Associate Director (Development & Strategy)

The Northcoast Regional Land Trust (NRLT) seeks a strategic, relationship-driven, and highly organized Associate Director to lead and grow fundraising and organizational development efforts for a dynamic conservation nonprofit serving northwestern California. The Associate Director is a senior leadership role and key partner to the Executive Director, responsible for development (approximately 60% of time), including donor engagement, major gifts, and grants (both public agencies and private foundations), while also contributing to organizational operations, cross-team coordination, and strategic alignment (approximately 40%). The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated passion for NRLT’s conservation mission, familiarity with the region, and a strong collaborative spirit. This position plays a central role in advancing NRLT’s mission to conserve and steward working lands and diverse habitats throughout the region. Start Date: June 1, 2026 (or as mutually agreed) Status: Full-time, 32-40 hours/week (negotiable) Starting Salary Range: $83,200-$100,000 (depending on experience) Benefits Generous paid holidays and vacation leave; paid sick leave; employer-paid health insurance; up to 3% SIMPLE IRA match; flexible schedule, and professional development support. Key Responsibilities Development Leadership & Strategy (Primary Focus) Lead and grow NRLT’s fundraising program, including annual giving, major gifts, grants, sponsorships, and planned giving Develop and implement annual fundraising plans, as well as special campaigns, aligned with organizational goals and long-term strategy Collaborate on grant strategy, proposal development, reporting, and funder relationships with both private foundations and public agencies Partner with the Executive Director, Board and staff to identify, cultivate, and steward donors and prospects Support and help lead donor-facing aspects of key events, including NRLT’s annual celebration, Boots & Birkenstocks Supervise, mentor, and support development-related staff and volunteers, including setting priorities, providing feedback, and fostering professional growth Donor Engagement & Systems Oversee donor stewardship and recognition systems to ensure timely, meaningful engagement Ensure strong systems for timely, accurate gift processing and donor acknowledgment Lead strategic use of the donor database (DonorPerfect or similar), ensuring data integrity and effective use Support staff training and adoption of CRM best practices and reporting tools Coordinate donor communications across staff, Board, and key stakeholders Partner with outreach and communications staff to develop compelling donor-facing content Prepare proposals, presentations, and communications materials Help build a strong culture of philanthropy across the organization Organizational Operations & Systems (Shared Leadership) Partner with the Executive Director and Operations Director on organizational planning, internal systems, and process improvement Help strengthen internal infrastructure, including tracking, reporting, and workflow systems Contribute to budgeting, planning, and organizational decision-making Support coordination to ensure organizational alignment across departments, including guiding staff workflows and cross-functional collaboration Other duties as assigned Programmatic Alignment & External Engagement Collaborate with leadership to align fundraising priorities with conservation strategy, programmatic priorities, and staffing capacity Participate in donor and partner engagement related to NRLT’s land protection and stewardship work Represent NRLT in community settings, events, and partner meetings Board & Committee Partnership Serve as staff liaison to the Board’s Friends and Fundraising Committee Support Board engagement in fundraising, including training and strategy development Prepare reports and analysis to inform Board and leadership decision-making Ensure practices align with NRLT policies, Land Trust Alliance standards, and accreditation requirements Qualifications Interest in land conservation, stewardship, and NRLT’s mission 5+ years of relevant experience in nonprofit leadership, development, or a related field Demonstrated experience in fundraising, donor engagement, grants, or relationship-based work Experience managing staff and/or volunteers, with a collaborative leadership approach Strong written and verbal communication skills Excellent organizational and project management ability, with capacity to manage multiple priorities Comfort working across functions in a growing organization Proficiency with CRM systems, spreadsheets, and standard office software Experience managing projects or programs, ideally in a related field Demonstrated ability to translate technical concepts such as conservation easements and restoration project design into clear, compelling funding proposals Experience working with private landowners and rural communities is a plus Physical & Work Requirements Ability to work at a computer for extended periods Ability to navigate outdoor terrain, including walking one mile or more on uneven surfaces during donor visits and events, with or without reasonable accommodation Hybrid schedule may be considered after demonstrated performance and training Valid driver's license and current auto insurance Application Instructions Email the following as a single PDF (preferred) to View email address on click.appcast.io: Application cover sheet (see attached) Cover letter Resume List of at least three professional references Optional supporting materials (≤ 4 pages) #J-18808-Ljbffr