DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

• Salary Range: $119,854.00 - $181,714.00 Salary/year
• Position Type: Full Time
• Job Shift: Day
• Education Level: Not Specified
• Category: Business Development

CCSSO Mission and Work Values

The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) is a nonpartisan, nationwide, nonprofit organization of public officials who head departments of elementary and secondary education in the states, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Education Activity, the Bureau of Indian Education and the five U.S. extra-state jurisdictions. As an organization, we are committed to ensuring that all students participating in our public education system -- regardless of background -- graduate prepared for college, careers, and life. Our work values include Excellence, Service, and Trust. CCSSO’s work values express our shared beliefs of how we work together in this organization to live our mission, achieve the best outcomes for ourselves and serve our state members.

Position Summary

The Director of Development is a senior leader on the Council’s Development Team, responsible for executing a strategy and leading a team to build and steward a high-impact portfolio of corporate partners; state, corporate and nonprofit members of CCSSO’s premier professional development Collaboratives program; and attendees and sponsors of CCSSO’s National Conference on Student Assessment. This role participates in donor and partner engagement, builds and strengthens internal systems, ensures cohesion across our funding opportunities, and supervises a team of development professionals to ensure best-in-class institutional stewardship and successful revenue outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for corporate, membership and conference fundraising aligned to CCSSO’s strategic priorities and revenue goals.
• Manage and grow a portfolio of funders, with a strong emphasis on new, expanded, and multi-year-old investments.
• Personally, solicit and close six-figure partnerships through strategic cultivation, in-person and virtual meetings, and partnership with CCSSO leadership.
• Implement strategies to ensure strong renewals and new member campaigns for CCSSO’s Collaboratives, a premiere professional development program.
• Build upon CCSSO’s successful National Conference on Student Assessment, creating and executing new opportunities for conference enhancement and revenue generation.
• Analyze data and provide insights to support decision-making and process improvement.
• Lead stewardship efforts and contribute to departmental excellence by sharing best practices and staying current on philanthropic trends.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant professional experience.
• Proven track record of successfully identifying, cultivating, engaging, and stewarding donors, resulting in sustained relationships and increased funding support.
• 7+ years of fundraising experience; 5+ years of management experience
• Experience using CRMs and project management tools to track and leverage data, advance relationships, and manage work and team members.
• Ability and willingness to travel (up to 30% of the time)

Preferred

• Advanced degree or certification (e.g., PMP, Grant Management)
• Experience in the education field and understanding of CCSSO’s unique membership and mission.
• Familiarity with Glue up

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously, prioritize effectively, and adapt in a fast-paced environment with frequent interruptions.
• Exceptional interpersonal and diplomatic skills, with the ability to engage credibly and professionally with senior leaders, colleagues, and external partners.
• Experience managing a team to success.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to standardize processes, ensure accuracy, and maintain strict confidentiality.
• Superior written, verbal, and presentation skills, including the ability to develop compelling solicitations, budgets, and executive-level correspondence that clearly conveys complex ideas.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and Word, with the ability to support financial analysis, proposal development, and reporting.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

This is a remote work position, but employees may be required to attend in-person meetings periodically.

As a remote-first organization, we offer the flexibility to work from anywhere in the continental US. Employees are equipped with the latest technology and receive a home office setup allowance.

Our team connects via regular virtual meetings and maintains a strong sense of community through online collaboration tools. We prioritize work-life balance and encourage a positive attitude towards achieving personal and professional goals.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary range: $119,854 – $181,714
• Health, dental, vision insurance
• Retirement plan (e.g., 401(k))
• Paid time off and holidays
• Tuition Reimbursement