Reporting to the President and serving as an integral member of the senior management team, the Vice President, External Relations (VP-ER) is responsible for the strategic vision and leadership of the development, stewardship, and communication functions at the Salk Institute. In close collaboration with the President, executive team colleagues, Board of Trustees, faculty, and other important stakeholders, this strategic development professional will further advance a robust, sustainable external relations operation and expand philanthropic capacity in support of ongoing major fundraising campaigns and other opportunities. In 2021 Salk initiated a 5-year $500 million campaign, expanded in 2023 to a 7-year $750M campaign, to build the financial and scientific resources necessary to move Salk into the future; the incumbent in this role will play a critical role in achieving this campaign goal.

The VP-ER will have substantial executive-level leadership and management experience and a proven track record of frontline major- and principal-gift donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship in scientific, biomedical, higher-education, or other non-profit research institutions. In addition, the VP-ER will demonstrate an understanding of and genuine passion for basic biological research. The VP-ER must be collaborative and politically savvy.

Who We Are

The Salk Institute is an internationally renowned research institution that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We seek bold and interactive leaders passionate about exploring new frontiers in science. Our collaborative community embraces diverse perspectives and unique life experiences, fostering innovation, and a sense of belonging. Together, we strive to improve the wellbeing of humanity through groundbreaking research.

Founded by Jonas Salk, developer of the first safe and effective polio vaccine, the Institute is an independent, nonprofit research organization and architectural landmark: small by choice, intimate by nature, and fearless in the face of any challenge. Salk's vibrant community comprises a diverse and talented group of individuals, each playing a crucial role in driving our mission forward. From visionary leaders to dedicated administrators and brilliant faculty members, the Institute is united by a shared passion for scientific exploration and innovation.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

The VP-ER is responsible for providing strategic vision and skilled leadership for all aspects of private philanthropy and development and for building a culture of collaboration, high achievement, and accountability that fosters strong relationships among team members and with researchers and colleagues across the Institute. In collaboration with executive team colleagues, the VP-ER will assess the Institute's fundraising potential and current development operation, crafting a sophisticated multi-year strategy to expand philanthropic support and reinforce a high-performing, sustainable development enterprise that supports the Institute's priorities and advances its mission. The VP-ER will oversee an annual budget of ~$5 million and will lead a team of 35 - 40 Development, Stewardship, Internal & External Communications, and Foundation Relations professionals.

• Partner with the President to support fundraising activities; strategize on how to identify, engage, cultivate, and solicit new donors.
• In collaboration with senior leadership, successfully execute a multi-year fundraising strategy, to include a major fundraising campaign.
• Provide appropriate qualitative and quantitative progress reports.
• Develop and maintain close, effective working relationships with senior colleagues, academic leadership, the Board of Trustees, and other stakeholders.
• Partner with and support the fundraising activities of trustees and senior leadership, ensuring they are well briefed and their time spent is both productive and personally rewarding.
• Engage key scientists in the fundraising process, providing direction and professional insight; facilitate meaningful relationships between potential donors and scientists; ensure that faculty members receive appropriate staff support and that all donor and prospect outreach is carefully coordinated.
• Act as a team player with colleagues across the Institute, particularly in finance, technology transfer, and other key areas closely linked with development efforts; be responsive to the needs and concerns of colleagues.
• Serve as liaison to the Board of Trustees Development Committee, preparing agendas and reports, and implementing special projects. Serve on the Board's Finance and Governance Committees.
• Maintain a high-performing, effective operation that reflects the same standards of quality and excellence that guide and motivate Salk's research staff; optimize and strengthen processes, systems, and infrastructure.
• Deepen alliances with existing donors; launch systematic initiatives to identify new individual and institutional donors capable of making significant contributions; create a robust pipeline of major- and principal-gift prospects that will provide a long-term, sustainable source of funding for Salk.
• Direct planning and execution of high-visibility donor events, such as Symphony at Salk.
• Ensure that donors are engaged and stewarded in a personally meaningful way.
• Oversee and provide strategic direction to a communications office that provides both internal and external communications services including branding and messaging for the Institute, website and digital communications, publications, media relations, and multimedia resources.

What we Require

• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible frontline experience in individual fundraising in a non-profit setting; substantial fundraising and managerial experience in academic, medical, scientific research, or higher-education institutions that are recognized for excellence.
• Ability to advance and defend ideas and programs in an environment that respects conviction but demands intellectual and analytical rigor; an eagerness for intellectual exchange and lively dialogue.
• Demonstrated experience and success in significantly growing and leading a large existing development program such that the increased philanthropic support is transformative for an organization; success in increasing the effectiveness of a development program and staff through established objectives and performance standards.
• Supportive and accessible management style that brings out the best in staff and fosters pride, ownership, and a sense of team effort; able to lead and motivate a diverse staff and foster growth and change in others.
• A keen eye for operational efficiency and optimal use of resources; ability to develop, monitor, and tightly manage a budget.
• Bachelor's degree or a comparable combination of education, training, and experience.

What We Can Offer

The expected pay range for this position is $350,000 to $450,000 annually. Salk Institute provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the institute reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location, and external market pay for comparable jobs.

Benefits

Salk Institute offers competitive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, retirement, paid time off, tuition reimbursement, patient advocacy services, and transit/parking program.

Salk Values

The Salk Community, both scientists and administrators, worked together to define values that we believe support Salk's pursuit of excellence. To be truly the best scientific institution requires not only incredible discoveries, but a common understanding of how we should work together to enable those discoveries.

The acronym "I CARE" provides a simple way to remember each of the values and reminds each of us of the importance of what we do each day.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The Salk Institute for Biological Studies is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing equal access to opportunities for students, employees, applicants for employment and other visitors. Salk has also adopted and maintains a policy to encourage professional and respectful workplace behavior and prevent discriminatory and harassing conduct in our workplace.

Accordingly, the Institute prohibits harassment and discrimination in employment on the basis of, and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to, actual or perceived race, color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital status, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status (disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era, other covered veteran status), political affiliation, and any other status protected by state or federal law.