Senior Director of Development and Engagement

Department : Strategic Advancement

Reports to : Chief Development Officer

Categorization : Hybrid In-Person

Status : Full-Time Exempt

Start Date : November 2025

The Organization

Since 2003, The Opportunity Network (OppNet) has been committed to providing students, regardless of background, with the resources and connections necessary to achieve their college and career goals.

Our founding Fellows program supports 1,000 New York City students each year, from the summer after tenth grade to college graduation, boasting a 98% graduation rate within six years. About 93% of Fellows are first-generation college students, and 91% secure meaningful employment or graduate school admission within six months of graduating.

Our Career Fluency® Partnerships program enhances workforce and college readiness for 100,000 students across 20 cities. Our Opportunity Ignited program helps employers with intern matching and training, improving talent pipelines and workplace environments, training over 350 staff in 22 partner firms in its first five years.

The Job

Reporting to the Chief Development Officer (CDO), the Senior Director of Development and Engagement (SDDE) serves as a key leader on the Development team and plays a pivotal role in advancing the organization’s mission and long-term financial sustainability. The SDDE aids in the oversight of the day-to-day operations of the Development team, leads OppNet’s corporate giving efforts, develops and manages a pipeline of engaged donors, and implements fundraising strategies that support our annual and long-range revenue goals.

The Senior Director of Development and Engagement leads the Corporate Engagement and Communications teams in designing creative fundraising initiatives, deepening relationships with current and prospective partners, and optimizing tools and processes for greater efficiency and insight. OppNet is an entrepreneurial environment, and this leader is a self-starter with a creative and analytical mindset who takes initiative and brings structure and vision to new and evolving efforts, especially as the corporate engagement strategy expands and matures.

Success in this role will be measured by increased and diversified revenue through layered corporate partnerships, a growing individual donor pipeline, a well-supported and aligned Development team, and a clear roadmap that supports OppNet’s long-term financial sustainability.

About You

You are an experienced fundraiser and team leader with a deep understanding of how to drive results through strategy, relationships, and collaboration. You bring a strong background in corporate engagement, individual giving, and managing teams. You thrive in dynamic environments and are energized by both building new systems and strengthening existing ones.

You are an exceptional communicator, a strategic thinker, and a trusted partner, someone who can build rapport with senior leaders, corporate partners, board members, and team members alike. You are deeply committed to supporting your team’s growth and to helping your organization achieve its mission with integrity and innovation.

What You Will Be Doing

Corporate Giving & Partnership Development (30%)

• Engage with existing donors to maintain and enhance relationships, identifying opportunities for increased revenue and engagement.
• Manage a portfolio of corporate supporters and prospects, moving them through the full donor lifecycle.
• Identify new potential funders, build strategies for engagement, and lead work to forge new relationships. Securing layered partnerships that may include :

Corporate and foundation giving

Individual Giving & Major Gifts (20%)

Communications and Marketing (20%)

Strategic Leadership & Team Management (20%)

Organizational Learning, Development, and Program Reflection (10%)

Who we are looking for

Requirements to Work for OppNet

OppNet requires that all employees are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including new hires, unless an exemption has been approved.

Salary and Benefits

We take a thoughtful and deliberate approach to generating salary offers that take into account previous work experience, the role you’re entering into, and fairness within OppNet. Fairness is important to us, and it is critical that our compensation approach ensures fairness across the organization. Hence, we make every effort to make our first offer our best offer because we want to demonstrate that we value you and your work from day one.

The hiring salary range for this role is $108,896 - $123,000 and will be commensurate with experience.

At OppNet, eligible employees can enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical coverage (health, dental, and vision), an HRA, a Flexible Spending Account, family leave (up to 100% coverage for twelve weeks), life insurance, and retirement benefits. Full-time employees can participate in our 403(b) retirement benefit program. Additionally, we offer generous time off from work (through a combination of vacation, sick, and holidays).

Application Instructions

Please submit a cover letter along with your résumé. Your cover letter should address the following :

Why you are interested in joining The Opportunity Network and how our mission resonates with you.

How your experience in fundraising and / or communications has prepared you for this role.

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Do you meet some but not all of our qualifications? OppNet is an equal-opportunity employer. Even if you may not meet every qualification listed, we strongly encourage you to apply without hesitation. If you believe in our organization's mission and feel confident in your potential to excel at OppNet, we warmly welcome your application. Our commitment lies in considering a wide range of candidates, and valuing various workplace experiences and backgrounds. Whether you are new to the non-profit sector, returning to work after a break, considering a career change, or taking the next step in your professional journey, we are excited to hear from you! We recognize that multifarious teams make the strongest teams, and we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.