Associate Director of Corporate Relations

USA The Nature Conservancy; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 146,000; Full time

Job summary

The Nature Conservancy in California seeks a strategic fundraiser to lead corporate engagement and grow partnerships across teams. You will manage a portfolio of corporate partners and senior leaders, drive moves management, and close significant gifts to support conservation goals.

Role requires building long-term donor relationships, sophisticated negotiation, and ability to manage multi-faceted projects while upholding compliance and mission alignment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 6 years related experience.
• Experience building and maintaining long-term relationships with corporate donors.
• Experience in asking for and closing corporate or corporate foundation gifts.

Responsibilities

• Lead a comprehensive corporate engagement strategy for California-managed and supporting companies.
• Manage a portfolio of corporate partners and senior stakeholders, recording moves and proposals annually with a major fundraising goal.
• Advise California fundraising colleagues on portfolio growth and industry trend discovery.
• Identify and qualify prospective corporate partners with prospect research.
• Direct or participate in negotiations for high-profile agreements.
• Implement and lead complex projects with budget, deadlines, and accountability.
• Ensure compliance with policies and external requirements.
• Travel frequently and work weekends as needed.

Skills

Corporate donor relations

Relationship building

Moves management

Fundraising strategy

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Negotiations

Job description

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

• Lead a comprehensive corporate engagement strategy for California-managed (and California-supporting) companies, working across teams to develop creative and compelling partnership strategies that engage, retain, and grow corporate opportunities and to measure, evaluate, and report on success.


• Personally manage a portfolio of corporate partners, as well as related C-suite individuals and corporate board members, recording 90–110 moves and at least 10-15 letters of intent or proposals annually, with a focus on deeper engagement and increased funding. Annual fundraising goal of $2,000,000 or more.


• Serve as a thought partner to key stakeholders focused on corporate relationships, including the Global Corporate Relations Principal Gifts, CA Principal Gifts, Global Corporate Engagement, Pacific Division Marketing, and Global Cause Marketing and Brand Partnerships teams, to maximize engagement opportunities across TNC’s corporate portfolio while reducing potential reputational risk.


• Advise other California fundraising colleagues in the management and development of the Chapter’s overall corporate portfolio through strategic partnership, monitoring and sharing of industry trends, and discovery of opportunities to grow Chapter-wide corporate giving and engagement.


• Work with the prospect research team identify and qualify prospective corporate partners and their leadership.


• Direct or participate in negotiations for complex, high profile or sensitive agreements.


• Implement and lead multiple collaborative and complex projects, directing work of staff, managing budget, setting deadlines, and ensuring accountability.


• Maintain confidentiality of frequently sensitive and emotionally charged information.


• Decisions may have program-wide impact, affect staff in non-program areas, and bind the organization financially or legally.


• Ensure compliance with TNC policies and procedures and external (donor/legal/IRS) requirements; be alert to ethical compliance issues.


• Financial responsibility for setting and meeting fundraising objectives, evaluating results, and developing corrective strategies.


• Maximum opportunity to act independently, resolves complex issues within scope.


• Persuasively convey the mission of TNC to diverse groups important to the organization’s overall prosperity.


• Travel frequently and on short notice, work long and weekends as needed.


• Work environment involves only infrequent exposure to disagreeable elements and minor physical exertion and/or strain.

We’re Looking for You:

Do you have experience at the intersection of corporate engagement and conservation? Are you a strategic fundraiser looking to hone your skills in corporate philanthropy? This may be the opportunity for you!

What You’ll Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree and 6 years related experience.


• Experience building and maintaining long-term relationships with corporate donors.


• Experience in asking for and closing corporate or corporate foundation gifts of undefined


• Experience securing $500,000 in a fiscal year from corporate giving alone.


• Experience in managing or overseeing corporate practice and/or cause marketing engagements.


• Experience staffing senior leadership for moves management with corporations.


• Experience managing and tracking multiple prospects and donors.


• Experience working with fundraising principles and practices.


• Ability to design and implement fundraising strategies, including cultivation, solicitation and recognition strategies.


• 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.

Salary Information:

The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $90,300 – $146,200. 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.

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 include respect for all people, communities, and cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s many reasons to love life inside TNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube to hear stories from staff or visit Glassdoor. One 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. In addition to the requirements in our job postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job and consider each applicant’s unique experience. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you’ll join for the mission, and stay for the people.”

What We Bring:

TNC offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work well-being benefits.

Learn more about our Benefits and Perks here.

We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports of the health and well-being of the people we employ.

Our recruiting process includes a rolling interview process to ensure we engage applicants in a timely manner. This means we may review applications in the order in which they are received. Once a strong candidate pool is identified, the role will be unposted. The timeline may vary depending on the expressed interest in the role, so we highly encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible.

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

The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process.

Do you have military experience? Visit our U.S. Military Skills Translator to match your military experience with our current job openings!

If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to [e-mail] with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.

The Nature Conservancy is a global environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature can thrive. Founded in the U.S. through grassroots action in 1951, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than a million members and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and over 400 scientists, we impact conservation in 79 countries and territories: 37 by direct conservation impact and 42 through partners. To conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. Our vision is a world where the diversity of life thrives, and people act to conserve nature for its own sake and its ability to fulfill our needs and enrich our lives.