Posted on December 3, 2012

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Executive Director/Chief Development Officer

The Bachmann-Strauss Dystonia & Parkinson Foundation was founded in 1995 by the late Louis Bachmann and his daughter, Bonnie Bachmann Strauss, to encourage new research in the fields of dystonia and Parkinson disease and to heighten awareness of these diseases. Since a large number of patients with Parkinson's disease develop dystonia, a portion of the Foundation's research portfolio is directed toward understanding the linkage between the two diseases.

The Foundation awards grants to scientific researchers working on new ideas and advances in the fields. To date, the Foundation has allocated over $11 million dollars to over 210 grants around the world. These grants have helped to bring greater insight into the causes of and potential cures for dystonia and Parkinson's disease. In addition, the Foundation funds the Bachmann-Strauss Dystonia Center of Excellence at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City, where diagnostic tests are performed and comprehensive treatment plans developed for individuals with symptoms of the disease. There are plans to open two additional Centers of Excellence in the near future.

The Foundation's headquarters is located at 551 Fifth Avenue (45th Street), Suite 520, New York, NY 10176. More information can be found on the Website: www.dystonia-parkinsons.org.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Foundation is seeking to increase awareness of its existence and mission among members of the medical community and the general public. This will require an executive director/chief development officer who, working with the Foundation's leadership, can develop and implement a long-term vision for the Foundation, strategically position it in the marketplace in order to increase the donor base necessary to support and grow its operations.

The ED/CDO will be charged with managing the day-to-day operations as well as increasing the Foundation's capacity to raise funds to support its general operations, grants, and new services to people impacted by dystonia and Parkinson's. He/she will be responsible for the strategic planning, direction, and management of all fund-raising activities and will serve as the Foundation's principal fund-raiser.

Reporting to and working closely with President and Founder Bonnie Strauss, the ED/CDO will identify, cultivate, and solicit potential major-gift donors among individuals and corporations. The ED/CDO will maintain and develop relationships with important constituencies and partners in order to promote and coordinate the Foundation's fund-raising activities.

The ED/CDO will play an active and vital external role for the Foundation, serving as its public face. In partnership with leadership and staff, he/she will create a strategic plan for all communications and public/media relations and will take an active role in the implementation of that plan.

The ED/CDO will supervise a headquarters staff of four full-time employees.

RESPONSIBILITIES: The specific responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Leadership and Strategy:

• Develop an extensive understanding of the Foundation: its history, mission, strategy, operating plan, and culture.
• Assimilate into the Foundation's culture by establishing excellent working relationships with the Foundation's Boards, senior leadership, staff, and other key constituencies.
• Create and implement a new vision for the Foundation, to include a five-year strategic plan detailing how best to competitively position and market the Foundation in order to increase the donor base required to ensure its financial success.
• Assess the current state of the Foundation's fund-raising program. Building on its current success, develop a new fund-raising strategy/plan that is aligned with the Foundation's long-term strategic plan.

Finance/Management/Operations:

• In collaboration with the treasurer and outside accounting firm, develop the annual revenue and expense budgets; present budgets to senior leadership, the treasurer, the Finance Committee and, ultimately, the full Board for approval; monitor actuals against projections; proactively advise senior leadership and the Board of potential variances from projections.
• Develop, produce, and deliver to the Board, the Finance Committee, and senior leadership clear analytical reports that synthesize the Foundation's financial picture and its progress against financial goals in specific areas.
• Manage all aspects of the day-to-day cash flow and donations made to the Foundation; oversee all staff who provide this function;
• Manage and develop the Foundation's staff by setting clear performance goals, evaluating progress against these goals, and correcting any performance deviations.
• Oversee the Foundation's outside accounting firm and auditors to ensure that all policies and protocols are in place and being followed and that all aspects of the audit, including completion of 990s, are carried out correctly and in a timely manner.
• Focus on continuous improvement, wherever and whenever possible streamlining department processes to improve productivity and efficiency.

Fund-raising:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive approach to fund-raising that is aligned with the Foundation's strategic vision/plan; develop and manage unique fund-raising opportunities/relationships with significant revenue potential to advance organizational growth.
• Ensure that the Foundation is utilizing best practices and innovative approaches in its fund-raising.
• Maintain a personal and balanced portfolio of prospects and donors, with focus on high- potential gifts/grant opportunities.
• In collaboration with the special events and development manager, ensure that all fund-raising events meet objectives and the highest standards for quality.
• Be fully responsible for the integrity of the information contained in the donor information system (Raiser's Edge); work with staff to manage the fund-raising information system so that data is timely, accurate, and consistently recorded in accordance with development, financial, and regulatory policies and procedures.
• Define all department administrative and solicitation policies and ensure compliance with all financial and operating policies.
• Create a high-quality donor acknowledgment and recognition program.

