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Position Summary

The Alley Theatre, one of America’s leading not-for-profit theatres and a nationally recognized performing arts company is seeking a Director of Development. Responsible for articulating, planning and overseeing the implementation of a strategic direction for the department, the Director of Development plays a critical role in developing prospect cultivation and solicitation strategies. The Director of Development is expected to cultivate and solicit major gifts from key prospects, and serves as a key liaison to the Board of Directors and its Committees in their related efforts.

Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership, direction and management to the development department of the organization.
• Lead and motivate the Board of Directors, inspiring them to serve in a strategic capacity as the organization’s most powerful fundraisers. The Director of Development will be expected to work closely with the fundraising committees of the Board and provide training, support and orientation to fundraising techniques as needed.
• Determine departmental long-range goals addressing dollars to be raised annually, benchmarks for growth in dollars raised and relationships, targets for each area of giving and other development issues.
• Enrich effective working relationships with the Board of Directors and its committees, staff colleagues, and volunteers to build a strong network of committed and continuous support.
• Serve as a major gift fundraiser by identifying, cultivating, soliciting, participating in strategy development and stewarding selected major gift prospects from all constituencies, corporate, foundations and individuals. Work with key trustees to manage their portfolio of high-end prospects.
• Work closely with the Managing Director and Board leadership to identify trustee candidates capable of getting or giving major gifts.
• Oversee development staff in the implementation and management of development programs for individual annual fund giving, and corporate, foundation and government giving, as well as a program of comprehensive stewardship and development fundraising and cultivation events, meeting the goals of the department.
• Oversee the management of the department’s budget and the annual evaluation of the development department’s programs including cost analysis.
• Serve as an articulate, enthusiastic, and visible spokesperson for the organization.

In addition to the duties listed above, the Alley Theatre expects the following of each employee:  adheres to theatre’s policies and procedures; works in a safe manner;  performs duties as workload necessitates; maintains a positive and respectful attitude; communicates regularly with supervisor about department issues; demonstrates efficient time management and prioritizes workload; demonstrates regular and consistent attendance and punctuality; meets department productivity standards; participates in Alley Theatre events as needed or required; and completes other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Candidates for the Director of Development will demonstrate the following…

• Enthusiastic commitment and the ability to lead, inspire and mentor a staff of 13 development professionals in all fundraising activities, as well as the capacity to motivate and collaborate successfully with a dedicated Board of influential civic and corporate leaders.
• Coordinate fundraising efforts for an integrated campaign encompassing annual operations, capital improvements, and endowment expansion, and work collaboratively with the Managing Director in this effort.
• Work in constructive partnership with other members of the Alley’s senior management team, demonstrating an understanding of the skill and maturity needed to collaborate with peers, manager and volunteers.
• Exhibit energy, dedication, and creativity, and demonstrate an ability to consistently provide strong support for the artists, staff and civic leaders who create an environment conducive to the creation of excellent work both onstage and behind the scenes at the Alley.
• Be an effective representative of and spokesperson for the organization and the art of theatre, and an excellent communicator with strong verbal, written and interpersonal skills.

Reports To: Managing Director

Status: Salary-Exempt

Compensation: Commensurate with experience.

Benefits Offered: Alley Theatre offers a complete health benefits package, paid vacation and sick, paid holidays, and a 401(k) plan.

Interested candidates are asked to submit a cover letter, resume, salary requirement  and references via email to HRdept@alleytheatre.org.

No phone calls.  EOE.

About Alley Theatre
The Alley Theatre, one of America’s leading not-for-profit theatres, is a nationally recognized performing arts company led by Interim Artistic Director James Black and Managing Director Dean R. Gladden. Home to a Resident Company of actors, the Alley creates a wide-ranging repertoire and innovative productions of classics, neglected modern plays, and premieres. Alley All New, the initiative to commission and develop new work year round, features the Alley All New Festival each season presenting workshops and readings of new plays and musicals in process. A recipient of the Special Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre, the Alley has brought productions to Broadway, 40 American cities including New York’s Lincoln Center and internationally to Berlin, Paris, and St. Petersburg throughout its 70 year history. The Alley Theatre underwent a $46.5 million building renovation in 2014-2015 season, the first major improvements since the building opened in 1968. With more than 450 performances in 2017-2018, the Alley will produce more performances than all other performing arts organizations in the Houston Theater District combined.

