Regional Director, Los Angeles

Company: Common Sense Media, Inc.
Location: Los Angeles
Posted on: March 20, 2023

Job Description:

Common Sense ( commonsense.org ) is the nation's leading independent nonprofit organization devoted to helping kids and families thrive in a world of media and technology. - - Every day, millions of families turn to Common Sense Media for trusted advice and unbiased ratings. We offer the largest library of independent age-based and educational ratings and reviews for everything your kids want to watch, play, read, and learn. Our movie and TV ratings are available on Comcast, Apple TV, DirecTV, and many other partner networks, helping families and kids make smart media choices. Through our schools program, we provide educators with a curriculum that teaches the essential digital literacy and citizenship skills every student needs to succeed. More than 100,000 member schools across the country use our ratings and free curricula and content. We also work with policymakers, industry leaders, and legislators to improve the media and education landscape for kids, families, and schools. -ROLE OVERVIEW: - The Los Angeles (LA) Regional Director will serve as the lead ambassador and representative, strategist, front-line fundraiser, and public face of Common Sense in Southern California. Their primary goal is to help unlock the impact and resources of key stakeholders in LA to serve the mission of Common Sense. To that end, they will collaborate with the CEO and other staff to build and manage the organization's relationships in Hollywood, identify and generate strategic opportunities or partnerships with the media and entertainment industry, drive regional cultivation events, and work with independent schools based in the region. Particular focus will be paid to leaders in media and entertainment, the tech industry in LA, as well as business and political leaders and other influencers in the region. - - As part of this role, the Regional Director will manage the Los Angeles Regional Advisory Council and work closely with the Vice President of Development and the Chief Strategy & Development Officer to oversee cultivation and fundraising activities across the region. This position is responsible for cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding existing and new donor relationships, with a focus on major and leadership gifts. In addition, they will liaise with local staff, the Los Angeles Regional Advisory Council, Board members, and advisors to build the organization's presence and culture in the LA region. - The ideal candidate is a creative, strategic, and people-facing professional based in LA. They bring ample development experience and are intimately familiar with Hollywood and the media and entertainment community, leadership, and studios, ideally bringing their own local network. They excel at developing strong, strategic relationships, securing major gifts, directing events, public speaking and communications, leading people and teams, and would excel in a dynamic organization focused on helping kids and families thrive in a world of media and technology. - REPORTS TO: Office of the Founder & CEO; collaborates with Vice President of Development LOCATION: Los Angeles, California (must reside in Los Angeles to be considered) EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Full-time, exempt KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Act as lead ambassador for Common Sense in Los Angeles.
• Build and manage the organization's relationships with key local stakeholders, with a particular focus on Hollywood influencers, the media and entertainment industry and studios, the local tech industry, political leaders, and independent schools.
• Identify new strategic partnerships, marketing or program initiatives, or other opportunities with LA stakeholders that advance the mission of Common Sense Media, working closely with relevant Common Sense staff.
• Build, manage, and maximize efforts of the LA Regional Advisory Council to expand Common Sense's regional presence, relationships, and philanthropic base.
• Serve as the public spokesperson for Common Sense in LA: press and media opportunities; speak or present at cultivation events and conferences to raise awareness about the organization's mission and programs.
• Participate as part of a national team to carry out the organization's fundraising strategy in the LA area and on behalf of work across the organization; collaborate to build a comprehensive fundraising plan and meet annual revenue targets through a combination of securing individual donations and executing high-impact events.
• Plan, develop, and oversee the implementation of individual cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for the LA regional portfolio.
• Manage and expand a portfolio of 50-100 major donors with potential to contribute gifts of $5K-$100K+ annually. Continually research and identify new prospects, and work diligently to convert to active donors.
• Develop and implement creative approaches to engage and steward donors to build a sustaining network of philanthropic support in LA. -
• Successfully align donor interests with Common Sense's program initiatives, and educate donors on Common Sense's impact.
• Collaborate with the VP of Development and Chief Strategy & Development Officer to identify, cultivate, and recruit LA members for a new National Leadership Council. Event Management
  • Lead planning and fundraising for all local cultivation and fundraising events, including an annual LA fundraiser and rotating Common Sense Media Awards.
  • Work with the LA Regional Advisory Council and LA-based board members to host donor cultivation events and to chair/sponsor/support fundraisers.
  • Identify, cultivate, and solicit corporate sponsors for fundraising events and programs. Organizational Representative
    • Leverage the executive team, board members, and advisors to build the organization's presence in the LA region, including identifying and cultivating prospective donors, other strategic relationships, or opportunities to engage local influencers, as appropriate.
    • Manage Common Sense's LA office presence and liaise with local staff to build organizational culture in the region. POSITION REQUIREMENTS: -
      • Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree a plus.
      • Minimum of 7-10 years' experience in external affairs (or donor relations) in a nonprofit or CSR leadership role preferred, ideally in the media and entertainment, technology, or education sectors. -
      • Deep knowledge of the Los Angeles media and entertainment, tech, education, political, and business landscapes, as well as the philanthropic landscape.
      • Minimum of 5 years of successful experience in fundraising ( particularly in a field related to education, families, and children) through professional board, major volunteer, or operating roles.
      • Successful track record in major gifts cultivation and solicitation (five- to seven-figure gifts); campaign and corporate sponsorship experience a plus.
      • Superior relationship-building skills; confidence and proven ability to inspire, engage, and build authentic and lasting relationships with partners, philanthropists, and supporters.
      • Strategic mindset and ability to build a compelling case for support. -
      • Outstanding oral and written communication skills; public speaking and presentation experience required; press and media experience preferred. -
      • A high degree of self-motivation, self-direction, and ingenuity in a highly entrepreneurial environment.
      • Creative and high level of energy and productivity.
      • Execution-focused and able to convert strategy into action and results.
      • Willing to travel locally, as well as on the East Coast, and spend a few days in San Francisco each quarter (post-COVID).
      • Deep understanding and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Common Sense values the diversity of its employees and is an equal-opportunity employer. For more information on our values, please visit our statement on diversity, equity, and inclusion . Common Sense will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. However, job offers are made on the condition that the applicant subsequently passes a criminal background check. If the background check indicates a prior criminal conviction, we will conduct an individualized assessment to determine whether the conviction should result in denial of employment.

Keywords: Common Sense Media, Inc., Los Angeles , Regional Director, Los Angeles, Executive , Los Angeles, California