ABOUT BEST NC:

BEST NC (Business for Education Success and Transformation in North Carolina) is a dynamic and innovative nonpartisan, non-profit organization dedicated to improving education in North Carolina. We are proud to have a membership that includes influential business leaders committed to shaping the future of education in our state. Our mission is to unite business leaders, educators, policymakers, and community members around a shared passion for transforming education in North Carolina; and a belief that every student in North Carolina should receive a high-quality education.

BEST NC Core Values:

Student-focused
Evidence-based and Solutions-oriented
Optimistic & Courageous
Collaborative
Committed to Continuous Improvement

LOCATION:

BEST NC’s offices are in Cary, NC. We operate on a hybrid work schedule with required in-person attendance 2 days per week, plus key events. The office is open every day for anyone who prefers to work in the office.

Limited travel is required to support events, typically day trips within the state and generally not more than one per month on average.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

BEST NC is seeking a senior, development and communications professional to serve as Director of

Development & Communications. This role owns BEST NC's voice with its members, board members,

policymakers, and the broader education field — managing the full member engagement cycle, leading grant development and reporting, producing the organization's flagship communications, and serving as a thought partner to the President & CEO. If you are an experienced fundraiser and communicator who thrives on relationships and writing, and cares deeply about education, we want to hear from you.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Member Engagement & Fundraising

Manage the member engagement cycle: quarterly newsletters, regular one-on-one touchpoints (scheduling and preparing the CEO), identification of new member candidates, membership and board recruitment and retention, and elevating current members to higher member tiers
Coordinate member events with support from the Programs & Events Manager
Maintain SFDC (Salesforce) hygiene for all member and donor data

Annual Innovation Lab

Lead planning effort for the Annual BEST NC Education Innovation Lab – including: convening a planning committee to identify a theme, agenda, and speakers
Work with Programs & Events Manager to execute logistics

Board Management

Work with CEO to plan content for quarterly board meetings including guest speakers and draft deck
Provide Board updates on communications, membership, and other development activities

Grant Management

Own the full lifecycle of general operating and special grants – prospecting, applications, relationship management, and reporting, working closely with staff and consultants to meet deliverables

Communications & Content

Produce the quarterly member newsletter, annual report content, policy briefs, and monthly Catalyst newsletters (content calendar, content creation, and execution of digital pushes including one-offs) in coordination with policy and graphic design colleagues
Draft stakeholder emails and biweekly Board updates
Collaborate with the Programs & Events Manager on event communications, invitations, and recap content

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

5+ years of experience in development, member engagement, or fundraising at a mission-driven organization
Demonstrated grant writing and reporting experience, including general operating and project grants
Strong portfolio that includes long-form writing (annual reports, grant narratives) and short-form
(newsletters, member communications, stakeholder updates)
Track record of member or donor recruitment and retention, ideally in North Carolina
Comfortable as a thought partner to the CEO and as a representative of the organization to business and philanthropic executives
Experience with Constant Contact or similar email platforms
Proficiency in Salesforce or a comparable CRM
Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Preferred

Familiarity with AI-assisted drafting tools and willingness to standardize their use
Background in K-12 or higher education, policy, business advocacy, or a related field

BEST NC: Business for Educational Success and Transformation in NC jobs

Director of Development & Communications