Director of Development and Communications (Peninsula School, Menlo Park, CA)

LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY (STRATEGENIUS ON BEHALF OF PENINSULA SCHOOL)

Peninsula School, a leader in progressive education, is seeking an experienced, highly relational, and inspiring fundraising and advancement professional to join them as the Director of Development and Communications. Founded in 1925 and coming up on its centennial anniversary, Peninsula is a preschool through eighth-grade school where children thrive and develop to their full promise as confident contributors in the world. At Peninsula, children learn about themselves and others, discover their passions, and grow intellectually in an inclusive community rich with choices, exploration, and play. In addition to intellectual, development, and social and emotional learning (SEL), Peninsula School has an explicit focus on educating for democracy, student choice and voice, and social justice.

Reporting to new Head of School, Johanna Aeschliman, the Director will energize the school’s development efforts to help bring to fruition the aspirations of the school. The Director will be experienced in development and fundraising, specifically, annual giving, capital campaigns, major donor cultivation, and endowment. As the school nears its centennial, the Director will be part of a collaborative team and community ready to grow its culture of philanthropy to help meet its strategic goals, including launching a capital campaign to fund important campus renewal projects.

The Position

The role requires the Director of Development and Communications to initiate fundraising and communications strategies that are steeped in the school’s strategic plan, mission, vision, and values and create strategies that will bring those goals to fruition. The Director of Development and Communications will lead all aspects of a capital campaign, which aims to raise funds in conjunction with its centennial celebration. The Director of Development and Communications works collaboratively with the Head of School, administrators, the Board Development Committee, and, as needed, consultants, to clearly craft and articulate fundraising goals, opportunities, and communications that celebrate the school’s unique program and vision.

The Director of Development and Communications serves as a member of the School’s Senior Leadership Team along with the Director of Instruction and Belonging, Director of Admissions and Enrollment, Director of Finance and Operations, and Director of Facilities. This is a 12-month, full-time position working closely with the Head of School and the Development Committee of the Board of Trustees to provide leadership, thought partnership, strategic thinking and planning, and skilled execution of initiatives. Three staff members report to (and share an open office space with) the Director, including the Annual Giving and Alumni Relations Specialist, Communications Specialist, and Events Coordinator, who all work in concert to support the development efforts of the school. The next Director of Development will be a leader in nurturing a culture of philanthropy and building broad and deep relationships with the school and external community. Peninsula is always seeking ways of making the School more inclusive, diverse, and equitable, and the Director must support this mission wholeheartedly through a commitment to the School’s mission, vision, and values.

Applications are being accepted for immediate consideration.

For more information on the position and instructions on HOW TO APPLY, view the full Opportunity Statement at https://www.strategenius.org/opportunity-peninsula-school-dir-development-communications.