The Organization
About Arabella Advisors
Arabella Advisors helps foundations, philanthropists and investors who are serious about impact achieve the greatest good with their resources. We work on issues ranging from the social and economic advancement of women and girls, and conservation of our climate and planet, to reducing poverty and inequity in the United States and around the world. Our staff members are mission-driven and action-oriented, and have a unique combination of experience in philanthropy, business, nonprofits, government, finance, law, and other fields. We combine creative, strategic thinking with knowledge and networks developed through decades of hands-on experience. The fastest-growing philanthropic advisory firm in the nation, Arabella is also a certified B Corporation.
About Arabella’s Managed Organizations Team
Arabella Advisors provides operations and management support to multiple nonprofit organizations, including the New Venture Fund, the Windward Fund, and the Hopewell Fund—all 501(c)(3) public charities—and the Sixteen Thirty Fund, a 501(c)(4).These managed organizations house new and innovative public interest projects and nonprofits, as well as coordinate collaborative initiatives between donors and administer grants programs. This type of structure is commonly referred to as fiscal sponsorship, and candidates are highly encouraged to research fiscal sponsorship prior to a first interview. The managed organizations provide support to a diverse range of projects, including many focused on conservation, global health and civic engagement.
Position Overview
A leader with deep experience in the social sector who will oversee and support new and existing client philanthropic initiatives
We seek a leader with a passion for improving and advancing the social sector. You will help quickly launch, scale, and manage operations for a variety of client philanthropic initiatives, including donor collaboratives, advocacy campaigns, and new nonprofit organizations. You will support client initiatives across multiple issue areas. You will also help our team continue to grow and improve: you will use your skills to quickly build internal capacity, systems, and technologies that enable us to more effectively serve the sector.
We seek a leader with experience growing teams and developing team members, a person who combines entrepreneurial spirit with an eagerness to help clients accomplish greater good, and who values integrating diversity, equity and inclusion into every aspect of their work. If you want the opportunity to help lead a fast-growing team that is reshaping the charitable sector, then this job is for you. This is a full-time position.
Essential Responsibilities
Client Service (~60%)
- Oversee the delivery of excellent client service for donors and non-profit projects while balancing compliance and staffing needs
- Oversee the development and growth of a new service to high-net-worth individuals
- Serve as a senior team lead for the most complex, important engagements in our new service and sometimes outside of it; provide expert guidance to clients in the areas of donor and grant/contract management, capacity building, and financial and legal compliance
- Cultivate strong relationships with some of our most important clients, including the leadership of the non-profits we manage
- Work with the executive team to help shape and implement practices that help us understand and promote the value and impact of the work with do across our services
Business Development (~10%)
- Work closely with Managing Directors and other team leaders to inform and support business development for our new service
- Support/participate in structuring discussions for potential clients
- In partnership with BD team, develop and manage relationships with key external partners, including channel partners and funders
- Maintain familiarity with ongoing relevant sector research and trends and share with team and clients
- Contribute to thought leadership
- Represent the firm at conferences and events
Management (~15%)
- Supervise team members with a focus on developing, motivating, and mentoring direct reports
- Identify rising stars on the team, and support strategies to retain them
- Identify, recruit, coach and support staff across the team
- Provide visible leadership to the local office
Strategic Leadership and Organizational Growth (~15%)
- As a member of the Managed Organizations leadership team, contribute to team and organizational strategy, and oversee the achievement of important team objectives
- Contribute to the team and organization’s significant year-over-year growth by innovating our systems, operations and processes
- Contribute to the development and management of the team’s ongoing structure, annual objectives, and key business performance metrics
- Develop and share relevant and valuable expertise
Senior Director, Client Service, Managed Organizations (Washington, DC)
A leader with deep experience in the social sector who will oversee and support new and existing client philanthropic initiatives
We seek a leader with a passion for improving and advancing the social sector. You will help quickly launch, scale, and manage operations for a variety of client philanthropic initiatives, including donor collaboratives, advocacy campaigns, and new nonprofit organizations. You will support client initiatives across multiple issue areas. You will also help our team continue to grow and improve: you will use your skills to quickly build internal capacity, systems, and technologies that enable us to more effectively serve the sector.
We seek a leader with experience growing teams and developing team members, a person who combines entrepreneurial spirit with an eagerness to help clients accomplish greater good, and who values integrating diversity, equity and inclusion into every aspect of their work. If you want the opportunity to help lead a fast-growing team that is reshaping the charitable sector, then this job is for you. This is a full-time position.
