Development Manager

About FirstPrinciples:
FirstPrinciples is a non-profit organization building an autonomous AI Physicist to understand the nature of reality: the underlying structure, governing principles, and fundamental laws of our universe. We're developing an intelligent system that can explore theoretical frameworks, reason across disciplines, and generate novel insights to tackle the deepest unsolved problems in physics. By combining AI, symbolic reasoning, and autonomous research capabilities, we're developing a platform that goes beyond analyzing existing knowledge to actively contribute to physics research. Our goal is to accelerate progress on the questions that have captivated humanity for centuries.

Job Description:
We're seeking a driven development & fundraising professional with the hustle, relationship-building skills, and closing ability to help secure the resources needed to revolutionize scientific discovery. As a Development Manager, you'll be an individual contributor responsible for identifying prospects, cultivating relationships, and closing deals with philanthropists, foundations, and institutional funders. This is a hands-on role perfect for someone who thrives in an account executive-style position and has a track record of personally closing significant funding commitments.

Key Responsibilities:

Donor Prospecting & Pipeline Management:

• Research and identify high-potential funding prospects including HNW/UHNW individuals, family offices, science foundations, and institutional donors.
• Build and maintain a robust pipeline of qualified prospects with clear stages and next steps.
• Track all donor interactions, meetings, and progress in CRM systems (Salesforce & Asana).
• Execute outreach campaigns to engage new prospects and generate funding conversation.

Relationship Building & Cultivation:

• Personally manage relationships with a portfolio of donors and institutional funders.
• Conduct discovery meetings to understand donor interests and align them with FirstPrinciples' mission.
• Schedule and facilitate donor meetings, product demos and engagement opportunities.
• Develop tailored cultivation strategies for each prospect based on their interests and capacity.

Deal Closing & Stewardship:

• Lead funding conversations from initial contact through commitment and closing.
• Create compelling funding proposals and pitch materials customized to each prospect.
• Structure and negotiate gift terms, agreements & commitments that align donor incentives with FirstPrinciples’ mission to accelerate scientific discovery.
• Maintain ongoing stewardship relationships with donors post-commitment.
• Develop impact reports showing how donor contributions directly accelerate specific scientific discoveries.

Grant Writing & Institutional Funding: 

• Research foundation and government funding opportunities aligned with FirstPrinciples' work.
• Write and submit grant applications to foundations, research institutions, and government agencies.
• Respond to requests for proposals (RFPs) and funding competitions.
• Manage grant reporting requirements and funder communication.

Collaboration & Execution:

• Work closely with FirstPrinciples' leadership to communicate scientific progress and impact to funders.
• Translate complex scientific concepts into compelling narratives for diverse audiences.
• Collaborate with the team to create impact reports, donor updates, and presentation materials.
• Support donor events, fundraising campaigns, and special initiatives as needed.

Qualifications:

• 3-5+ years of experience in sales, business development, account management, or fundraising with a proven track record of personally closing deals.
• Proven success in meeting or exceeding revenue/fundraising targets in a quota-carrying or goal-driven role, ideally with experience in high-growth startups, deep-tech, or scientific/AI-related industries.
• Experience managing a full sales/fundraising cycle from prospecting to close.
• Track record of closing large, complex deals (multi-million, multi-year commitments) with urgency and persistence.
• Strong existing network of funders, science philanthropists, and AI/physics research investors.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to build rapport quickly.
• Self-starter mentality with strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Familiarity with research institutions, scientific discoveries, and the AI funding landscape.
• Demonstrated passion for physics and for making scientific knowledge accessible and impactful.

Application Process:

• Interested candidates are invited to submit their resume, a cover letter detailing their qualifications and vision for the role, and references. Please include "Development Manager" in the cover letter.

Join us at FirstPrinciples and be a part of a transformative journey where science drives progress and unlocks the potential of humanity.