The nationally recognized Alley Theatre (LORT B and C) in Houston, TX seeks a full-time Associate Production Manager to work with the Production Manager and the Production Office Assistant on the daily operations of the production department. The Alley Theatre produces 14 productions in two performance spaces each year with an annual production staff of 60, and recently completed a $46M renovation of the theatre facility. The Alley is committed to equality and diversity in its workforce and encourages all interested parties to apply. The Associate PM works on all aspects of production management and is directly responsible for managing special events, safety, and payroll. The right candidate will be a team player who is passionate about theatre production, problem-solving, and supporting the artistic vision. This position is salaried with a benefits package including paid vacation, health and dental benefits, and a 401(k) retirement plan. Please email letter of interest and resume to productiondept@alleytheatre.org with “Associate Production Manager” in the subject line.  No phone calls, please.  EOE.  Click here for full job description.

The Director of Individual Giving is a key member of the development leadership team and is responsible for the all revenue generation from individuals for the annual fund.  This person creates strategies for and implements campaigns targeting individual donors and prospects utilizing multi-channel approaches including but not limited to direct mail, telefunding, emails, personal visits, text, web based and video initiatives.  The director is responsible for overseeing a comprehensive cultivation and stewardship program designed to engage, acquire and retain major gift donors.  Position will require time out of the office meeting with donors and prospects as well as managing the individual giving team consisting of two development officers, donor relations manager and development associate.  This position liaises with the Individual Giving Committee, an important volunteer group composed of Board and Advisory Board members and donors to the Alley Theatre.

The Alley Theatre is a leader in the use of analytics to inform decisions related to campaign and prospect development.  An important aspect of this position is evaluation and analysis of the donor database utilizing predictive modeling program.  This person will work closely with the database administrator and development research analyst to identify major gift prospects for cultivation and solicitation.

Responsibilities:

• Works closely with the Director of Development to create revenue goals annual fund plan for Individual Giving on an annual basis.
• Responsible for campaign strategy and donor solicitation programs including the concept design, writing, collateral materials and analysis of results.  Works closely with the marketing department to achieve optimal results.
• Oversees development content creation for campaigns including video, social medial platforms, emails, etc.
• Responsible for the cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of a portfolio of approximately 100 donors and prospects.
• Works with volunteer members of the Individual Giving Committee to achieve revenue and stewardship goals.
• Tracks campaigns for results and analysis.
• Manages a comprehensive cultivation and stewardship program to engage and retain donors.
• Develops and executes e-fundraising initiatives including texting, video, web-based programs.
• Works closely with the Research Analyst and Development Officer to identify individual donor prospects for the appropriate portfolio.
• Attends donor events and Greenroom outside of business hours.
• Analyzes individual benefit structures on an annual basis and recommends changes or additions, as necessary.
• Works closely with the Donor Relations Manager and Development Associate on the coordination of Patron Events and the timely delivery of donor benefits.
• Monitors the budget for individual giving and patron benefits.

Requirements:

• Minimum five years of fundraising experience within the non-profit sector.
• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• Excellent communication skills with demonstrable ability to prepare and present both formal written and oral presentations.
• Effective management skills to develop, motivate and retain staff and volunteers.
• Strong collaboration skills in order to work effectively across the organization and function consistently as a highly valued and high performing team player within the Development department and the organization.
• Exceptional project management skills and ability to multi-task within budgetary and resource constraints and timelines.
• Must be able to think critically and strategically and anticipate potential project challenges.
• Knowledge of analytics for response analysis, program evaluation and campaign planning.
• Extensive computer and database knowledge necessary (MS Office suite and Tessitura a plus).
• Demonstrated record of ability to multi-task and meet deadlines completing assignments on time and on budget.
• Broad knowledge of the principles of fundraising and individual giving.
• Successful experience in making cold calls as well as developing cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Excellent oral, written and interpersonal skills.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong problem solving, research, analytical, organizational and strategic planning skills.
• Flexibility to work events that occur in the evenings and on weekends.
• Self-motivated and self-starting individual.

