Chief Development Officer

Florida Holocaust Museum
Chief Development Officer

Position Specification

Position: Chief Development Officer
Company: Florida Holocaust Museum
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Reporting Relationship: Chief Executive Officer – Carl Goodman
Website: https://www.thefhm.org/

About Florida Holocaust Museum
The Florida Holocaust Museum (FHM) is one of the largest Holocaust museums in the United States with more than 19,000 artifacts in its collection. One of only three such museums accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, The FHM boasts an outstanding collection of contemporary visual art as well as the largest Holocaust research library in the Southeastern United States. Its permanent exhibition highlights the artifacts, photographs, documents, and testimonies of Holocaust Survivors and Liberators who came to settle in Florida.

The Florida Holocaust Museum traces its origins to Tampa Bay area businessman and philanthropist Walter P. Loebenberg’s remarkable journey and vision. Loebenberg escaped Nazi Germany in 1939 and served in the United States Army during World War II. Together with a group of local businesspeople and community leaders, the concept of a living memorial to those who suffered and perished was born. The group enlisted the support of others in the community and were able to involve internationally renowned Holocaust scholars. Thomas Keneally, author of Schindler’s List, joined The FHM’s Board of Advisors, and Elie Wiesel became Honorary Chairman of this Holocaust Center.

In 1992, the Museum rented its first space—one that it would soon outgrow—on the grounds of the Jewish Community Center of Pinellas County, tucked away from the mainstream of Tampa Bay life. Starting with one staff member and a small group of dedicated volunteers, it quickly surpassed all expectations. As a result of this growth, in 1998, the Museum acquired a 27,000 square foot building in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. The current location is home to The FHM’s permanent collection, the revolutionary Dimensions in Testimony exhibit, as well as numerous special exhibitions and its robust educational programs.

In January of 2023, the Museum appointed Carl Goodman as its President and Chief Executive Officer. Carl brings thirty-plus years’ experience in the museum industry and over ten years’ in the most senior leadership staff position of an organization.

About St. Petersburg, Florida
With a metropolitan population of more than three million people across the Tampa Bay region, St. Petersburg hosts more than 270,000 residents and is among the top ten “Best Small American Cities.” It is among the most affordable cities to live in in the United States and reflects the progress and innovation of a metropolitan community with the friendly, caring atmosphere of a small town.

St. Petersburg is developing rapidly. Five institutions of higher education currently call St. Petersburg home and provide programs of academic and intellectual enrichment for the community. There is a focus on wellness, sustainability, and the arts. The city and its environs are the epicenters of an economic boom with a diverse set of restaurants, bars, music venues, and luxury residences.

The city is the arts hub of the Southeast of America with seven unique arts districts. The Florida Holocaust Museum anchors the Central Arts District along with the first permanent collection of the works of Dale Chihuly and The Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement. Additionally, the world-class Dali Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the James Museum are within walking distance.

Home to the third largest downtown water park system, the water is part of everyday life, and the city is home to the largest network of cycling and pedestrian trails in the South. St. Petersburg is a place to make a home, with a cost-of-living below the national average.

Position Summary and Responsibilities
The Chief Development Officer (CDO) is responsible for leading Florida Holocaust Museum’s philanthropy team to achieve its development goals and will implement strategies to raise awareness of The FHM’s mission. This organizational leader will work with the Museum’s Board and President & Chief Executive Officer to increase contributions, engage lapsed donors, oversee the completion of a capital campaign and broaden its existing donor base.

Specific responsibilities will include, but are not limited to the following:

Executive Leadership
Develop and implement a comprehensive, integrated strategic development plan with a focus on major giving, institutional donors, trusts and foundations, and corporate partnerships.
Partner with the President & Chief Executive Officer to plan and realize clear short-term realistic, challenging, and long-range income targets and metrics.
Build and engage an active development council/fundraising committee.
Serve as a partner to the President/CEO and senior staff and serve as the internal lead of Board-level Gala Committees, making sure they are appropriately involved with major donor work.
Collaborate with other members of the senior leadership team to ensure coordination of processes and procedures across divisions.
Create quarterly goals and objectives.
Strategize and develop regional implementation plans for programs/services/events, balancing priorities and competing needs.
Ensure The FHM is strategic, coherent, and compelling in its engagement of supporters, partners, and other key audiences.

