Director, Engagement

Director, Engagement

The Director, Engagement is a key member of the Institutional Advancement (IA) Department responsible for developing and executing strategies that leverage events as drivers of pipeline development, fundraising, cultivation, and stewardship. This position plays a central role in advancing a coordinated approach to donor and sponsor engagement, moving prospects through a pipeline of content-driven engagement opportunities. In addition, the Director oversees stewardship strategies and initiatives designed to retain and expand donor relationships while ensuring meaningful recognition of their contributions. The Director works collaboratively across IA and other departments including Marketing, Rentals, Operations, Campus Facilities, Graphics, and Program Development. This position reports to the Chief Philanthropy Officer.

Essential Functions

• Develop and implement a comprehensive events strategy to support IA's fundraising goals and draw further engagement from volunteers, donors, and sponsors.
• Develop and lead events strategy to support major and campaign fundraising initiatives in collaboration with the Executive Director, Chief Philanthropy Officer and IA leadership.
• Oversee the development of a comprehensive stewardship program strategy and direct related events and programs including travel, receptions, dinners, and private tours.
• Plan, organize, and execute the annual fundraising events including the Gala and Wonder Funday.
• Develop program content, marketing and communication of events with internal teams.
• Develop and manage event budgets.
• Lead event staff and volunteers; recruit, train, and supervise teams.
• Oversee event logistics including vendor management.
• Develop and establish a collaborative and distributed work model to plan and execute 10-15 events for other IA teams; serve as lead staff or advisor on most IA events.
• Create, manage and train IA team members on event planning systems including logistics, print and electronic outreach, CRM and RSVP tracking, event content planning, donor communications, vendor management, etc.
• Facilitate and / or attend department meetings to discuss fundraising strategies and recommend cultivation and solicitation activities and priorities.
• Cultivate, steward, and contribute to relationship building and development goals with donors, sponsors and in-kind partners in conjunction with the Individual Giving and Corporate Engagement teams in IA.
• Some night and weekend work required.
• Special fundraising events projects as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Physical Requirement

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Application Deadline

This position is open until filled.

How To Apply

This is a regular, full-time (37.5 hours per week), exempt, non-union position that includes benefits. The salary range for this role is $116,000 - $126,000 DOE. Please, no phone calls in regards to this job. To apply, please visit the Exploratorium job page.

The Exploratorium is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and values diversity, inclusion and respect. We welcome and strongly encourage applicants from all backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.