The posting
Title: Senior Manager, Development
Department: SEO High School Scholars, Miami
Reports to: Executive Director, SEO High School Scholars, Miami
Compensation: $63,450 - $74,700
FLSA: Exempt
Employee Type: Full-Time, Regular
Location: Miami, FL
Work Arrangement: Hybrid - 3 days/week in the SEO office at 3401 N Miami Avenue, Miami, FL 33127
ABOUT SEO
Founded in 1963 during the Civil Rights Movement, SEO closes educational and career opportunity gaps for 7,000 ambitious young people annually.
SEO Scholars is a free, eight-year, academic program that transforms public high school students in New York City, San Francisco, North Carolina, and Miami into college graduates. SEO Scholars successfully educates and mentors students to and through college. 100% of Scholars are accepted into four-year colleges, 85% of Scholars graduate with a Bachelor’s degree, and 80% are first-generation college graduates. All are welcome to apply.
POSITION OVERVIEW
SEO Scholars Miami seeks a strategic, relationship-driven, and highly organized Senior Manager of Development to support fundraising, donor engagement, and external relations efforts that advance the organization’s mission and long-term growth. This role will play a key part in cultivating and stewarding donors, supporting fundraising campaigns and events, managing development operations, and strengthening community partnerships.
The ideal candidate is a strong communicator, relationship builder, and project manager who is passionate about educational equity and excited to help grow a sustainable culture of philanthropy in Miami. This role will take meaningful ownership of SEO Scholars Miami's fundraising strategy, donor and partner relationships, development pipeline, and fundraising initiatives, working closely with the Executive Director and national Development team. The successful candidate will be comfortable representing SEO with donors and community stakeholders and will bring the initiative and judgment needed to independently move opportunities forward.
Fundraising & Donor Engagement
- Own and execute an annual fundraising plan for SEO Scholars Miami in partnership with the Executive Director, with responsibility for achieving defined revenue and pipeline goals
- Develop and maintain a qualified fundraising pipeline and provide regular updates on progress toward revenue goals, opportunities, risks, and next steps
- Manage donor cultivation, stewardship, and engagement activities
- Draft donor communications, impact updates, solicitation materials, and stewardship reports
- Coordinate donor meetings, follow-ups, and relationship management processes
- Support major gifts, corporate partnerships, and individual giving efforts
- Assist with grant preparation, reporting, and submission processes; Coordinate with NY Development team in compliance with grants management protocol
- Maintain consistent donor stewardship practices and acknowledgment timelines
Strategic Partnerships & Community Outreach
- Conduct prospect research on individuals, corporations, and foundations
- Support cultivation strategies for new donors and strategic partners
- Assist in developing community engagement and visibility initiatives
- Develop and manage relationships with Miami-based corporations, foundations, and community partners to generate philanthropic support and strategic opportunities for SEO Scholars Miami
- Identify opportunities for corporate engagement including sponsorships, employee engagement, mentoring, career exposure, internships, and other resources benefiting Scholars
- Develop partnership proposals and engagement strategies aligned with organizational and partner priorities
- Maintain a pipeline of prospective corporate and community partners and manage follow-up through the cultivation process
Development Operations
- Manage donor database and fundraising tracking systems; Maintain and manage funding pipeline in Salesforce
- Ensure accurate gift processing, donor records, and reporting, in coordination with SEO’s New York Development Operations team
- Track fundraising progress, campaign metrics, and donor engagement activities
- Prepare development dashboards, reports, and briefing materials
- Support budget tracking and development-related administrative processes
- Help improve fundraising systems, workflows, and operational efficiency
- Prepare prospect briefings, donor meeting materials, and follow-up strategies for the Executive Director and Advisory Board members
Events & External Engagement
- Support planning and execution of fundraising events, cultivation gatherings, and community engagement opportunities
- Lead on Give Miami Day: Lead the planning and execution of Give Miami Day, including campaign strategy, communications, donor outreach, peer-to-peer engagement, corporate/community participation, and post-campaign stewardship and analysis
- Lead at least one additional annual fundraising campaign or special initiative from strategy through execution and evaluation
- Coordinate logistics, invitations, RSVPs, sponsorships, and event communications
- Represent SEO Scholars Miami at community and partner events as needed
- Help strengthen relationships with corporate, foundation, alumni, and community partners
- Assist with recruitment of volunteers and volunteer engagement
Communications & Storytelling
- Support development-related marketing and communications efforts
- Gather Scholar, alumni, and program impact stories for fundraising purposes
- Assist with newsletters, annual reports, social media content, and campaign messaging
- Collaborate with program staff to elevate Scholar stories and program impact
- Ensure messaging aligns with organizational mission and brand
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree required
- 3–5 years of experience in fundraising, nonprofit development, external relations, or related fields
COMPETENCIES & SKILLS
- Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills
- Strong relationship management and donor stewardship experience
- Exceptional organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities
- Proficiency with CRM/database systems, Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, and platforms such as Salesforce, Monday.com, and Canva
- Strategic, detail-oriented, and solutions-focused with strong initiative and follow-through
- Collaborative, relationship-oriented, and able to work independently across cross-functional teams
- Resourceful, adaptable, and proactive in problem-solving
- Comfortable engaging with donors, executives, and community stakeholders
- Committed to educational equity and passionate about advancing SEO's mission to close the opportunity gap for motivated students
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
SEO offers a competitive compensation package and comprehensive benefits plan including low-cost health, vision, and dental options, a generous holiday schedule and PTO policies, disability coverage, fully paid time off for new parents, and employer contributions to health reimbursement and retirement accounts. We are constantly working to improve our benefits each year based on the needs of our employees. We value wellness and strive to put people first and foremost.
The compensation listed in this posting reflects what SEO believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and SEO reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time.
EEOC Policy
At SEO we are committed to cultivating a team that embodies the backgrounds and experiences of the constituencies we serve and the communities we live in, and a workplace that reflects the impact we make in the world. Candidates from all communities – including people of color, women, members of the LGBTQIA+ Community, veterans, and people with disabilities – are strongly encouraged to apply.
Equal Employment Opportunity is not just the law, it is our commitment.
Sponsors for Educational Opportunity is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer – M/F/D/V. We will consider all qualified applicants for employment regardless of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information or characteristics, or any other legally protected status.
If you need accommodation while applying for a role with SEO, due to a disability, please email SEO Talent.
Fingerprinting
This position requires successful completion of a Level 2 background screening through the Florida Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse, including fingerprinting, as a condition of employment. Applicants are encouraged to review background screening requirements, disqualifying offenses, and exemption information at the Florida Clearinghouse Education & Awareness site: https://info.flclearinghouse.com.
THE ORGANIZATION
Established in 1963 by Michael Osheowitz, SEO (Sponsors for Educational Opportunity) is an educational non-profit founded on the belief that talent is everywhere; but opportunity is not. Our programs are designed to educate, train, mentor, and amplify the voices of our participants to give them a seat at the table – every table. We propel human potential.
SEO is an innovator in education, mentorship, and creating educational career opportunities that maximize the full potential of our participants. Each year SEO serves 7,000+ participants nationally, and the organization is widely recognized for developing best-in-class programs with exceptional results.
Not every SEO participant is on the same journey, but all are hungry for opportunity and SEO creates an ecosystem of excellence. Learn more about SEO's programs here: https://www.seo-usa.org/our-programs/.
