Senior Development Writer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.
Job Overview:
The Senior Development Manager leads resource development, communications, and volunteer management for IRC's San Diego office, spanning its San Diego and El Cajon locations. This role owns donor and funder cultivation and stewardship, grants development, special events, in-kind donations, volunteer program oversight, traditional and social media, advocacy, and community engagement, along with the reporting and analytics that track progress across each function. The Development Manager directly supervises the Volunteer Coordinator and the interns and volunteers who support the unit and, as a member of IRC San Diego's senior management team, shares accountability with four other senior leaders for the office's strategy, operations, and stewardship of resources.
Major Responsibilities:
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Resource Development

• Set the office's annual private fundraising goals - including funds and in-kind donations of approximately $1 million per year - in partnership with the Executive Director and Finance Director, with the expectation that goals increase year over year;
• Build and lead an annual development plan covering restricted and unrestricted funds that supports organizational priorities and aligns with IRC San Diego's strategic action plan, in collaboration with the Deputy Director; review and revise the plan at least three times a year to align with the office's budget cycle;
• Develop an annual, tactical Development Action Plan covering special events, online giving campaigns, grant proposals, targeted fundraising appeals, and donor asks coordinated with IRC Headquarters major gift officers;
• Serve as the office's focal point for IRC's Integrated Fundraising Model, coordinating with Headquarters fundraising teams on individual donors, regional corporations, and regional foundations, including local events, program updates, and funding priorities;
• Partner with Headquarters fundraising teams on cultivation, stewardship, and solicitation of corporate, foundation, and major donor relationships with regional or national scope;
• Conduct prospect research and lead cultivation and stewardship of local foundation, corporate, and philanthropic relationships;
• Set strategy and goals for annual special events; supervise event planning and execution and lead sponsorship solicitation;
• Ensure timely, accurate donor activity records in Salesforce and the timely generation of donor acknowledgements;
• Lead the development and submission of grant proposals and funding applications identified in the development plan or requested by the Executive Director;
• Oversee solicitation, intake, and distribution of in-kind donations, ensuring compliance with established tracking, recognition, and internal/external policy requirements, including IRC and IRS rules on charitable donations;
• Establish and maintain tracking mechanisms for monitoring spend-down, reporting, and donor acknowledgement requirements on restricted funds (e.g., Fund Tracker Reporting).

Communications

• Ensure professional, timely responses to donor and external inquiries;
• Develop and lead an annual communications/marketing plan (email, social, and traditional media) supporting organizational and fundraising priorities;
• Coordinate with Headquarters Communications and the Executive Director on media requests;
• Prepare and support staff and/or clients for interviews, speaking engagements, and advocacy opportunities;
• Ensure compliance with media and social media policy and alignment with IRC brand guidelines and writing style across all public-facing materials;
• Ensure external written communications are accurate, professionally written, donor-centric, and consistent with IRC brand standards;
• Produce IRC San Diego's annual Impact Report;
• Respond to speaking engagement requests, representing the office as needed, and prepare other assigned speakers with talking points in advance;
• Support the Executive Director in representing the office at meetings, forums, and engagements with local elected officials;
• Conduct outreach, networking, and public presentations to recruit and educate prospective donors, volunteers, and constituents;
• Maintain current knowledge of IRC's mission and IRC San Diego's strategic priorities, programs, and client base.

Volunteer Program Oversight

• Oversee the Volunteer Coordinator to ensure the office meets annual volunteer placement goals in line with established protocols;
• Ensure organizational policies and procedures are followed in the recruitment, onboarding, and supervision of volunteers and interns;
• Provide guidance and mentorship on volunteer management practices and policy questions.

Staff Supervision (People Management)

• Provide leadership, supervision, and professional development for the Volunteer Coordinator and any other direct reports, in accordance with IRC's People Manager Standards;
• Hold regular (at least weekly) one-on-ones with direct reports to review priorities and progress, recognize achievements, and address performance concerns promptly;
• Set clear, written annual (or semi-annual) goals with direct reports in Workday, and provide ongoing coaching, feedback, and development opportunities;
• Foster a team culture built on fairness, consistency, open communication, and shared credit for team accomplishments;
• Manage Development/Communications team overtime requests, ensuring compliance with California labor law.

General Management

• Maintain a strong, collaborative relationship with program staff to stay current on programs, activities, and resource needs;
• Participate in weekly leadership team meetings, keeping the Executive Director and colleagues informed of development initiatives;
• Maintain accurate donor and relationship records in Salesforce CRM and provide reporting and analysis to support strategic planning and goal tracking;
• Submit Development/Communications expenses (including staff mileage and other reimbursements) to Finance on a timely basis;
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

Job Requirements:
Education
Essential:

• Bachelor's degree in Nonprofit Management, Communications, Business Administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience.

Desirable/Preferred:

• Graduate degree in a related field.

Work Experience
Essential:

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive professional experience in resource development/fundraising within a nonprofit, social services, or humanitarian organization, including donor cultivation and stewardship, grant writing, and special event management;
• Minimum of 2 years of supervisory experience, including performance management and staff development;
• Demonstrated experience managing organizational communications and/or public relations, including media relations and public-facing content development;
• Experience developing and monitoring a development/communications budget and tracking progress toward fundraising goals.

Desirable/Preferred:

• Experience engaging private foundations, corporations, or major donors in the San Diego/Southern California market;
• Familiarity with IRC's Integrated Fundraising Model or a comparable multi-office fundraising structure.

Demonstrated Skills & Competencies
Essential:

• Demonstrated ability to promote an organizational culture that reflects IRC's core values of service, accountability, integrity, and equality;
• Proven leadership, coaching, and team-building skills, with the ability to manage staff performance in accordance with IRC's People Manager Standards;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to produce polished, donor-centric, brand-compliant materials;
• Strong relationship-building, diplomacy, and networking skills, with success engaging donors, volunteers, partner agencies, government officials, and colleagues across a range of backgrounds and contexts;
• Self-starter with strong problem-solving, prioritization, and time-management skills in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and donor CRM platforms, with the ability to generate reports and interpret data to inform strategy;
• Valid driver's license and access to a reliable, insured vehicle; comfortable driving agency vehicles (e.g., minivans) as needed.

Desirable/Preferred:

• Proficiency with Salesforce CRM;
• Experience with design/publication tools such as Canva, Adobe, or Publisher;
• Bilingual or multilingual skills reflecting languages spoken by the local client community.

Working Environment:

• Standard, professional office environment combined with local travel throughout the San Diego/El Cajon service delivery area;
• Hybrid schedule specific to the needs of the Development/Communications team; requires a minimum of three days per week in the office, with flexibility to work remotely or in the field on other days;
• Occasional evening and weekend hours required to support events, donor engagements, and community activities;
• Ability to reliably commute to the San Diego/El Cajon service area; current residence in San Diego County strongly preferred.

Compensation: ($105,370). Compensation is based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.
Professional Standards Statement:
All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
US Benefits:
We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $120 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plan with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.
Cookies: https://careers.rescue.org/us/en/cookiesettings
Compensation: Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.
US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $163 per month, dental starting at $6.50 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and