Director of Development

Who We Are

Since 1951, The Nature Conservancy has been doing work you can believe in protecting the lands and waters that all life depends on. Through grassroots action, TNC has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world working in more than 75 countries and territories. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive.

We’re rooted in our Mission and guided by our Values, which includes a Commitment to Diversity and Respect for People, Communities, and Cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s lots of reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube on Glassdoor.

Our goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging, and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. We’ll only achieve our Mission by hiring and engaging a diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we work. In addition to the requirements in our postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of inclusion! Please apply – we’d love to hear from you.

Essential Functions

The Massachusetts Director of Development (DOD) is a fundraising leader who leads a team of seasoned, collaborative professionals to raise financial support for local, regional, and international conservation priorities. They are entrepreneurial and motivated to expand our donor base in order to help us reach our full potential in the Boston market and beyond. The DOD must be results oriented and able work collaboratively with colleagues, donors, and volunteers across a dispersed and complex global organization. Across these roles, the DOD works to integrate development with conservation and policy initiatives. To that end, a key role for the DOD is to bring donor perspective to organizational decisions and ensure integration of conservation priorities within the Development Program. The DOD is responsible for the program’s portfolio of donors and, leading by example, will be accountable for managing approximately 10 significant donor relationships aimed at securing seven and eight-figure gifts.

The DOD also shares leadership responsibility for building and engaging the Board of Trustees and, with the State Director, staffs the Development Committee of the Board. They are responsible for building a culture of philanthropy within the chapter and encourages all staff and volunteers to see themselves in fundraising roles. The Director of Development reports to the State Director and serves as an active member of Massachusetts Chapter’s senior leadership team.

Responsibilities and Scope

Fundraising Leadership

• Conceive, develop, lead, and manage annual and long-term fundraising plans and strategies in support of Chapter and organizational conservation and operating goals. Accountable for a team fundraising goal of approx. $8 million/year ($5.5 million operating plus global and capital expenses).
• Communicate, internally and externally, a broad vision for fundraising and local, regional and international conservation success.
• Work collaboratively with fundraising teams within the Northeast and beyond to maximize fundraising potential of shared donors.
• Develop and oversee the networking list for the State Director, other senior staff and Board leadership to bring thought leaders and other influential people into stronger relationship with the Chapter.
• Manages all major gifts functions, which may include planned giving, principal gifts, donor prospecting and research, and special multi-year fundraising campaigns; and leverages centralized fundraising resources at the Conservancy including membership and annual giving efforts for Massachusetts residents.

Chapter Leadership

• Actively serve as a member of the Chapter’s senior management team, working collaboratively with leadership to develop and implement Chapter-wide vision and direction.
• Bring the voice of the trustee and donor to Chapter leadership discussions and decisions and ensure fundraising strategies and staff are consistently represented.
• Maintain strong relationship with conservation and finance leadership in the Chapter to ensure collaborative understanding of sources and uses of funding and to honor donors.

Management & Mentoring

• Lead a team of fundraising professionals and unite that team around a common vision for success and concrete plan of action. Motivate, set objectives, coach and recognize direct reports.
• Assist fundraisers with donor strategy development and implementation. Clear roadblocks so that they may better perform.
• Work collaboratively with other fundraising teams within the Northeast to maximize fundraising potential of shared donors.

Board Leadership

• Co-manage the Board of Trustees. Oversee Board meetings, retreats and events for maximum engagement, efficiency and productivity.
• Act as lead strategist for growth in the Chapter’s network of business and philanthropic relationships; staff the Trustee Relations Committee of the Board and consult on the strategic recruitment of new Trustees.

Fundraising

• Strategically manage a portfolio of up to 10 significant donors and prospective donors aimed at securing 7- figure gifts over time; orchestrate the work of staff and lay leadership to maximize these key relationships for the long term.

General

• Maintains confidentiality of frequently sensitive and emotionally charged information.
• Develops and administers budget and fundraising objectives, evaluates results and develops corrective strategies as needed.
• Ensure that programmatic commitments, TNC policies and procedures, financial standards, and legal requirements are met and managed for ethical compliance.
• Direct or participate in negotiations for complex, high profile or sensitive agreements.
• Understand and comply with all Conservancy gift-related policies and procedures and ensure ethical compliance, as defined by the Association for Fundraising Professionals.
• Travel frequently and on short notice, work long hours and weekends.
• Work environment involves only infrequent exposure to disagreeable elements minor physical exertion and/or strain.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 8 years related experience, including experience working at a senior level.
• Experience asking for and closing major gifts.
• Visionary strategic/executive leadership
• Experience building and maintaining long-term relationships with fundraising constituents such as major donors, foundations and corporations.
• Experience in planning and delivering budgetary responsibilities.
• Experience managing and supervising a multidisciplinary team.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Strong commitment to incorporating dimensions of diversity, equity, inclusion and justice in conservation strategy and practice; Experience working across race, socio-economic class and language differences appreciated. Multi- lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
• Knowledge of Boston’s philanthropic community and networks of social and professional relationships within it.
• The willingness to think and act strategically and empathetically in support of the Chapter and as a whole.
• The capacity to embrace and effectively communicate the Conservancy’s mission and its relevance to the environment, the economy and the health of human communities.
• Experience working for a national or global organization and within a complex, matrixed environment, and the ability to manage teams and projects virtually.
• Experience, sincere interest and pleasure in developing fundraising talent in professional staff and volunteers.
• Experience managing change.
• Advanced understanding of best practices in non-profit management.
• Effectively communicate via presentations, conversations, and documents.
• Expert knowledge of current and evolving trends in major gifts giving and solicitation.
• Knowledge of advanced gift planning concepts.

What We Bring

The Nature Conservancy offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) plan to include employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work well-being benefits. Learn more about our benefits in the Culture Tab on nature.org/careers.

We’re proud to offer a work environment that is supportive of the health, well-being, and flexibility needs of the people we employ!

APPLY NOW

To apply for job ID 51124, submit a cover letter and resume online by using the Apply Now button at https://careers.nature.org/. Need help applying? Visit our recruitment page or contact applyhelp@tnc.org.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

Do you have military experience? Visit our U.S. Military Skills Translator to match your military experience with our current job openings!

TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to applyhelp@tnc.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.

Where legally permissible, TNC requires all new employees to be fully vaccinated and willing to keep up to date with vaccines that protect against COVID-19.  By accepting an offer of employment, you agree to comply with this requirement, unless you are entitled to a legally mandated exemption.