Development Manager

Overview

NRDC (the Natural Resources Defense Council) works to safeguard the Earth, its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. NRDC combines the power of more than 3 million members and online activists with the expertise of some 800 policy advocates, lawyers, scientists, and communication experts to confront the climate crisis, protect nature, ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities.  As an international nonprofit environmental organization, NRDC is working to address the world’s most urgent environmental challenges, and advance innovative, science-based, and enforceable solutions.  

Since our founding in 1970, NRDC has helped craft and deliver many of America’s foundational environmental laws, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. Today, we continue to lead in advancing and defending strong environmental protections at the local, state, federal and international levels, as well as through the marketplace. Our team works across the United States and around the world, from offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., as well as in Beijing, and New Delhi (a subsidiary of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd.).  

Supported by our members and online activists, NRDC is driving impactful solutions that confront the climate crisis, defend nature and safeguard public health across Asia, Africa, and the Americas. At NRDC, we believe lasting change happens when people bring their talent, passion, and expertise together for a common purpose: to build a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient world. Learn more at nrdc.org 

POSITION SUMMARY

NRDC seeks an experienced fundraiser to manage donor relations for its China Program.  Reporting to the Institutional Giving Team in the United States, with a dotted reporting line to the Country Director/Deputy Country Director, China Program, the Development Manager will be based in Beijing and responsible for providing Development support on China Program fundraising activities. They will coordinate between BRO and Development, Finance, Office of General Counsel, SVP International and its SPO team, for grant/fundings tracking, database maintenance and related documentation. This position requires strong internal and donor coordination, as well as grant administration and stewardship. 

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online supporters. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. For over two decades, the NRDC has worked in China as a thought leader and trusted adviser to our local partners. With a highly effective team of more than 40 staff based in our Beijing office, we have worked hard at both the Chinese national and local levels to support the development and implementation of innovative laws, policies, technologies, and market tools that curb pollution and accelerate China's transition to a clean, low-carbon economy. NRDC's Beijing Representative Office (BRO) is registered in Beijing in accordance with applicable laws.

Responsibilities

This position requires strong internal and donor coordination, as well as grant administration and stewardship.  To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the following essential functions:

• Serves as the central point of coordination within BRO for the Development team and collaborates with Finance, the Office of General Counsel, the SVP, International and SPO team, ensuring seamless information flows among different departments.
• Maintains a deep understanding of BRO’s strategy, current work, strengths, fundraising needs, and NRDC processes, as well as the global funder landscape, philanthropic trends, and key internal and external fundraising stakeholders for environmental work in China.
• Manages China Country Director’s engagement with donors. This includes scheduling, preparation of donor stewardship talking points, briefing and background information, summarizing engagement takeaways in the form of call reports, and following up of action items in line with donor stewardship needs.
• Identifies and supports engagement opportunities with existing and prospective donors for NRDC’s China Program, aligning fundraising efforts with the organization’s programmatic priorities. Stays informed about philanthropic trends related to environmental work in China and maintains strong professional relationships with NGO peers.
• Manages donor engagement with funders of NRDC’s China Program, collaborating with relevant BRO teams to track formal and informal donor communications. Attends relevant internal and external meetings/events as appropriate.
• Develops and maintains fundraising protocols and processes in collaboration with the Development team. This includes proposal and report development protocols, as well as database maintenance.
• Works with program teams to develop concept notes and proposals consistent with NRDC’s theory of change, approved program plans, and grant requirements. This entails coordination between teams, drafting relevant parts of proposals, consolidating drafts, ensuring impact is effectively conveyed, maintaining workflows to meet deadlines, as well as maintaining appropriate filing systems.
• Supports grant stewardship activities to ensure timely grant agreement signing and reporting (technical and financial).
• Stays up-to-date on evolving risks and follows guidelines to mitigate them for NRDC.
• Acts as a fundraising resource for BRO staff, organizing fundraising training sessions as well as keeping staff informed on internal development best practices.

The above list of duties is not comprehensive but generally demonstrates the types of matters under this position’s responsibility. Other duties may be assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Education & Experience: 

• Bachelor’s degree required, master’s degree preferred
• 4-7 years’ experience managing relationships with foundations, corporate philanthropy, and major-level donors
• Knowledge of environmental issues and environmental funder landscape

Skills, Abilities, Competencies

• Fully bilingual (Chinese-English) with proven English writing and oral skills
• Demonstrated knowledge of fundraising best practices and ability to meet funder deliverables expectations
• Familiarity with funder landscape and philanthropic markets supporting China program work
• Superior writing and oral communication skills; ability to communicate effectively across different cultural contexts
• Organizational skills; ability to prioritize and oversee multiple streams of work to meet overlapping deadlines
• Detail-oriented with high standards of excellence
• Ability to travel, approximately 10-20% annually
• Commitment to NRDC’s mission, values, and DEI principles

PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position within the work environment described.

Frequently: Perform desk-based computer tasks

Frequently: Ability to interact and communicate with employees and others as necessary

Frequently: Attend planned meetings and collaborate with management and coworkers

Occasionally: Ability to attend events and activities in the office or offsite

Work is performed primarily in office.  The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet in office settings and moderate in other situations.  Hours of employment may sometimes require working flexible and/or longer hours, including nights and weekends, when necessitated by projects. The job includes work-related situations such as those involving challenging, important, urgent, time-sensitive, or multiple matters.

NRDC is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in our work and in our workplace. We believe that celebrating and actively welcoming diverse voices and perspectives is essential to solving the planet's most pressing environmental problems, and we encourage applications from candidates whose identities have been historically under-represented in the environmental movement. 

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.  

We offer competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a supportive working environment. Salary is based on a nonprofit scale and is commensurate with skills and experience. Internal equity will be reviewed and considered to determine a final offer.

Perks & Benefits 

Not only do we care about taking care of our planet, we care about taking care of you. When you join our team, we invest in your total well-being. Here is a small glimpse on how we plan to support you: 

• Time to Unplug & Recharge: Enjoy a generous time-off policy, highlighted by a company-wide year-end Rest & Recharge Week to reset for the new year. 

To apply, visit www.nrdc.org/careers and upload your résumé and cover letter. Please mention where you saw this posting and upload any additional materials that showcase your abilities. Due to the high volume of applications, we will contact only those candidates we would like to interview. Please no phone calls, emails, or in-person résumé drop-offs. 

If you experience technical problems while applying or if you are a person with a disability and need assistance applying online, please reach out to iCIMS Customer Care at 1-800-889-4422. 

For more about NRDC, visit www.nrdc.org.