Deputy Director, Development for the Louisiana/Alabama/Mississippi Business Unit
The Nature Conservancy
Remote
USD 150k-215k / year
What We Can Achieve Together:
Operating within an integrated, multi-state Business Unit (BU) model, the Deputy Director, Development, reports directly to the BU Executive Director to lead and manage development programs and associated staff within the BU and collaborates closely with other leaders and staff across the Louisiana, Mississippi, & Alabama BU to secure significant financial resources to support conservation goals. Development functions will include BU development programs and individual giving, planned giving, foundation relations, and/or corporate giving programs.
Because they are uniquely positioned to deliver some of TNC’s most impactful conservation outcomes Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama work together as one BU at The Nature Conservancy. The region contains critical landscapes, freshwater systems, and coastal resources that are essential to achieving TNC’s goals. These three states have long had an outsized conservation impact relative to their size. Projects like the Atchafalaya River Basin Initiative, Loch Leven, and Lightning Point exemplify the abilities of our teams to achieve significant wins with limited resources.
Essential Functions
The Deputy Director, Development, will work towards meeting the strategic priorities of the BU by conceiving, developing, and managing development 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 monitor 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 and stretch the BU’s fundraising potential. They manage priority vendor relationships. The Deputy Director, Development, 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 and committees.
The Deputy Director, Development, will be responsible for a select group of prospects and donors, the size of the portfolio will be determined in part with consideration for the scope of supervisory responsibility. They may be responsible for volunteer engagement and managing selected trustee relationships.
Responsibilities and Scope
The Deputy Director, Development, helps advance a shared, multi-state vision for maximizing development outcomes across the Louisiana, Mississippi, & Alabama BU, while contributing to broader priorities of the Southern U.S. Division, the North America Region, and TNC as a whole. The role requires strong collaboration across state boundaries and functional areas to support cross-boundary conservation initiatives, integrated fundraising approaches, and shared operational models.
The Deputy Director, Development, works in close partnership with fellow Deputy Directors, External Affairs, Operations, and Finance, as well as other TNC staff. They provide program and state-specific insight, leadership, and execution in support of BU-wide strategies, priorities, and performance goals. Serves as a key leader in fundraising and external affairs, cultivating donors, partners, and funding opportunities that advance BU priorities.
Responsible for developing an overall multi-million-dollar development strategy with implementation steps and assignments. Accountable for fundraising goals of $7.5 million up to $15 million a year and directly participates in negotiations for complex, high profile or sensitive agreements. Develops and administers budget and fundraising objectives, evaluates results and develops corrective strategies as needed.
We’re Looking for You:
We are seeking a motivated team player to be TNC’s next Deputy Director, Development for the Louisiana/Alabama/Mississippi BU! In the first year, the Deputy Director, Development will build their team into a highly functioning philanthropy program focused on principle and major gift fundraising to support the conservation work of the Southern Deltas and the Nature Conservancy at large. They will have the opportunity and resources to conduct market assessments and campaign feasibility studies, and they will have the authority to structure their team to best meet the fundraising needs of the BU. The fundraising goal for FY2027 is $7.5M - $9M with a clear projection of growth over a five-year horizon.
What You’ll Bring:
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree and 8 years related experience, including experience working at a senior level.
- Experience managing geographically dispersed staff.
- Experience building and maintaining long-term relationships with constituents such as major donors and corporations.
- Experience designing and executing fundraising plans for a program or an organization.
- Experience in soliciting and closing major or planned gifts of $100,000 or more.
- Experience in managing and tracking multiple prospects and donors.
- Experience working with fundraising principles and practices.
- Collaboration, relationship and partnership-building skills.
- 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.
Desired Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree and 10 years related experience.
- Experience working in a large, complex, not-for-profit environment and understanding of best practices in non-profit management.
- Knowledge of the philanthropic communities throughout the 3-state Business Unit and Gulf of America region.
- Experience managing a geographically dispersed team, including recruitment, retaining, professional development, establishing clear directions, and setting “stretch” objectives. Experience in managing multi-million-dollar budget.
- Ability to design and direct fundraising initiatives, including individualized cultivation, solicitation and recognition strategies.
- Passion for raising money and for identifying new prospective donors (individuals and foundations) and experience soliciting and closing 5-7-figure gifts.
- Capital campaign leadership and feasibility leadership experience is preferred.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills with ability to educate and inform prospective and existing donors about appropriate giving vehicles and effectively communicate via presentations, conversations, and documents. Proficiency in synthesizing materials from multiple sources into a coherent and accurate summary.
- Knowledge of complex charitable gift planning.
- 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.
- Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality.
- Expert knowledge of current and evolving trends in major gifts giving and solicitation.
- Ability to travel up to 25% within the region.
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 $150,000-215,000 USD. 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 applyhelp@tnc.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.
