Development Director

The Opportunity

Save The Snakes is a global leader in human-snake coexistence, and we are at a historic inflection point. Having recently secured a significant three-year capacity-building grant, we are seeking a visionary Director of Development to professionalize our fundraising operations and lead a high-stakes capital campaign.

As we prepare for a major organizational expansion—including the acquisition and launch of a permanent conservation headquarters and public education center in the Sacramento region—you will be the architect of the systems that fund our global mission. This is a rare opportunity to join a lean, high-impact team where your work directly translates into the protection of wildlife and the safety of communities worldwide.

Core Responsibilities

• Capital Campaign Leadership: Design and execute the quiet phase and eventual public launch of a $1M+ capital campaign to fund the transition to a permanent, public-facing facility.
• Systems Innovation: Audit and strengthen our current development systems. While we currently utilize Action Network as our CRM, you will have the mandate to recommend and implement technology upgrades that improve donor tracking and stewardship.
• Major Gift Stewardship: Identify, cultivate, and solicit major donors ($5k+) within the Sacramento region and across California.
• Grant Management: Lead the grant lifecycle, from researching new foundations to drafting high-level proposals for wildlife conservation and environmental education.
• Regional Partnerships: Act as a primary ambassador for Save The Snakes to strengthen partnerships with California-based corporations, agencies, and community foundations.
• Monthly Giving Growth: Scale our members program to provide a predictable baseline for our local and international programs.

Our Culture: Field-First & Mission-Driven

We are an organization that is more comfortable in the field than in a boardroom. We value authentic storytelling, raw impact, and the unfiltered reality of conservation. If you are a development professional who prefers a pair of boots and binoculars over a three-piece suit—and can translate that grit into a compelling case for support—you will thrive here.

Qualifications

• Experience: 5+ years of professional fundraising experience, with a proven track record of securing five-figure gifts.
• Strategic Mindset: Experience in (or a strong desire to lead) a capital campaign for a physical facility or major organizational expansion.
• Technical Proficiency: Comfortable with CRM management (Action Network experience is a plus) and digital fundraising tools; ability to lead a software migration if necessary.
• Local Roots: Deep familiarity with the Sacramento philanthropic landscape and a network of California-based environmental donors.
• Passion: A genuine interest in global conservation, biodiversity, and the mission of human-snake coexistence. A snake-positive attitude is required; no animal handling is necessary.

Success in the First 90 Days

We believe in setting our leaders up for success. Your first 3 months will focus on:

• Auditing & Integration: A deep dive into current donor data and connecting with our top historical supporters.
• Infrastructure Build: Drafting the first case for support for our future facility and recommending a long-term CRM strategy.
• Activation: Qualify a top 25 prospect list for the Capital Campaign and initiate high-level networking within the Sacramento region.

Why Join Save The Snakes?

• Stability: This role is fully backed by a major multi-year capacity grant, providing the financial runway needed to build systems correctly.
• Global Reach: Based in Sacramento, but your work supports conservation partners in South Africa, Nepal, and Ecuador.
• Professional Legacy: You will be the person who took a grassroots organization and scaled it into an international institution.
• Founder Partnership: You will serve as a strategic thought-partner to the Executive Director, with a seat at the table for all major organizational decisions.

About Save The Snakes

Save The Snakes (www.savethesnakes.org) is dedicated exclusively to snake conservation and human-snake conflict mitigation. Together with our worldwide network of snake conservationists, our mission is to conserve snakes around the world through education, research, and community support. We envision a world where humans and snakes live harmoniously in increasingly healthy ecosystems.

How to Apply

Please submit a resume and a cover letter outlining your experience with building development departments or leading major gift initiatives to contact@savethesnakes.org.