Marketing/Communications:

• Create a marketing and positioning platform to ensure a differentiated and compelling message that is consistently used in all communications.
• Oversee the creation, production, and delivery of all marketing and communications materials (newsletter, Website, annual report, educational materials, donor communications, correspondence, etc.) to ensure that all deliver the same strategic message.
• Devise and implement innovative PR/marketing strategies, to include social media techniques, to build awareness of the Foundation among dystonia and Parkinson patients and other potential supporters.
• Serve as the Foundation's spokesperson and represent it at all medical and coalition meetings as well as scientific advocacy endeavors with outside organizations, as needed; appear at national and local meetings and conferences to promote interest in and awareness of the Foundation.
• Attend regular meetings of other organizations in the field (e.g., Dystonia Coalition, Parkinson Action Network, American Association of Neurology, Movement Disorders Society, Michael J. Fox Foundation, etc.)
• Serve as one of the key Foundation's spokespeople to the media.

Board:

• Cultivate strong working relationships with the Board; serve as primary liaison, maintaining regular contact with individual members and the Board as a whole.
• Collaborating with the president, educate, orient, and engage current board members in fund-raising efforts; create and implement new fund-raising initiatives/approaches/goals for members.
• Help identify and recruit new board members, with a focus on those with a passion for the mission and with the ability to contribute significantly to the achievement of new strategic and revenue goals.
• Plan, prepare for, and send out advance communications for each board meeting; with the president of the board, develop the agenda; write the president's remarks.
• Coordinate meetings of board committees.

Science:

• Work closely with the chair of the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) to ensure that he receives the required support to manage and lead the SAB; assist the chair as required with the replacement process at the end of members' terms.
• Oversee the Scientific Liaison's administration of grants to ensure that required protocols/guidelines are followed at each step (proposal writing, review by SAB, issuance of award letters, disbursement of funds, follow-up documentation).
• In conjunction with the Scientific Liaison, oversee the administration of the Foundation's scientific portfolio (individual grants, named grants, drug discovery program, and Center of Excellence grants); oversee all contractual agreements, including compliance with staffing, content of written materials, and communication with the Center's management.
• Administer and support the successful start-up and implementation of two new Centers of Excellence ensuring that the Foundation's best interests are served.

EDUCATION: A bachelor's degree is required. A scientific background is highly desirable. Advanced degrees are desirable, but not required.

EXPERIENCE, COMPETENCIES, AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• 10-15 years of demonstrated success in building/leading an organization or its development function are required. Experience in a nonprofit is required.
• Broad-based businessperson, with strategic insight and proven success in creating business and fund-raising strategies and implementing them to achieve goals in highly competitive environments.
• Experience in large and small businesses is desirable; proven track record of building an organization/function from the ground up.
• Experience leading a development function, with significant experience/exposure to a comprehensive fund-raising operation, including Annual Fund, Major Gifts, Planned Gifts, Public and Private Grants, Campaigns, Event Planning, Donor Acknowledgment and Recognition. (Position does not require direct experience with every aspect of fund-raising.)
• Proven track record of securing significant fund-raising revenue.
• A record of success in conceptualizing and articulating long-range financial development goals; ability to quickly grasp financial and programmatic concepts and package them into cogent, fundable programs.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills; success at cultivating strong relationships with all internal and external stakeholders: boards of directors, staff members, current and potential donors, corporate and foundation leaders, physicians/scientists/researchers; "manages up" well.
• The ability to develop strong relationships throughout the Foundation, especially with Board members and senior leadership; a track record of successfully engaging a Board and further developing its fund-raising capability.
• Scientific background and understanding of research and its applications is highly desirable, as are existing connections with physicians and researchers who may serve as future board members/supporters.
• Proven leadership skills and experience managing people through well-established performance management skills. Proven success in developing a high-performance work environment and culture.
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills; ability to present to and influence a variety of people and audiences; can structure and lead business and solicitation meetings.
• Excellent analytical and process skills. Capable of monitoring and synthesizing data, identifying trends, and making recommendations for improvement based on rational thinking. Good understanding of processes, systems, and databases; competency in Raiser's Edge or comparable software.
• Well organized, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and projects with a high sense of purpose and urgency.
• Smart and insightful - mentally tough and resilient - politically astute. Sees opportunities where others do not. "Thinks out of the box"; develops creative and innovative solutions.
• A strong, dynamic leader; a strategic thinker who is able to enroll people in his/her vision; an independent "self-starter" with the necessary drive and stamina to respond to the demands of the Foundation and work collaboratively to achieve results.
• Unquestionable personal integrity. Exudes credibility and professionalism. Very likeable and makes positive first impression. Quickly builds confidence in others. Team player and understands his/her role in relationship to others.

COMPENSATION AND WORK REQUIREMENTS:

The compensation and comprehensive benefit package is competitive.

APPLICATIONS AND REFERRALS:

Applicants should send a current resume in Word format and a summary of relevant fund-raising experience/credentials to:

Natalia Bilash
3D Leadership, LLC
nbilash@3dleadership.com