Senior Associate Director of Foundation and Corporate Relations

Compensation for this role begins at $100,000 and may increase based on the candidate's experience and qualifications they bring to the role. We encourage all levels of candidates to apply.

This role may also be offered as fully remote, depending on the candidate.

Position Summary:

Currently reporting to the Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) of the Marine Biological Laboratory, the Senior Associate Director of Foundation and Corporate Relations will be a part of the CAO’s leadership team and will play a fundamental role in enhancing and managing the foundation and corporate relations program that provides significant philanthropic support to the MBL's educational and research programs. Identifying appropriate foundation and corporate prospects for priority and strategic projects, the Senior Associate Director will collaborate with senior leaders and faculty in the development and submission of proposals and reports and serve as a relationship manager and strategist for a portfolio of major, regional, and family foundations, as well as corporations and other philanthropic entities.

Basic Qualifications:

Work in partnership and under the direction of the CAO to grow and enhance the MBL's relationships with private foundations and corporations, as well as with other philanthropic organizations and initiatives. Support and grow a pipeline, contributing $8M+ a year, with aspirations to expand. Develop a strategic plan for foundation and corporate relations that dovetails with the overarching strategic development plan.

Collaborate with representatives of these organizations, including program officers and others, to analyze interests, assess opportunities, and pursue support for selected MBL programs and strategic initiatives. Develop and implement ways to promote, cultivate and steward foundation and corporate funded programs and projects across the MBL research and education. Enhance and expand the MBL's portfolio of Foundation and Corporate partners.

Prepare and develop comprehensive documents such as proposals, reports, and non-routine correspondence. Assist resident faculty in defining programs and budgetary needs for presentation to foundations and corporations. Collaborate with MBL leadership to cultivate multi-investigator proposals across resident and visiting faculty, fellows, and Course Faculty where opportunities arise.

Prepare correspondence and other materials for senior leadership and faculty, as needed/requested. Manage the execution of multiple projects, enlisting support of other staff where appropriate. Represent the MBL and serve as a liaison to foundation and corporate leaders and program staff.

Serve as relationship manager and strategist for a portfolio of major, regional, and family foundations and corporations. Develop and monitor strategies for these entities.

Collaborate with senior leadership and faculty to leverage existing corporate relationships and develop strategies to broaden this portfolio.

Identify emerging program areas with funding promise and assist in the development of new projects.

Perform other duties as assigned. Seek opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance, including building networks within the MBL's research and education constituencies, through the University of Chicago and with colleagues at peer institutions.

This position requires occasional weekend and evening work including traveling up to 20% annually to visit with foundations and corporations.

Preferred Qualifications:

•Exceptional writing and communication skills
•Working knowledge and understanding of the foundation and corporate sectors, particularly those organizations that historically support research-based and educational institutions.
•Passionate and/or knowledgeable about foundational life sciences and the important role biology plays in overcoming some of the world's most complex challenges.
•Ambition to build and maintain effective partnerships at all levels of internal and external constituencies.
•Demonstrated aptitude to thrive in a complex and dynamic environment, managing multiple priorities.
•A self-starter who uses an entrepreneurial approach to building and guiding an advancement program and who has the ability to reach out to a broader community to promote the mission of the MBL.
•PhD, Master's Degree in biology preferred or equivalent
•5-7 years of professional work experience in nonprofit management, development, alumni relations, marketing, public relations, sales or similar professional work experience required
•Experience leading a project team or managing staff preferred
•Experience writing and managing independent proposals and developing solicitation strategies is essential.

Physical Requirements:

This position requires sedentary work (exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to move objects). Worker must be able to stand, walk, sit, reach, push, pull, use fingertips, grasp, talk, hear, and perform repetitive motions. Worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform activities such as preparing and analyzing data and figures, viewing a computer terminal, and extensive
reading.