Director of Strategic Advancement (Part-Time)

Schedule: 3 days per week
Reports to: Head of School
Collaborates with: Supervisor of Development

Salary Range: $75,000-$90,000

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Role Overview:

The Director of Strategic Advancement provides strategic leadership for The Lang School’s fundraising and philanthropic efforts, with a focus on sustaining and growing support for both immediate needs and long-term financial strength. In this part-time role, the Director prioritizes high-impact activities, including major gifts strategy, annual fund growth, campaigns, advancement communications/marketing, and strengthening a culture of giving across the school community.

A key aspect of the role is partnering closely with both the Head of School and the Board of Trustees to drive major donor cultivation, stewardship, and long-term financial planning, ensuring that the school has the resources needed to thrive. The Director also collaborates with the Supervisor of Development to align strategic priorities with the execution of advancement communications, donor engagement activities, fundraising events, and operational support, ensuring a cohesive and effective advancement program.

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Primary Areas of Responsibility

1. Strategic Fundraising & Leadership Engagement

• Lead the development and implementation of a multi-year advancement strategy, with a focus on major gifts, annual giving, strategic communications, grants, and the foundation of a long-term investment fund. 

• Identify, cultivate, and steward relationships with major donors, prospects, and institutions, focusing on those with the capacity to provide transformational support. 

• Serve as a strategic partner to the Head of School, supporting their active involvement in fundraising, donor cultivation and stewardship, and philanthropic leadership. 

• Guide the Board of Trustees’ role in fundraising, providing tools, strategies, and support to help them engage their networks and steward donors effectively. 

• Partner with the Board of Trustees and Head of School to craft and advance a long-term growth plan, including structuring initial fundraising efforts, donor messaging, and potential campaign strategies.

• Collaborate with Development team to ensure fundraising and donor stewardship events align with advancement goals and foster meaningful donor engagement.

• Work with the Development team to research and evaluate new funding opportunities, including major donor prospects, foundation grants, and investment-based giving strategies aligned with long-term financial goals. 

2. Advancement Operations 

Collaborate with the Supervisor of Development to:

• Ensure smooth execution of donor database management, fundraising campaigns, donor communications, and social media engagement.

• Oversee donor database management, fundraising campaigns, donor communications, and social media engagement to ensure seamless execution and alignment with advancement goals.

• Monitor fundraising progress, donor engagement metrics, and campaign results, providing data-driven recommendations to the Head of School and Board of Trustees.

• Maintain data around outreach and donor cultivation and report to the Board of Trustees regularly in collaboration with the Head of School

• Attend Board meeting multiple times per year

3. Advancement Communications & Donor Engagement

• Oversee the creation of fundraising messaging and donor materials, ensuring a clear, compelling case for philanthropic support.

• Work with the Head of School and Supervisor of Development to align advancement storytelling with broader school messaging.

• Develop and manage an ongoing donor engagement plan for the Head of School, providing strategic guidance, talking points, timelines, and actionable next steps to foster consistent and meaningful donor relationships.

• Partner with school staff and/or external support to ensure the website and digital materials effectively support donor engagement, fundraising campaigns, and event promotion while maintaining a visually compelling and up-to-date presence. 

• Ensure that all donor engagement efforts—including appeals, stewardship reports, and digital campaigns—support both immediate fundraising needs and long-term growth goals.

• Serve as an ambassador for the school’s advancement program, cultivating relationships with current and past families, donors, and community partners.

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Scope of Role:

As a part-time, senior leadership position, the Director of Strategic Advancement focuses on strategic growth, major donor relationship management, long-term planning, and board engagement. The Supervisor of Development provides operational execution and support, allowing the Director to focus on high-level advancement strategy and long-term financial sustainability.

The Director of Strategic Advancement, Head of School, and designated volunteer fundraisers (to be determined) will each maintain donor and prospect portfolios. The Director will oversee portfolio management, ensuring strategic coordination and tracking of donor engagement efforts.

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This structure positions The Lang School for long-term financial sustainability by expanding philanthropic resources, strengthening major donor relationships, and laying the foundation for a robust and growing endowment.

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