Title: Associate Vice President, US Development & Strategy 

Location: Remote, United States

Travel: Ability to travel for donor meetings, conferences, and international program site visits 20-40%. 

General Description: 

The AVP of US Development and Strategy will lead and manage Operation Smile’s comprehensive fundraising efforts in the United Staters, overseeing major gifts, mid-level giving, planned giving, and prospect research to meet a total annual goal of $14,460,000. This role requires strategic leadership, hands-on management, and collaborative coordination with internal teams and external partners to fuel the organization’s mission. The AVP will manage budgets, support cross-functional initiatives, and drive donor engagement strategies across giving levels to support Operation Smile’s global impact. 

Key Responsibilities: 

Team Leadership & Portfolio Oversight 

• Develop a high-performance culture focused on meeting and exceeding revenue goals. 
• Support and guide team members in portfolio management, including prospect assignment and pipeline development. 
• Provide professional development opportunities and manage team performance through regular feedback and metrics-based evaluations. 
• Manage team budgets, ensuring efficient use of resources to maximize fundraising impact. 
• Collaborate with the VP of US Development and Strategy on revenue forecasts, budget planning, and strategic fundraising initiatives. 
• Coordinate interdepartmental projects and maintain strong working relationships with the Brand, Mass Market Fundraising, Data & Analytics, and Finance teams to align fundraising efforts with broader organizational goals. 

Supervise and mentor the following teams: 

• Development Directors (Major Gifts Team): 6 Team Members | $5,240,000 annual goal 
• Mid-Level Giving Team: 5 Team Members/1 Direct Report | $1,520,000 annual goal 
• Planned Giving Team: 2 Team Members/1 Direct Report | $7,700,000 annual goal 
• Prospect Researcher: 1 Team Member and Direct Report | Provides data and insights to support portfolio management 

Major Gifts Management 

• Lead the Major Gifts Team to cultivate, solicit, and steward high-level donors, with a focus on securing 5- to 6-figure gifts. 
• Manage a personal portfolio of high-value donors with an annual fundraising goal of $1.5–2M. 
• Ensure Development Directors maintain healthy donor pipelines through regular portfolio reviews in partnership with the Prospect Researcher. 
• Support Development Directors in preparing proposals, conducting in-person donor visits, and making telephone or in-person asks. 
• Leverage internal networks—including board members, founders, volunteers, and staff—to engage potential major donors. 
• Develop strategies to move donors up the giving ladder and maintain a robust outreach and solicitation calendar. 

Mid-Level Giving Strategy 

• Oversee the Mid-Level Giving Specialists to engage donors at the $1,000–$4,999 level, ensuring a smooth transition of donors between mid-level and major gift portfolios.
• Provide strategic guidance on personalized outreach efforts to increase donor retention and upgrade giving levels.
• Collaborate with the Mass Market Fundraising team to identify mid-level donor prospects from the broader donor pool.
• Monitor metrics and outcomes for the mid-level team, ensuring they meet the $1,520,000 annual goal. 

Planned Giving Program 

• Manage the Planned Giving Team to secure legacy and estate gifts, with an annual goal of $7,700,000. 
• Provide strategic oversight of planned giving outreach and marketing efforts to increase awareness and participation.
• Support the development of personalized legacy giving proposals and maintain strong relationships with planned giving donors.
• Collaborate with the Finance team to ensure accurate reporting and tracking of planned gifts. 
• Integrate planned giving strategies into major and mid-level donor conversations to promote multi-level giving opportunities.

Prospect Research and Data Management 

• Oversee the Prospect Researcher to ensure donor pipelines are informed by accurate and actionable insights. 
• Conduct quarterly portfolio reviews to assess progress and reassign prospects as needed to ensure balanced portfolios.
• Utilize CRM systems to monitor metrics, run reports, and forecast revenue to inform strategy and budgeting. 
• Ensure all teams use the CRM system effectively to track donor interactions and manage relationships.

Collaboration and Cross-Functional Partnerships 

• Coordinate with internal teams—including Brand, Mass Market Fundraising, Student Programs, Events, and Data & Analytics—to align fundraising efforts with strategic initiatives. 
• Work closely with agency partners and vendors to support campaigns and special initiatives. 
• Partner with the Founders and key stakeholders to engage their networks and cultivate donor relationships. 
• Collaborate with the Events team to plan donor engagement events, including donor site visits to Operation Smile programs. 

Reporting and Performance Management 

• Prepare regular reports on fundraising performance, including bi-monthly, monthly, and quarterly updates for the VP of US Development and Strategy.
• Track progress against annual goals and recommend adjustments to strategies to ensure targets are met. 
• Manage the development and delivery of presentations for board meetings and internal planning sessions. 
• Lead recurring team meetings and ensure alignment on priorities, outreach strategies, and performance metrics.

Qualifications 

• 10-12 years of experience in fundraising, sales, or business development; global nonprofit experience strongly preferred. 
• Proven ability to lead high-performing teams and meet ambitious revenue targets. 
• Experience as a key player in a $100M+ campaign, demonstrating success both as an individual contributor and in leading, motivating, and empowering a team to achieve collective goals is a plus. 
• Experience managing portfolios, cultivating donor relationships, and securing 5- to 6-figure gifts. 
• Strong understanding of planned giving, mid-level giving, and major gift strategies. 
• High proficiency with CRM systems (e.g., BBCRM, Blackbaud) and Microsoft Office tools. 
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage high-level donors and stakeholders. 
• Strong collaboration and relationship-building skills across departments and with external partners. 
• Ability to travel for donor meetings, conferences, and international program site visits 20-40%. 
• Experience working in a global environment with cultural sensitivity and adherence to international policies. 

This is an exciting opportunity to lead a dynamic fundraising team and play a pivotal role in advancing Operation Smile’s mission. If you are a strategic leader with a passion for philanthropy and a proven track record of success, we encourage you to apply!  

Why Operation Smile?

Meaningful Work - At Operation Smile, you will engage in meaningful work that transforms lives, providing essential medical care to children and contributing to global health and well-being. 

A Brighter Future - Make saving for the future easy with Operation Smile’s 401(k) plan, featuring Safe Harbor and employer matching. Cha-ching!

Happy and Healthy - Kick back and relax with Operation Smile's all-in-one health plans! We've got your health, pharmacy, dental, and vision needs covered for you and your loved ones. No worries, just smiles!

Worry-Free Insurance - Enjoy true peace of mind with 100% paid premiums for life and AD&D insurances. We've got you covered, no matter what!

Take Your Time (Off) - Start with 15 days of paid time off in your first year plus celebrate with company-paid holidays! More time for fun and relaxation. 

Work it, Flex it - Enjoy flexible work arrangements that fit your lifestyle, with remote, on-site, and hybrid work arrangements.

Travel Minus Stress - See the world through our unique employee programs, which offer opportunities to participate in international medical trips, community outreach, and global health initiatives. 

Disclaimer: The information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees in this role. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications. Operation Smile is an EOE/Veterans/Disabled/LGBT employer. Operation Smile is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable law.