Vice President of Development & Corporate Partnerships in Draper, Utah at The Living Planet Aquarium
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Job Description
Position: Vice President of Development & Corporate Partnerships
Reports To: Chief Operating Officer
Why Utah?
Utah is home to five national parks, world-class skiing and snowboarding, hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails, and stunning deserts, mountains, and lakes, all within easy driving distance. Outdoor adventure is part of everyday life. The Salt Lake Valley consistently ranks high for safety, clean communities, short commute times, and family-friendly amenities. Draper offers a balance of suburban comfort and urban access, with downtown Salt Lake City just 15 minutes away. Enjoy all four seasons without extremes—sunny summers, colorful falls, snowy winters, and mild springs, perfect for both outdoor recreation and city living. Utah’s communities are known for being engaged, supportive, and service-oriented, making it easy for newcomers to feel at home.
About Loveland Living Planet Aquarium:
Loveland Living Planet Aquarium (LLPA) is a mission-driven institution dedicated to inspiring people to explore, discover, and learn about Earth’s diverse ecosystems. Founded in 1997, the Aquarium provides impactful educational experiences for guests of all ages and backgrounds.
Since opening its Draper, Utah facility in 2014, LLPA has welcomed more than 10 million visitors and delivered over 650,000 educational experiences to students. Home to over 4,000 animals representing 650 species, the Aquarium features immersive habitats from around the world, including coral reefs, kelp forests, the deep ocean, Antarctic waters, tropical rainforests, Asian cloud forests, and Utah’s freshwater ecosystems.
Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 2019, LLPA is in an exciting phase of growth. With the opening of the Sam and Aline Skaggs Science Learning Center, the Aquarium became the largest in the Mountain West and the fifth largest aquarium in the continental United States, offering expanded opportunities for education, research, and professional impact.
Position Summary:
Loveland Living Planet Aquarium is seeking a strategic and results-driven Vice President of Development and Corporate Partnerships to lead the organization’s philanthropic efforts and capital campaigns while serving as a key member of the senior leadership team.
The Vice President of Development and Corporate Partnerships serves as the Aquarium’s senior leader responsible for all fundraising and philanthropic. This role is responsible for designing and executing a comprehensive, multi-year development strategy to support the Aquarium’s mission, strategic priorities, and long-term financial sustainability.
In partnership with the COO, CEO, and Board of Directors, the VP of Development and Corporate Partnerships leads all philanthropic revenue streams and is accountable for achieving annual and long-term fundraising goals, expanding donor engagement, and building a scalable, high-performing development program.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent required
- Advanced degree in nonprofit management, business, or related field preferred
- Minimum of 10 years of progressive fundraising experience, including major gifts and campaigns
- At least 5 years of senior leadership experience managing teams and development operations
- Demonstrated success securing six- and seven-figure gifts
- Proven experience leading capital campaigns and complex fundraising initiatives
- Experience partnering with executive leadership and Boards of Directors
- Strong understanding of donor markets, relationship-based fundraising, and philanthropic trends
- Experience with CRM systems (Salesforce preferred) and data-driven fundraising strategies
- Excellent communication, relationship-building, and public speaking skills
Critical Skills/Competencies:
- Ability to develop and manage the plan for a $20 million+ Capital Campaign project
- Ability to work constructively with co-workers, Aquarium members and the public
- Excellent organizational, time management, planning, and multi-tasking skills
- Must use discretion and demonstrate ability to work with sensitive and confidential financial information
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership & Revenue Growth
- Develop and execute a comprehensive, multi-year fundraising strategy aligned with organizational priorities and growth plans
- Establish and achieve annual and long-term philanthropic revenue goals across all giving channels
- Drive diversification and growth of revenue streams, including major gifts, corporate partnerships, grants, planned giving, and campaigns, with a focus on long-term sustainability and scalability
- Lead planning and execution of capital campaigns and major fundraising initiatives
- Provide support for Board Members, senior staff and volunteers including preparing proposal packages, providing follow-up information to prospects, and assisting with solicitation calls
Major Gifts & Donor Engagement
- Manage a personal portfolio of high-capacity donors and prospects
- Lead donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies
- Strengthen donor retention, engagement, and lifetime value through structured relationship management
- Ensure high-quality donor communications, recognition, and engagement experiences
Development Operations & Performance Management
- Build and maintain a strong, qualified fundraising pipeline to support revenue goals
- Oversee CRM (Salesforce) strategy, data integrity, and reporting systems
- Implement data-driven decision-making and performance tracking across all fundraising activities
- Evaluate fundraising and partnership initiatives based on overall impact, sustainability, and return on investment
Team Leadership & Organizational Development
- Build, lead, and develop a high-performing development team
- Establish clear goals, accountability, and performance expectations for staff
- Foster a culture of collaboration, professionalism, and continuous improvement
- Ensure appropriate staffing, structure, and resources to achieve development goals
Campaigns, Grants & Partnerships
- Oversee capital campaign strategy, execution, and milestone tracking
- Direct grant strategy, submission processes, and post-award compliance
- Develop and lead a comprehensive corporate partnerships strategy, including sponsorships, strategic alliances, and revenue-generating partnerships aligned with organizational priorities
- Establish partnership models that deliver strong financial performance, balancing revenue generation, cost to deliver, and overall organizational value
- Partner with Marketing, Operations, and Guest Experience teams to design and deliver high-quality partnership assets and experiences
- Ensure alignment of partnerships with organizational priorities and brand
External Relations & Representation
- Represent the Aquarium in the community to build relationships and expand philanthropic support
- Cultivate relationships with regional and national stakeholders, donors, and partners
- Monitor philanthropic trends and best practices, particularly within AZA-accredited institutions
- Position the Aquarium as a leader in education and community impact
Physical Demands of the Job:
- Primarily an office environment
- Periodic weekend, evening, and holiday work is expected
Benefits & Perks
- Comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees including:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus optional FSA/HSA accounts
- Paid time off & 12 paid holidays per year
- Paid bereavement leave and paid new child leave (birth, adoption, or placement)
- Employer-paid short-term disability; optional long-term disability coverage
- Convenient onsite childcare (employees pay approximately 20% of the cost)
- 401(k) with match up to 4% - fully vested from day 1 of contribution
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Free Aquarium membership
- Discounts on tickets, gift shop, and café purchases
- Free and discounted animal encounters
- Pet insurance and discounts
- Footwear discounts
- Entertainment, travel, and retail savings through Tickets at Work
While this job description attempts to describe the essential functions of the position, it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. It does not restrict management’s right to assign or reassign duties or responsibilities to this job at any time. The overall work environment while performing this job includes exposure to weather conditions and the noise level is usually moderate. The employee is expected to adhere to all policies and to act as a role model in the adherence to the policies.
The Living Planet Aquarium is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive environment for all. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or military status. The Living Planet Aquarium is committed to ensuring individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application and interview process. Should you require accommodations, please contact accommodation@livingplanetaquarium.org.