ADVANCEMENT OFFICER, GRANTS AND DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
The Advancement Officer may live/work and travel remotely from any state.
 
OPPORTUNITY GUIDE
www.oclc.org
 
MISSION
Our mission is to connect people to knowledge through library cooperation.

 
OCLC® - Online Computer Library Center, Inc., is a worldwide, nonprofit cooperative, established in 1967 and governed and sustained by its member libraries. Under the leadership of Skip Prichard, President and CEO, librarians guide and shape their direction through a Board of Trustees and a global council of member libraries.
 
Nearly 50 years ago, a small group of library leaders believed that by working together, they could find solutions to the day’s most pressing issues facing libraries. They began with the idea of combining computer technology with library cooperation to reduce costs and improve patron services through a cooperative model of cataloging library materials. As technology has made the world smaller and the reach of libraries greater, OCLC’s membership has grown and now includes 25,000 libraries, archives and museums in more than 100 countries. OCLC is headquartered in Dublin, Ohio with offices in nine locations.
 
Today, OCLC’s work is concentrated in three areas: conducting research to explore the trends that shape the future of libraries, providing services to share work, data, and other resources between libraries, and conducting programming and building partnerships to magnify the impacts that libraries have in their community. From its revolutionary online WorldCat® cataloging and interlibrary loan systems to its groundbreaking efforts in linked data and WorldShare® management services, OCLC continues to explore new ideas in library practice in order to identify programs that will advance the value of library services and enhance the experience of library users. Unique in its vision and committed to innovation, OCLC is also the world’s leading library research center, devoted exclusively to the challenges facing libraries in a rapidly changing, digital global community. OCLC’s involvement in library research, original programs and its commitment to community involvement, make it a truly distinctive organization.
 
 

Community Relations
 
OCLC’s Community Relations works closely with foundations, corporations, and federal funding institutions to design, test, and scale innovative programs that empower libraries to lead in their communities.
 
Over the past decade, OCLC has implemented more than 25 cutting edge programs representing
$55 million in private, federal and philanthropic investment, primarily for public libraries. As a result, OCLC is a trusted partner for organizations looking to leverage public library infrastructure and resources for community development and personal enrichment.
 
Inspired by their belief that “strong libraries are the heart of thriving communities,” OCLC’s community relations strategy is to expand both domestically and internationally, and focus their work on meeting vital community needs in the domains of health, lifelong education, economic growth, civic engagement, and human connection.
 
WebJunction is OCLC’s flagship community relations program, and it has evolved into serving as the operational platform. Its vast online resources are available on www.webjunction.org to those with access to the Internet; its target audience is the 100,000-plus public library staff in the United States, with a special emphasis on small and rural libraries. Originally funded in 2002 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, WebJunction is now a social enterprise hosted by OCLC, and supported by the foundation and the library community.
 
Representative of their successful 10-year track record in online learning, training and partnering, OCLC’s exemplary programs reflect their mission and vision to positioning libraries as invaluable linchpins in strengthening communities at large:
 
Geek the Library (www.geekthelibrary.org) is a community awareness campaign funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and designed to highlight and amplify the value of public libraries – adopted by 1600 libraries in 48 states, and localized for public libraries in Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
 
Health Happens in Libraries is a partnership with ZeroDivide funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) that supports public library eHealth services and staff capacity to respond to patron information needs regarding the Affordable Care Act.
 
Outside the Box – A Community Connector brings people together for free, fun, public entertainment experiences as a powerful catalyst for strengthening communities – a partnership with Redbox and Project for Public Spaces through funding from Outerwall (Redbox parent company).
 
Two-thirds of OCLC Community Relations team, including the Director, works from OCLC’s Seattle, Washington office.

The Opportunity:  Advancement Officer, Grants and Development Strategy
 
As the newest member of the Community Relations team and the first development professional to join forces with this creative group, this role will define the funding strategy for the development of new programs. This position offers an opportunity to serve as a key player on a highly collaborative, hard-working team comprised of people who love the work they do and appreciate the value they bring to OCLC and the larger library community. Reporting to the Community Relations Director, the Advancement Officer, Grants and Development Strategy will participate  in setting grant revenue targets, be instrumental in cultivating new funding partners, and build a pipeline of grants to generate new funding support within the first year. Poised to bring new investment and innovation to the libraries, the Advancement Officer will lead all aspects of the department’s primarily grant- based development operations and work closely with the Community Relations Director, OCLC’s Vice President for the Americas and Global Marketing, and peer senior managers towards overall program objectives. It’s a unique opportunity to help make a difference in the lives of individuals and communities throughout the world.
 
