Who We Are:

The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. 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 are lots of reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube  or 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 know 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. To quote myriad TNC staff members, “you’ll join for our mission, and you’ll stay for our people.”

Since establishing the Africa Region in 2007, The Nature Conservancy’s vision in Africa is to work towards fostering a sustainable future for people and nature, partnering with indigenous communities across 55 million acres on the continent. Our efforts are firmly rooted in people, leveraging scientific and technical expertise as we collaborate with governments and organizations to conserve and enhance Africa’s shared resources in the nine countries we operate.

The Nature Conservancy’s work in Africa transcends three key pillars: securing ownership rights to lands and resources for indigenous people, strengthening leadership and resource management and helping communities value nature through a holistic appreciation of its benefits while increasing revenue streams for conservation efforts and socio-economic development. Together with our partners, we are witnessing critical milestones in integrated land and fisheries management, ocean and source water protection, energy development and sustainable food production, working together and strengthening our resolve in tackling global challenges such as climate change, habitat and biodiversity loss that stands to adversely impact the nearly 1.4 billion people that share Africa.

What We Can Achieve Together:

The Associate Director of Development, Africa Region, (ADoD) is a senior-level fundraising position which develops, implements, and manages effective multi-year strategies and plans for the cultivation and solicitation of gift prospects, including individual, foundation and corporate donors across the globe. 

The Associate Director of Development understands and applies complex principles of developing donor strategies and builds strong relationships with a portfolio of new and current donors and prospects. The ADoD will develop qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies for donors and prospects interested in supporting TNC’s conservation efforts in Africa and globally and in collaboration with TNC’s conservation and fundraising leadership in Africa and globally and with TNC’s network of committed board members, donors, partners and friends. The donors managed by the ADoD will require sophisticated relationship management, a high degree of knowledge of assets and ownership structures, and an expert understanding of the factors influencing philanthropic giving. They will focus on long-range strategic priorities and be responsible for donor strategy and proposal development, working with conservation and development staff, as well as donors, to create transformational giving opportunities. They will manage assigned trustee relationships and/or volunteer engagement. They will incorporate blended gifts and gifts of assets in proposals to donors. They are capable of persuasively discussing the priorities of TNC in Africa. They understand organizational budgets and are proficient utilizing this knowledge to build proposal budgets. They will be required to use TNC’s donor database. 

We’re Looking for You:

Are you looking for work you can believe in? At TNC we strive to embody a philosophy of work that you can believe in where you can feel like you are making a difference every day. We’re looking for someone with strong experience in working with a diverse, multi-disciplinary team and donors.

The ideal candidate should have exceptional communication and collaboration skills and experience with fundraising practices, managing relationships, and evolving trends in charitable giving. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the ongoing mission of conservation by directing and shaping the work of our team.

The ADoD reports to the Director of Development, Africa Region, and will be an integral part of the Africa Development Team and will work with various leadership and development staff, volunteer leaders, and donors across the organization. The position may supervise other development staff. The preferred location of this position will be in the New York metropolitan area in the United States.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE:

·      Lead in the setting and meeting of fundraising objectives, evaluating results, and developing corrective strategies.

·      Implement and lead multiple collaborative and complex projects, directing work of staff, managing budget, setting deadlines, and ensuring accountability.

·      Coordinate with conservation and fundraising staff and occasionally lead the preparation of donor proposals.

·      Provide accountability for a minimum annual fundraising goal of USD $2 million+.

·      Manage a portfolio of 40–75 donors, including donors with the capacity to give gifts over $500,000.

·      Manage assigned trustee relationships and/or volunteer engagement.

·      Direct and participate in negotiations for complex, high profile or sensitive agreements.

·      Persuasively convey the mission of TNC to diverse groups important to the organization’s overall prosperity.

·      Advise on development of donor-oriented materials and stewardship reports.

·      Exhibit discretion and the ability to maintain confidentiality of frequently sensitive and emotionally charged information.

·      Ensure compliance with TNC policies and procedures and external (donor/legal/IRS) requirements; be alert to ethical compliance issues.

What You’ll Bring:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

·      Bachelor’s degree and 7 years related experience.

·      Demonstrated experience in cultivating and ultimately stewarding the development of a pipeline of new donors.

·      Experience in fundraising strategy development focusing on identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major and principal gift level donors (donors able to give USD $500K or more).

·      Experience in building donor specific strategies focused on high-net-worth individuals and private foundations.

·      Experience building and maintaining long-term relationships with major donors.

·      Experience in managing and tracking multiple prospects and donors.

·      Experience working with fundraising principles and practices.

·      Experience, coursework, or other training in current and evolving trends in charitable giving, particularly in the areas of capital campaigns, major gifts and planned giving.

·      Must have the ability to travel domestically and internationally when necessary.

·      Ability to work proactively and independently while seamlessly communicating with a team of professions across multiple time zones.

·      Exceptional verbal and written communication skills and excellent attention to detail.

·      Ability to travel frequently and on short notice, work long and weekends as needed.

·      Ability to maintain confidentiality of frequently sensitive and emotionally charged information.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

·      Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.

·      Ability to determine an individual’s interests, capacity and potential for helping TNC meet its goals, and act appropriately to tie those interests with TNC’s work.

·      Ability to educate and inform prospective and existing donors about appropriate giving vehicles.

·      Advanced knowledge of complex charitable gift planning.

·      Experience in asking for and closing seven figure gifts.

·      Demonstrated experience using listening, diplomacy, and tact to build strong relationships and motivate donors and volunteers.

·      Proven ability to negotiate complex, high profile or sensitive agreements.

What We Bring:

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. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff, we impact conservation throughout the world!

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

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

How to Apply:

Please apply to Job 53424 at www.nature.org/careers, or apply directly HERE. Submit required cover letter and resume separately using the upload buttons.

Click “submit” to apply for the position or “save for later” to create a draft application for future submission. Once submitted, applications cannot be revised or edited. Failure to complete required fields may result in your application being disqualified from consideration. If you experience technical issues, please refer to our applicant user guide or contact applyhelp@tnc.org.

This description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required for this job.

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 cultures. 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 orientations, gender identities, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

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.