Careers

Considering a Museum Career?

Unlock your passion and join us at the #1 Western Museum in the United States, Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West. Explore exciting career opportunities that blend art, history, and culture to preserve and showcase the vibrant heritage of the Southwest.

Thank you for your interest in Western Spirit. Feel free to send your resume and cover letter expressing your career goals or desired role to hr@westernspirit.org. Additionally we are actively seeking candidates for the following role.

 

Position: Director of Development

Type: Full time

 

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of Development is a relationship builder of the highest integrity and an articulate and persuasive communicator. Energized by working in the community, the Director of Development will be a passionate, visible, and informed advocate for the Western Spirit Museum effectively engaging existing and potential supporters in its mission and programs. Comfortably balancing both relationship-oriented and task-focused responsibilities, the Director of Development will structure compelling opportunities for support to positively impact the organization’s long-term success.

 

This is a unique opportunity to serve on the museum’s leadership team, working with a cadre of talented colleagues and committed Board of Trustees at a nimble, creative museum, overseeing current fundraising efforts, including individual and corporate giving, annual fund, major gifts, and museum sponsorships.

 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

  • In close collaboration with the CEO, Director of Operations, members of the Development Committee, Board of Trustees and senior staff develop and implement a strategy for the financial support of the Museum including objectives and metrics for annual and multi-year development goals.
  • Execute on specific fundraising goals, identify new opportunities, employ new approaches, and aggressively execute them. Solicits gifts, donations, and other forms of support.
  • Cultivate, steward, and solicit a portfolio of individual and corporate donors helping build a healthy funnel of major donor leads.
  • Build a robust and a comprehensive plan to maintain and increase upper-level donations, promoting a culture of philanthropy.
  • Deliver creative and compelling fundraising and cultivation events.
  • Effectively manage research, information, and organization for major donor efforts. Maintain a robust donor database.
  • Create and implement a strategic plan for annual fundraising including working with the marketing team on strategies, solicitation schedules and the publication process.
  • Research, identify and cultivate new and established philanthropic sources, including individuals, businesses, foundations. and government agencies.
  • Track contributed revenue within the company database (Blackbaud Altru) including database gift entry, pledged gifts, and progress toward specific projects, campaigns & appeals.
  • Acknowledge Individuals, Corporations, and Foundations for donations, in-kind contributions, and grants, using mailed or digital communications.
  • Work closely with Operations department to track program and exhibition KPI’s for reporting on the impact of grant and other contribution support.
  • Serve as staff liaison to the Development Committee of the Board of Trustees.
  • Regularly attend Museum events and programs to develop and cultivate positive professional relationships with donors, trustees, members and the public.

 

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

  • Minimum of five years’ comprehensive experience in a non-profit, preferably in a museum, cultural arts institution or corporation in Arizona.
  • Demonstrated success in soliciting individual donors, major or planned gifts with a track record of building donor relationships and success in closing gifts in a six-figure range.
  • Demonstrated success in building a solicitation calendar and communication plan that supports annual giving patterns.
  • Value diversity and inclusion, and the ability to work across teams and engage a variety of stakeholders.
  • Exceptional strategic, analytical, organizational and decision-making skills with high attention to detail.
  • Enthusiastic self-starter, highly competitive with an ability to engage in self-evaluation regarding leadership, performance, and professional growth and work independently with moderate supervision.
  • The ability to be flexible and make thoughtful independent decisions in a fast-paced environment.
  • Persuasive and articulate communicator and active listener with strong written and presentation skills.
  • Excellent relationship-building skills, both externally and internally, and the ability to effectively represent the Museum in all venues.
  • Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel. Power Point, Outlook), and CRM databases is required.

 

WORK SCHEDULE

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm. Additional work hours may be necessary, including evening and weekend hours due to special events and programs scheduled at the museum or in the community. The responsibilities and required interactions of this position are not conducive to virtual work arrangements. This person must reside relatively near the Museum.

 

PHYSICAL MENTAL SENSORY DEMANDS

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that a Director of Development encounters while performing the essential functions of the role:

 

Climate controlled art museums with display galleries. standard offices, museum shops, and other non-public spaces. Work is performed primarily indoors and occasionally outdoors at the Museum, however there will be occasions where work is performed outside the Museum in public spaces such as companies, restaurants, event venues,

private homes, offices and meeting rooms.

 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to receive oral and written instructions in English and to clearly communicate in English in person, over the telephone, through email and through other electronic means. The employee is required to move about their work area, between galleries and storage areas, ascend and descend stairs; and stand and/or sit for extended periods of time. The employee is occasionally required to lift, drag and/or move up to 15 pounds unassisted. The employee is required to identify, observe, and assess visually and comply with Museum health and safety-related protocols.

 

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with different abilities to perform the essential functions to the extent the Western Spirit may do so without undue hardship. The term “qualified individual with a disability” means an individual who with or without reasonable accommodation can perform the essential

functions of the position.

 

SALARY

The salary range for this position is $85,000 – $95,000 based on experience. Variable

comp plan possible.

 

BENEFITS

The Museum provides a comprehensive program of benefits that includes:

  • Paid time-off and holidays
  • Medical, dental & vision insurance
  • Short Term/Long Term Disability insurances
  • Retirement Plan

 

INTERESTED APPLICANTS

We are committed to an inclusive workplace and actively seek to employ a diverse

group of people who embody our organizational values. We welcome and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected status.

 

Please send a resume and cover letter addressed to Shannon Barrett, Director of Human Resources at sbarrett@westernspirit.org. Submissions will be reviewed and considered as received.