Development and Communications Director

Santa Barbara Hillel

Role Overview

The Development and Communications Director at Santa Barbara Hillel in Isla Vista, CA, will direct a multi-pronged institutional advancement strategy that will generate support to enhance the experience of 3,000 students at UC Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara City College. Santa Barbara Hillel enriches the lives of students through diverse Jewish community and cultural programming and robust Israel engagement. The Development and Communications Director will report to and be a strategic thought partner with the Executive Director. The primary responsibilities of the Development and Communications Director will be to oversee and direct our annual fundraising campaign, manage our major gifts and grassroots fundraising, manage our community-facing communications channels, and organize our annual fundraising brunch and other special events. 

Santa Barbara Hillel is situated in the stunning coastal city of Santa Barbara, a location ninety minutes north of Los Angeles known as the “American Riviera.” Famous for its beautiful beaches, a gorgeous climate, and a thriving arts and culture scene, Santa Barbara boasts a welcoming and dynamic community that presents exciting possibilities for personal and professional development.

The Ideal Candidate: You build strong relationships and communicate with clarity and enthusiasm. You’re known for being organized, detail-oriented, and able to juggle multiple projects at once. You bring a get-to-yes mindset, high standards, and the ability to thrive in a fast-moving environment. You care about community, work well both independently and with others, and approach your work with creativity, empathy, and a clear sense of purpose.

What You’ll Do

Donor & Stakeholder Management

• Lead the creation and execution of an annual development plan, backed by strong systems for tracking goals and progress.
• Identify, research, and generate donor, foundation, and major gift prospects by mining alumni lists, past donor data, and Board and community networks, and partner with the Executive Director to cultivate these relationships.
• Develop and implement stewardship plans for all donors.
• Cultivate strong relationships with current parents and serve as a primary point of contact, providing clear and timely communication across multiple channels.
• Develop alumni and regional networks.

Data and Systems Management

• Ensure donor data and interactions are accurately captured in the Little Green Light (LGL) database, and congruous record-keeping exists across the development and financial operations.
• Manage lists for special attention by the Executive Director, members of the Board of Trustees, and the Development Committee.

Event Management

• Direct Hillel’s annual parent events, including events during UCSB’s Move-In/Welcome Week and Parents/Family Weekend.
• Organize Hillel’s fundraising events, from our existing Hall of Fame major fundraiser to parlor meetings and future events you will help envision and execute.

Communications

• Oversee the strategy and execution of the annual campaign, including grassroots fundraising efforts such as direct mail and digital appeals.
• Create and manage a robust digital marketing strategy, including designing content sourced from stakeholders (e.g., students, staff).
• Oversee Annual Report.

Board & Volunteer Management

• Convene and staff the Community Engagement and Development Committee of the Board of Trustees.
• Assist Executive Director in prospecting, coordinating, and supporting the Board of Trustees.

Organizational Leadership

• Contribute to organization-wide strategy and management.
• Occasionally represent the organization to key stakeholders, including Federations, Foundations, and community organizations.
• Supervise development intern(s).

Additional Responsibilities

• Attend Hillel programs on evenings and weekends as necessary, such as select Friday night Shabbat dinners, some High Holiday events, Parent/Family Weekend, etc.
• Travel as necessary for donor meetings, cultivation events, conferences, etc., particularly in Southern California.

Desired Qualifications

• Fundraising, public relations, and/or event management experience. Experience working in higher education and/or the Jewish community is a plus.
• Experience with fundraising campaigns, one-on-one solicitation, and/or grant writing is desired.
• Supervisory experience, including the ability to provide and receive constructive feedback.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience with CRM and data management.

What You’ll Receive

• Expected starting salary of $90,000-$105,000, commensurate with experience.
• Health insurance, retirement plan, life insurance, long-term disability (LTD), vacation/sick time, and generous parental leave.
• Opportunities for professional development, peer engagement, mentoring, and skill-building.
• Travel regionally and nationally for work.
• An opportunity to build a strong development and communications operation and support a meaningful mission in an idyllic setting with beautiful weather and a vibrant community.