Global Chief Development Officer

Description

Title: Global Chief Development Officer 

Location: Remote, United States

General Description: 

The Global Chief Development Officer (CDO) is the most critical leadership role at Operation Smile, responsible for driving revenue growth and positioning the organization for long-term success in a rapidly evolving philanthropic landscape. As Operation Smile embarks on a comprehensive global campaign, the CDO will lead the transformation of our fundraising strategies to support significant growth over the next five years and beyond. 

The CDO will set both global and U.S. fundraising strategy while aligning efforts across key fundraising markets, including Canada, Australia, Norway, Sweden, Norway, Australia, Ireland, Italy, the UK, and our 37 program countries. They will also maintain a principal gift portfolio with defined revenue targets, directly cultivating and stewarding relationships with top donors and partners to secure transformational gifts. This role will identify new revenue opportunities while modernizing fundraising practices to ensure the organization remains competitive and relevant in a dynamic philanthropic environment. This role will grow the development team to $200M over the next three years. 

The CDO will build and lead a high-performing team, fostering collaboration across internal departments and with external partners, including foundations, corporations, and government entities. This leader will ensure Operation Smile’s fundraising strategies position the organization to meet ambitious financial goals and scale its healthcare programs globally. 

Essential Functions: 

Strategic Leadership and Growth: 

• Develop and implement a global fundraising strategy that aligns with Operation Smile’s strategic objectives and sets the foundation for long-term growth. 
• Establish key priorities for U.S. fundraising and collaborate with partners in Canada, Sweden, Norway, Australia, Ireland, Italy, and the UK to align efforts. 
• Drive innovative approaches to fundraising, ensuring the organization stays at the forefront of emerging trends and opportunities. 
• Position the organization for success in a changing fundraising environment by modernizing processes, leveraging digital tools, and optimizing donor engagement.

Principal Gifts and Portfolio Management: 

• Maintain and grow a personal portfolio of principal gift donors, developing tailored strategies to deepen relationships and achieve annual revenue targets.
• Engage with top donors, corporate partners, and foundations to secure multi-million-dollar gifts and build lasting partnerships.
• Collaborate with board members and leadership to leverage their networks and engage in high-level donor cultivation.

Comprehensive Campaign Leadership: 

• Lead the execution of a transformative multi-year fundraising campaign that will drive significant revenue growth.
• Partner with the executive team to ensure the campaign aligns with programmatic goals, brand priorities, and organizational sustainability.

Talent Management and Team Building: 

• Build, inspire, and manage a diverse and high-performing global fundraising team.
• Develop leadership within the team and cultivate talent through mentorship, coaching, and professional development.
• Collaborate with program teams across 37 countries to strengthen in-country fundraising capacity.

Donor Relations and Partnerships: 

• Cultivate, manage, and deepen relationships with major donors, foundations, corporate partners, and government institutions to secure transformative gifts and grants.
• Collaborate with the Board of Directors and leadership team to engage them in fundraising efforts and leverage their networks effectively.
• Explore new revenue opportunities to build diversified funding streams.
• Leverage familiarity with the digital space to develop innovative fundraising initiatives and enhance donor engagement across multiple channels.

Data-Driven Strategy and Impact Measurement: 

• Establish clear revenue targets and key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor fundraising performance across multiple channels.
• Use data analytics and donor insights to inform strategy and decision-making, ensuring maximum return on investment.
• Continuously assess the effectiveness and efficiency of fundraising efforts, optimizing processes to reduce the cost of fundraising.

Finance: 

• Align fundraising strategies with financial goals to ensure sustainable progr