JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE: VP/Chief Development Officer
DEPARTMENT: Development
FLSA STATUS: Exempt
DATE: May 2026
SAFETY SENSITIVE: No
REPORTS TO: President/CEO
ESSENTIAL DUTIES, FUNCTIONS,
AND RESPONSIBILITIES
STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP
• Partner with the President/CEO to develop and implement long-range organizational goals and strategies.
• Act as a strategic advisor to the senior management team, ensuring alignment with the organization’s
mission and objectives.
• Monitor and analyze market trends, donor behavior, and community needs to inform strategic initiatives.
FUNDRAISING AND DEVELOPMENT
• Lead the development and execution of comprehensive fundraising plans, focusing on diversifying
revenue streams.
• Oversee all aspects of fundraising, including major gifts, corporate partnerships, planned giving
programs, direct mail campaigns, and grant writing/reporting.
• Cultivate relationships with high-value donors, sponsors, and community partners to secure long-term
support.
• Implement systems and tools to track donor engagement, recognition, and retention.
• Ensure compliance with all legal and ethical fundraising standards.
MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
• Direct the development and execution of integrated marketing strategies to enhance visibility and
community engagement.
• Oversee traditional media, social media, and direct response marketing e¡orts to amplify the
organization’s mission and brand.
• Collaborate with internal teams to produce impactful communication materials, including newsletters,
press releases, annual reports, and campaign collateral.
• Act as a spokesperson for the Food Bank at public events, media engagements, and community forums.
TEAM LEADERSHIP
• Provide mentorship and leadership to the development and marketing teams, fostering a culture of
accountability, innovation, and excellence.
• Establish clear performance goals, provide ongoing feedback, and support professional development for
direct reports.
• Encourage cross-functional collaboration to achieve organizational objectives.
OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE
• Develop and manage budgets for the fundraising and marketing departments, ensuring resource
allocation aligns with strategic goals.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, systems, and tools to optimize efficiency and impact.
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES
• Exhibit exemplary attendance and punctuality.
• Comply with company policies and procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned
EDUCATION & RELATED EXPERIENCE
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Nonprofit Management, Marketing, or related field required;
Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 7-10 years of progressive leadership experience in fundraising, marketing, or strategic
planning, preferably within a nonprofit organization.
• A valid driver’s license and the ability to be covered by the organization’s auto insurance is required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
• Dedication to understanding and supporting the NWAFB mission, including showing compassion to those
experiencing food insecurity.
• Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation,
leadership techniques, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• Knowledge of principles and methods for instructing individuals and measuring training e¡ectiveness.
• Strong technical skills in cost accounting, financial reporting, analysis, and cash flow management.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Oce Suite, Google Docs, and operations management software.
• A dynamic manager with proven leadership skills and high ethical standards.
• The ability to e¡ectively prioritize and manage multiple assignments while working independently.
• The ability to compile and analyze data, and present information to various audiences.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES AND
INTERACTIONS WITH OTHERS
The position will be responsible for managing and supervising multiple NWAFB team members. Additionally,
the role will interact daily with coworkers, customers, vendors, and the general public.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully
perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals
with disabilities to perform essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk, hear, and see using
close- and/or distance-vision, and use their hands to touch, grasp, or type. The employee may occasionally be
required to reach with their hands and arms, walk, and lift or move objects up to 50 pounds. Hand-eye coordination
is necessary to operate computers and various pieces of oce equipment
Please email your resume and cover letter to :
[email protected]
ABOUT THE NWAFB
The Northwest Arkansas Food Bank is one of six food banks in the state of Arkansas that are a part of the
Feeding America network. Located in an 82,000 facility that opened in June 2024 in Lowell, Arkansas, we
serve the four counties of Benton, Carroll, Madison, and Washington in the northwest part of the state. Our
facility was built with growth in mind. In 2025 we distributed over 14.4 million pounds of food and provided
over 12 meals to our neighbors in need. There are approximately 37 people moving into the region each day,
according to local Chamber of Commerce statistics, and many of those will need our help to provide food for
their tables. We anticipate our distribution numbers to only increase, and we are positioning ourselves for that
population and need growth.
OUR MISSION AND VISION
Our mission is to nourish Northwest Arkansas communities by feeding hungry people.
Our vision is to be the leader in hunger relief by building partnerships with other hunger relief organizations
OUR STRATEGIC PLAN
Our 2030 Strategic Plan outlines our path to meet the rising need for food among our neighbors and deepen
our impact across the four counties we serve. Grounded in our mission of feeding hungry people, this plan
identifies six strategic pillars that guide our work. Each pillar includes targeted, measurable goals informed by
data, community input, and industry best practices, including emerging tools and technology, to ensure we
grow responsibly, stay mission-focused, and remain rooted in the needs and voices of our community.
Pillar 1: Expand and Strengthen Strategic Partnerships
Pillar 2: Maximize Food Distribution and Access
Pillar 3: Build and Empower a Mission-Driven Team
Pillar 4: Grow Philanthropic Investment and Financial Resilience
Pillar 5: Leverage Our New Home for Greater Impact
Pillar 6: Educate, Engage, and Evolve