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 includes a Commitment to Diversity and Respect for People, Communities, and Cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s lots of reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube  or on Glassdoor. 

Our 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. We know we’ll only achieve our Mission by hiring and engaging a diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we work. In addition to the requirements in our postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of inclusion! Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote myriad TNC staff members, “you’ll join for our mission, and you’ll stay for our people.”

Latin America is home to 40% of the world’s species, a third of its freshwater, a quarter of its forests and 25% of arable land. Its forests are essential to the health of our warming planet, and its lands provide 16% of the world’s food and agriculture exports. Functional ecosystems are the engine of Latin America´s economic growth and play a pivotal role in meeting global demand for food, water and energy. Simply put, there is no place more important for plant and animal diversity, climate regulation and the global economy than Latin America.
 
But Latin America is at a turning point. Climate change, biodiversity loss, alarming deforestation and over exploitation of oceans and watersheds are straining these critical natural systems. This is why The Nature Conservancy is driving systems innovation strategies to mainstream the role of nature in socio-economic sustainable development for the region. Our work in Latin America is projected to significantly contribute to TNC’s 2030 overall goals: they anticipate meeting 50% of TNC’s overall climate goal, 22% of the lands goal, and 25% of the freshwater rivers goal.

The Nature Conservancy works in 9 countries across Latin America. We have the experience, knowledge and partnerships needed to develop, implement, and scale strategies that reconcile sustainable development with conservation. Our science shows us that this decade (2020-2030) offers a window of profound opportunity to change course and achieve a more sustainable future for people and nature.

For more information on both TNC and the Latin America region, please refer to The Nature Conservancy’s website www.nature.org.

What We Can Achieve Together:

We are seeking an entrepreneurial, dynamic Director of Development (DOD) for Latin America to join our team, a senior leader position within TNC. The DOD will lead our fundraising work in collaboration with other team members across TNC globally and in the region. They will lead the design and implementation of our revenue strategy to unlock conservation and sustainable development at a scale that really matters. Having created comprehensive, science-based strategies for each of our priorities, our opportunity and challenge now is to design the enabling conditions to unleash systems change approaches building on almost 60 years of experience, leveraging our work on policy, markets, and innovative finance.  We have entered a crucial decade where the convergence of cross-sectoral efforts, public support and the leadership of individual donors needs to be fully leveraged to achieve transformational impact.

The Director of Development, Latin America Region (LAR) reports to TNC’s Regional Managing Director for Latin America and is responsible for developing and executing a 5-year, integrated fundraising strategy that supports the region’s strategic plan, leading the region’s private revenue-generating functions, actively engaging key donors, and coordinating and leveraging our partner and philanthropic resources (corporations, foundations, multilaterals, and individual donors).  This person will manage the development of donor prospect lists and guide the team to have strategic interactions with high priority donors and will ultimately lead to increased private donations to TNC. While primarily focused on private philanthropy, the DOD will coordinate with public fundraising efforts as well. They will lead and inspire a diverse team of Development professionals located across the region and the US to build robust and diverse portfolios to deliver on fundraising goals; orient communications assets in support of this effort; and manage a select group of 15-20 donors with giving ranges spanning from $500,000 to $5M or more who have an interest in Latin America. They are a dynamic, adaptable, inspiring leader and manages a team of approximately 20 people, including the Director of Development Operations. They work closely with U.S. and European Development counterparts to coordinate donor management responsibilities. They will work closely with a new Latin America trustee council - a volunteer leadership entity that is being established focused on fundraising in the region. They will also be a key liaison with another volunteer leadership entity that has a long-standing partnership with TNC. Ultimately the team will be responsible for growing revenue from ~$11M/year to $35M/year with renewed focus on philanthropic individuals from both Latin America and outside the region.

The Director of Development, LAR is a member of the LAR Executive Team. It offers qualified candidates the opportunity to join the staff of a world-renowned conservation organization, and the biggest environmental NGO in the world.  The position will be based in one of TNC’s core countries in the region (Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, or Peru), and locations in the US will also be considered.  

Responsibilities and Scope

• Accountable for the region’s private fundraising goals, by defining priorities, aligning goals, talent, and resources – and through direct fundraising.
• Refresh the region’s philanthropy strategy, with a clear focus on cultivating and building relationships with Ultra High Net Worth individuals who are philanthropic and conservation-minded.
• Strategically train and support regional leadership to focus on near term opportunities to mobilize private resources for TNC’s mission in Latin America.
• Ensure programs meet commitments while complying with TNC policies and procedures, financial standards, and legal requirements.
• Lead the conception, design, and execution of strategic initiatives and goals through collaboration with senior-level stakeholders in order to enhance the region’s overall performance.
• Lead the conception, design, and implementation of regional initiatives, coordinating the work of other professionals, managing budget, and ensuring program accountability.
• Coordinate fundraising efforts with TNC’s Global teams. Financial management responsibilities include setting budget and fundraising objectives, analyzing results, and taking corrective actions.
• Direct or participate in negotiations involving complex, high profile or sensitive agreements.
• Appropriately handle sensitive, confidential and/or emotionally charged information as it arises.
• Demonstrate impeccable adherence to TNC’s Values and Competencies.
• Strategic decisions may affect public image, impact multiple programs, and bind the organization financially or legally.
• Travel is frequent and may be on short notice.
• TNC provides for a balanced work environment, but in some specific situations, work may demand long hours and some work on weekends.

What You’ll Bring:

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 12 years related experience, including 3 years working at a senior/executive level.
• Experience building and maintaining long-term relationships with donors, including Ultra High Net Worth individuals (UHNWI), foundations Professional fundraising experience with a demonstrated history of cultivating and soliciting 6–7+ figures from principal gift and high-net-worth prospects, both from in-region philanthropic donors as well as from the US and Europe.
• and corporations.
• Experience conceiving and implementing strategic initiatives.
• Experience guiding strategic communications in benefit of fundraising.
• Experience working in a large, complex, not-for-profit environment.
• Management experience of a large multidisciplinary department, including planning and delivering budgetary responsibilities.
• Fluent in English and either Spanish or Portuguese; working knowledge of all 3 languages.
• Committed to the mission of The Nature Conservancy.

What We Bring:

Since 1951, The Nature Conservancy has been doing work you can believe in protecting the lands and waters that all life depends on. Through grassroots action, TNC has grown to become 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, we impact conservation throughout the world!

The Nature Conservancy offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) plan including employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work wellbeing benefits. Learn more about our benefits at in the Culture Tab on nature.org/careers.

We’re proud to offer a work-environment that is supportive of the health, wellbeing, and flexibility needs of the people we employ!

How to Apply:

Please apply to Job 53969 at www.nature.org/careers. Submit required cover letter and resume separately using the upload buttons. Applications will be reviewed in the order they are received, and the position will remain open until filled. Click “submit” to apply for the position or “save for later” to create a draft application for future submission. Once submitted, applications cannot be revised or edited. Failure to complete required fields may result in your application being disqualified from consideration. If you experience technical issues, please refer to our applicant user guide or contact applyhelp@tnc.org.  

This description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required for this job.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and cultures. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, gender identities, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.
 

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.