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Chief Development Officer

Long Island City

Overview

Pursuit’s mission is to create economic transformation at scale. Our comprehensive model combines rigorous training with strategic partnerships to connect and support high-quality tech talent from low-income backgrounds with leading companies. By training adults to launch and advance careers as software engineers, we help our Fellows increase their earnings from $18,000 to over $90,000 in starting salary on average, adding an estimated $2M in lifetime earnings. Since 2013, we have generated ~$1B in lifetime wage gains and partnered with top companies like Blackstone, USV, Citi, Peloton, and Uber.

As AI reshapes industries and the future of work, Pursuit is ensuring that economic mobility keeps pace. We are pioneering new approaches to AI workforce development, equipping talent from diverse backgrounds with the skills to thrive in an AI-driven economy. By working with employers, funders, and policymakers, we are shaping how the sector adapts to AI’s impact—ensuring that opportunity is expanded, not restricted, in the process.

Our vision of scaled impact is to reshape the skill training landscape and how governments, funders, and employers invest in workforce solutions. Through our innovative financial model, the Pursuit Bond, we are building the capital market to finance a sustainable model that other organizations can adopt, removing structural barriers and changing workforce development for good.

The Opportunity

The Chief Development Officer will be responsible for expanding and deepening Pursuit’s revenue-generating partnerships with corporate leaders, philanthropists, and mission-driven organizations. This leader will drive Pursuit’s growth by securing transformational partnerships, scaling funding opportunities, and ensuring that our work catalyzes systems-level change in workforce development, capital markets, and economic mobility.

Reporting directly to the CEO, the CDO will lead a team to unlock new opportunities and expand current partnerships that fund both Pursuit’s direct programming and broader policy and research initiatives. The CDO will identify and secure new partnerships that align with Pursuit’s mission, shaping opportunities in areas such as impact investing, capital mobilization, closing the wealth gap, financial inclusion, AI and workforce development, advancing research and policy, and capacity building.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Partnership Development & Revenue Growth

  • Develop and execute a high-impact partnerships strategy that aligns with Pursuit’s mission, vision, and growth goals.
  • Own and drive revenue targets, securing multi-million-dollar commitments across corporate, philanthropic, and policy-driven partners.
  • Source, cultivate, and close net-new partnerships at the C-suite and senior executive level.
  • Deepen engagement with existing partners, ensuring renewals, expanded investments, and long-term collaboration.
  • Develop compelling pitches for long term partnerships, aligning Pursuit’s work with funder priorities.

Leadership & Team Management

  • Lead the partnerships and business development team to meet our revenue targets
  • Set the vision, goals, and priorities for the team, ensuring alignment with Pursuit’s long-term impact strategy
  • Shift the team toward an account management model ensuring we have clear strategies across our priority partners

Strategic & Cross-Functional Leadership

  • Serve as a key external ambassador for Pursuit, representing the organization at industry events, partner meetings, and thought leadership convenings.
  • Work cross-functionally with Investment, Program, Sales and Government Relations teams to structure innovative funding models and partnership approaches.
  • Collaborate with the CEO and senior leadership team to shape Pursuit’s next phase of growth and influence in workforce development.
  • Support shift of Board into fundraising board and drive network activation

Experience and Competencies

  • 15+ years of experience in philanthropy and fundraising for organizations with $15M+ budgets, with demonstrated success in securing million-dollar+ philanthropic opportunities and building long-term funding partnerships
  • Experience leading fundraising efforts for complex, conceptual initiatives, engaging a diverse range of stakeholders—including corporations, philanthropic institutions, high-net-worth individuals, and government entities—to secure strategic funding and long-term partnerships.
  • Exceptional ability to engage, influence, and build trust with senior executives, funders, and key stakeholders. Ideally has a strong network and access to HNW individuals or leaders with significant funding capacity.
  • Proven track record leading multi-million-dollar fundraising or revenue-generating efforts, securing large-scale corporate, philanthropic, and government investments.
  • Capable of designing and executing high-level strategy while also rolling up sleeves to drive outcomes in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
  • Passionate about reshaping workforce development, economic mobility, and the way capital is invested in social impact. Experience raising funds for complex, conceptual initiatives across diverse stakeholders.
  • Experienced in scaling and managing high-performing fundraising teams
  • Deep commitment to driving economic opportunity and systems-level change, with a strong understanding of the New York and national fundraising landscape.
  • Strong pitch, storytelling, and negotiation skills, with the ability to craft compelling partnership narratives and engage funders effectively.
  • Able to lead through ambiguity, identify opportunities, and execute with urgency in complex organizations.
  • Excited by the role of AI in the future of workforce development and its potential for driving innovation and systems transformation (experience with AI not required but a strong interest is essential).
  • Capable of representing Pursuit to startup leaders, the tech ecosystem, and other key partners with confidence and credibility.

Where you’ll work: Hybrid: 3 days a week in our HQ in Long Island City and 2 days wherever you work best. 

Compensation: $250,000 - $300,000 with 20% bonus contingent on achieving revenue goals

The range above is for the expectations as laid out in the job description, however we are often open to a wide variety of profiles, and recognize that the person we hire may be less experienced (or more senior) than this job description as posted.  If that ends up being the case, the updated salary range will be communicated with you as a candidate.

Pursuit offers: 

  • Great culture where transparency, respect, teamwork, and kindness are valued
  • Competitive compensation in base, plus bonus and a full benefits package
  • 401k plus match
  • Unlimited PTO and an all-Pursuit week-long holiday the last week of December
  • An opportunity to work at the intersection of tech and social impact, and make a direct impact on the communities of those we serve.

Pursuit values diversity: 

Our team has a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, and we value the richness that diversity brings to our organization. We welcome new perspectives and affirm that all employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, age, familial or marital status, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Pursuit is an equal opportunity employer.

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