Common Hope | Saint Paul, MN
Salary Range: $115,000 - $125,000
Position: Managing Director - Development and Engagement
• Organization Location: Common Hope, St. Paul, MN
• Reports To: Executive Director
• Position Type: Full-Time (40-hours per week), Benefit eligible
• Work Location: Minneapolis-Saint Paul, MN
• Compensation: US$115,000 to US$125,000 annually. Salary will be based on the candidate’s relevant experience and demonstrated track record.
• Work Authorization: Candidates must have current authorization to work in their country of employment. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
For nearly 40 years, Common Hope has partnered with families in Guatemala to create lasting opportunities through education, health care, housing, and family development. Together with our Guatemalan partner organization, we help thousands of children and families build brighter futures-not through short-term aid, but through long-term relationships that empower communities to thrive.
As we enter an exciting new chapter, we are creating a new leadership position to guide our fundraising and engagement efforts.
We're looking for an experienced executive who combines strategic leadership with a passion for philanthropy-someone who can build high-performing teams, inspire donors and partners, strengthen organizational culture, and help grow the resources that make our mission possible.
If you're energized by leading people, driving growth, and making a meaningful difference in the world, we'd love to meet you.
Who are we looking for
We are looking for an accomplished, mission-driven executive who brings more than leadership experience. We seek someone with the vision to inspire people, the strategic mindset to drive organizational excellence, and the commitment to advance opportunities for children, families, and communities in Guatemala.
You will thrive in this role if you are a collaborative and people-centered leader who excels at developing high-performing teams, translating strategy into measurable results, and fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement. This is an opportunity to shape the future of Common Hope by strengthening organizational capacity, advancing sustainable fundraising growth, and ensuring long-term mission impact.
The ideal candidate is an influential relationship builder who is comfortable coaching leaders, aligning cross-functional teams, engaging with donors, Board members, and strategic partners, and making thoughtful decisions that balance strategic priorities with operational excellence. Success in this role requires humility, sound judgment, and a genuine passion for leading people in a multicultural, mission-driven organization.
About The Role
The Managing Director is a key member of Common Hope's Directors Team, providing executive leadership for the organization's U.S.-based fundraising and engagement functions.
Working in close partnership with the Executive Director, you will transform organizational strategy into action-leading the people, systems, and initiatives that drive sustainable revenue growth while strengthening collaboration across the organization.
You will oversee the leaders responsible for:
• Individual Giving
• Major Gifts
• Institutional Giving & Grants
• Recurring Giving
• Outreach & Community Engagement
• Marketing & Communications
• Visitor Experience
• Sponsorship Programs
• Donor Operations
This position offers the opportunity to shape the future of Common Hope's fundraising and engagement efforts while helping build a collaborative, high-performing organizational culture.
Key Responsibilities
Executive Leadership & Strategic Planning
• Partner with the Executive Director to bring Common Hope's strategic vision to life, translating organizational priorities into meaningful results.
• Lead strategic planning and organizational execution across the Development functions, ensuring alignment, accountability, and long-term sustainability.
• Guide organizational performance through data-informed decision-making, identifying opportunities for growth, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Serve as a strategic partner to the Development Committee, helping shape fundraising priorities and organizational success.
Development & Fundraising Leadership
• Provide strategic leadership for Common Hope's fundraising and engagement functions, inspiring collaboration and a shared commitment to our mission.
• Develop and empower leaders, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous learning.
• Strengthen collaboration across Individual Giving, Major Gifts, Grants, Recurring Giving, Sponsorship, Outreach, Marketing & Communications, Visitor Experience, and
Donor Operations to create a seamless donor experience.
• Monitor fundraising performance, celebrate progress, and guide strategic decisions that support sustainable revenue growth.
• Partner with the Executive Director to strengthen donor engagement, expand philanthropic support, and cultivate lasting relationships with donors, foundations, and strategic partners.
Leadership, Culture & Organizational Development
• Build and sustain a collaborative, values-driven culture where people are empowered to do their best work and grow as leaders.
• Coach and mentor senior leaders, strengthening leadership capacity and fostering high-performing teams.
• Partner with Human Resources to advance leadership development, succession planning, employee engagement, and organizational health.
• Lead organizational change with empathy, clarity, and purpose, helping teams navigate growth while remaining grounded in Common Hope's mission.
Organizational Effectiveness
• Champion cross-functional collaboration that strengthens organizational effectiveness and advances strategic priorities.
• Establish priorities, optimize resources, and remove barriers that enable teams to focus on the work that creates the greatest impact.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement by leveraging performance metrics, executive dashboards, and organizational insights to guide decisions and measure success.
Communications, Donor Engagement & External Relations
• Strengthen Common Hope's voice by ensuring donor communications and organizational messaging consistently reflect our mission, values, and impact.
• Foster meaningful relationships with donors, Board members, community leaders, and strategic partners, serving as a trusted ambassador for the organization.
• Champion compelling storytelling that inspires generosity, deepens engagement, and demonstrates the lasting impact of our work alongside children, families, and communities in Guatemala.
What we are looking for
We're seeking a leader who brings both executive leadership experience and a genuine passion for mission-driven work.
Ideal candidates will have:
• Ten or more years of progressive leadership experience, including significant executive or senior management responsibility
• Demonstrated success leading fundraising organizations and achieving revenue growth
• Experience developing and coaching high-performing leadership teams
• Strong strategic planning and organizational leadership skills
• Experience working with Boards of Directors and executive leadership
• Outstanding relationship-building and communication abilities
• Comfort using data and performance metrics to guide decisions
• Experience in international development, education, or global nonprofit organizations is highly valued.
• Spanish language skills and experience working across cultures are strongly preferred but not required.
Why This Role Matters
• Every dollar raised helps create opportunities for children and families in Guatemala.
• This position plays a central role in ensuring Common Hope has the leadership, resources, and organizational capacity to expand its impact for years to come.
• You'll join a passionate team committed to collaboration, innovation, and measurable results-and you'll have the opportunity to help shape the future of an organization with a remarkable legacy and an even more exciting future.
Why join Common Hope
At Common Hope, relationships come first.
We believe lasting change happens when communities, families, staff, volunteers, donors, and partners work together toward a common purpose. Guided by our values of Hope, Empathy, Responsibility, Proactivity, Curiosity, and Teamwork, we are committed to building strong relationships that create lasting opportunities for children and families in Guatemala.
As our Managing Director, you will have the opportunity to shape the future of our organization by developing leaders, strengthening philanthropy, and helping expand our impact for generations to come.
How to apply
If this opportunity aligns with your experience, leadership, and passion for mission-driven work, we invite you to submit your cover letter and resume to: jobs@us.commonhope.org