Senior Development Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Employment Status: Full-Time – 40hrs/wk. | In-Person Position (hybrid eligible)

Department : Resource Development

Reports To: VP of Philanthropy

Location : Randolph, N.J.

Salary Range: $75,000 - $95,000

Position Summary

The Senior Development Specialist reports to the VP of Philanthropy and is a key member of the Resource Development team, responsible for supporting fundraising operations, donor strategy and engagement, and event execution, while also assisting with marketing coordination and content development.

This role serves as a critical bridge between the Resource Development and Marketing & Communication teams, ensuring alignment of messaging, campaigns, and donor communications. The Senior Development Specialist plays a central role in executing fundraising initiatives, enhancing donor experiences, and supporting the organization’s visibility through strategic communications.

This position is ideal for a highly organized, collaborative professional who can manage both operational details and outward-facing communications in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.

Key Responsibilities

Donor Engagement & Stewardship

• Leverage existing relationships and community goodwill to deepen engagement and broaden the donor base.
• Represent Greater Middlesex & Morris Habitat for Humanity with professionalism and gravitas in donor interactions.
• Support donor cultivation and stewardship through timely, personalized communication and follow-up.
• Manage donor acknowledgments, pledge tracking, and gift processing in coordination with Finance and Resource Development leadership.
• Maintain accurate donor records in Salesforce, ensuring strong data integrity and reporting.
• Assist with donor segmentation and targeted outreach strategies to enhance engagement and retention.
• Support engagement efforts with the Board of Directors, the Leadership Council, and donors.

Event Planning & Execution

• Serve a key role in all Resource Development events for donor cultivation and engagement.
• Coordinate event logistics; invitations, RSVP tracking, seating, and on-site execution.
• Assist with sponsorship tracking, fulfillment, and recognition.
• Collaborate with the Marketing team to ensure all event-related materials (invitations, signage, digital assets, programs, etc.) are brand-compliant, accurate and fulfilled on time.
• Support post-event follow-up including acknowledgments, reporting, surveys and stewardship touchpoints.

Marketing & Communications Support

• Act as a liaison between Resource Development and Marketing & Communications to ensure alignment of fundraising campaigns and communications.
• Assist in the creation, editing, and distribution of donor-facing materials including emails, newsletters, appeals, and event promotions.
• Coordinate timelines for campaigns and ensure Resource Development priorities are met.
• Support social media and storytelling efforts by gathering content (photos, donor stories, impact highlights) from events and the organization’s programs.
• Help maintain consistency in messaging, branding, and voice across donor communications.
• Assist with tracking engagement metrics for campaigns (email performance, event participation, donor response).

Administrative & Operational Support

• Provide administrative support to the VP of Philanthropy and Resource Development team, including scheduling, meeting coordination, and document and report preparation.
• Prepare reports and dashboards to track fundraising progress, donor activity, and campaign outcomes.
• Assist with grant support materials, sponsorship documentation, and donor proposals, as needed.
• Help manage internal timelines and workflows to ensure projects stay on track.

Cross-Department Collaboration

• Work closely with Marketing & Communications, individual programs, and Finance to ensure coordinated execution and tracking of campaigns and events.
• Gather programmatic updates and impact data to support donor communications and storytelling.
• Support organization-wide initiatives that strengthen donor and community engagement.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in nonprofit development, marketing, communications, or related field.
• Must have experience and be comfortable with public speaking.
• Experience planning and supporting events, campaigns, or donor/customer engagement initiatives.
• Familiarity with CRM software (Salesforce preferred) and email marketing platforms.
• Proficient in Microsoft 365 software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams).
• Strong writing and editing skills with attention tone and audience.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Collaborative, proactive, and detail oriented.
• Passion for Habitat’s mission and a demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and community empowerment.

The Organization

Greater Middlesex & Morris Habitat for Humanity (GMM Habitat) is a nonprofit organization and an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. GMM Habitat is one of 14 Habitat affiliates in NJ. The organization’s mission is to provide safe and affordable housing solutions to low- and moderate-income families and individuals throughout its Geographic Service Area—Morris and Middlesex Counties and the greater Plainfield area. Affordable housing solutions offered by the organization include constructing new for-sale homes, providing critical home repairs, and tithing financial support to international affiliates within Habitat’s global network.

The $10+ million organization is made up of dedicated staff and volunteers and is led by its CEO, a 20-year veteran of the organization. This complex and growing organization, with a paid staff of 60, relies on thousands of volunteers each year to carry out many activities in all functions of its work. To help fund its mission, the Morris ReStore, a 33,000+ s.f. retail operation located at GMM Habitat’s Randolph campus generates over $3M in revenue each year and is one of the highest grossing Habitat ReStores in the country.

GMM Habitat has a stellar reputation in the local community, across the state and nationally among Habitat affiliates. It is a progressive and forward-thinking business with a clear vision and strategic plan for growth in the current year and beyond.

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Paid time off and holidays.
• Professional development opportunities.
• This position is eligible for a hybrid schedule after a six-month onboarding period; initial requirement is five days per week in-office.