Development Director

RISING is looking for a Development Director to cultivate funding opportunities and donor relationships to enable the festival to realise its ambitious inaugural program. The role is suited to a flexible, results-oriented, creative fundraiser and natural leader with a real desire to contribute to the company’s long-term sustainability

Reporting to the co-CEOs and working closely with the Brand & Commercial Director, you’ll take the lead on development planning, communication, implementation and management. You’ll oversee the delivery of all major philanthropic activities, events and campaigns and build long-term, meaningful, values-based relationships with contacts. The festival requires a diverse funding mix from governments to cultural institutions, higher education businesses to infrastructure and property managers, and a wide range of philanthropic partners.

You will have a proven track record in raising money from all areas of private giving — individuals, consortia, trusts and foundations — and bring with you a network of arts aficionados and donors. You’ll work autonomously backed up by a dedicated philanthropy manager and administrator. Your team however coordinates closely with the Brand & Commercial team regarding consistent messaging, copy & image style, sharing staffing resources and sequencing of events and communications.

You’re good under pressure and relish the challenge of building relationships that will sustain the new festival and allow our partners to share in its success.

You know how to tell a compelling story that will connect with a broad audience, from uninitiated bureaucrats to culturally literate donors.

KEY SELECTION CRITERA

• Fundraising in a senior philanthropy role – developing and implementing a successful strategy that was responsive to the organisational and environmental context
• Thinking creatively and commercially – developing narratives and approaches that demonstrated innovation and commerciality, but were appropriate to the organisations brand and values
• Collaboration – working across organisational departments to deliver results
• People management – driving a team to achieve exemplary results