Senior Manager, Strategic Initiatives

Museum Overview

The Brooklyn Museum is a world-renowned cultural institution dedicated to preserving and showcasing art, history, and heritage. Our mission is to bring people together through art and experiences that inspire celebration, compassion, courage, and the will to act. Our vision is to serve as an institution where art is a powerful force for personal transformation and social change. Celebrating our differences and learning about our diverse communities through our collections, exhibitions, and programming is the core of who we are and what we do.

We are committed to creating and cultivating a diverse community of talented, passionate people who are inspired to make the Museum an important hub of community activity and a great global destination. Our staff have the opportunity to grow their professional skills and work collaboratively with colleagues they admire and respect.

About The Role

The Senior Manager, Strategic Initiatives will play a key role in managing and shaping the intake of institutional priorities into compelling cases for philanthropic support. This individual will collaborate closely with internal teams to translate key initiatives, such as exhibitions, education, public programming, and capital projects, into strategic funding opportunities and communicate these opportunities while demonstrating the significant impact that donor support can have on the Museum’s mission. The position is also responsible for producing professional, donor-facing materials that reflect the Museum’s brand, editorial standards, and core values.

Reporting to the Director of Development Operations, this position is critical to helping the Museum secure funding for priority initiatives, ensuring clear and effective communication of these needs to potential donors. The ideal candidate will be a highly organized, creative, and communicative professional who thrives in a collaborative environment and is passionate about the Museum’s mission.

The Senior Manager, Strategic Initiatives oversees a team of two.

Responsibilities

• Manage the intake and prioritization of institutional and departmental priorities, including exhibitions, education programs, and capital projects.
• Work with internal stakeholders, including the Museum Director, curators, Deputy Director for Art, Publications, Interpretation & Editorial Services (PIES) and building architects, to distill complex priorities into clear, impactful narratives that resonate with potential donors.
• Develop and create professional donor-facing materials (proposals, reports) to communicate funding opportunities and demonstrate the Museum’s impact.
• Collaborate with the Director of Individual Giving and Major Gifts to ensure strategic alignment of fundraising efforts with key departmental and institutional goals.
• Serve as thought partner to the Director of Membership to craft direct and urgent messages of support for direct mail and digital giving efforts in support of the Annual Fund.
• Develop and provide talking points for senior leaders for events and key meetings (exhibition openings, Board meetings).
• Support the development of emerging funding strategies for new initiatives and capital projects while stewarding the team in supporting the annual operating needs of the museum.
• Foster collaboration with internal teams, including Communications, Marketing, Curatorial, Learning and Social Impact, and more, to ensure coordination on messaging and outreach for key Museum initiatives.
• Administration and Team Management:
• Provide direct supervision to a Donor Relations Manager and Graphic Designer, including assigning tasks, providing performance feedback, and coaching for professional growth.
• Oversee their work in assisting the Brooklyn Museum's advancement efforts by assisting in their development of donor facing materials.
  

Qualifications

• 5 years of experience in communications, grant writing, institutional relations, or project management, preferably within a cultural or non-profit organization.
• Proven experience in creating donor-facing materials, including proposals, presentations, and reports.
• Strong ability to translate institutional priorities into compelling, clear narratives for donor audiences.
• Excellent writing, editing, and communication skills, with a focus on clarity and impact.
• Skilled project management expertise and an ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborative team player with the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams, including curatorial, education, and development departments.
• Experience with customer relationship management (CRM) software such as Tessitura or similar tools is a plus.
• Strong research skills and the ability to stay current on trends in the philanthropic landscape.
• Knowledge of and commitment to the Brooklyn Museum’s mission, history, and programs, and a strong affinity with Brooklyn.
• Creative and entrepreneurial mindset with a passion for supporting strategic initiatives that drive impact.
  
  

Department: Development

Reports to: Director of Development Operations

Position Type: Full-time

Salary: $94,411.20

Union Status: Non-Union

FLSA Status: Exempt

Schedule: 35 hours per week, Monday–Friday, 9 am–5 pm. This position is subject to occasional weeknight and weekend hours.

If you have questions about our online application system, get in touch with us at job.applicationquestions@brooklynmuseum.org .