Vice President of Development and Adancement

Job Description

Job Description

Vice President of Development & Advancement

Position Overview

Teaching Matters is a national nonprofit organization, headquartered in New York City, with the mission to close the opportunity gap of a radically unequal education system for underserved and historically marginalized children. From states and districts to schools and classrooms, we partner to help teachers and school leaders develop the skills they need to teach well, lead their peers, and drive school-wide improvement.

The Vice President of Development & Advancement is a key member of the senior leadership team and reports directly to the CEO. This role will help drive Teaching Matters’ national growth and visibility through fundraising, communications, and strategic partnerships. The VP will lead the Development and Communications teams, working closely with the CEO and senior leaders to deepen relationships with funders, expand philanthropic investment, and elevate Teaching Matters’ influence on teacher effectiveness, equity, and quality.

This is an opportunity for an entrepreneurial and mission-driven advancement leader to help scale a proven model of teacher development and system-level impact nationwide.

This is a hybrid position, requiring a regular presence in New York City; Tri-state area candidates preferred.

Key Responsibilities

1. Fundraising & Development

Cultivate and steward select high-level philanthropic, corporate, and foundation relationships while aligning the development team’s work to organizational priorities and long-term growth.

Lead a cohesive multi-year fundraising and national advancement strategy that grows annual revenue beyond its current $3-5M base, reaching approximately 7-10 million or more in the coming years.

Align the Development Team’s goals and operations with Teaching Matters’ strategic priorities and expansion plan.

Partner with the CEO to identify, engage, and inspire new national funders.

Direct Reports : Director of Development; Associate Director of Development.

2. Marketing, Communications, & Brand

Provide strategic oversight for Teaching Matters’ brand, storytelling, and external communications to strengthen visibility and impact.

Lead the development of thought leadership (white papers, policy briefs, op-eds) that amplify Teaching Matters’ influence in the national education conversation.

Engage in advocacy and philanthropic coalitions to raise the organization’s profile and advance investments that strengthen teacher capacity and ensure every child has access to high-quality learning.

Direct Reports : Director of Communications (anticipated).

Qualifications

10+ years of senior leadership experience in advancement, fundraising, or external relations with education or mission-aligned non-profits.

Proven success designing and executing fundraising strategies that drive significant growth ($5M+ annually).

Demonstrated experience cultivating new relationships with major philanthropic and corporate funders, with a substantial history of capturing large grants independently, securing sustainable growth funding, and building new revenue streams.

At least 5 years experience in K-12 education and / or strong understanding of K-12 education systems, policy, and teacher development.

Excellent communicator with exceptional relationship-building, storytelling, and public-speaking skills.

Collaborative leader with a track record of building high-performing teams.

Comfortable navigating complex political, philanthropic, and policy landscapes.

Experience working in a fast-paced, growth-oriented nonprofit or education organization preferred.

Advanced degree (MBA, MPA, or education-related field) preferred.

Salary Range : $179, 516 - $209,435.

Core Competencies

People Leadership

Leads and empowers staff through clear expectations, coaching, and feedback, ensuring individual growth and alignment to organizational strategy.

Connects and coordinates across programs, development, operations, and communications to drive strategic alignment.

Delegates effectively and ensures accountability for high-quality, on-time, and on-budget delivery.

Strategy & Growth

Provides senior leadership for fundraising strategy, cultivating select major funders while aligning Development’s work to organizational growth goals.

Identifies and advances new opportunities, ensuring growth aligns with Teaching Matters’ equity mission and capacity.

Shapes and communicates policy positions to elevate teacher effectiveness and inform organizational strategy.

Stakeholder Engagement

Designs and sustains partnerships funders, and national organizations that advance Teaching Matters’ mission.

Anticipates challenges, adapts in real time, and ensures partnerships deliver mutual value and impact.

Builds trusted relationships that expand organizational influence and long-term sustainability.

Data & Evaluation

Uses data to inform decisions, measure outcomes, and refine strategies for growth.

Codifies and shares learnings across the organization, strengthening knowledge management and organizational capacity.

Communications & Influence

Provides strategic direction for brand and visibility, ensuring consistent and intentional messaging across audiences.

Represents Teaching Matters publicly and supports the CEO in thought leadership through convenings, speeches, and publications.

Leverages coalitions and advocacy platforms to strengthen visibility and policy influence.

Teaching Matters is an equal opportunity employer, committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, marital or partnership status, pregnancy, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic under applicable federal, state, or local law.

We are also committed to affirmative action and to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities throughout the recruitment process and employment.

Please see the following Compensation Philosophy for more information.