Chief Development Officer, WestEd

Overview

WestEd is a national, non-profit, non-partisan organization working at the nexus of education research, policy and practice to promote excellence, achieve equity, and improve learning for children, youth, and adults. In pursuit of this ambitious mission, WestEd develops and disseminates high impact, high quality, and high utility research-based knowledge to education and other communities. The organization employs deeply mission-oriented professionals –- many of whom are recognized experts in issues ranging from school and district improvement and assessment, technology-enhanced learning, STEM, youth resiliency and health, school climate, literacy, and early childhood development and education –- thereby enabling WestEd to understand, communicate effectively, and collaborate with a diverse clientele. Committed to making a significant, positive impact with and for its clients, WestEd works with policy makers and practitioners, crafting and using the best available research to meaningfully influence lives of infants, children, youth, and adults.

With operating revenues of $124 million and over 600 employees deployed across 16 U.S. offices, WestEd’s reach and impact is vast; the organization, working at the local, state, and federal levels for more than four decades, operates twelve distinct programs, develops and disseminates products, and provides a wide range of services, including in the areas of evaluation, research, and intervention strategies -– in partnerships with schools, districts, education agencies, foundations, policymakers, and others also committed to education improvement and reform and human development. For more detailed information about the agency, its history, programs, governance, staff, leadership, products, and services, visit our agency website: WestEd.org and/or review our Annual Reports.

Position

WestEd is seeking a Chief Development Officer (CDO) to build on the strengths and successes of its institutional development division, creating and implementing a comprehensive, diverse, and strategic resource development plan.

Specifically, the CDO will be responsible for:

• aggressively identifying and securing new sources of revenue and resources;
• developing and implementing new systems to recognize and capitalize on business opportunities, new channels for revenue streams, and new ways of leveraging existing resources;
• analyzing and interpreting market data to inform longer-term forecasting and goal setting;
• aligning resource development strategies with current program resources and capabilities;
• partnering with agency leadership and institutional development teams to prepare and implement multi-year, programmatic, strategic, and financial plans for the division;
• developing new partnerships and strengthening existing relationships with influential members of the government, education, social services, foundation and business communities;
• developing and managing institutional development staff performance and instituting strong accountability systems and professional development plans;
• leading the institutional development department staff in a manner that enables integrated, collaborative, and effective productivity throughout the organization and supports and empowers the work of the entire team;
• effectively deploying resources to support efficient and high quality proposal development; and,
• serving as a local, regional, and national spokesperson for WestEd, upholding the strong reputation the organization enjoys while enhancing agency visibility and stature in the broader educational and social services communities.

Requisite Qualifications

This position offers a unique opportunity for a tested leader to reshape an already-successful development operation into one even more strategic, sustainable, proactive and innovative -– an effort that will, in turn, further expand and enhance WestEd’s scope, brand, and impact. The agency’s next Chief Development Officer must be an exceptional, results-oriented leader, with an established professional network and a proven track record winning contracts and grants, developing new systems and services, working collaboratively internally, forging productive partnerships, and managing large scale, complex initiatives.

Additionally, the successful candidate will bring the following experience, skills, and personal characteristics to the role:

Experience:

• a multi-year track record of senior-level success leading and securing resource development for a research and development agency or other, relevant organization;
• demonstrable, successful experience in change management, contributing to the growth of an organization -– including institutional development, systems creation, and cross-division relationships;
• senior-level experience in a role in which success requires influencing internal and external constituents in the absence of formal supervisory authority;
• experience as a manager skilled in prioritizing, giving productive feedback, delegating, and making decisions across multiple projects in the face of aggressive deadlines; and,
• advanced degree/degrees in areas related to WestEd’s mission and work, and/or, extensive, validated, and relevant professional credentials, experience, and success.

The ability to:

• use people management skills to create and articulate a vision and lead others to execute against it;
• help maintain collective focus on overall performance of the organization;
• demonstrate superb analytical thinking and decision making abilities;
• make appropriate linkages across complex issues and lead through ambiguity to clarity;
• communicate persuasively and articulately to facilitate discussions and engage others in collective problem solving and collaboration;
• demonstrate excellent communication, listening, presentation and interpersonal skills;
• operate effectively as an executive at both strategic and tactical levels;
• demonstrate strong financial analysis skills, proven budget development and management experience, and facility with financial statements;
• appropriately scope projects and work plans and allocate resources accordingly; and
• demonstrate excellent and proactive planning and project management skills;

Personal Characteristics:

• attraction to a mission-driven yet results-oriented organization which believes in doing important, good work well;
• commitment to working with people of diverse backgrounds, cultures, and socioeconomic levels;
• appreciation of and professional orientation toward exemplary client service;
• comfort with ambiguity; and
• a managerial and operating style well-suited to WestEd –- where collaboration, collegiality, humility, civility, and commitment to high-quality work product are highly valued.

Colleague and Reporting Relationships

The WestEd CDO works as a member of a collaborative, six-person agency Executive Team, reports directly to the agency’s Chief Executive Officer, and manages what is currently an eight-member institutional development department team.

Compensation

The salary for the CDO position is highly competitive and commensurate with experience. Notably, WestEd has been recognized consistently among the Best Places to Work in the Bay Area. Our agency provides a generous, competitive benefit package, including health insurance, employee leave, and retirement contributions. For
more information, see: benefits.

Location

San Francisco, CA (WestEd Headquarters)

To Apply

The review of candidate applications will begin immediately. They must be submitted electronically prior to Friday, March 23, 2012, and should include a cover letter and resume. Applications or inquiries about the position and/or the search process should be directed to the executive recruitment team managing this search:

Monisha Lozier, Partner & Leslie Nair, Associate Partner
Bellwether Education Partners — Bellwether
via: leslie@bellwethereducation.org