Senior Development Officer

The Senior Development Officer (SDO) leads comprehensive fundraising efforts for the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences. This position manages a portfolio of leadership and major gift prospects, collaborates closely with faculty, and serves as the department's chief development strategist. The SDO is the primary staff liaison to the Department Head on all philanthropic matters and fundraising strategy.

To apply: https://mitbcs.info/8a78a6

Principal Duties and Responsibilities 

Portfolio Management & Major Gifts Fundraising

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of individual, foundation, and industry prospects capable of making five , six , and seven figure gifts.

• Develop and execute tailored donor strategies aligned with BCS philanthropic priorities, faculty needs, and emerging opportunities.

• Plan and coordinate donor and prospect visits, lab tours, and research demonstrations (in-person and virtual) with faculty and research facilities.

• Create and maintain stewardship and cultivation action plans for each major donor and prospect.

• Maintain accurate donor and prospect information in MIT's development database (Advance CRM), ensuring compliance with data management standards.

• Prepare briefings, context memos, and follow-up communications for all donor interactions; generate contact reports.

• Manage monthly acknowledgment letters and impact reporting to major donors.

• Engage alumni with a goal of building the entry level of the donor pipeline to identify and cultivate prospective major donors.

Strategic Leadership and Departmental Advocacy

• Serve as primary staff liaison and advisor to the Department Head for all philanthropic relations.

• Develop and execute fundraising strategy for faculty research, graduate fellowships, capital needs, and programmatic investments.

• Work with the Department Head to articulate and communicate funding priorities and resource needs to donors and prospects.

• Translate complex scientific research into compelling philanthropic opportunities and cases for support.

• Serve as advocate for the department's donors within BCS and to MIT leadership.

Faculty and Institutional Collaboration

• Work closely with the Assistant Dean of Development in the School of Science as well as development staff in the McGovern Institute for Brain Research, The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, MIT Siegel Family Quest for Intelligence, Office of Leadership Giving, and Office of Foundation Relations to ensure BCS development efforts align with broader MIT fundraising strategy and avoid prospect conflicts.

• Collaborate with development colleagues in the McGovern Institute, The Picower Institute, and the Quest on coordinated fundraising efforts affecting shared BCS faculty.

• Share prospect intelligence and collaborate on opportunities involving multiple units.

• Build and maintain relationships with BCS faculty to understand research directions, funding needs, and scholarly aspirations.

• Organize faculty involvement in donor cultivation, prospect visits, fundraising events, and proposal development.

Events & Donor Engagement

• Lead planning, coordination, and execution of high-level donor engagement events, including annual stewardship events and symposia.

• Manage event logistics, speaker coordination, materials, communications, and follow-up.

• Oversee donor stewardship plans and impact reporting to ensure donors understand outcomes and significance of their investments.

• Foster a culture of philanthropy within the department through regular donor impact communications.

Development Operations & Communications

• Prepare strategic briefings and reports for development colleagues in Resource Development, the Office of Leadership Giving, and affiliated institutes.

• Coordinate with the BCS Academic Administrator and Senior Fiscal Officer on annual student fellowship selections and stewardship communications.

• Produce donor-facing content such as case statements and impact materials.

• Coordinate with annual fund gift officers to identify and qualify major gift prospects.

Supervision Received

Reports to the Department Head. Regular meetings ensure alignment on strategy, progress toward fundraising goals, and any institutional or resource challenges.

Supervision Exercised

Supervises development duties of an Events Administrator/Development Assistant position.

Qualifications and Skills

Required: Bachelor’s degree required (preferably in a relevant scientific field). A minimum of four years’ experience in direct fundraising, including demonstrated success in securing major gifts ($500k ) and managing complex donor relationships. Applicant must be a team player, highly motivated and able to navigate complex and nuanced environments. The ideal candidate will generate warmth and trust and will exercise good judgement when representing the Department and MIT. Applicant must have exceptional interpersonal, organizational and communication skills with the ability to explain complex science to diverse audiences. A high level of computer and database (CRM platforms) competency is required.

Skills:

• Active learner and effective communicator with a strong interest in the BCS mission.

• Strong strategic thinking, autonomy, and comfort working within a matrixed organizational structure.

• Experience with research university culture and administration preferred.

• Strong interpersonal skills for relating to diverse constituencies, including faculty; alumni; and resource development colleagues.

• Prior experience presenting content to large groups.

• Ability to work evening and occasional weekend hours with advance notice.

• Ability to travel regionally and out-of-state travel is required.

• Ability to handle confidential information and/or issues using discretion and judgement.

• Proficiency with office software, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

• Proficiency with prospect management systems or other CRM systems.

Preferred: Advanced degree in a relevant scientific field. Preference for someone with a science background/keen interest in neuroscience and understanding the brain. Experience engaging with faculty or research in brain science or related AI and STEM areas. Familiarity with MIT’s academic environment or advancement systems. Experience with major gift fundraising in research institutions/higher education. 

About the Department

The MIT Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences spans the full breadth of brain science, from molecular mechanisms and synaptic plasticity to computational and experimental models of cognition and consciousness. Approximately two-thirds of the 39 primary faculty are affiliated with the McGovern Institute for Brain Research and/or The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory. For more information, visit bcs.mit.edu.