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.
