Director of Development

FLSA Status:  Exempt – Full Time

Pay Range:     65K-80K

SUMMARY:

The Director of Development is a senior development leader responsible for designing and executing a comprehensive strategy to grow and steward corporate revenue, cultivate high-impact partnerships, support a range of fund development efforts, and deliver exceptional fundraising and stewardship events that advance the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens. Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, this role oversees the Corporate Partnerships and Events Teams, ensuring an integrated approach to sponsorships, cause marketing, employee engagement, and signature events that strengthen CFZBG’s brand, deepen community relationships, and drive sustainable revenue.

The Director serves as a key external ambassador with corporate partners and community leaders while also acting as a strategic internal collaborator. This leader is accountable for setting and achieving ambitious revenue and engagement goals for corporate philanthropy and events, building a robust pipeline of institutional partners, and creating best-in-class experiences for donors and stakeholders that reflect CFZBG’s core values and commitment.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Leadership & Department Oversight:

• Lead the development and implementation of a multi-year strategy for corporate partnerships and events that align with CFZBG’s organizational priorities and revenue goals.
• Provide strategic thought partnership to the CDO to ensure corporate partnership and events strategies are integrated across all fundraising channels.
• Oversee Events Team responsible for sponsorship sales, corporate engagement, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Develop and manage the annual Corporate Partnerships & Events budget, including revenue forecasts and expense projections, ensuring strong return on investment, effective resource allocation, and accurate reporting.

Corporate Partnership Strategy & Portfolio Management:

• Design and lead a strategic approach to corporate fundraising that includes corporate philanthropy and sponsorships.
• Manage a portfolio of high-value corporate partners and prospects, including corporations, corporate foundations, and other institutional funders, with clear annual revenue and engagement targets.
• Build and maintain a strong pipeline of corporate prospects by researching, identifying, and qualifying companies whose priorities align with CFZBGs mission and strategic initiatives.
• Partner closely with the CDO and department Leaders in long-term, holistic partnerships that may include sponsorship, volunteerism, in-kind support, and strategic collaborations.
• Ensure that all corporate relationships are actively stewarded through timely reporting, impact storytelling, site visits, and tailored engagement opportunities.

Sponsorships, Events, and Donor Experiences:

• Provide strategic leadership for CFZBG’s portfolio of signature fundraising and stewardship events, including setting revenue goals, sponsorship strategies, and guest experience standards.
• Oversee the development and execution of sponsorship packages, and corporate engagement benefits for events, ensuring compelling value propositions and strong alignment with partner objectives.
• Manage sponsorship fulfillment.
• Partner with Marketing & Communications Team to ensure consistent, mission-driven messaging, branding, and recognition for corporate sponsors and event partners across digital, print, and on-site channels.
• Ensure that events are planned and implemented with excellence, including budgeting, logistics, program flow, vendor management, volunteer coordination, and post-event evaluation tied to both revenue and relationship goals.

Collaboration, Data, and Reporting:

• Work closely with CDO and Development Associate staff to ensure accurate, timely entry of corporate and event data, including sponsorships, and pledges.
• Work closely with CDO on fund development activities, including managing a portfolio of individual donors/donor prospects.
• Use data, dashboards, and pipeline reports to monitor progress toward revenue and engagement goals, identify trends, and refine strategies for corporate and event growth.
• Prepare regular reports and presentations for the CDO and other stakeholders on corporate revenue, sponsorship results, event performance, and volunteer engagement.
• Partner with Finance Team to ensure appropriate reconciliation of event and corporate revenue, accurate forecasting, and adherence to organizational policies and audit requirements.

The duties listed above are intended only as an illustration of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

QUALIFICATIONS: (Knowledge, Education, Experience & Skills)

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Communications, Marketing, Nonprofit Management, or related field required, or combination of relevant education and experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in development, corporate partnerships, or institutional giving, with at least 3 years in a leadership or management role required.
• Demonstrated success securing and managing large corporate partnerships, sponsorships, and cause marketing campaigns, preferably in a nonprofit environment.
• Proven experience leading fundraising or partnership teams, including supervision, coaching, performance management, and talent development.
• Track record of planning and executing high-impact fundraising or stewardship events that meet or exceed revenue and engagement goals.
• Experience collaborating across departments (e.g., programs, finance, marketing, operations) to align partnership and event strategies with organizational priorities.
• Excellent relationship-building, networking, and negotiation skills, with the ability to engage senior corporate leaders and articulate mutual value.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including proposal development, presentation skills, and ability to adapt style to different audiences.
• High Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint) and donor CRM systems (Virtuous or similar) required; experience with event and marketing platforms preferred.
• Must be committed to the mission of the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens.

LANGUAGE and REASONING ABILITY:

• Must be able to respond to common inquiries, requests, or complaints from guests and staff in a kind and courteous manner.
• Must be able to prepare clear and concise reports.
• Must possess exceptional communication skills, including the ability to write clearly and persuasively and speak with passion and authenticity.
• Must be able to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Multi-lingual is a plus. 

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

• Must possess a valid Florida State Driver’s License.
• Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the following have been identified as physical requirements of the job:

• The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• The employee may be required to drive Zoo vehicles.
• This job's specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and listen.
• The employee is frequently required to use hands and fingers to handle, reach, or feel and manipulate objects or controls.
• The employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk distances, climb, balance, stoop, bend, kneel, and crouch.
• Employee should be able to traverse the zoo in various weather conditions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

A large percentage of the job functions are performed in an office atmosphere. Occasionally the Director is required to attend Zoo events and workshops, both inside and outdoors. Exposure to Florida weather environments should be considered. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. This job description pertains to an "at-will" position with the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens and in no way constitutes a written or implied contract of employment.

The Central Florida Zoological Society is an equal opportunity employer and makes decisions related to compensation and all terms, conditions, or privileges of employment based on merit. Company policy prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, sex (including pregnancy), gender orientation, religion, marital status, age, national origin, or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristic, military status, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.