Role Overview

The Associate Director, Planned Giving is a frontline fundraising leader and people manager who plays a central role in advancing one of MSF USA’s most established and high-impact revenue programs. Reporting to the Director of Planned Giving, this role provides day-to-day strategic leadership and coaching for the Planned Gift Officer team, while also actively managing a select portfolio of complex or high-priority donor relationships. The role strengthens portfolio discipline, prospecting consistency, donor experience, and overall performance, ensuring that strong results today are paired with thoughtful pipeline development and long-term donor trust as the planned program continues to grow in scale and sophistication.

This is also a highly cross-functional role, designed to help translate strategy into execution across teams. The Associate Director partners closely with colleagues in Principal and Major Gifts, Individual Giving & Strategic Philanthropy, Integrated Channel Marketing, Development Operations, Finance, and external vendors to reduce friction in donor journeys and expand complex giving opportunities. By bringing a proactive, problem-solving, gift planning mindset to donor engagement, this role helps the Planned Giving team operate with clarity, confidence, and shared accountability while continuing to build fundraising potential across the organization.

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 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.  

Roles Specific Outcomes

Leadership and Direction

Identify, communicate, and lead the function's strategy and action plan within a business area or department; while explaining how it ties in to MSF’s mission, vision, and values. Inspire and motivate others to drive commitment – and achieve extraordinary results.

Organizational Capability Building

Use the organization's formal development framework to identify the team's individual development needs. Plan and implement actions, including continuing professional development specified by professional or regulatory institutions, to build professional capabilities. Provide informal training or coaching to others throughout the organization in own area of expertise to enable others to improve performance and fulfill personal potential.

Key Account Management

Manage and develop important donor relationships with guidance from senior colleagues and/or manage an account team delivering day-to-day support.  

Improvement and Innovation

Spot potential improvements in our existing business practices and bring forward innovative solutions. Develop and deliver these projects within the organization's change management program, working with guidance from senior colleagues.

Strategy Formation and Implementation

Develop tactical plans for optimizing resources and assets being managed within a given area or department.

These core accountabilities should not be construed to contain every function/responsibility that may be required to be performed by an incumbent in this job.  Incumbents are required to perform other functions as assigned.

Complexity and Problem-Solving Skills 

• Operates as a recognized subject matter expert, able to assess facts, donor context, and environmental dynamics and make appropriate or innovative adjustments to thinking and work habits in order to succeed across varied and evolving scenarios.
• Applies deep expertise to accurately identify and understand the key donor motivations, influences, constraints, and timing considerations shaping complex giving opportunities.
• Uses professional authority and judgment to orient MSF USA toward meeting the core needs of donors, aligning internal partners, processes, and solutions to deliver a high-quality, donor-centered experience.
• Anticipates and resolves complexity inherent in Planned giving, including family dynamics, gift-vehicle considerations, compliance requirements, and internal process friction, operating effectively in ambiguity. 

Behavioral Competencies  

THOUGHT: How MSF USA staff understand the organization, manage complexity, and contribute by creating the new and different.

People Focus

Builds strong relationships and delivers solutions geared to aiding others. Solicits feedback and data; conveys a clear understanding of the level of service the team is providing; takes action when standards are not met by team; aligns processes with organizational needs.

Manages Complexity

Makes sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems. Consistently looks at complex issues from many angles; obtains a rich and deep understanding; swiftly cuts to the core issue; skillfully separates root causes from symptoms.

Global Perspective

Takes a broad view when approaching issues, using a global lens. Shows global thinking at work; adjusts organizational practices to meet the unique needs of different regions or countries. Uses a broad perspective when addressing issues and challenges.

Cultivates Innovation

Creates new and better ways for the organization to be successful. Approaches professional work in unique or innovative ways. Offers original ideas. Appreciates others' creative ideas and solutions and provides helpful input to enhance them.

Strategic Mindset

Sees ahead to future possibilities and translates them into breakthrough strategies.

RESULTS: MSF USA staff achieve results by cultivating a forward-thinking environment that produces solutions for changing stakeholder needs.

Drives Results

Consistently achieves results, even under tough circumstances. Regularly pushes self to achieve outstanding outcomes; consistently establishes bold goals for own performance; is passionate about excellent results and significant contributions. Shows great tenacity to complete goals/initiatives in a timely way.

Ensures Accountability 

Holds self and others accountable to meet commitments.

PEOPLE: MSF USA staff understand their impact on others through collaboration and inclusion of different perspectives to achieve common goals.

