Chief Development Officer

Houston Symphony • Full-time • Houston, TX, US • 1m ago

Job Title: Chief Development Officer

Department: Development

Reports to: Executive Director/CEO

Status: Regular, full-time, exempt from overtime

Houston Symphony

The Houston Symphony, a leading performing arts organization in America’s fourth-largest city and one of the nation’s most distinguished orchestras, is seeking applicants for the position of Chief Development Officer (CDO). Under the leadership of Music Director Juraj Valcuha, the Symphony offers a variety of classical, pops, family, and community-oriented programming with outstanding soloists and conductors. The Symphony, founded in 1913, performs in Jones Hall for the Performing Arts in downtown Houston, and serves over 400,000 people annually.

The Opportunity

The Houston Symphony’s CDO will lead the Symphony’s fundraising efforts and oversee a team of fundraising professionals focused on ambitious contributed revenue annual fund and endowment goals. The CDO reports directly to the Executive Director/CEO and is responsible for planning and implementing all aspects of the Houston Symphony’s development programs.

Essential Job Functions

Create and manage a comprehensive annual development plan that successfully achieves the institution’s fundraising goals and builds support for its mission, vision and values.
- Work with the Executive Director/CEO and Board leadership to generate a multi-year strategic fundraising plan to support the institution’s strategic plan, prioritizing growth and instilling a strong institutional culture of philanthropy.
- Develop campaigns for endowment growth and capacity building.
- Develop and lead the successful implementation of high-profile, revenue-generating special events.
- Maintain a portfolio of individual donors to secure major gifts and planned gifts.
- Oversee grant applications, monitoring and final reports.
Build strong relationships with stakeholders
- Serve as an ambassador for the Houston Symphony at concerts, events and other community gatherings, building and stewarding relationships that support the institution’s fundraising objectives. Night and weekend work, additive to regular work hours, is required.
- Serve as a liaison to the Houston Symphony Board of Directors, strategically activating Board members in fundraising activities and collaborating with Board and Development Committee leadership.
- Serve as a member of the Houston Symphony’s Senior Management Team, serving as a partner and ally to all colleagues.
- Work closely with the Chief Marketing Officer to create a holistic approach to patron/donor communications and to coordinate the patron journey from first-time buyer to subscriber to donor.
Deliver operational excellence
- Lead and inspire a highly functioning development team, cultivating a culture of professional growth.
- Create and track development budgets including all fundraising expenses and revenues, working with the Chief Financial Officer and finance team.
Perform additional duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibility

Development department, including Individual Giving, Institutional Giving, Special Events, Planned Giving and Volunteer Services staff.
Bachelor’s degree required.
7+ years in progressively responsible fundraising role, with experience cultivating and soliciting gifts from individuals, corporations, foundations, government, and special events.
Experience with capital campaigns and legacy giving.
Strong communication skills and experience developing a fundraising strategy and communicating it to donors, board members, staff and the community.
Demonstrated understanding and experience in systems and data. Tessitura experience preferred.
Focused, strategic thinker with a high energy level and strong work ethic.
History of managing teams and maintaining a collaborative culture while achieving measurable goals.
High level of integrity and dependability.
A knowledge of and appreciation for symphonic music preferred.

The Houston Symphony is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against otherwise qualified applicants on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, age, sex, marital status, national origin, disability or handicap, veteran status, or any other protected class.