Berkeley Lab Foundation President & Chief Development Officer

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, one of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) national laboratories, is the home of great team science performed in the service of the public good. Since its founding in the 1930s, Berkeley Lab has tackled national and global science challenges of our time – explaining photosynthesis, mapping the human genome, discovering dark energy, developing energy efficient technologies, and creating fuel from biomass, just to name a few. A host of award-winning scientists – including 16 Nobel Prize winners – have called the Lab home.  

 

The Berkeley Lab Foundation supports research programs, centers, and facilities at Berkeley Lab that are aligned with the DOE’s basic science and applied energy missions. This support can increase the real-world impact of research at Berkeley Lab by translating fundamental research to issues related to energy use and the environment. Now in its ninth year, the Foundation has an efficient and effective staff and organizational structure, as well as an engaged and hands-on Board, and Berkeley Lab has been attracting high-end philanthropic support across a wide array of donor interests (approximately $10 million annually).

 

Berkeley Lab is seeking a Foundation President & Chief Development Officer (CDO) to leverage the Foundation’s successful track record to continue advancing the Foundation’s goals, serving as the bridge between Berkeley Lab and donors who wish to support its multidisciplinary research. In partnership with the Lab Director and fellow members of Berkeley Lab’s senior leadership team, the new President & CDO will develop compelling philanthropic priorities to engage, cultivate, and inspire donors to advance Berkeley Lab’s vision of bringing science solutions to global problems. This position works to raise funds, oversees the administration of the foundation, and organizes meetings of the Board. The President & CDO is an employee of the University of California (UC), reporting to Berkeley Lab’s Director and the Foundation’s Board Chair, and works closely with the Vice President for National Laboratories in the UC Office of the President. 

 

 

What You Will Do:

• With the Lab Director and senior Lab leadership, develop and implement an annual fundraising plan based on the Lab’s short- and long-term strategies and initiatives. This is to be accomplished within a large, complex scientific and technical environment while working within the DOE and UC contractual requirements. 
• Leverage the current Foundation staff and organization to support short- and long-term fundraising strategies. Effectively manage staff, operations, and resources within the organization. 
• Identify projects suitable for philanthropic support and continually search for and evaluate new funding prospects, devising approaches for responding to these prospects; propose relevant funding opportunities to pursue to the Lab Director and senior leadership team; manage their execution of prospect cultivation. 
• Ensure that all philanthropy is managed consistently with DOE, UC, and IRS regulations, working closely with Berkeley Lab staff and external legal support to negotiate allowable gift and grant agreements with funders.
• Collaborate with development teams from UC’s Office of the President and UC Berkeley, identifying opportunities for synergistic efforts and taking care to avoid competing efforts. A healthy relationship between UC Berkeley and Berkeley Lab is paramount to the success of the institutions.
• Manage the day-to-day operations of the Berkeley Lab Foundation. Oversee all aspects of the organization’s infrastructure and processes for financial transactions, recordkeeping, and communication with donors.
• Serve as the executive director and staff to the Berkeley Lab Foundation Board of Directors, managing the Lab Director and UC’s interaction with this governing body.

 

 

What is Required:

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 15 years of relevant experience, including 8 years of proven achievement as a senior development officer within a large, complex organization; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Excellent and effective verbal and written communications, including public presentation experience; ability to articulate complex scientific and technical issues. Demonstrated ability to conceptualize and describe funding needs in a way that is clear and compelling to a variety of potential donors.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills, including the ability to work effectively with diverse constituencies within and external to the institution.
• Experience working with individuals, private foundations, and corporations to cultivate, solicit, and steward large gift commitments, including multi-million-dollar principal gifts.
• Ability to develop multi-institutional frameworks and networks for collaborative projects; ability to identify needs of philanthropic sponsoring organizations and individuals to promote new research opportunities.
• Experience in identifying and building new constituencies for philanthropic support.
• Demonstrated outstanding organizational and managerial skills, with the ability to organize, inspire, and guide Laboratory leadership, Berkeley Lab scientific staff, and Foundation staff in the fulfillment of their fundraising responsibilities.
• Demonstrated knowledge and leadership ability in budget formulation and execution, financial analysis, administrative management and human resource management.
• Excellent problem-solving skills; ability to research and analyze complex situations critically, act decisively and clearly convey information to others.
• Ability to stay abreast of Berkeley Lab’s science program development goals, funding information, and research trends as the basis for development of new funding opportunities.
• Experience working closely with volunteer/non-profit leadership boards.

 

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience working in a science-oriented environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in a business, financial, technical field or other relevant discipline.

 

Application Guidelines:

• For full consideration, please submit your resume and cover letter by February 20, 2024. 
• In the cover letter, please highlight your: interest and vision for the position; relevant experience and accomplishments; and personal contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

 

Notes:

• This is a full-time career appointment, exempt (monthly paid) from overtime pay.
• This position is expected to pay $270,000 to $340,000, which fits within the full salary range of $224,292 to $448,380 for the Chief Development Officer job classification. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the full range for a position. Salary for this position will be commensurate with the final candidate’s qualifications and experience (including skills, knowledge, relevant education, certifications), as well as aligned with the internal leadership peer group.
• This position is subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment.
• The President & CDO is an at-will position that is appointed by and serves at the discretion of the Laboratory Director.
• This position is subject to the financial disclosure requirements of the California Political Reform Act of 1974. The successful candidate for this position will be required to file financial interest statements upon assuming this position, annually while holding this position, and when leaving this position.
• This position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule - a combination of teleworking and performing work on site at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road in Berkeley, CA. Work schedules are dependent on business needs. Individuals working a hybrid schedule must reside within 150 miles of Berkeley Lab.

 

Learn About Us:

Berkeley Lab (LBNL) addresses the world’s most urgent scientific challenges by advancing sustainable energy, protecting human health, creating new materials, and revealing the origin and fate of the universe. Founded in 1931, Berkeley Lab’s scientific expertise has been recognized with 16 Nobel prizes. The University of California manages Berkeley Lab for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.

 

Working at Berkeley Lab has many rewards including a competitive compensation program, excellent health and welfare programs, a retirement program that is second to none, and outstanding development opportunities. To view information about the many rewards that are offered at Berkeley Lab- Click Here .

 

Berkeley Lab is committed to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accountability (IDEA) and strives to continue building community with these shared values and commitments.

 

Berkeley Lab is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We heartily welcome applications from women, minorities, veterans, and all who would contribute to the Lab’s mission of leading scientific discovery, inclusion, and professionalism. In support of our diverse global community, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. 

 

Equal Opportunity and IDEA Information Links:

Know your rights, click here for the supplement: "Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law" and the Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision under 41 CFR 60-1.4.