Collaborates 

Builds partnerships and works collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives. Readily involves others to accomplish goals; stays in touch and shares information; discourages "us versus them" thinking; shows appreciation for others' ideas and input.

Communicates Effectively 

Develops and delivers multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences. Listens attentively and takes an interest. Keeps others well informed; conveys information clearly, concisely, and professionally when speaking or writing.

Values Differences 

Recognizes the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization. Confronts stereotyping and offensive comments promptly. Consistently behaves with great sensitivity toward differences in cultural norms, expectations, and ways of communicating.

Builds Effective Teams 

Builds strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.

Manages Conflict

Handles conflict situations effectively, with a minimum of noise.

Builds Networks 

Effectively builds formal and informal relationship networks inside and outside the organization.

Drives Vision and Purpose 

Paints a compelling picture of the vision and strategy that motivates others to action.

SELF: MSF USA staff demonstrate self-awareness by having an open mindset and by continuously seeking opportunities to learn, grow, and improve.  

Instills Trust 

Gains the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity. Models honesty and authenticity and encourages others to be up front with one another. Demonstrates reliability and places a strong emphasis on the team meeting its commitments. Fairly represents others' positions.

Manages Ambiguity 

Operates effectively, even when things are not certain or the way forward is not clear. Responds effectively to unclear situations, seeks to resolve ambiguity and make progress. Seeks guidance on how to adapt to changes, responds with appropriate composure and effectiveness.

Situational Adaptability 

Adapts approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations. Serves as an example of adaptability and provides guidance and support to help others adapt to new situations. Considers the needs of clients, constituents, and the organization; shifts priorities appropriately.

Being Resilient 

Rebounds from setbacks and adversity when facing difficult situations.

Technical Competencies

Plans and Aligns 

Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with MSF USA goals.

Financial Acumen 

Interprets and applies understanding of key financial indicators to make better business decisions.

Tech Savvy 

Anticipating and adopting innovations in organizational digital and technology applications.

Data Collection and Analysis 

The ability and skill to determine and analyze trends from data that is collected to assist in compiling reports that will help in decision-making.  

Project Management Skills 

The ability and skill to plan and manage small project work assignments within desired cost, time and quality parameters.

Presentation and Written Communication Skills 

Adapts approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations. Serves as an example of adaptability and provides guidance and support to help others adapt to new situations. Considers the needs of clients, constituents, and the organization; shifts priorities appropriately.

Organizational Insight 

Applying knowledge of MSF USA and the industry to advance the organization’s goals.

Supervisory Responsibility 

• Directly supervise the Planned Gift Officer team, providing strategic direction, coaching, and accountability related to portfolio management, prospecting, and donor experience.
• Oversee project-based work by vendors or consultants supporting planned gift prospecting, stewardship, or gift-planning initiatives, in coordination with the program lead. 

Desired Qualifications & Experience 

At a minimum the Job Holder must possess: 

• Bachelor’s degree and significant professional fundraising experience, including planned giving/legacy giving, leadership giving, major gifts, or closely related work.
• Demonstrated experience managing and coaching frontline fundraisers, including performance management, forecasting, and accountability.
• Proven ability to build trusted donor relationships and close gifts, including navigating sensitive conversations related to values, family, and long-term goals.
• Working knowledge of charitable giving vehicles and the ability to communicate complex concepts clearly and confidently to donors.
• Strong collaboration skills and experience improving systems or processes in partnership with cross-functional teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, especially including donor-facing communications.
• High discretion with confidential information and a clear commitment to MSF’s mission and values, including diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

The Job Holder will ideally possess: 

• Experience working with external vendors or consultants and navigating internal stakeholders.
• Comfort using fundraising databases and performance data to inform strategy and manage portfolios.
• Professional credentials in philanthropy or gift planning, such as CAP® (Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy), CSPG (Certified Specialist in Planned Giving), or a comparable credential, or a demonstrated commitment to pursuing advanced training in Planned giving. 

Travel Requirements  

 Estimated travel of up to 20%, including internal staff development and movement-wide events, conference attendance, and high-priority donor meetings and events.

OFFICE LOCATION

New York, NY (Hybrid)
This role is based in our New York office, where most of the team and operational infrastructure are located. Due to current staffing and budget constraints, we’re unable to support this position in our DC or California offices.

COMPENSATION

$124,346 - $186,518; In alignment with MSF USA’s compensation framework, new hires are generally offered between the minimum and midpoint of the range based on relevant experience, skills, and internal equity.