Director of Development

Partners for Rural Impact’s (PRI) ultimate goal is for an America where all kids are successful, regardless of zip code, income, background, or ability. At PRI, our focus is on ensuring that all children in rural places achieve success. Partners for Rural Impact was born out of our place-based partnership in Appalachia, where we’ve worked for 25 years to create student opportunity and success.

Position Summary

The Director of Development is a newly created position reporting to the Vice President (VP) of Funding Infrastructure. This role is designed to fulfill three key purposes: (1) supporting rural organizations through training and technical assistance as they seek funding opportunities, develop proposals, and operationalize funding; (2) working with PRI team members to secure funding across various sources, with a particular emphasis on private dollars to advance PRI’s mission of accelerating outcomes for rural youth from Cradle to Career; and (3) collaborating with PRI team members and affiliates to develop, implement, and refine proposal processes.

A critical aspect of this position is expanding access to funding opportunities for rural organizations nationwide, ensuring that those working to improve outcomes in their communities are informed and prepared to apply for available resources. The Director will play a key role in supporting the VP in developing diverse funding proposals while independently preparing just-in-time project and proposal summaries for PRI leadership in response to private funder requests. Additionally, the Director will design and deliver webinars and training sessions to enhance rural organizations' awareness of funding opportunities and strengthen their capacity to apply for and implement funding successfully.

The position leads and operates with the goal that All Rural Students Succeed.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each primary duty satisfactorily. The requirements of the position are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required, with regular and predictable attendance essential. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Strategy & Leadership Support

• Serve as a thought partner to the VP in developing strategies to secure funding for PRI and rural organizations nationwide working to improve outcomes for rural students from Cradle to Career
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to refine PRI’s long-term infrastructure for proposal development, submission, and operationalization
• Assist the VP in developing a five-year funding strategy for Partners for Rural Impact

Rural Field Building

• Support the VP in efforts to assist rural organizations in strengthening their capacity to design, secure, and operationalize funding opportunities
• Co-create virtual support—such as webinars and training sessions—with the VP for rural communities and serve as a trainer for these initiatives
• Build and nurture relationships with rural networks and aligned groups to identify and address their needs through training, technical assistance, coaching, and other tailored supports
• Share funding opportunities with rural partners to support their efforts along the cradle-to-career continuum
• Provide coaching and support to rural organizations as they seek, secure, and implement funding for the first time
• Coordinate gatherings at PRI events related to funders and supported rural organizations
• Support PRI leadership in refining existing structures to streamline the flow of funds to rural organizations, ensuring a transparent and efficient process
• Collaborate with the VP to co-design opportunities with agencies and organizations that will help channel funds to rural organizations focused on accelerating outcomes for rural children and youth

Funding Expertise

• Work with PRI leadership to identify funding opportunities that align with PRI’s mission and metrics, and recommend which opportunities PRI should pursue
• Support senior leadership in converting relationships into fundable proposals that align with PRI’s mission and funders’ goals
• Co-design proposals with the CEO and VP, and engage with potential funders to align PRI’s vision with their expectations
• Develop proposals and manage submission timelines and processes in collaboration with large, often cross-organizational teams
• Create and manage systems and tools for information sharing to track project status and ensure timely completion of delegated tasks
• Serve as a senior writer on proposals of all types and sizes in collaboration with the VP
• Provide guidance and support to teams of contractual proposal developers and writers as directed by the VP
• Independently develop project and proposal summaries and other materials related to funder requests
• Collaborate with other PRI professionals to develop high-quality proposals, including editing, design (e.g., graphics), and mock review

• Other roles/duties will be assigned as necessary to assist and support in the attainment of our mission, All Rural Students Succeed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education required to ensure success in this position:

• A bachelor's degree is required
• A Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and/or Grant Professionals Certified (GPC) credential is preferred.

Experience required to ensure success in this position:

• At least 10 years of blended public and private funding development experience.
• Demonstrated success in securing awards of all types is preferred, including large private and federal awards.
• At least 5 years of experience training and supporting others who seek to develop, write, and submit funding proposals. Training may include a mix of internal/organizational and forward-facing training for groups of assorted sizes.

Special skills, knowledge and abilities:

• Demonstrated knowledge of funding agencies and process/protocols of proposal submission.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; ability to cater language and tone to diverse audiences; and flexibility to use a variety of platforms to share ideas.
• Demonstrated project management experience with a focus on systems alignment.
• Highly proficient writing and editing skills.
• Highly proficient graphics skills related to document development (e.g., logic models, graphs)
• Superior organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to cross boundaries of race, class, ethnic origin, and personal philosophy; capacity to work effectively with a broad range of constituencies.
• The skills to effectively represent the organization in meetings for sharing knowledge, collaborating, and building partnerships.
• The ability to work with deadlines and balance competing priorities

License, certification, or registration necessary:

• Valid driver’s license
• Successfully complete pre-employment background check

Physical requirements:

• Ability to work in a high energy office
• Ability to accurately communicate and exchange information with partners, stakeholders, and/or meeting participants
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 lbs
• Ability to travel independently by car and plane regionally and nationally
• Ability to operate standard office equipment
• Ability to operate motor vehicle

Environmental conditions:

• Work in a fast-paced setting with frequent interruptions and shifting priorities