Essential Responsibilities
Client Service (~60%)
- Oversee the delivery of excellent client service for donors and non-profit projects while balancing compliance and staffing needs
- Oversee the development and growth of a new service to high-net-worth individuals
- Serve as a senior team lead for the most complex, important engagements in our new service and sometimes outside of it; provide expert guidance to clients in the areas of donor and grant/contract management, capacity building, and financial and legal compliance
- Cultivate strong relationships with some of our most important clients, including the leadership of the non-profits we manage
- Work with the executive team to help shape and implement practices that help us understand and promote the value and impact of the work with do across our services
Business Development (~10%)
- Work closely with Managing Directors and other team leaders to inform and support business development for our new service
- Support/participate in structuring discussions for potential clients
- In partnership with BD team, develop and manage relationships with key external partners, including channel partners and funders
- Maintain familiarity with ongoing relevant sector research and trends and share with team and clients
- Contribute to thought leadership
- Represent the firm at conferences and events
Management (~15%)
- Supervise team members with a focus on developing, motivating, and mentoring direct reports
- Identify rising stars on the team, and support strategies to retain them
- Identify, recruit, coach and support staff across the team
- Provide visible leadership to the local office
Strategic Leadership and Organizational Growth (~15%)
- As a member of the Managed Organizations leadership team, contribute to team and organizational strategy, and oversee the achievement of important team objectives
- Contribute to the team and organization’s significant year-over-year growth by innovating our systems, operations and processes
- Contribute to the development and management of the team’s ongoing structure, annual objectives, and key business performance metrics
- Develop and share relevant and valuable expertise
To be successful in this role you’ll need:
- At least 15 years of work experience with steadily increasing job responsibility, including extensive people management experience
- Graduate degree in relevant field (e.g., business administration, nonprofit management, or public administration) or equivalent experience in the social sector or in business
- Deep knowledge of and experience in the social sector. The ideal candidate has philanthropic, nonprofit or consulting experience, and has worked closely with donors in the past
- Significant experience with business development and providing high-quality customer service in fast-paced, sophisticated environments
- Excellent communication skills, including writing skills, and demonstrated ability to structure large amounts of information into written documents that are clear and easy to understand
- Ability to manage and lead complex projects, to oversee and delegate to others on the team, and to meet deadlines
- Experience with or understanding of DAF rules and regulations, advocacy compliance and/or fiscal sponsorship a significant plus
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
Advancing DEI within our firm and in our work with partners is critical to our mission. To be effective partners to philanthropists, nonprofits, and communities impacted by philanthropic dollars, we need to have a highly diverse staff, a workplace where individuals are encouraged to retain their uniqueness and can feel a sense of belonging, and a nuanced understanding of the racial, ethnic, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, and other disparities that undergird the issues we engage in and the interactions we have with one another. For us, equity means that our staff members, our clients, and the people they serve can experience the same level of success, no matter their starting place. We expect all our employees to share this commitment, and always seek ways to improve how well we live these values. Click here to learn more about DEI at Arabella and read our official DEI statement.
Working with Us
While this full-time position must be based in Washington, DC, please note that due to COVID-19, all Arabella Advisors’ offices are closed, and we remain a remote-first organization until further notice. We have a strong firm culture rooted in collaboration and in-person interactions between colleagues. To that end, once our offices reopen it is our expectation that all staff will generally work from the office according to a schedule agreed upon with their supervisor.
We offer a competitive and holistic total rewards package that includes salary, bonus, and benefits. Our base salaries are based on a blend of similar sized organizations from different sectors, including nonprofits, foundations, and professional service firms. They are also based on local market rates and differentiated by geography. You’ll start with 18 days of vacation, 10 days of personal time, and 20 hours of paid time to volunteer at an organization of your choice. In addition to seven federal holidays, you get to pick four more from a list of inclusive cultural and religious holidays and your birthday. Our competitive health package includes medical, vision, dental, and prescription insurance, and our retirement package includes a 401(k) plan that is fully vested from day one. We also provide funds for professional development, a fitness benefit, and cover part of your personal cell phone plan.
We are committed to having a passion-driven, inclusive, transparent, collaborative, healthy, and fun culture. We invite you to visit our careers page to learn more.
How To Apply
Submit a resume and a one-page cover letter online: https://www.arabellaadvisors.com/careers/open-position/?gnk=job&gni=8a7887a878279a0001782882990f4493&gns=ABFE. The cover letter should address why you’re excited to work at Arabella and why you’re qualified for this specific job.
Arabella Advisors is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to racial equity. If we can make the application process easier through accommodation in the recruitment process, please let us know.
We encourage you to read (or listen to) our DEI statement prior to applying. We make a particular effort to recruit people of color and members of marginalized groups to apply for open positions. Once you have applied, we welcome your feedback on how you have experienced our values around DEI in the recruitment process.
While Arabella is open to individuals from various locations applying to join our team, please note that we generally are unable to pay for relocation expenses, and, except in rare circumstances considered on a case-by-case basis, all applicants must already be legally eligible to work in the United States at the time of application to be considered for this position.