Director of Advancement

Rochambeau, The French International School of Washington, DC (Rochambeau), has an immediate opening for a  Director of Advancement – Full-time. 

Location: Bethesda, MD 
Reports to: Chief Operating Officer
Job Type: Full-time; Exempt; Director-level
Salary Information: The salary for this position is set at $130,000 per year, with up to 5% additional incentive bonus. 
Benefits: In addition to base compensation, this position is eligible for: paid time off, paid holidays, incentive pay, and health and retirement benefits enrollment, which includes medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and a 403(b) plan with 5% match.

THE SCHOOL
Rochambeau, a coeducational day school, offers an exceptional blend of the French curriculum and a robust English program to a diverse body of over 1,300 students, from Preschool to 12th grade. Our school thrives on diversity, housing over 80 nationalities. We steadfastly promote a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

POSITION SUMMARY 
The Director of Advancement is responsible for leading community and alumni engagement efforts through events, communications, marketing, and fundraising initiatives. It is the role of the Director of Advancement to strengthen relationships among our internal and external stakeholders and oversee the Advancement team. This person in this position will also serve on the Administrative Leadership Team. This position requires demonstrating the competencies and behaviors needed to develop and maintain positive and professional customer service and relations with all constituencies, and to support the core values, vision, and mission of Rochambeau.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES 
Please note that these are intended as representative duties and do not encompass every aspect of the role. You may be required to perform additional or differing duties if they are related, similar, or logically assigned to the position.

At Rochambeau, we value our school-based and in-person work environment for all faculty and staff. We believe on-site collaboration fuels our commitment to fostering a vibrant and inclusive educational environment. This in-person interaction is integral to our school values, allowing us to engage more fully, communicate effectively, and cultivate a strong community spirit.

Community Engagement & Events

• Plan, organize, and oversee a variety of  school-wide, community, and alumni events that build connection and enhance school spirit (e.g. galas, open houses, community celebrations, alumni reunions, and donor recognition events. 

• Coordinate logistics, manage event budgets and timelines, and collaborate with internal departments and volunteers to ensure high-quality experiences. 

• Create professional materials and coordinate event-related communications to ensure high attendance and engagement.

Communications & Marketing

• Develop a communications strategy.

• Lead all internal and external communications, ensuring consistency of messaging and alignment with the school’s mission and values.

• Produce high-quality written content, including weekly newsletter and monthly highlights, press releases, website copy, social media posts, fundraising collateral, donor reports, and crisis communication.  

• Develop the branding of the school, Create and manage promotional materials, advertising, brochures, pictures, videos, and digital campaigns that showcase Rochambeau’s programs, values, and community life. Develop and implement communication strategies through various communication channels, including email marketing, social media, and the school’s website. 

• Publish the annual satisfaction survey to families; analyze and report on the results.

Fundraising

• Design and execute annual fund campaigns, auctions at galas, and donor stewardship initiatives

• Produce donor reports, personalized correspondence, and the school’s annual report. 

• Manage the advancement program’s presence on social media platforms, creating engaging content to increase followers and engagement. 

• Create meaningful advancement content and partner with other colleagues to assess analytics and engagement..

• Craft personalized communication for major donors, including thank you letters, impact reports, and updates on school initiatives.

Alumni Network Development

• Develop and maintain a strong alumni network, which fosters lifelong connections and engagement. 

• Build, maintain, and grow the alumni database 

• Plan alumni events, communications, and outreach campaigns to encourage involvement and philanthropic support.

• Commit to Rochambeau’s vision, mission, and values in all professional duties.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Requirements

• Ten (10) or more years of relevant professional experience in advancement functions, including social media proficiency, communication, events, and fundraising.

• Five (5) or more years of progressively responsible supervisory experience managing professional staff.

• Significant skills in advancement communication, marketing, alumni relations, fundraising, publication production, advertising, social media, analytics, and web design.

• Experience with website content management systems required.

• Excellent computer skills, including proficiency with MS Office and Google Suite applications, and database management.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to write smart, concise copy that effectively communicates information to a wide range of audiences in various formats (print, Web, social). Ability to produce effective engagement, fundraising, and stewardship communications.

• Strong interpersonal skills, professional, and approachable demeanor.

• Strong organizational skills and highly detail-oriented; ability to effectively multitask and prioritize while working in a dynamic environment.

• Ability to effectively manage short and long-term projects.

• Self-starter with a patient and creative problem-solver mentality who thinks and reacts quickly.

• Flexible and able to effectively manage unexpected challenges and changes in direction or priority.

• Willingness to collaborate and work as a team-player with a range of faculty, staff, and administrators throughout the School.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality and security of information.

• Regular, predictable, and reliable attendance at work.

• Demonstrate a commitment to Rochambeau's vision, mission, values, and strategic aims.

• Three Professional References (name, position, contact number and email) listed on your CV/resume.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite, particularly InDesign, digital photography, and video production experience preferred.

• Experience with advanced analytics and engagement metrics is strongly preferred.

• Bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant field (e.g., Marketing, Communications, Non-Profit Management) preferred.

• Experience in a private, international, or school setting is preferred.

• Bilingual fluency in French and English is strongly preferred. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

This position primarily operates in a school/office environment. The role requires prolonged periods of sitting, walking, or standing, extensive use of computers and other office equipment, and occasional lifting or moving of equipment up to 25 pounds.

SPECIAL NOTES

In accordance with Maryland House Bill 486, Rochambeau is required to contact all former employers to request information relating to child sexual abuse or sexual misconduct involving the applicant. If you would like additional information, please visit House Bill 486. 

All final candidates will be asked, prior to hire, whether they have been found to have engaged in, are currently under investigation for, or left employment during an active investigation in which they were accused of sexual violence or sexual harassment. When obtaining employment reference checks, these same sexual violence or sexual harassment questions will also be asked. 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Rochambeau is an equal opportunity employer and is deeply committed to serving its community, advancing access and equity, and ensuring that all individuals are welcomed and valued. All applicants are protected under Federal law from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age and genetics or any other basis protected by law. Rochambeau is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive community and strongly encourages all qualified individuals to apply. For an applicant requesting assistance with the employment application process, please contact Human Resources at (301) 798-4802 or HR@rochambeau.org. For more information about Rochambeau, please visit the Rochambeau website.