Senior Development Manager

About WITNESS

WITNESS is a global organization that helps people everywhere harness the power of video and audiovisual technology to tell their stories, document the truth, and defend human rights – today and in a future increasingly shaped by AI.

We work across five continents to equip activists, journalists, fact-checkers, and other human rights defenders with the tools, skills, and strategies needed to navigate this shifting landscape.

About the role

WITNESS’ External Relations department is committed to sustaining and growing revenue globally and raising the organization’s profile, helping to expand our reach and drive greater impact at the intersection of video, emerging technologies such as AI, and human rights. 

The Senior Development Manager (Strategic Partnerships) will join a small, ambitious team focused on growing revenue globally and establishing and deepening strategic partnerships. In this role, the candidate will be developing innovative cultivation and stewardship strategies designed to engage, retain and secure major support from governments, trusts and foundations, and corporations. 

In partnership with the Director of Development and the Executive Director, this role will support the management of a high-value portfolio of current institutional partners, while also driving  new prospect identification and providing essential pipeline and strategic support.

The right candidate is a self-starter with excellent communication skills and deep experience in both identifying new partnerships and managing grant portfolios. A key focus will be on developing and executing tailored growth plans for current donors to ensure sustained commitment and secure uplifts in their support. Passion for human rights and technology is essential.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Lead on prospect identification, qualification, and portfolio growth 

• Systematically research and identify new, high-potential trusts and foundations, and corporate partners whose missions or interests align with WITNESS’ work.
• Analyze the current institutional funding portfolio to identify "warm" opportunities for increased investment, multi-year renewals, or expanded programmatic support.
• Qualify prospects and existing partners based on their capacity, connection, and interest to ensure a strong potential for a major investment.
• Rigorously assess the prospect's programmatic fit, ensuring their interests are a high-value match for WITNESS's current and future funding priorities.
• Lead regular meetings with the Director of External Relations to review pipeline progress, highlight emerging risks, and forecast potential revenue.
• Actively seek out referrals and monitor sector news to uncover "warm" leads.
• Commission external research to grow understanding of new markets that are relevant to WITNESS’ work and growth.

Lead the development of first-in-class cultivation strategies to engage and secure major support from a range of sources 

• Work with the Director of External Relations to lead and develop high-impact, tailored cultivation strategies to meaningfully engage top prospects and current high-value donors.
• Work with relevant teams across the organisation to implement these strategies and engagement plans, tapping into relevant expertise of programmatic staff. 
• Support the solicitation process for newly identified partnerships and major grant renewals, including writing tailored proposals, developing presentation decks, and preparing case materials.

Support growth management and uplifts for existing partners 

• Support the Director of External Relations in conducting timely reviews of upcoming renewals and reporting deadlines to map out opportunities and risks. 
• Support the Director of External Relations in the development of tailored communications strategies to maximize funder engagement.
• Oversee the drafting of accurate, timely and compelling donor reports (narrative and financial), in line with their requirements, to demonstrate the impact of their donations.
• With the Development Coordinator (Grants) and the Development Coordinator (Donor Engagement) periodically audit the current stewardship activities for high-value partners to ensure they are receiving appropriate, high-quality, communication that sustains engagement.

Champion a culture of learning and agility 

• Implement feedback loops that enable the improvement of internal ways of working, as well as documenting and implementing lessons learned.
• Actively support the development team on best practices for prospect research, and qualification scoring, ensuring the agile knowledge gained is passed down efficiently.
• Monitor emerging philanthropic trends, new foundation launches, peer fundraising strategies, and shifts in technology/human rights funding. 
• Actively contribute to updating and improving our fundraising key performance indicators and metrics across the board. 
  

PRINCIPAL RELATIONSHIPS:

• Director of External Relations (Supervisor)
• Senior Leadership Team
• Associate Directors (Global Programs Team)
• Finance Team
• Development Coordinator (Grants)
• Development Coordinator (Donor Engagement)

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Work Experience:  

• A minimum of 6-8 years of experience in Fundraising, with a focus on institutional giving, statutory funding, corporate giving, or philanthropy;
• Proven success in securing gifts, including grants, of six-figures upwards from a range of trusts and foundations or high-value donors;
• Experience in generating new business in a global, non-profit organisation working on human rights or technology for good sectors; 
• Experience producing high quality, funder-facing written communications;
• Experience maintaining and building relationships with high-value supporters and/or stakeholders.

Management:  

• A minimum of 2 years of management experience;
• Experience working collaboratively within a team.

Organisational & Interpersonal: 

• Demonstrated relationship-building and problem-solving skills;
• Excellent interpersonal skills; 
• Strong organisational skills;
• High attention to detail and precision in all work.

Communications:  

• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing with a high degree of professionalism and authority;
• Experience working with remote teams and collaborating across geographic, and cultural boundaries.

Languages: 

• We are a global team who use English as our shared language, as such this role requires a high proficiency of written and spoken English;  
• Additional languages are a plus.

Other Important Skills & Characteristics: 

• A flexible mindset and able to be adaptable and open to change; 
• You should be team minded and have a strong collaborative approach;
• Ability to apply a values based approach to decision making.

LOCATION

We are a globally distributed, remote workforce. The ideal candidate is based within the United States. The successful candidate must have the legal right to work in the United States. Visa sponsorship or relocation assistance is uncommon and generally only offered for highly specialized positions.

COMPENSATION

• USD 94,900 

HOW TO APPLY

If you are interested in this role, you must apply via this site (hosted by BambooHR). To complete your application please send your resume/CV and respond to the application questions. 

We will give priority to applications received before EOD April 14 (Eastern Time). Applications received after this date may be considered.

WITNESS is committed to building an inclusive workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We encourage applications from individuals who are members of marginalized and/or underrepresented groups.

WITNESS is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants of all ages, races, ethnicities, national origins, religions, genders, gender identities and expressions, sexual orientations, as well as individuals protected by other statuses under federal, state, or local laws, including but not limited to disability, marital, domestic partnership, familial, caregiver, transgender, and military or veteran statuses.