Chief Development Officer

U.S. Hemp Roundtable; United States; On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading national advocacy organization is seeking a Chief Development Officer to oversee membership development and fundraising efforts. The role demands strong communication skills and the ability to work in a lean, collaborative environment. Responsibilities include leading membership strategies and supporting advocacy-related events. This is a fully remote position, ideal for candidates in the Central or Eastern Time Zones. Applicants should submit a resume and cover letter via email including their experience in advocacy settings.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in membership development or fundraising.
• Experience working directly with boards of directors.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead all membership recruitment, retention, and renewal efforts.
• Manage relationships with current and prospective members.
• Coordinate and support board committees.

Skills

Membership development

Fundraising

Public policy understanding

Strong communication skills

Organizational leadership

Job description

The U.S. Hemp Roundtable (USHR) is the hemp industry’s leading national advocacy organization, working to advance practical, bipartisan legislation and regulation at both the state and federal levels. USHR engages directly with Congress, federal agencies, governors’ offices, and state legislatures, and operates as a member-driven organization governed by a Board of Directors representing the breadth of the hemp industry.

120,000 - 150,000 depending on background and experience.

Employment Type: Full-Time

This is a full-time position requiring 40 hours per week.

Position Overview

The U.S. Hemp Roundtable is seeking a Chief Development Officer (CDO) to lead membership development, fundraising, and member- and board-facing organizational coordination within a national advocacy organization deeply engaged in public policy and lobbying. This is a senior leadership role for a self-directed professional who understands how advocacy organizations operate and is comfortable working at the intersection of membership, fundraising, board governance, and government affairs.

The Chief Development Officer works as part of a highly collaborative leadership team and partners closely with executive leadership, lobbyists, and a working Board of Directors. The role requires comfort in a lean, fast-moving environment where policy timelines, legislative activity, and advocacy priorities often drive work.

This role does not include direct supervision of other staff and is focused on coordination, execution, and relationship management within a collaborative leadership structure.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all membership recruitment, retention, and renewal efforts
• Develop and execute strategies to grow organizational revenue through memberships, sponsorships, and fundraising initiatives that support advocacy and lobbying efforts
• Independently identify, pursue, and close membership and fundraising opportunities, with support from executive leadership and board members as appropriate
• Manage relationships with current and prospective members

Internal Communications & Coordination

• Prepare and coordinate member-facing communications, including newsletters, updates, and alerts related to advocacy activity and organizational priorities
• Ensure members, board members, and committees are kept informed of key developments, fly-ins, events, and policy activity
• Coordinate with advocacy and communications staff to ensure messaging to members is timely, accurate, and consistent
• Strengthen member communication and develop and implement strategies to increase engagement and alignment

Board & Committee Management

• Coordinate and support board committees, including scheduling, materials preparation, and follow-up
• Serve as a key liaison between staff leadership and board committee chairs
• Prepare and manage committee agendas, materials, and follow-ups with minimal oversight
• Help ensure board and committee work is organized, productive, and aligned with advocacy and fundraising priorities

Advocacy Support & Event Coordination

• Support advocacy-related events and activities, including planning and coordination for Washington, D.C. fly-ins and other in-person meetings
• Assist with member engagement leading up to lobbying efforts, including scheduling, communications, and logistical coordination
• Work closely with advocacy leadership to ensure development and membership efforts align with legislative strategy and policy goals

Organizational Leadership & Collaboration

• Operate as a senior member of the leadership team in a national advocacy organization
• Coordinate closely with legal, lobbying, communications, and administrative staff
• Uphold a team-based culture while maintaining accountability, discretion, and clarity of roles

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in membership development, fundraising, or organizational leadership within an advocacy organization, trade association, or comparable mission-driven entity
• Strong understanding of public policy, government processes, or legislative advocacy
• Experience working directly with boards of directors and managing board committees
• Comfort working in a small, collaborative staff environment where execution requires flexibility and initiative
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, particularly in politically sensitive or policy-driven contexts
• Highly organized, self-motivated, and capable of managing multiple priorities tied to legislative calendars and advocacy timelines
• Experience supporting lobbying efforts, fly-ins, or government-facing events is strongly preferred

This role is not well suited for candidates seeking a highly structured environment, extensive administrative support, or traditional nonprofit benefits.

• Fully remote position
• Preference for candidates located in the Central or Eastern Time Zone
• Occasional travel required, including trips to Washington, D.C. for fly-ins, meetings, and advocacy events

This is a salaried, remote position. The U.S. Hemp Roundtable does not currently offer employer-provided benefits. Candidates should be comfortable operating in a lean, mission-driven advocacy organization.

How to Apply

All candidates must complete the LinkedIn screening questions associated with this posting as an initial step.

After completing the LinkedIn screening questions, please submit your resume and a brief cover letter via email to [e-mail]. Applications will only be considered if all steps are completed.

In your cover letter, please briefly describe:

• Your experience working in an advocacy, public policy, or government-facing organization; and
• Your approach to managing priorities in a lean, board-governed environment.

*Applications submitted without completing all of these steps will not be considered.

View the candidate FAQ for more details: https://hempsupporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Candidate-FAQ-Chief-Development-Officer.pdf

For more information about our work, policy priorities, and members, visit www.hempsupporter.com.