DEPARTMENT: Growth
REPORTS TO: Chief Executive Officer
POSITION SUMMARY/OBJECTIVE:
The Senior Vice President for Strategic Growth is responsible for developing and executing Space Foundation's enterprise growth strategy and leading all revenue-generating activities across the organization. Reporting directly to the CEO, this executive will oversee membership, corporate sponsorship, philanthropy, major gifts, capital campaign activities, grants, and strategic growth initiatives.
We are looking for a strong leader that will bring a holistic approach to revenue generation, combining strategic vision with operational excellence to create a disciplined, data-driven, and repeatable growth model. The SVP for Strategic Growth will lead a talented team, strengthen organizational capabilities, build new partnerships, and ensure that growth is institutionalized through strong systems, processes, and performance management.
The ideal candidate will be comfortable cultivating major donors, engaging executive stakeholders, developing growth strategies, building high-performing teams, and establishing the infrastructure required to scale organizational impact.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
As Space Foundation enters its next phase of growth, we are seeking an accomplished executive to lead and unify all revenue-generating functions across the organization and build a scalable, sustainable growth engine aligned with our mission and long-term strategic objectives.
The following briefly describes representative responsibilities of this job, but it is not intended to be a complete or all-inclusive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of this position:
-
Enterprise Growth Strategy: Develop and execute a comprehensive growth strategy aligned with Space Foundation's mission and long-term objectives. Identify new revenue opportunities, strategic partnerships, and growth initiatives that expand organizational impact and financial sustainability.
-
Revenue Portfolio Ownership: Own and drive performance across all revenue-generating functions, including membership, corporate sponsorships, philanthropy and major gifts, capital campaign activities, grants and institutional funding, and strategic partnerships.
-
Membership Growth and Engagement: Lead the organization's membership strategy, including acquisition, retention, engagement, and value creation. Ensure membership remains a key driver of community, influence, and revenue growth.
-
Revenue Operations and Analytics: Build and manage scalable revenue processes, forecasting systems, performance metrics, and reporting frameworks. Establish clear KPIs and accountability structures while driving decision-making through data and insights.
-
Systems and Institutional Excellence: Strengthen CRM utilization, pipeline visibility, reporting capabilities, and organizational knowledge management. Create documented playbooks and processes that reduce dependency on individual relationships and support long-term scalability.
-
Capital Campaign and Philanthropy Leadership: Lead strategy and execution for the Foundation's capital campaign and major gift initiatives. Partner with donors, volunteers, and leadership stakeholders to advance campaign goals and strengthen long-term philanthropic engagement.
-
Team Leadership: Lead, develop, and inspire a high-performing growth team. Establish clear goals, accountability, and professional development while fostering a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and excellence.
-
Executive Leadership: Serve as the CEO's principal advisor on growth and revenue strategy. Partner closely with Finance on forecasting, budgeting, and investment decisions, and collaborate across the organization to align growth initiatives with enterprise priorities. Represent Space Foundation with donors, sponsors, members, board members, industry leaders, government stakeholders, foundations, and strategic partners.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
-
Oversees the work of assigned personnel by setting priorities, coaching for development, and managing performance to achieve individual and team success in alignment with organizational goals.
BUDGETARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
-
Develops and manages the program or department budget, ensuring adherence to budgetary standards, proactively tracking expenditures, and communicating deviations to Finance in a timely and transparent manner.
COMPETENCIES:
-
Strategic and Growth-Oriented: Proven ability to develop and execute growth strategies that increase revenue, expand partnerships, and support long-term organizational objectives.
-
Operational Excellence: Track record of building scalable systems, documented processes, and repeatable playbooks that create sustainable results.
-
Data-Driven Decision Maker: Experience establishing and managing performance metrics, pipeline reporting, forecasting systems, conversion tracking, and revenue analytics.
-
Institutional Builder: Demonstrated ability to create durable organizational capabilities that are transferable, measurable, and not personality dependent.
-
Executive Presence: Ability to engage effectively with executives, board members, major donors, sponsors, government leaders, and other senior stakeholders.
QUALIFICATIONS:
The following briefly describes knowledge, skills, abilities and characteristics associated with this position, including any required experience, education, licensure, certification, or combination thereof:
Required:
-
Bachelor's degree in business, nonprofit management, public administration, or related field (advanced degree preferred).
-
15+ years of progressive leadership experience in revenue generation, business development, membership growth, philanthropy, fundraising, strategic partnerships, or related growth functions.
-
5+ years of executive leadership experience leading teams and driving organizational performance.
-
Demonstrated success developing and executing growth strategies that drive measurable results across multiple revenue streams (e.g., membership, sponsorship, philanthropy, grants, partnerships, or other revenue-generating activities).
-
Strong understanding of CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce or comparable platform), revenue operations, pipeline management, forecasting, analytics, and performance measurement.
-
Experience building scalable systems, processes, and reporting frameworks that support sustainable organizational growth.
-
Experience partnering with executive leadership teams and Boards of Directors on strategy, fundraising, revenue planning, and organizational priorities.
-
Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop high-performing teams.
Preferred:
-
Experience overseeing diverse, multi-million-dollar revenue portfolios.
-
Capital campaign and major donor fundraising experience.
-
Experience within a membership-based nonprofit, association, foundation, or mission-driven organization.
-
Experience engaging complex stakeholder groups, including donors, sponsors, foundations, corporate partners, and executive leaders.
-
Familiarity with space, aerospace, defense, technology, or national security sectors.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
This position involves extended periods of sitting or standing at a workstation and frequent use of a computer and other standard office equipment. Occasional movement, including walking, lifting, or carrying items of up to fifteen pounds, may be required. Reasonable accommodation will be provided to support individuals with disabilities in performing essential job functions.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
This role is primarily based on an office environment, with access to standard equipment and furnishings. The employee may occasionally be required to participate in offsite meetings or events, including potential travel as needed. The work environment is quiet to moderate in noise level. Space Foundation maintains a hybrid work policy that allows for up to two days of remote work per week, subject to business needs. Reasonable accommodation will be made for individuals with disabilities.
JOB STATUS:
-
FLSA Classification: This position is exempt according to Fair Labor Standards Act guidelines, and as such an individual in this position is not eligible for overtime pay.
-
Full- or Part-Time: This position is full-time in nature. An individual in this position will work a schedule consisting of 40 hours per week.
-
Work Location: This position’s primary work site is at Space Foundation headquarters in Colorado Springs, CO. The nature and responsibilities of this position are such that it is not eligible for alternative worksite arrangements, such as working from home or telecommuting, on a consistent or recurring basis. Relocation support is available.
-
Regular Schedule: Usual business days are Monday through Friday, holidays excepted, and usual business hours are from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. in the time zone in which the position is located.
BENEFITS:
Space Foundation offers a comprehensive benefits package including:
-
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
-
Employer-paid basic life and AD&D coverage
-
Short- and long-term disability insurance
-
401(k) plan with employer contribution
-
Paid holidays and generous paid time off
-
Access to employee assistance program (EAP)
EEO STATEMENT:
Space Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.
