Director, Development, Strategic Engagement

Ceres, Inc.; California; Hybrid; USD 116,000 - 137,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid and remote work options

Employer-paid health/dental insurance

Retirement plan with generous match

Job summary

Ceres, a leading sustainability nonprofit, seeks a Director, Strategic Engagement in the Bay Area. You will develop and steward major donor relationships, coordinating with the CEO and senior leaders to advance funding opportunities for the organization.

The role requires strategic collaboration with program teams, portfolio management of high-net-worth individuals, and leadership in donor events. Regular travel (up to 30%) across US time zones is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or commensurate experience is required.
• Substantial experience in relationship management and fundraising or related fields.
• Strong writing and oral presentation skills.
• Ability to open doors with high-net-worth individuals and family offices.
• Willingness to travel up to 30% locally and nationally.

Responsibilities

• Strategic portfolio management for major donors and foundations.
• Serve as quarterback for executive engagement and solicitations.
• Collaborate with program teams to design donor-aligned investment opportunities.
• Plan and support high-impact cultivation events and fundraising initiatives.

Skills

Relationship management

Writing skills

Oral presentation

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor's degree or commensurate experience

Tools

MS Office Suite

Salesforce

Job description

About Ceres

Ceres is a sustainability nonprofit organization leading the most influential investors and companies to build leadership and drive solutions throughout the economy. Through our powerful networks and advocacy, we tackle the world’s biggest sustainability challenges, including climate change, water scarcity and pollution, and human rights abuses.

For more information about Ceres, please visit our website (www.ceres.org).

Here at Ceres, we value integrity, equity, belonging, compassion, and respect. We demonstrate those values through how we communicate and collaborate with our colleagues and external partners; and embody them in our decision making and advocacy efforts to create a more just and sustainable future.

About The Development Team

In the coming fiscal year, the Development Team is responsible for raising $24 million of the financial resources that fund Ceres’ mission, which is a little more than 80% of Ceres’ budget. Support comes from individuals, family foundations, institutional foundations, , and events. Fundraising strategy, relationship management, grant and report writing, and data analysis are all cornerstones of the team’s responsibilities.

About The Role

The Director, Strategic Engagement is a high-impact, outward-facing leadership role designed for a professional with deep, authentic roots within national and regional philanthropic communities. Working as a key leader within the Development Team, this Director leverages their existing networks and relationship equity to cultivate, steward, and expand key relationships with major individual donors, emerging family offices, and critical philanthropic intermediaries.

The Director does not just manage a list; they serve as a sophisticated bridge between passionate philanthropists and Ceres’ mission. In addition to high-level portfolio management, this role strategically directs the engagement of Ceres’ executive leaders and collaborates closely with program teams to unlock funding opportunities. As needed, this position oversees high-leverage cultivation events and specific fundraising initiatives.

This full-time, exempt position reports to the Senior Director, Development. The Director should expect regular local travel up to 30% with occasional travel to the Boston office or other key events as needed. The Director must reside in or near the Bay Area (the nine-county metropolitan region in Northern California that surrounds the San Francisco Bay, San Pablo Bay, and Suisun Bay). The Director must be flexible to work with employees in all US time zones.

Strategic Portfolio Management & Philanthropic Navigation

• Leverage Established Networks: Bring and build upon a deep familiarity with the emerging family office ecosystem and deep-rooted connections with philanthropic families to expand Ceres' reach.
• High-Value Cultivation: Manage a sophisticated portfolio of high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and private foundations with capacity for six- and seven-figure commitments, moving them seamlessly through the donor continuum.
• Maximize Executive Engagement: Serve as the strategic quarterback for your portfolio, directing the time and focus of the CEO and senior leadership team toward the highest-value donors and critical solicitation windows.
• Hands-On Prospect Administration: While central development resources exist, this role requires a high degree of administrative self-sufficiency.
• Other projects or tasks assigned.

Programmatic Collaboration & Opportunity Development

• Cross-Functional Synergy: Partner directly with Ceres’ program teams to deeply understand specific program initiatives. This position will translate complex initiatives into compelling philanthropic investment opportunities for major donors.
• Sector-Specific Funding: Match donor passions with program-specific needs, designing tailored proposals that align donors’ philanthropic priorities with Ceres' strategic goals.

Development Events & Brand Amplification

• High-Impact Gatherings: Conceive and produce targeted cultivation events designed to introduce new philanthropic networks to Ceres’ work. This includes high-touch intimate gatherings, virtual briefings, and larger-scale "friend-raising" events.
• Signature Fundraiser: Support the strategic planning and execution of the signature annual fundraising dinner, Evening with Ceres.
• MarComms Partnership: Collaborate with the Marketing and Communications team to ensure all donor-facing materials, digital assets, and regional event messaging align with Ceres’ organizational voice and brand positioning.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or commensurate experience required.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of full-time related experience required.
• Substantive experience in relationship management, whether gained in fundraising or in an adjacent field such as impact investing, private wealth management, family office or philanthropic advisory services, or corporate sustainability leadership.
• A demonstrated ability to open doors and secure introductions to high-net-worth individuals, family offices, philanthropic families, and/or their advisors. Existing relationships within the Bay Area strongly preferred.
• Ability and willingness to hold direct conversations with prospective donors about the topics that Ceres works on and how philanthropic investment can further them.
• Passion for climate change, environmental and/or sustainability issues; multiple years of relevant background with these issues preferred.
• Strong writing and oral presentation skills.
• Highly developed verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to engage effectively with external audiences and stakeholders.
• Excellent organizational abilities demonstrated capacity to handle and prioritize multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and work well in a fast-paced environment.
• Interest in being part of a diverse workforce and willingness to support Ceres' Commitment to Inclusion and Equity.
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite; proficiency with Salesforce strongly preferred.
• Willingness to travel locally (approximately 30%) and nationally as needed.

Compensation And Benefits

The hiring salary is $115,600 – $137,200 with competitive benefits (Pay Grade 19). Ceres offers fantastic benefits including opportunities for hybrid and remote work; 80%, 81% or 85% (depending on your coverage election) employer paid health insurance and 85% employer paid dental insurance; a 403(b) retirement plan with a generous match that starts on day one; generous allowances for commuter and work from home expenses; flexible spending accounts to set aside money on a pre-tax basis for eligible expenses; 10 holidays, generous vacation, and additional paid time off including week-long summer and winter breaks, summer Fridays, and sick, personal, and parental leave.

Ceres Culture

Everyone has a role to play in the movement towards a more just and sustainable world.

At Ceres, we are committed to intentionally and carefully curating, engaging, and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. We endeavor to create a supportive environment that sparks innovation, fosters respect, and allows Ceres employees, in all roles at all levels, to come together equally to be fulfilled, successful, and to thrive.

Ceres is committed to inclusion and belonging. We strongly encourage applications from all qualified candidates, and we do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, age, religion, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, military or veteran status, disability, or any factors prohibited by applicable law.

If you have questions related to the above statement or need a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact our ADA Coordinator at [e-mail]. Please note, this email address is for ADA inquiries only.