Deputy Director, Development for the Louisiana/Alabama/Mississippi Business Unit

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. #J-18808-Ljbffr