Chief Development Officer
Reports to: CEO
Location: On-site
FLSA Status: Full-time – Exempt
About Downtown Sioux Falls, Inc. (DTSF)
DTSF is a mission-driven 501(c)4 organization leading the charge in shaping a vibrant, inclusive, and thriving urban core. We exist to activate the city’s center—through placemaking, storytelling, partnerships, and daily boots-on-the-ground effort.
DTSF administers the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID), managing programs that keep Downtown clean, safe, and welcoming. Our work spans economic development, public space activation, advocacy, marketing, and residential attraction—delivered with pride, precision, and a long-term commitment to the place we call home.
Position Summary
The Chief Development Officer (CDO) leads DTSF’s Membership Department and owns the organization’s membership and sponsorship growth strategy. The CDO is accountable for membership acquisition and retention, sponsorship revenue, member value and engagement, and the overall performance of the department. The role leads the Events, Marketing, Membership and Content functions, ensuring they work together to strengthen relationships, deliver meaningful value and support DTSF’s broader mission. The CDO builds the people, systems and accountability necessary for sustainable growth while personally developing key member, sponsor and community relationships.
Full time, Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM. Required to work some evenings, weekends, and Holidays. DTSF Signature Events may require heavy lifting, exposure to weather, and prolonged standing. Riverfest and Parade of Lights events are considered black-out days for PTO.
Key Responsibilities:
- Own DTSF’s membership strategy, including acquisition, retention, engagement and growth.
- Own sponsorship strategy, pipeline, acquisition, renewal and revenue performance.
- Lead the Membership Department, aligning membership, events, marketing, content and administration around member value and organizational priorities.
- Strengthen the member experience and continuously develop programs, communications and opportunities that increase the value of DTSF membership.
- Build and manage the systems, goals, metrics and staff accountability necessary to achieve sustainable membership and sponsorship growth.
- Serve as a key member of the DTSF Leadership Team, contributing to strategic planning, organizational decision-making, and long-term district advocacy.
Qualifications
- 5+ years of experience in business development, membership, sales, nonprofit development, marketing or a related field, with demonstrated responsibility for revenue growth.
- Proven ability to develop relationships, build a pipeline, close opportunities and retain partners or customers.
- Experience leading people and managing multiple functions, programs or areas of responsibility.
- Strong strategic judgment with the ability to set direction, establish priorities and hold a team accountable without becoming the default owner of day-to-day execution.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to represent DTSF effectively with business, civic and community leaders.
- Highly organized and comfortable using CRM, pipeline management and performance metrics to drive results.
- Collaborative, proactive and comfortable working across functions in a fast-moving organization.
- Knowledge of Sioux Falls and an understanding of Downtown business, economic development or community-building work preferred.
Benefits:
- Health Insurance (Single Plan covered 100% by Employer)
- Paid Time Off (20 days annually)
- Holiday Time Off (12 days annually)
- SafeHarbor 401k with 4% Company Match with immediate vesting
- Dental & Vision Insurance (Employee Paid)
- Term Life Insurance ($25,000 policy covered by Employer for all employees)
- Supplemental Insurance Options, including Short-Term Disability (STD) and other supplemental coverage (Employee Paid)
- Parking Pass (Employer Paid)
