New York, NY

Director of Development, Park Avenue Armory

The Organization

Part American palace, part industrial shed, Park Avenue Armory fills a critical void in the cultural ecology of New York, supporting unconventional works in the performing and visual arts that cannot be fully realized in a traditional proscenium theater, concert hall, or white wall gallery. With its soaring column-free 55,000-square-foot Wade Thompson Drill Hall and its array of exuberant period rooms, the Armory enables artists to create, students to explore, and wide audiences to experience epic, adventurous, relevant work that cannot be done elsewhere in New York. Such was its impact in its first years that The New York Times declared, “Park Avenue Armory…has arrived as the most important new cultural institution in New York City.” More recently, The New York Times has noted that: “few cultural institutions have been as adept at pushing the cultural FOMO button, triggering that ‘fear of missing out’ that New Yorkers hate…” Alongside unconventional programming, a creativity-based Arts Education program for students from underserved public schools has found a special niche at the Armory, offering at no cost to schools, student performances for all Armory productions; curriculum enrichment to partner schools; and a paid and highly mentored Youth Corps internship program that includes job training and engagement with Armory artists.

Position Overview

The Armory seeks a highly organized, efficient, proactive development professional with the ability to oversee a team of seven focused on individual giving, events, and administration; carry a portfolio of high-net-worth individuals; ensure the smooth operation and maintenance of all systems and structures that support the achievement of goals for all philanthropic revenue streams; provide oversight for approximately 50 events a year, including a high-profile gala; and serve as a resource for the President, and other departments across the institution. The position reports directly to the Chief Development Officer and works closely with her to develop strategic direction and fundraising goals for the institution.

 RESPONSIBILITIES

·         Cultivate, close and steward major gifts from a portfolio of high-net-worth individuals.

·         Oversee the Individual Giving team with campaigns for acquisition, stewardship, benefits and renewals for the Membership ($100 to $2,499), Avant-Garde Young Patron Program ($350 and $600), Chairman’s Circle ($2,500 to $25,000), and the Education Committee ($5,000).

·         Liaise with the president’s office, together with the CDO and Director of Individual Giving, on key major donor giving plans and solicitations.

·         Represent the Development Department at production meetings where all matters pertaining to drill hall productions are discussed. Communicate programming plans and funding needs/opportunities to the rest of the development team.

·         Together with the CDO, oversee a robust pipeline of major gifts prospecting and Board recruitment through research and Committee engagement.

·         Create narratives and reports for Board meetings and board committee meetings as necessary.

·         Directly communicate with Armory Board members on special projects like the Education Committee and education events.

·         With the Associate Director of Special Events, ensure timelines and activities for major events like the annual Gala are on schedule and provide organizational oversight for an additional 50+ smaller fundraising events a year.

·         Direct day-to-day operations of the development office, including direct management of a team of seven staff and integration of additional staff into event and solicitation calendars.

QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate will be:

·         A highly organized, detail-oriented self-starter with the ability to set priorities and manage the team executing against them.

·         An experienced development professional with an understanding of both the internal and external aspects of fundraising.

·         A personable individual comfortable working with prominent high-net-worth individuals in both formal and informal settings.

·         Experienced in development best practices with the ability to continually improve fundraising operations so the department works as efficiently and as effectively as possible.

·         A strong communicator and relationship builder with the ability to work within the department, across the institution, and externally.

·         An effective manager able to balance a collaborative nature with timely decision-making.

·         Confident, resilient, and have a great sense of humor.

·         10-15 years of senior level experience

How To Apply

Interested candidates should submit resume and cover letter in a single Word or PDF document saved as candidate’s first and last name.  All submissions should be emailed to HR@ARMORYONPARK.ORG with “Director of Development” in the subject line.  Only resumes and cover letters submitted in this format will be reviewed.  No phone calls, please.

Park Avenue Armory is an Equal Opportunity Employer and committed to the goal of building a culturally diverse staff and strongly encourages applications from all interested candidates

Sign up