Fundraising Operations Specialist (Product Management)

About Us:
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) was founded in 2000 with one clear objective: accelerating meaningful therapeutic advances and, ultimately, a cure for Parkinson’s disease (PD). The Foundation applies extraordinary scientific, business and media assets to this singular focus—thus creating a unique and dynamic organization. Since inception, MJFF has quickly grown into the largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s disease research, having funded over $2 billion in research projects in both academic and industry labs worldwide.

Core to our philosophy is how we think of our capital and its risk profile relative to other stakeholders in the drug development pipeline. We work aggressively to de-risk various therapeutic strategies and tools in the hopes of building a robust pipeline of new treatments for patients. In order to achieve our mission of finding a cure for PD it is critical that we engage with, and bring together, members of the PD community including researchers, physicians, health professionals and most important, people with Parkinson's and their families.

We believe that to find a cure for PD as quickly as possible, our capital needs to push research forward today—we therefore deliberately hold no endowment or excessive reserves. We instead seek to deploy funds raised as quickly and wisely as possible. MJFF raises over $100 million annually. Today, the Foundation has approximately 250 full-time employees. We offer a collegial and collaborative environment where optimistic problem-solvers and entrepreneurial, resourceful individuals can thrive and make a tangible difference for millions of people living with Parkinson’s disease.

Position Summary:
This position at The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (“MJFF”) is a key member of the Enablement team within the Fundraising Strategy & Operations department.  This team is integral in helping MJFF’s Development business unit optimize fundraising processes and enhance the donor experience by reducing administrative and technical hurdles.

This role manages day-to-day operations for technical products, including MJFF’s fundraising platform (Classy) and provides cross-functional support for key technology initiatives.  They will collaborate with stakeholders to gather business requirements, contribute to product road mapping by identifying opportunities for improvement, and align tools with future needs.  This position will also support strategic fundraising operations by ensuring the effective use of fundraising tools and business intelligence.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

• Develop proficiency in MJFF’s fundraising platform, Classy, to become the primary resource for internal stakeholders across the entire organization
• Produce deliverables and act as a subject matter point person in day-to-day use of the Classy Fundraising platform. Provide operational support to development colleagues including facilitating training opportunities, developing reporting packages, building campaigns and maintaining a centralized resource library
• Build and monitor campaign reports to ensure efficient creation and utilization of campaign tools for internal users
• Collaborate with stakeholders across different departments to gather information about their needs and pain points and to identify and document business requirements
• Share input to improve product oversight, business analysis and project management processes and practices within the Fundraising Strategy & Operations team

Qualifications and Skills:

• Knowledge in product management or technology operations with the ability to manage projects and collaborate across teams
• Proficiency with CRM platforms and related technology, with the ability to manage data, build reports, and optimize system functionality to support business needs
• Familiarity with project management and support platforms like Jira, Asana, or Zendesk to manage workflows and support cross-functional collaboration
• Experience supporting cross-functional technology initiatives and requests, including supporting implementation phases like testing, training, and change management
• At home in a team environment, possessing a collaborative, interactive work style with an eagerness to learn from team members 
• Strong creative problem-solving skills with the ability to think strategically and develop innovative solutions to complex challenges
• Sound judgment and an ability to anticipate needs without explicit direction
• Familiarity with fundraising or donor management CRMs (e.g., Classy) is a plus

Salary and Benefits:
The salary range for this position is $65,000 - $75,000.  In addition to salary, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• 15+ options for medical insurance (with the Foundation paying 90 percent of the premiums)
• Competitive dental and vision plans
• 401(k) plan with 6 percent employer contribution
• Flexible spending accounts
• Employer paid life and disability insurance
• 18 days Paid Time Off (PTO); 12 Well-Being (Sick) Days; 2 Personal Days; summer Fridays (office closure at 2pm) and a summer holiday week over July 4
• Two ways of working: hybrid-flex, or remote work.  We trust all employees to work closely with their manager and colleagues to determine when, where and how programs and projects get done. 

Employees are also eligible for a discretionary bonus on an annual basis. MJFF provides staff and leadership cultivation through regular training courses and events. 

Vaccine Statement: 
At The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF), the health and safety of our team and our community is a priority. MJFF has made the decision to require all staff receive the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment. Successful applicants for this position must be fully vaccinated by date of hire and proof of vaccine is required. Full vaccination is defined as two weeks after both doses of two-dose vaccine or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine has been administered. Anyone unable to be vaccinated, because of medical or religious reasons, can request a reasonable accommodation for consideration.

How to Apply:
Interested candidates should submit a resume and thoughtful cover letter describing their specific qualifications and interest in the position.

MJFF is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from individuals who will contribute to our efforts to build and support a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce. Diversity may refer to characteristics including, but not limited to, race, religion, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic circumstance, geographic background, ability and disability, political ideology and age.