Primary Performance  Objectives
 
Develop and Implement a Grants Strategy and Initiative
·    Provide leadership to facilitate the research, planning, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of national, multi-year, grants and investments.
·    Monitor public funding opportunities and engage the team in researching prospects and developing solicitation strategies.
·    Lead the team in the execution of grant application processes including the writing, editing and coordination of letters of intent and grant proposals.
·    Participate in program planning to identify funding opportunities for key program initiatives.
·    Serve as principal author or guide and direct other authors on funding applications seeking support for new programs.
·    Convene and direct strategy meetings with subject matter experts and other strategic stakeholders to support the planning and implementation of grants initiatives.
·    Ensure effective external communications on grants strategy, progress and new developments.
 
Cultivate and Steward Funder Relationships
·    Create and facilitate an internal relationship management process to implement cultivation, solicitation and stewardship plans that support the priorities and those of the strategic partners.
·    Develop and manage the preparation of required proposals and reports for funders.
·    Guide and contribute to strategy development for funder communications.
·    Proactively and regularly interface with program managers to track and report on progress of grant-funded programs toward stated goals and objectives; communicate progress to funders.
·    Oversee communication with internal stakeholders regarding funder stewardship activities, the maintenance of calendars and timelines to ensure effective management of grant proposals.
 
Create and Manage Grant Proposal Budgets and Financial Reports
·    Work in collaboration with Community Relations leadership and with OCLC’s finance division to develop department budgets, financial reports, and proposal budgets.
·    Work in partnership with program managers to ensure grant reports are packaged in a manner that effectively communicates use of funds for funders and partners.

The Qualified Candidate
 
This position of Advancement Officer, Grants and Development Strategy provides a compelling opportunity to play an integral part in a vanguard team advancing the agenda of public libraries within a well-established and notable nonprofit in the field.
 
OCLC seeks a highly accomplished fundraising leader with a proven and successful track record in securing major grants from foundations, corporations and institutions, with a firm commitment to the goals of this mission-focused organization. The ideal candidate  will be seasoned, decisive, energetic and motivated with a strong sense of urgency in creating funding strategies. They will be a team-oriented, intelligent, compassionate, approachable overachiever, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, complex and collaborative environment. Their qualifications will also include a proven and measurable history of success with program development, grant writing, foundation and corporate relations, and writing detailed proposals and budgets, or similar or transferable  skills. This individual will be self-driven and articulate, and able to quickly establish rapport and credibility with funders and partners and other stakeholders.
 
The Advancement Officer will travel to OCLC’s Seattle or Dublin, Ohio, offices on a regular basis to work and meet with colleagues as needed, but may otherwise reside off-site and work remotely, interfacing with colleagues via a well-supported telecommuting infrastructure. Central to the role will be educating and nurturing of donor and partner prospects which will require ongoing travel that may encompass up to 50% of the position’s time.
 
Specific Requirements Include:
·    Passionate about a mission to connect people to knowledge so that they can enrich and enhance their lives. Energized to increase the role that libraries play in that realm.
·    Subject matter expertise in at least 1 of 5 domain areas: civic engagement, economic and workforce development, health and wellness, lifelong education, or, human connection- community building.
·    5+ year background in the development and implementation of a grant-focused fundraising plan for large nonprofits; established funder contacts in related program areas desirable.
·    A minimum of 10 years of progressive development and/or philanthropic experience including demonstrated success in grant proposal outcomes.
·    Superb planning, organizational and project management  skills, with a mastery of taking tasks from concept to implementation with multiple stakeholder engagement.
·    Results-oriented professional with proven success as a strategic thinker and collaborator.
·    Strong interpersonal, presentational, oral and written communication abilities.
·    Ability to synthesize concepts into cohesive written documents using a collaborative writing process while meeting multiple, often concurrent, deadlines.
·    Fluency in managing expectations of multiple stakeholders in the development of marketing and promotional pieces for new programs.
·    Extensive, up to 50% travel across the U.S., including ongoing trips to OCLC offices.
·    Proficient user of Microsoft Office, video and web conferencing software, presentation tools.
·    Bachelor's degree; advanced degree, certification in nonprofit management, and/or, CFRE credential preferred.