Director of Development

What We Can Achieve Together:

Essential Functions

The Director of Development II will work towards meeting the strategic priorities of the program by conceiving, developing, and managing plans and strategies. They focus on long-range strategic priorities, advance the Conservancy’s goals, and communicate a broad vision to others. They establish and monitors activity level benchmarks and measures of success. They manage the development and implementation of a strategic, integrated, and collaborative approach to maximize success, including organizing communications. They facilitate strategic dialogues with clients and senior-level stakeholders, probing to identify key issues and requirements, negotiating and developing solutions, and synthesizing a plan of action tailored to audience. They will direct diverse activities, develop complex practices and processes, project outcomes, and initiate changes in order to improve effectiveness. They manage priority vendor relationships. The DoD II works closely with and manages relations with key stakeholders including senior management, internal teams, donors, and volunteers to achieve program goals. They may be responsible for presenting analysis and recommendations to the Board of Directors committees.

This role leads and successfully executes multi-year campaigns, grows the donor pipeline, cultivates principal and major donors, and connects South Carolina priorities to TNC’s global campaign, One Future: Together, We Find a Way.

The DoD builds a high-performing, inclusive team; engages trustees and campaign volunteers; and strengthens donor strategy, portfolio management, reporting, and accountability.

Responsibilities & Scope

• Lead South Carolina’s fundraising strategy to achieve $4.5 million to $9 million a year through a fundraising department or development program.
• Rapidly gain command of the multi-year campaign in its early silent phase and execute the strategy needed to achieve campaign success.
• Lead, manage, develop, and retain a high-performing development team, including managing recruitment, retention, professional development, establishing clear directions, and setting “stretch” objectives.
• Grow the donor pipeline, identifying new donors, and cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major and principal gift donors, foundations, corporations, and key partners.
• Partner with the State Director, Board Chair, trustees, and campaign volunteers to strengthen fundraising engagement.
• Manage major gift functions, including planned giving, endowments, principal gifts, donor prospecting, research, donor engagement, and multi-year campaigns.
• Report development program activities to leadership and the South Carolina Board of Trustees.
• Maintain 100% Board participation in TNC’s Legacy Club and work with Trustee Legacy Ambassadors towards the goal.
• Design and direct complex and diversified projects, coordinating the work of other professionals, managing budget, and ensuring program accountability.
• Develop and administer budget and fundraising objectives, evaluate results and develop corrective strategies as needed.
• Direct or participate in negotiations for complex, high profile or sensitive agreements.
• Ensure that programmatic commitments, TNC policies and procedures, financial standards, and legal requirements are met and managed for ethical compliance.
• Lead strategic initiatives through collaboration with senior-level stakeholders to enhance overall performance in accordance with short and long-term objectives.
• Maintain confidentiality of frequently sensitive and emotionally charged information.
• Make strategic decisions; decisions made may have program-wide impact and may bind the organization financially or legally.
• Plan and lead new programs/initiatives that will ensure department and organization-wide goals are achieved.
• Responsibility and accountability for meeting strategic goals and objectives.
• Travel frequently and on short notice, work long hours and weekends. Up to 30% in-state travel is expected.
• Work environment involves only infrequent exposure to disagreeable elements minor physical exertion and/or strain.

We’re Looking for You:

Since 1974, The Nature Conservancy in South Carolina has worked with partners to protect the state’s lands, waters, wildlife, and communities—from the Southern Blue Ridge to the coast. Our work advances land protection, conservation science, living shorelines, prescribed fire, sustainable fisheries, and policy solutions that connect people and nature.

If you have experience supervising a multidisciplinary team, closing major gifts, and working in a complex non-profit environment - look no further!

The Nature Conservancy in South Carolina may be the place for you. We’re looking for someone who can serve as a leader and direct all aspects of one or more development functions. Apply today and find a career where you can find meaning and purpose to the work in South Carolina. Charleston is the preferred location for this role; flexible to Columbia, Orangeburg-Spartanburg, and Greenville.

What You’ll Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree and 8 years related experience, including experience working at a senior level, or equivalent combination of years’ working experience and educational degree.
• Demonstrated success with planning, organizing and running campaigns with significant target achievement.
• Experience asking for and closing major gifts.
• 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.
• Experience working in a large, complex, not-for-profit environment.
• Experience, coursework, or other training in principles, practices, and procedures of relevant field.

Desired Qualifications

• Excellent communication skills, including written, verbal, and experience communication and with and presenting to, a wide variety of audiences.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft 365 tools, including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, and Teams.
• Expert knowledge of current and evolving trends in major gifts giving and solicitation.
• Knowledge of advanced gift planning concepts.
• Experience leading, managing and developing a high performing team to accomplish organizational goals.
• Proficiency in synthesizing materials from multiple sources into a coherent and accurate summary for executive audiences.
• Advanced Understanding of best practices in non-profit management.
• Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.

This position requires a valid driver's license and compliance with TNC’s Auto Safety Program. Employees may not drive Conservancy-owned/leased vehicles, rental cars, or personal vehicles on behalf of the Conservancy if considered "high risk drivers." To learn more about the Auto Safety Program, visit the Auto Safety information page. Employment in this position will be contingent upon completion of a Vehicle Use Agreement, which may include a review of the prospective employee's motor vehicle record.

Salary Information:

The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $130,000 - $160,000 annual salary. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. Where a successful candidate’s actual pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including, for example, the candidate's location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience. Please note countries outside the USA would have a different pay range in the local currency based on the local labor market, and not tied to USA pay or ranges. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment.

Who We Are:

The Nature Conservancy’s 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 include respect for all people, communities, and cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s many reasons to love life inside TNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube   to hear stories from staff or visit  Glassdoor.

One 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. In addition to the requirements in our job postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job and consider each applicant’s unique experience. Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you’ll join for the mission, and stay for the people.”

What We Bring:

Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can believe in. Through grassroots action, we have grown from a small non-profit into 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 and partners, we impact conservation around the world!

TNC offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with an 8% 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 and Perks here.

We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports of the health and well-being of the people we employ.

Our recruiting process includes a rolling interview process to ensure we engage applicants in a timely manner. This means we may review applications in the order in which they are received. Once a strong candidate pool is identified, the role will be unposted. The timeline may vary depending on the expressed interest in the role, so we highly encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to equal employment opportunity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization 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.

The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process.

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 [email protected] with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.