Senior Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer

The National Aquarium opened in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1981 as a nonprofit aquatic education and conservation organization, the jewel of the city's Inner Harbor redevelopment, which became known as "Baltimore's miracle." With a mission to inspire conservation of the world's aquatic treasures, it is considered one of the nation's top three aquaria and has served over 40 million guests since opening.

In 2003, the successful Baltimore facility was invited by the original National Aquarium, which had been housed in the Commerce Building in Washington, DC since 1932, to merge operations, thus creating a truly national institution with two venues and over 1.5 million annual visitors.

Together, the National Aquarium's two venues hold living collections of more than 16,000 animals representing more than 660 species of fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals living in award-winning, naturalistic habitats. The Aquarium's field conservation and educational outreach teams go well beyond the facility's walls to offer transforming experiences throughout the region. Over 70,000 school children are touched by educational programs annually, while the conservation team and its volunteers have restored over 150 acres of Chesapeake Bay wetlands and planted over one million native plants and trees.

An economic engine for both of its host cities, the National Aquarium's annual economic impact is greater than $330 million, and it creates over 3,300 jobs and attracts nearly 1.6 million visitors annually. Moreover, as the Nation's aquarium, the organization is dedicated to promoting science-based conservation action to address critical issues that impact marine and coastal ecosystems. With over 1000 volunteers and 60,000 members, the National Aquarium is focused on changing the way the world views oceans and aquatic systems by instilling a sense of urgency around protecting the planet's life support system. In service of this, the Aquarium has launched a ten-year, $50 million public and private capital campaign program to renovate and energize both facilities.

Position Overview:

The Senior Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer (SVP) represents a strategic and important leadership role in National Aquarium. The SVP should bring a sophisticated and innovative capacity to leverage the National Aquarium's unique brand as a conservation leader to raise significant philanthropic resources including foundation, major donors and corporations.

In addition to providing internal leadership, the SVP will expand the reach and influence of the organization through interactions with public, private, and philanthropic leaders. The SVP should be an individual who thrives on working with leaders who are passionate about investing in the organization's mission and vision. A critical priority for the SVP will be to successfully execute a $50 million campaign, now underway, to raise much-needed support for Capital improvements.

The SVP should have a proven track record of success leading capital campaigns, working with high net worth individuals and possessing a demonstrated capacity to engage a high powered nonprofit board of private and public sector leaders. The SVP will work with his/her peers to create an alignment among the key functions within National Aquarium.

Moreover, the SVP must be a motivating leader and team-builder, serving a crucial role in shaping strategy, representing the Aquarium in many external relations areas, and supporting the interests of the Board. In this role, the SVP will need to be a person eager to work in an innovative, entrepreneurial and high energy, results-oriented organization. The SVP must cultivate strong and cooperative working partnerships with major foundations, individuals of high net worth, corporate leaders and other partners, and have the presence and stature to engage the highest levels of leadership with these individuals and these organizations. Reporting to the SVP will be the current development staff, including the Senior Directors of Annual Giving and Institutional Giving.

Responsibilities: 

The broad goals for the SVP include:

• Provide strategic leadership, inspiration, planning, and oversight for all the fundraising and donor recruitment efforts.

• In conjunction with the CEO and Campaign Committee leadership as well as outside counsel, launch the public phase of the $50 million capital campaign and bring it to successful completion by 2015.

• Refine and renew the Aquarium's major donor programs, including the design and execution of annual giving programs and development of near- and long-term major donor strategies.

• Explore and implement opportunities for creative partnerships and philanthropic investment opportunities that promote investment at a greater scale in all areas of the National Aquarium's work.

• Work in close partnership with the CEO and other senior management in order to ensure a working culture for all staff that is positive, creative, and highly collegial.

• Provide oversight and leadership of the Department Program.

• Work closely with the other C-level members of the executive leadership team in setting strategies and business planning for the entire National Aquarium enterprise.

Qualifications: 

The SVP should ideally embody the following professional qualifications and personal attributes:

Professional Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to develop relationships with and raise funds from major donors, and to coach and lead others (staff and volunteers) in major donor work.

• A record of success in developing and sustaining a comprehensive fundraising program, preferably including major donors, direct mail, e-philanthropy, foundations, c, and corporations.

• Experience conceiving and implementing a successful national capital campaign.

• Effective management and leadership ability, including the ability to manage people and to work together with other parts of the organization.

• Experience working and thriving in close partnership with an engaged Board of Directors.

• Experience working with complex budgets, possessing sophisticated financial analytical skills and an interest in evaluation and performance measurement metrics.

• Ability to generate and deliver clear and persuasive oral and written communications.

• Ability to inspire trust, to organize people into teams and to motivate team members to work well together. 

Personal Attributes

• Passionate commitment to the National Aquarium's mission.

• Ability to listen to others and learn from their best ideas.

• Intellectual curiosity, coupled with an innovative and entrepreneurial drive.

• Flexibility, an ability to give credit and recognition to others.

• Impeccable integrity, high energy level, and the possession of a sense of humor. 

Compensation: Compensation for the Senior Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer includes a competitive base salary, incentive bonus plan and an excellent package of health and other employee benefits.

To Apply:

Please click below: "Apply Now Online!" to submit a resume and cover letter that explains how your skills and background fit this position. Type "Daniel Sherman, President, Explore Company / National Aquarium/SVP" in the subject line.

No phone inquiries, please.

~ The National Aquarium is committed to diversity and invites individuals who bring a diversity of culture, experience and ideas to apply. All correspondence will remain confidential. The National Aquarium is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ~