Director of Development, South Carolina

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.

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.

• 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.

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.