Senior Director of Advancement

About this role

Department: Alumni Relations and Development
Reporting to: Chief Administrative Officer
Schedule: Full-time, exempt
Location: Remote, United States
Travel required: Approximately 15-25 days per year
Salary: $180,000 annually commensurate with experience

Summary
SSP International, Inc. (SSPI) is an international non-profit organization whose mission is to provide transformational opportunities to learn, do, and belong in science. Our work began in 1959 with the Summer Science Program, an intensive STEM immersion experience for highly motivated high school students.

Today, SSPI brings together young people, scientists, educators, and alumni through a shared commitment to scientific inquiry, collaboration, and belonging. More than 5,000 Summer Science Program alumni are part of our growing community.

Guided by a 10-year strategic plan focused on Scale, Diversify, and Transform, SSPI is building on that foundation to reach more young people and educators in more places. We are expanding access to the Summer Science Program, supporting students through College Link mentorship, and bringing new approaches to science teaching into classrooms through the STEM Learning Institute. We are also developing deeper partnerships across the science and education communities and expanding our international reach. Learn more about our mission, programs, and community at .

The Senior Director of Advancement will serve as SSPI’s senior fundraiser and a member of the leadership team. This position will work closely with the CEO and Board of Directors to adapt, develop, and execute a comprehensive advancement strategy capable of supporting a $1 million annual fundraising goal, while building the infrastructure and relationships necessary for significant future growth.

This is a hands-on senior leadership role that requires both strategic thinking and day-to-day execution. The Senior Director of Advancement will set the overall advancement strategy, while also directly cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major donors and institutional partners. They will oversee a small team and must be comfortable working alongside that team on the daily work of fundraising, from developing donor strategies and preparing proposals to managing prospects, strengthening systems, and following through on opportunities.

The Senior Director will also work closely with the Chief Executive Officer, Board of Directors, program leaders, alumni, scientists, educators, and other ambassadors to expand SSPI’s philanthropic community.

The ideal candidate will bring the perspective of a senior advancement leader from a larger national non-profit, science, or education organization. They have helped shape strategy, led teams, and closed significant gifts. This individual will be expected to build SSPI’s advancement and alumni functions. The successful Senior Director of Advancement:

• Translates organizational strategy into a clear, actionable fundraising strategy, identifying emerging revenue opportunities and assessing their potential and alignment

• Moves fluidly between strategy and hands-on execution, developing multi-year fundraising plans while remaining actively involved in the day-to-day work required to carry them out

• Can translate advancement data and donor trends into strategic recommendations

• Directly manages a portfolio of significant donors and prospects and is comfortable cultivating relationships, making the ask, and closing gifts

• Creates mutually beneficial partnerships between companies and SSPI, with an understanding of corporate priorities including workforce development, STEM education, scientific innovation, and community investment

• Works closely with the CEO as a strategic partner and equips Board members with clear, specific, and achievable engagement opportunities

• Builds and leads a high-performing advancement and alumni relations team in a fully remote environment, coaching staff, setting expectations, and creating a collaborative culture

Essential Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy & Revenue Development

• Adapt and improve SSPI’s advancement strategy and implement a comprehensive annual and multi-year strategy, with a near-term goal of $1 million in annual fundraising while building the pipeline required for future growth

• Develop and execute a balanced and sustainable revenue strategy across major gifts, foundations, corporations, government funding, annual giving, events, and other opportunities

• Align fundraising priorities with SSPI’s 10-year strategic plan, programmatic goals, and growth objectives

• Establish revenue targets, forecasts, and performance measures, using results and emerging trends to guide decisions and adjust strategy

Corporate & Foundation Partnerships

• Build a national corporate partnership strategy and cultivate relationships with corporate giving teams, foundations, and CSR/ESG leaders

• Develop compelling partnership opportunities that connect SSPI’s mission with corporate or foundation priorities

• Support and partner with the Director of Corporate and Foundation Giving to identify, prioritize, cultivate, and solicit high-value prospects, directly engaging senior institutional partners and supporting significant solicitations

• Ensure proposals communicate clear outcomes, compelling evidence of impact, and a strong case for investment

• Increase the proportion of multi-year, unrestricted, and strategically aligned institutional gifts

Alumni Relations & Individual Giving

• Develop an integrated fundraising and engagement strategy for alumni, individuals, families, faculty, and friends of SSPI

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors and prospects, including high-capacity alumni, individuals, and families

• Create a clear pipeline and meaningful pathways for alumni to become donors, ambassadors, mentors, connectors, and advocates through annual and planned giving

• Build a consistent stewardship program that recognizes donors,…