Deputy, Chief Development Officer

About this role

About MSF USA | Doctors Without Borders

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent international organization that provides medical care to the people who need it most. The organization cares for people affected by conflict, disease outbreaks, disasters, and social exclusion in more than 70 countries. MSF offers medical humanitarian assistance solely based on need, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, or politics. Our international project teams include medical, logistical, and administrative staff, most of them hired locally and working with their own communities. Our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of independence, impartiality, and neutrality. We also bear witness and speak out about the experiences of our colleagues and patients.

MSF USA is one of 24 sections supporting the global movement, primarily through staff recruitment, fundraising, advocacy, and communications. We welcome candidates who bring a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences to join us in working toward MSF’s social mission.

Role Overview The Deputy Chief Development Officer is the Chief Development Officer’s principal strategic and operational partner and a key member of the Development Management Team (DevMT) that leads our 100-person Development department. The Deputy CDO role focuses on maturing MSF USA’s fundraising engine—including people, processes, governance, prioritization, and performance—enabling the organization to sustain and grow our diversified revenue streams.

The Deputy CDO leads MSF USA Development’s core department-wide business processes, including annual and multi-year planning, budgeting, forecasting, performance management, and operational rhythm. They will strengthen the department’s planning and execution by promoting efficient cross-team ways of working, disciplined planning and donor pipeline management, and data-informed investment choices.

Bringing a deep understanding of one-to-one, relationship-based fundraising, the Deputy CDO ensures that audience teams are aligned around a shared donor pipeline, with clear pathways for donors to move between Mid-Level, Principal and Major Gifts, and Legacy Giving as their relationships and giving evolve.

A key expectation is supporting department-wide prioritization by establishing and reinforcing clear criteria for adopting major initiatives, including clear ownership, a fundraising plan developed in consultation with relevant teams, and a business case defining expected return and resourcing tradeoffs.

Department Accountabilities Prospecting Pursue strategic opportunities in coherence with MSF USA’s strategy, that create long-term value for the movement by identifying and developing new audience segments or donors for its mission.

Donor Cultivation, Engagement and Management Build trust and loyalty with potential and existing donors. At the simplest level, update donors on activities. At a more complex level, build long-term relationships with key donors and key donor segments. Take overall responsibility for designing, developing, and delivering the donor engagement strategy. May be through channels or through personal relationships.

Fundraising Secure reliable, sustainable and efficient resources in alignment with MSF USA commitments.

Brand Positioning Drive awareness and consideration through brand positioning based on the brand strategy and implement brand plans.

Best-in-Class Fundraising Systems and Capabilities Deploy and champion the latest technological systems and capabilities that push the boundaries of what Development can produce for its donors.

Role Specific Responsibilities

Department Leadership • Partner with the Chief Development Officer in developing and implementing fundraising strategy. • Serve as a strategic thought partner to high-touch fundraising leaders. • Drive execution of DevMT decisions and act as the point person to translate strategic direction into coordinated departmental plans. • Drive capacity building and professional development within the Development team. • Model and reinforce inclusive leadership practices within Development. • Represent the department in external forums, donor meetings, and conferences as needed. • Foster collaboration between Development and key partners across the organization, including Communications, Finance, People and Culture, and Programs. • Advance a culture of philanthropy across MSF USA by partnering with leaders to strengthen shared responsibility for donor engagement and stewardship • Support change management efforts across MSF USA.

Business Process Management • Lead department-wide annual/multi-year planning, budgeting, and forecasting processes, including management of planning calendar. • Conduct regular reviews of revenue and expenses to monitor performance against plan, surface variance and risks, and drive corrective actions. • Monitor cost per dollar raised (CPDR), breakeven timelines, and related efficiency metrics across programs, using the data to recommend investment shifts and resourcing tradeoffs to improve overall fundraising performance. • Manage lightweight departmental QBR process. • Promote efficient cross-team ways of working. • Apply one-to-one fundraising expertise to set and reinforce shared standards for donor portfolio/pipeline management and stewardship. • Facilitate cross-audience alignment around a shared donor pipeline and donor journeys, with clear pathways for donors to move between Mid-Level, Principal and Major Gifts, and Legacy Giving as relationships and giving evolve. • Partner with MSF International Office to set MSF USA’s authorized restricted funding target during emergencies and work with fundraising teams on a coordinated plan.

Prioritization & Initiative Governance • Establish governance process for major initiatives, including a clear intake workflow and decision criteria requiring fundraising plan developed with the relevant audience teams, and a business case

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