Interested candidates are asked to submit a cover letter, resume, salary history and references via email to nancyg@alleytheatre.org.  No phone calls.  EOE.

The development officer is responsible for the development of strategies for cultivating and securing gifts of $5,000 - $25,000 from a diverse group of individuals including current donors, subscriber, single ticket buyers and event participants.  This position will focus on recruiting donors for the newly created Artistic Director Circle donor affinity group.  The development officer is a member of the individual giving team and works closely with the director of individual giving, research analyst and donor relations manager.  In this role, the successful officer will spend more than half of their time out of the office meeting with donors and potential donors.   

Job Duties

• Develop and execute cultivation, solicitation and stewardship plan for portfolio of donors and prospects
• Attend work/donor functions to cultivate and steward donors and patrons.
• Work some evenings of Hubbard Theatre productions runs to host Plank Family Greenroom.
• Involved in planning and attending donor stewardship events.
• Assist director of individual giving and research analyst to identify and move major gift prospects up the donor pipeline and into an appropriate portfolio.
• Be an active participant in a team-based fundraising department.

Requirements

• Minimum of three years of experience in fundraising/membership within the non-profit sector including solicitation experience
• Bachelor’s Degree.
• Excellent communication skills with demonstrable ability to prepare and present both formal written and oral presentations.
• Ability to successfully manage multi-functional or diverse areas.
• Requires strong collaboration skills in order to work effectively across the organization and function consistently as a highly valued and high performing team player within the Development department and the organization.
• Requires exceptional project management skills and ability to multi-task within budgetary and resource constraints and timelines.
• Must be able to think critically and strategically and anticipate potential project challenges.
• A demonstrated ability to multi-task and meet deadlines on time and on budget.
• Broad knowledge of individual giving fundraising principles (i.e. cultivation, solicitation and stewardship).
• Successful experience in making cold calls as well as developing cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Excellent oral, written and interpersonal skills
• High attention to detail and accuracy
• Flexibility to work patron and special events that occur on the evenings and weekends
• Self-motivated & self-starting

Interested candidates are asked to submit a cover letter, resume, salary history and references via email to nancyg@alleytheatre.org.  No phone calls.  EOE

The nationally recognized Alley Theatre (LORT B and C) in Houston, TX seeks qualified local theatre technicians to fill overhire Stage Crew and Wardrobe Crew positions throughout the 2018-19 Season. The Alley produces 14 productions in two performance spaces each year and recently completed a $46M renovation of the theatre facility. The Alley is committed to equality and diversity in its workforce and encourages all interested parties to apply. Ideal candidates will be team players with professional experience in technical theatre, and local to the Houston area.  These positions are hourly, eligible for overtime, and hired on a per-show basis.  No travel or housing compensation is available for these positions. Email resume and references to productiondept@alleytheatre.org with “Stage Crew” or “Wardrobe Crew” in the subject line. No phone calls please.  EOE.  Click here for a full Stage Crew job description. Click here for a full Wardrobe Crew job description.

The nationally recognized Alley Theatre (LORT B and C) in Houston, TX seeks Overhire Stitchers. The Alley produces 14 productions in two performance spaces each year and recently completed a $46M renovation of the theatre facility. The Alley is committed to equality and diversity in its workforce and encourages all interested parties to apply. Ideal candidates will be team players with strong organizational, interpersonal, and time-management skills. REQUIREMENTS: experience with industrial and home sewing machines, hand sewing and finishing techniques, and basic knowledge of costume construction techniques. Ability to work with varied personalities and timetables a must. Position is hourly, DOE, and eligible for overtime. No travel or housing compensation is available for this position. Please email letter of interest, resume and references to productiondept@alleytheatre.org with “Stitcher” in the subject line. No phone calls please.  EOE.