JFF is hiring a
Director Development Communications & Stewardship

About JFF 

Jobs for the Future (JFF) drives transformation of the U.S. education and workforce systems to achieve equitable economic advancement for all. Seeing that millions of people are unfairly shut out of quality jobs and the chance for a better life, our goal is to align education, workforce, and employment changemakers toward a shared North Star: In 10 years, 75 million people facing systemic barriers to advancement will work in quality jobs.  

To achieve that goal, we design solutions, scale best practices, influence policy and action, and invest in innovation. With a staff of more than 300 people across the country working remotely and in offices in Boston (headquarters), Washington, DC, and Oakland, California, we operate at the national, state, and local levels, forging deep partnerships with employers, investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and education and workforce development providers to break down barriers and reimagine what’s possible.    

We’re on a path of ongoing growth and expanding impact. We have an operating budget of $105 million, and we’re funded by dozens of leading government agencies, foundations, and corporations. Learn more about JFF and join us as we build a future that works—for everyone.  

DEIBW at JFF  

Diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and well-being (DEIBW) are core to JFF’s North Star and mission. We employ and build diverse teams across race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity and expression, age, and lived experiences and are constantly working toward ensuring these differences are celebrated and included. We aim to cultivate a culture that centers the overall care, well-being, and success of the employee through flexible work hours, balanced workloads, professional development, and equitable career advancement opportunities. Learn more about what DEIBW looks like in practice at JFF. 

We seek to invest and learn from those who represent the communities we serve, particularly individuals from populations who have been explicitly or implicitly excluded from the workforce. Knowing its importance to the success of our work and the engagement of our staff members, we aspire to attract and retain a diverse team and welcome people of all backgrounds to apply to our open roles. In alignment to JFF’s North Star, we strongly encourage individuals whose highest level of education attained is less than a 4-year degree; People of Color; and people with records to apply. 

About the Position 

JFF has experienced a period of unprecedented growth in revenue, programming, and funding pursuit over the last 3-4 years. As such, the Development Team is expanding, both in number and function, not only to align with this growth, but also to meet significant needs for more flexible resources to support organizational capacity and innovation. One of the main elements that will drive the success of JFF’s overall fundraising and development efforts will be the introduction of several new positions including the newly created position of Director, Development Communications & Stewardship. 

We are looking to hire a Director, Development Communications & Stewardship who will be situated on our central development team who will be providing thoughtful framework and guidance to support consistent development and fundraising communication. This brand-new role will report to the Senior Director of Development Strategy & Operations and offers the opportunity to create a stewardship and donor communications strategy to advance fundraising goals in support of JFF’s mission. The Director will have the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues on the Development team, Marketing & Communications team and others to help Business Units (JFF’s program areas) and leverage a OneJFF approach with effective funder communication strategies to meet ambitious fundraising goals.  

The ideal candidate for this role is a strategic and consultative partner who possesses exceptional fundraising knowledge, is able to develop scalable systems for this work, is customer service oriented, and a top-notch communicator. JFF has just launched a $60 million North Star Fundraising campaign designed to increase flexible funding, and this new position will play a key role in this campaign. This role is a great opportunity build and scale strategic communication with donors at JFF. 

What You'll Do  

Build and implement strategic donor communications across JFF’s Business Units with external partners  

• Serve as the point person for the Development team with the Marketing & Communications department for all Development communications needs  
• Leverage an entrepreneurial framework to develop a comprehensive communications and donor relations program for JFF’s corporate and foundation fundraising program and individual giving program 
• Conceptualize and produce a suite of development materials, such as; written proposal templates, PowerPoint pitch materials, and annual giving collateral such as emails, social media assets and appeal letters to solicit a diverse range of prospects for Development colleagues and Business Units 
• Manage the communications implementation of the North Star Fundraising campaign and all assets associated with implementation (pitch materials, event activation, donor communication and benefits execution)  
• Collaborate with colleagues across Development and Marketing & Communications to design and implement a comprehensive donor communications plan to support the Development team's enterprise-wide fundraising strategy, develop new initiatives, increase engagement and enhance lines of communication 

Create systems and processes to help implement best practices with stewardship oversight 

• Manage all reporting commitments associated with JFF’s funding, 200+ reports per year, including working with Business units on content, developing templates, writing, editing and submitting reports 
• Contribute to the development of consistent benefit levels across JFF for donors and partners, and facilitate the fulfillment of those benefits to JFF’s most important donors 
• Develop an acknowledgement process designed to recognize all JFF’s donors in meaningful ways 
• Identify opportunities for learning about the changing philanthropic landscape to help steward best practices for the Development Team’s strategy with stewardship materials. 

