Assistant Director, Development Operations

Founded in 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) is America’s oldest conservation and recreation organization. AMC is dedicated to protecting, enjoying, and understating the outdoors. We envision a world where being outdoors is an integral part of people’s lives; where our natural resources are healthy, loved and protected. Working in America’s Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, AMC values respect for all people and nature, lifelong engagement with the outdoors, prepared leadership, intrinsic worth of the outdoors, and fun.  

This position aligns both paid and unpaid staff to move AMC’s mission and four strategic priorities:   

• Inspire joyous, meaningful outdoor experiences  
• Protect critical landscapes for the well-being of people and the outdoors  
• Cultivate and sustain a robust, diverse, and welcoming community  
• Foster equity in the outdoors 

Reporting to the Campaign Director (CD), the Assistant Director, Development Operations (ADDO) is responsible for developing and managing the infrastructure, processes, and procedures to ensure optimal fundraising operations in support of AMC. The ADDO implements financial, technical, and operational systems for the development team related to campaigns, grants, major gifts, planned giving, annual fund, events, stewardship, and budget and annual workplan development. They serve as the technical and fulfillment lead for donors making planned and tribute gifts. The ADDO also serves as a main relationship liaison and point of contact between the development and finance teams. 

What You’ll Be Doing at AMC 

Database Integrity, Reporting, Budgeting  

• Directly supervise the Member & Donor Information Specialist. Oversee the coordination, processing, and recording of donations, ensuring data integrity. 
• Accurately book pledges and secure outstanding pledge revenue. Coordinate pledge reminders. 
• Generate reports and dashboards in database to ensure all areas of the development team can accurately track goals progress. 
• Coordinate with the Controller and others in the finance department to accurately reconcile fundraising results and ensure donor intents are honored. Collaborate to identify causes of any variances and work to resolve discrepancies. 
• Support the coordination of departmental budgets and annual plan development and management. 
• Create office and database systems to support all Development projects and operations. 
• Serve as a departmental Salesforce ‘power user.’ 
• Enforce AMC’s gift acceptance policy. 

Donor Pipeline Development and Prospect Identification  

• Run development operations tracking and identification reports and lists.  
• Conduct preliminary research on new leadership annual fund donors and event attendees, providing recommendations for assignment. 
• Facilitate database screenings, coordinate list pulls, uploads, and verification. 
• Assist individual gifts team in tracking donor interactions, solicitations, and outcomes to measure portfolio progress. 
• Support quarterly portfolio reviews for the individual gifts team by generating reports and executing data clean-up projects. 

Donor Stewardship and Cultivation  

• Ensure prompt and accurate donor acknowledgement by establishing and refining acknowledgment processes, procedures, and benchmarks. Supervise Development Coordinator, Development Operations in execution. 
• Manage the accurate and timely production of all donor rolls, including for the Annual Report, ensuring they are accurate and hew to donor listing preferences. 
• Manage the administration of all active estates and other testamentary gifts including communications with attorneys, fiduciaries, and other advisers. Serve as liaison with gift annuity administrator. Monitor and record all estate and trust activities. Consult with legal counsel as needed to protect AMC’s interests in any estate and trust assets and to facilitate the transfer of said assets. 
• Manage naming opportunities and generate endowment reports. 
• Coordinate in-kind and memorial/tribute donation requests.   
• Draft gift agreements. 

Other (5%) 

• Own and organize regular development team meeting calendar. 
• In coordination with the CDO, serve as a resource for staff onboarding functions.  
• Contribute to the overall success of the department by performing other duties as assigned. 

Supervisory: 

This position manages the Member and Donor Information Specialist and the Development Coordinator, Development Operations. 

What AMC is Looking for  

The successful candidate will be an accomplished fundraising professional who is conscientious, attentive to detail and results-oriented. The ideal candidate will be a positive, collegial team player with the ability to motivate, engage, and work collaboratively at all levels with donors, volunteers, senior staff, colleagues, and similar constituencies. Also needed is an ability to manage multiple tasks, and projects simultaneously; plan, organize, and communicate effectively; work independently; and display excellent oral and written communication skills. Specific qualifications include: 

• Four to seven years of progressive development experience.  
• Demonstrated organizational, logistical, and CRM skills. Experience with Salesforce strongly preferred. 
• Extreme attention to detail and commitment to accuracy. 
• Previous coordination of budgets (projecting revenues and anticipated expenses).  
• Working knowledge of existing IRS and FASB gift receipting regulations. 
• Working familiarity with planned giving and stewardship best practices. 
• Experience developing and analyzing fundraising tracking reports. 
• Experience developing and documenting systems and procedures. 
• Strong manager with ability to motivate others to success. Previous staff supervision experience preferred. 
• Ability to work with confidential donor information. 
• Familiarity with and adherence to high ethical and legal standards of the fundraising profession. 
• Strong interest in outdoor recreation; a willingness to be trained in outdoor leadership skills is a plus. 

What AMC Can Offer You  

Salary range:  $67,454 – $91,016 

We are committed to equitable compensation practices. The initial salary represents our starting point, and our compensation philosophy is designed to reward and recognize the contributions of our employees as they grow within the organization. External candidates typically begin their journey with us at the starting point of the salary range. The final compensation offer will be based on factors such as experience, education, competencies, and geographic differential relevant to the position, and will be discussed during the interview process.