewardship strategy.
• Commitment to advancing the mission and values of Scripps Research through strategic philanthropy and constituent engagement.
• While subject to change based on business needs, this is an on-campus position requiring a minimum of 4 days per week working onsite from our La Jolla campus, with flexibility to work 1 day per week remotely from home.

COMPENSATION:

The expected hiring range for this position is $155,000 to $170,000/annually, commensurate with experience. Consideration will be given to experience that exceeds the listed requirements.

COMPREHENSIVE BENEFITS INCLUDE:

• Employer Contributed Retirement Plan Depending on eligibility, employees receive an employer contributed retirement plan (no employee contribution required) and the option to contribute to a 403(b) (which is similar to a 401(k) using your own pre or post-tax dollars)
• Full Suite of Health and Welfare plans including three medical plan options (including an HSA available option), dental, vision, life insurance, disability, EAP and more
• Access to Flexible Spending Accounts (Medical/Dependent Care)
• Competitive vacation and sick leave policies
• Free, on-site parking

The above statements describe the level of work performed and expected in general terms. The statements are not intended to list all the responsibilities, duties and/or skills required of employees so classified, and the content herein is subject to change due to the business needs of Scripps Research, with or without notice. Furthermore, nothing in this job description shall be interpreted to be in conflict with or to eliminate or modify in any way the employment-at-will status of Scripps Research staff.

EEO Statement:

The Scripps Research Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We promote diversity of thought, culture, and background in the fields of science. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic or status.

Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.