Who You Are 

The qualifications listed within the job description are intended as a guide and we do not expect candidates to bring all experiences and skills listed. Research supports that self-selecting out of potential professional opportunities is particularly common among individuals with identities that are marginalized in professional spaces, such as People of Color, LGBTQ individuals, people with disabilities, neurodivergent individuals, and people with records. So, if you believe that you can meet the overall expectations of the position, we encourage you to apply so that we have an opportunity to learn more about you and the unique strengths you would bring to the work. 

• You bring experience designing and leading stewardship and donor communications in non-profits and/or social impact organizations, with a particular focus on streamlining efficiencies and creating protocol for communication (New hires at the Director II level at JFF typically bring 12+ years of prior professional experience through a combination of full-time, part-time, internship, and/or freelance positions) 
• You have experience building relationships across teams including but not limited to program staff, marketing and communication staff and development staff within a matrixed organization and place a premium on service-orientation and excellent communication; you build positive relationships with internal leaders and external stakeholders based on trust and building mutual understanding 
• You have a track record of success in writing, editing and collaborating with staff on items including but not limited to proposals, proposals templates and donor communication  
• You have experience pulling reports and leveraging data to help inform best practices around stewardship oversight  
• You leverage professional development and other learning opportunities to stay current with advances in your field, deepen your subject matter expertise, and support the learning of your team  
• You set ambitious and achievable goals to deliver high-quality outputs and results for multiple initiatives while empowering, inspiring and holding self and others accountable for delivering on commitments consistently 
•  You are skilled at navigating ambiguity, anticipating bottlenecks, and coming up with creative solutions that support you and others’ work 
• You have leveraged professional development and other learning opportunities to stay current with advances in fundraising and development, along with other areas to help support the business needs and mission of your organization  
• You have experience using CRM tools (Salesforce) and see the value in maximizing the use of these tools 
• You possess high energy and passion for JFF’s mission and North Star, and the ability to apply JFF’s core values to all areas of your work    
• You are energized by stewarding JFF’s DEIBW values and practices within your day-to-day work, including embracing the differences and celebrating the diversity that each individual brings to JFF 

What We Offer  

At JFF, we’re fueled by the desire to create a world where everyone has equal opportunity for economic advancement. Our team works hard to push the boundaries of what is possible, and in return, we provide a gratifying work experience, competitive salaries, and a comprehensive benefits program that includes flexibility and choice as core values in order to support people wherever they are in their lives and careers.  

JFF has offices in Boston, Oakland, and Washington, DC; employees are welcome to use JFF office space to work in-person or hybrid, or completely remote. To improve the employee experience and promote productivity while working remotely, JFF offers an annual home office stipend to all regular full-time and part-time employees. In addition, new employees receive office equipment as needed.   

The hiring range for this role is $120,000 - $140,000 annually, in alignment to JFF’s Director II salary band and our compensation philosophy. Starting salaries for new hires will be determined based on a combination of the new hire’s relevant experience and market demands.  

To Apply  

As part of your application, please include your resume and a thoughtful cover letter, addressed to Page Sciotto, Senior Director, Development Strategy outlining how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position. 

We are accepting applications through January 12th, 2024 Applications submitted by that date will be reviewed and candidates will receive updates on their candidacy by the week of January 16th, 2024. 

At JFF, we’re also committed to accessibility and want to ensure that everyone, including people with disabilities, can fully access and engage with our application and hiring process.  

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability and/or have specific access/accommodation needs in order to fully participate in our hiring process, please contact us at [email protected].  

Positions at JFF are not eligible for employer-visa sponsorship or open to F-1 student visa holders.  

 

 

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