Development Specialist

Development Specialist

NEW YORK, NY/ DEVELOPMENT/ FULL-TIME, UNION

Position: Development Specialist (Level 2)

Reports to: Interim Development Supervisor

Status: Full-time (40 hours per week), exempt

Compensation:The salary range for this position is $68,500 - $86,700 annually, calculated based on relevant experience and degrees

Union: Union position

Start Date: April 21, 2025

Location: Hybrid/Harlem NYC-Based - Mink Building

Travel Requirements:Up to 20 days annually outside the NYC Metro area, including overnight travel; however, most years typically involve 5-10 days of travel.

Work location: This position is primarily remote, with the expectation of attending in-person meetings and program visits 1-2 times per week, as needed.

Summary

BioBus seeks a grant writer and fundraising professional to join our New York City-based Development Team in the position of Development Specialist. This is a union position. The Development Specialist role will focus on grant writing, grant lifecycle stewardship, donor and funder prospect research, and support of the Development Team’s shared goals. The Development Specialist will collaborate with multiple stakeholders as part of our grant seeking strategy, including the other members of the Development Team as well as BioBus’ Executive Team and Directors of Community Science. The ideal candidate will have strong writing, time management, and project management skills, as well as relevant experience. The Development Specialist should expect to be in person more frequently than usual upon initial hire to observe programs and acclimate to the role and BioBus culture. After initial onboarding, the role will transition to mostly remote work aside from quarterly in-person all staff meetings, which last 3–4 days, and other meetings and program visits as needed.

Company Information

BioBus helps K-12 and college students discover, explore, and pursue science. We focus on students excluded from the scientific community due to factors such as race, gender, economic status, and physical access. Through this work, we envision a world where all people have the opportunity to reach their full scientific potential. We’ve reached more than 400,000 students at more than 1,000 schools since 2008, primarily in NYC public and charter schools.

BioBus students connect with scientists from diverse backgrounds, learn lab and research skills, practice science communication, and take steps to become the next generation of scientists and problem-solvers, making the world better for all of us. Our students access and become part of the scientific community through introductory science labs aboard our mobile labs at their schools; after-school, weekend, and summer programs; and year-long internships. Our recent expansion in the Bronx is poised to provide a full pathway of programs for students in the Bronx.

BioBus encourages creativity and creates space for all staff to suggest new programs, new methods, and otherwise have a voice in shaping the direction of their team and the organization. We offer a casual work environment, flexible and hybrid work schedules including remote work, competitive benefits, and a friendly and supportive culture free from excessive hierarchy.

Responsibilities

Grantseeking

• Research, write, edit, and submit letters of inquiry, grant proposals, and grant reports, working across the organization to have a strong understanding of programs and outcomes
• Coordinate activities and materials for fundraising opportunities, by identifying and assigning tasks and completing technical submission for assigned opportunities
• Understand programs and impact, gather stories, and collect information and photos to share with funders and prospects by frequently visiting programs, reviewing evaluations and program data in Salesforce, and meeting with Directors, Execs, and other colleagues

Prospect Research

• Conduct grant/prospect research to identify funding opportunities
• Recommend projects for application, and prioritization of opportunities, as assigned
• Analyze the interests of donors and prospects and help develop and articulate compelling pitches for grants, as assigned

General Support of Development Team Goals

• Provide support for budgets and financial reports, focusing on ensuring budgets and reports meet funder requirements, for assigned opportunities
• Understand BioBus messaging and stories, and maintain a library of standard text, photos, and other materials regularly used for fundraising
• Assist with other fundraising and communications tasks as needed

Requirements

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in fundraising, English, writing, or a nonprofit-related or science field
• 2+ years of relevant work experience
• Good writing skills, including the ability to tell a compelling story while working with tight word limits, write narratives from program outlines, and incorporate qualitative and quantitative data in a writing
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Proficiency in office technology, including word processing, email, data entry and maintenance tools, and calendar management
• Ability to work collaboratively across diverse teams
• Time management skills, ability to work under time constraints
• Willingness to occasionally attend weekend programs
• Willingness to travel locally for programs or meetings across the NYC Metro area, including the five boroughs with occasional local travel to neighboring New Jersey, Connecticut, Long Island and Westchester counties, up to 1-2 days per week as needed
• Willingness to travel up to 20 days per year outside the NYC Metro area such as but not limited to Boston and Albany, including overnight travel

Preferred Qualifications

• Interest or background in science, education, and/or social justice
• Proven success in grant writing, obtaining new and renewal grants and increasing grant awards
• Proficient in grant/prospect research
• Familiarity with Salesforce or similar CRM systems
• Proficient in Google Workspace, including Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Calendar

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $68,500 - $86,700. If hired for this position, your salary offer will be calculated based on the minimum salary of $68,500, with additional pay for relevant years of experience and degrees, if eligible.

Compensation at BioBus is competitive, commensurate with experience, and is in alignment with internal equity. BioBus regularly conducts a thorough study of market-competitive salaries. Our goal is to ensure that pay is fair and competitive for all staff members, both considering the market and considering pay equity among staff in similar roles in the organization. In addition, BioBus offers a very generous health benefits package, Flexible Spending Accounts for medical, childcare and commuter expenses, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) as well as retirement benefits with employer match and employer sponsored life insurance. Benefits preview available here. Additionally, BioBus offers generous time off with pay in order to support a sustainable high performance work culture. Full-time union staff receive 25 vacation days per year, along with time off for up to 16 holidays, five personal days, and 15 sick days. We also offer a paid sabbatical for full time staff after seven years of service.

This position is included in a union-represented collective bargaining unit, and specific terms and conditions of employment are subject to collective bargaining negotiations.

An Equal-Opportunity Employer with a Commitment to Diversity

BioBus seeks to fill this position with someone who shares our values, including our organizational commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, military status, pregnancy, or parenthood. Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every single one of the qualifications as described in a job description. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization and we are most interested in finding the BEST candidate for the job. That candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background, and that’s okay. We would strongly encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of the qualifications described.