Senior Director of Development, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

About the Dr. Phillips Center

The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, located in the heart of downtown Orlando, is a world-class destination for creativity, culture, and community. Since opening in 2014, the center has presented a diverse array of performances and events, from Broadway productions and acclaimed concerts to dance, theater, and community arts programs.

As a cultural anchor in Central Florida, the Dr. Phillips Center welcomes artists and audiences from around the world while serving as a catalyst for local artistic growth, community connection, and cultural vitality. Featuring state-of-the-art performance spaces, exceptional acoustics, and versatile design, the center creates transformative experiences that inspire, entertain, and bring the vision of Arts For Every Life® to audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

Mission: Arts For Every Life®

Arts For Every Life® is the guiding vision of the Dr. Phillips Center, representing its commitment to making the performing arts accessible, inspiring, and relevant to all. This mission is brought to life through diverse programming, robust arts education initiatives, and community partnerships that reach audiences of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds. Whether through professional performances, youth education programs, or inclusive community events, the Dr. Phillips Center ensures that the power of the arts is experienced by everyone.

Space & Venues

Walt Disney Theater – The largest venue in the center, seating up to 2,700 guests, designed for Broadway productions, major concerts, and large-scale performances.

Steinmetz Hall – An acoustically remarkable space, seating up to 1,700 guests, achieving an N1 sound rating, ideal for orchestral, operatic, and choral performances, as well as amplified music with exceptional clarity.

Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater – An intimate 300-seat proscenium theater perfect for plays, dance performances, chamber music, and special events.

Seneff Arts Plaza – A vibrant outdoor gathering space hosting festivals, free community concerts, and large-scale public celebrations in the heart of downtown Orlando.

DeVos Family Room and Event Spaces – Flexible indoor spaces designed for private events, donor gatherings, and corporate functions with stunning views of the city.

Judson’s Live – the newest addition to the Dr. Phillips Center features an exceptional music room seating up to 130 people. The space was inspired by legendary listening rooms serving culinary delights and array of artful cocktails.

Position Summary

The Senior Director, Development plays a pivotal role in advancing the mission of the Dr. Phillips Center, reporting directly to Vice President of Development Alexis Jackson and working in close partnership with President & CEO Katherine Ramsberger.

This senior leader will drive the organization’s fundraising strategy, managing a team of talented gift officers while cultivating and securing significant contributions from local, regional, and national donors, families, and foundations. With an annual fundraising goal of $2.5 million, the Senior Director will be instrumental in fueling the Center’s vision and ensuring its continued growth and impact.

The ideal candidate is a proven fundraiser and dynamic leader with a passion for the performing arts. They bring a track record of success in building donor relationships, inspiring teams, and generating philanthropic support that makes transformational programming possible.

Essential Functions

• Inspire, lead, and manage the fundraising strategy to achieve or exceed annual contributed income revenue goals for multiple campaigns, including the Arts for Every Life annual campaign, endowment, planned giving, capital campaigns, and special initiatives.
• Secure and steward major gifts at the $100,000 level with the goal of raising $2.5 million annually towards the capital, annual, planned giving, and endowment campaigns.
• Manage and maintain a portfolio of 300 major gift prospects and donors.
• Project-manage appeals to ensure deadlines and fundraising goals are met.
• Identify new prospects and work closely in collaboration with Development Administration, Executive Office, Board of Directors, Strategic Partnerships, and other departments.
• Conduct direct, face-to-face solicitations; assist executive leadership, the board, and other staff at events, meetings, and tours.
• Create and implement moves management plans for major donors and prospects, including tailored presentations and proposals.
• Collaborate with the Vice President to create and execute the annual Development Work Plan aligned with organizational goals.
• Prepare proposals, gift agreements, and funder pitches; maintain timely records in CRM; analyze donor research to target appropriate prospects.
• Ensure appropriate acknowledgment and recognition of pledges, major gifts, and planned gifts.
• Provide financial performance reports to executive and board leadership, offering insights on successes and recommendations to overcome challenges.
• Use Tessitura (CRM) and other software to track, report, and analyze fundraising progress.
• Manage administrative responsibilities, including recruitment, scheduling, payroll, budgets, and purchasing. Interview, select, train, supervise, counsel, discipline, and evaluate the performance of team members to ensure efficient department operations. Schedule and direct colleagues on their work assignments.
• Oversee contributed revenue budgeting and financial planning for the department.
• Follow and support all operational policies and procedures, and assimilate into the arts center culture by understanding, supporting, and demonstrating the organization’s core values.
• Maintain positive relationships with donors, community leaders, and partners.
• Represent the Dr. Phillips Center at performances, events, and in the community.
• Work show nights and special events to entertain, network, and engage clients and prospects, with comfort in public speaking and delivering curtain speeches.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree required; arts administration, business, or a related field preferred.
• 10 years in nonprofit development with proven success managing high-level donor relationships and closing major gifts.
• Extensive experience cultivating and soliciting high-net-worth individuals for outright and planned gifts.
• Minimum 5 years of leadership experience, including recruiting, training, managing, and mentoring a team.
• Board management experience with the ability to quickly absorb, retain, and apply historical information.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a strategic partner to leadership, provide proactive support and guidance, and follow established SOPs while contributing innovative ideas.
• Strong organizational, project, and budget management skills, with the flexibility to pivot priorities and adapt to changing circumstances.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with a confident presence and authentic, relationship-focused approach.
• Resilient under pressure, with the ability to navigate conflict professionally, maintain patience and diplomacy, and build rapport quickly.
• Growth-minded, striving for excellence with passion, conviction, and authenticity.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams) and CRM software.

We seek to add professionals to our team who embody our shared values:

• we welcome you
• we commit to win
• we innovate with yes, and…
• we laugh together
• we embrace authenticity
• we create forever memories
• we lead with kindness

Compensation:

Compensation will be competitive and commensurate with experience, and includes a comprehensive benefits package

To Apply:

Interested applicants should send a resume and a statement of interest to Jonathan McIntosh, Partner and Rachael Holloway, Recruiter with ThinkingAhead Executive Search: jmcintosh@thinkingahead.com; rholloway@thinkingahead.com.

Jonathan McIntosh, Partner ThinkingAhead Executive Search

615-391-2650

jmcintosh@thinkingahead.com

Rachael Holloway, Recruiter ThinkingAhead Executive Search

615-391-2614

rholloway@thinkingahead.com

The Dr. Phillips Center provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected under the law.

ThinkingAhead Executive Search is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a work environment that supports, inspires and respects all individuals. Personnel processes are merit-based and applied without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, disability, national or ethnic ancestry, military service status, citizenship, or other protected characteristic. This applies to every aspect of employment including hiring, training, advancement and termination. The firm is committed to creating a just culture of diversity, equity and inclusion by practicing, within the company and the marketplace we serve, intentional strategies that serve marginalized individuals and groups.