Advancement Outreach and Engagement Manager in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at monell chemical senses center
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Job Description
Advancement Outreach and Engagement Manager
MONELL CHEMICAL SENSES CENTER
The Monell Chemical Senses Center is a world-renowned non-profit research institute dedicated to advancing knowledge about taste, smell, and related senses and translating discoveries into real-world applications in health, behavior, and policy. Monell is in Philadelphia’s active educational and life sciences corridor.
Position Summary
The Advancement Outreach and Engagement Manager supports the planning, coordination, and execution of Monell’s engagement programs, with a special focus on supporting donor and board stewardship, and the development of outreach materials and events that connect Monell’s science with our community of supporters. This role serves as both a project management resource and connector and communicator of science to our community, supporting the full range of philanthropic outreach and engagement activities. The position will support Monell leadership, scientists, and staff for donor engagements, support the development and production of collateral and events that demonstrate the impact of Monell’s work, and support our advancement and events staff to prospect new and steward current donors.
Key Responsibilities
Fundraising & Donor Engagement
- Plan and execute donor stewardship events that recognize, retain, and deepen relationships with individual donors and institutional funders across all giving levels, with a focus on major and impact donors.
- Create and implement donor engagement strategies and touchpoints including event-based cultivation, personalized outreach, and recognition programming that build affinity and inspire giving.
- Actively participate in donor and corporate solicitation efforts, including making direct asks in partnership with philanthropy leadership, cultivating prospects, and supporting moves management strategies.
- Partner with communications and philanthropy team members to align and develop messaging for donor outreach, event and engagement activities such as fundraising campaigns and donor outreach communication strategies.
Project Management
- Apply formal project management practices to aid advancement prospecting, engagement, and event planning activities
- Help manage multiple concurrent advancement events and ensure smooth execution, including where necessary project plans, timelines, milestones, risk assessments, and run-of-show documentation.
- Coordinate appropriately with internal operational support teams, recognizing that team members may have shared responsibilities across departments.
- Maintain clear and transparent communication across teams.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Background in biopharmaceutical, life sciences, or health innovation sectors and/or equivalent experience bridging scientific research with commercial, investor, or philanthropic audiences
- Demonstrated ability to translate complex scientific concepts into compelling narratives for non-scientific audiences, including presenting research value propositions to sophisticated external audiences.
- Experience developing donor-facing scientific materials, including pitch decks, case statements, impact reports, and presentations that connect research outcomes to philanthropic opportunity.
- Demonstrated ability to engage directly with scientists and researchers to understand programmatic priorities, identify fundable opportunities, and develop materials that bring their work to life for external audiences.
- Demonstrated project management experience, including managing timelines, resources, and multiple stakeholders.
- Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills, including demonstrated experience translating complex information into stories that connect with donors
- Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects with attention to detail.
- Proven ability to work collaboratively across departments.
- Must be available to work evenings and weekends as required by event schedules
- This is a fully on-site position and requires the ability to travel as needed to support Monell events and programs. This is not a remote or hybrid position.
Preferred
- Experience working in a scientific nonprofit research setting
- Minimum 3 years’ experience in major donor engagement
- Demonstrated comfort with donor solicitation, including direct asks to mid-level individual donors and corporate prospects.
- Experience supporting institutional fundraising initiatives through events, cultivation activities, and donor communications.
- Familiarity with Canva or other graphic design software, a plus.
- Familiarity with donor databases or CRM systems and event management systems (e.g., Bloomerang or similar) for tracking engagement, gifts, and cultivation activities.
- Project management certification or formal training is a plus.
- Experience with sales, business development, or investor relations in a science, technology, or life sciences context,
- Exposure to startup, entrepreneurial, or early-stage science commercialization environments; comfort operating in resource-constrained, high-growth settings where roles are broad and evolving.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to stand, walk, and remain active for extended periods during event setup, execution, and breakdown.
- Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull materials and equipment weighing up to 25–30 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
- Ability to move throughout campus and off-site venues to support event logistics.
- Ability to bend, stoop, kneel, and reach as required for event coordination activities.
- Visual and auditory ability to monitor event environments, audiovisual cues, and safety conditions.
- Ability to work in varying environments, including indoor and outdoor settings, and adapt to changing event conditions.
Application Instructions
Please apply through our Career Center by following the link below.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Monell provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation