Director, Best Buddies Challenges (California) - Best Buddies International

 Best Buddies International is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, inclusive living, and family support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).Best Buddies is the largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people worldwide with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Our programs empower people with IDD to form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure jobs, improve communication and advocacy skills, and live independently, while also offering support for their families.

Job Title:   Director, Best Buddies Challenge (California) Department:  Strategic Development and Marketing Reports to:  Vice President, Best Buddies Challenges Location: SF Bay. California# of direct reports:  1-3                                        Salary range: Commensurate with experienceRevised date:  03/04/2024**Special Note: Must be able to commute throughout the San Francisco area** Position Overview:  The Director will work closely with the Best Buddies Challenge senior management team on all regional development, sales, and recruitment initiatives. The Director will be responsible for managing large scale alumni teams, assisting and creating opportunities for team growth, converting interested parties into event participants, and be the point person for tracking and benchmarking participant commitments, revenue, maintaining accurate grids, coordination of key sponsor/corporate meetings and team development. The position plays a crucial role in supporting multiple Vice Presidents in sponsorship sales and development outreach and working cross event to play a supporting role in all Best Buddies Challenge events. Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 8 years’ experience in development, peer-to-peer fundraising, recruitment marketing or event management.
• Excellent relationship management and project management skills, including managing and prioritizing projects with multiple and often competing deadlines, and the ability to work under pressure.
• Proven ability to deliver high-touch customer service and work with customer relations management (CRM) database systems (e.g., keep contact logs, conversation notes, etc.)
• Must be the lead team player who is willing to pitch-in and help with everything from grassroots marketing to presenting to corporations
• Able to work some non-traditional hours, such as nights and weekends, and attend social events aimed at lead generation and recruitment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Outlook and PowerPoint, with exceptional skills in Excel required
• Highly organized and detail-oriented
• Able to work independently and productively from a remote location
• Work well under pressure and establish priorities while reporting to and working with a variety of people
• Motivated with a self-starter personality
• Deadline conscious
• Own a car and be able to travel locally and out-of-state
• Be a team player
• Experience with cycling a plus

 Key Job Responsibilities can include, but are not limited to: Development:

• Serves as lead Development Officer for key corporate and sponsor relationships
• Responsible for creating and executing the recruitment strategies to meet event budget and works with Communications and Marketing teams to set and refine strategies as needed
• Supports sponsorship team by serving as key “in-market” sponsorship and ride representative for all sponsor needs
• Assists in development of annual plan, timeline and goals for each revenue line item
• Serve as regional contact for top individual fundraisers, teams, and donors
• Cultivates new development relationships
• Collaborates with Communications & Marketing teams to support the communications program
• Assists in development of a comprehensive sales deck
• Implement all on-the-ground recruitment efforts (i.e. Corporate/Team presentations)
• Meet weekly and monthly goals for recruitment and lead generation
• Speak publicly and (also train direct reports to) present to various groups, including corporate employee groups, civic groups, colleges and universities, etc. for the purpose of recruiting participants.
• Provide the highest level of client service in the form of meeting follow-up, thank you letters, invoices, etc
• Develop and implement plans to build lead base using grassroots marketing efforts (i.e. Attendance or booth space at events, expos, festivals etc.)

 Operations:

• Serves as lead on and Manages Executive Committee
• Responsible for executing the customer service program and ensuring all team members are trained and supporting this effort
• Oversees all pre-production event prep elements as they relate to participants and fundraising (i.e. logistical communications, packet pick-ups)
• Works to create collaborative and productive team environment
• Manages local rider revenue operations efforts and retains responsibility for:
  • In-market rider recruitment
  • In-market rider marketing, grassroots outreach and local presence
  • In-market rider training and participant engagement activities
• Assist and advises on the creation and design of local events based on current and past participant data and trends 
• Work with the logistics team to make improvements to the event based upon participant feedback
• Take the lead on special projects as requested.

Best Buddies® is an affirmative action employer, in addition to an EOE and M/F/V/PWD/PV employer. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are foundational to Best Buddies International’s core values and help the organization continue to achieve its mission. Here at Best Buddies, our goal is to lead and advocate for a more inclusive world.Best Buddies offers a comprehensive and generous benefits program that include financial security, health and wellness and time off.                     
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