Revenue Generation
Create and develop mutually beneficial, long-term, and innovative corporate partnerships focused on both the Museum itself and on specific programming.
Determine appropriate strategies for cultivation and solicitation of major, unrestricted gifts.
Integrate systems to maintain donor and corporate partner communication and engagement through events, meetings, teleconferences, reports, etc.
Oversee the execution of a capital campaign to facilitate major building improvements, technology projects, the development and implementation of new Collections and the Preservation & Research Center, enhanced security measures, the expansion of the Museum’s endowment, and reserve funds to guarantee the future of the Museum’s educational programs and resources.
Strategically leverage the time of the CEO and a dynamic and passionate Board to meet aggressive fundraising targets; support and develop the capacity of the Board to achieve development goals.
Develop evaluation methodology to monitor programmatic results and develop revised plans as needed.
Assess and further integrate a planned giving strategy for the Museum, targeting legacy gifts capable of making measurable impact for the institution.
Collaborate with the Director of Communications to create and deploy a comprehensive branding strategy that aligns with a strategic development plan to forward the mission of The FHM; build clear messaging and narratives that cut across and unify various dimensions of The FHM’s work for potential donors and supporters.

Staff and Operational Management
Oversee and serve as the responsible officer for all development staff, including three direct reports, with attention to quality of performance, job satisfaction, and professional development.
Hire divisional staff and ensure staff are appropriately trained and provided with applicable position KPI’s and priorities.
Serve as one of four members of the senior management team, collaborating with other functional leaders at The FHM for the advancement of the institution.
Review existing divisional capabilities and play a lead role in developing more efficient structures, processes, and staff to improve deliverables as needed.
Oversee budgets to ensure proper use of funds and to manage costs where applicable.

Partner and Volunteer Engagement
Partner closely with community leaders to create and implement a strategy directed at enhancing FHM’s presence and successful fundraising.
Encourage and support professionalism and leadership skill development of volunteer leaders.
Consult with Vice Chair of Development in the creation of divisional strategy, goals, priorities and services, and selection of key staff.
Ensure The FHM is strategic, coherent, and compelling in its engagement of supporters, partners, and other key audiences.
Required Qualifications and Experience

Six-plus years of demonstrated experience in fundraising/development.
Experience leading multi-year campaigns and soliciting capital gifts.
Proven experience cultivating and soliciting major gift support.
Ability to identify opportunities for innovation and implement changes successfully and expeditiously.
Demonstrated experience developing and executing a strategic development plan and organizational branding initiative.
Strong leadership and management skills, along with the ability to interact positively with all levels of the organization, community and with business and political leaders.

Direct experience working effectively with boards, senior management teams, and external partners in development initiatives.
The ability to effectively navigate international, large, complex, and matrixed organizations.
The ability to recruit, train, motivate, lead, mentor, delegate, and provide direction to development staff.
Financial and operational acumen including the drivers of growth, return on investment, and experience developing and managing budgets.
Significant technological savvy and experience working within CRM’s and related technologies within a fundraising environment.
Supervisory Responsibilities

Full-Time Direct reports to the Chief Development Officer include the following:
Strategic Advancement Position (open)
Database Manager & Development Associate
Additional Part-Time and Contract under the supervision of the Chief Development Officer include the following:
Grant Writer
Events Consultant
Lobbying Firm
Editorial Director
Additional Key Relationships

Volunteer:
Board of Directors
Vice Chair, Development Committee
Education
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution is required. A master’s or advanced degree or CFRE certification preferred.

Apply
Please send your resume and cover letter to: FHMChiefDevelopmentOfficer@kornferry.com

The Florida Holocaust Museum is an equal opportunity employer, we aspire to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. We encourage all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characters protected by law. We believe that building a workforce of the brightest people from the widest possible range of backgrounds, we can innovate and inspire and engage with the widest possible audience.