WCS Director Corporate Engagement

ThinkingAhead; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Wildlife Conservation Society seeks a Director of Corporate Engagement to lead an ambitious, institution-wide strategy for growing corporate philanthropy and sponsorship. Based at the Bronx Zoo, you will build and guide a team while targeting seven-figure partnerships and revenue growth beyond $15M.

You will collaborate with internal teams to align priorities, diversify funding streams, and steward major donors, with travel as needed and a commitment to conservation impact.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years in leadership role in nonprofit or corporate sector with demonstrated ability to manage partnerships and raise revenue.
• Proven experience building and scaling a revenue-generating program.
• Ability to navigate matrixed organizations and build holistic partnerships across philanthropy, sponsorship, marketing.
• Strong leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, and ability to inspire staff and donors.
• Experience overseeing multiple projects with timelines and budgets.
• Willingness to travel and work evenings/weekends for events.
• Interest in WCS mission; ability to translate priorities into opportunities.
• Experience with wildlife or conservation is a plus.
• Bachelor’s degree required.

Responsibilities

• Own and execute an ambitious corporate revenue growth strategy with clear annual and multi-year targets for new business, renewals, upgrades, and multi-year partnerships.
• Lead development of corporate engagement strategies aligned with organizational priorities, and generate new revenue for key initiatives such as new exhibits and experiences at the Bronx Zoo and global initiatives.
• Lead and mentor a talented and growing team of corporate engagement professionals.
• Strategically develop and manage a portfolio of corporate relationships with high capacity and top potential support for the organization.
• Personally cultivate, solicit, and close significant corporate partnerships, prioritizing seven-figure-plus commitments.
• Establish annual work plans, revenue targets, and key performance indicators in close collaboration with the Development senior leadership team; assure the team’s revenue and expenditures remain in line with targets.
• Prioritize actions for trustees, the CEO, CDO, and senior staff, offering guidance in stakeholder engagement.
• Serve as the institutional strategy lead for corporate engagements, partnering with internal teams to identify opportunities and present a unified approach.
• Build collaborative relationships with staff across the organization and act as primary contact for Finance, Legal, and Operations in partner engagement.
• Drive prospect identification and pipeline development to grow corporate partners in the U.S. and internationally.

Skills

Leadership

Fundraising

Corporate partnerships

Strategic thinking

Communication skills

Team mentoring

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Wildlife Conservation Society Director, Corporate Engagement

Bronx, New York

About Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS):

WCS stands for wildlife and wild places. As the world's premier wildlife conservation organization, WCS has a long track record of achieving innovative, impactful results at scale. We run field programs spanning 60 countries and the entire ocean. We build on a unique foundation: Our reach is global; we discover through best-in-class science; we protect through work on the ground with local and indigenous people; we inspire through our world-class zoos, aquarium, and education programs; and we leverage our resources through partnerships and powerful policy influence. Our more than 4,000 diverse, passionately committed team members in New York City and around the world work collectively to achieve our conservation mission.

Job Summary:

WCS seeks a Director of Corporate Engagement to lead an ambitious, institution-wide strategy for growing WCS’s corporate fundraising. This position will be directly accountable for growing corporate philanthropy, sponsorship, and membership with an aspirational goal to double annual revenue to more than $15M. Corporate fundraising is a critical priority for WCS’s fundraising efforts and contributes to an overall department goal of raising $200M+ annually in private philanthropy. This position will also help strategically align corporate earned-revenue efforts led by other departments.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead a team of four to ambitiously grow corporate support at WCS. Reporting to the VP for Institutional Advancement, this leadership position is based at our Bronx Zoo headquarters in New York City, and works in tandem with the foundation relations team on the strategy, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of institutional funders.

We are looking for creative, entrepreneurial, highly motivated, well-organized candidates with demonstrated leadership in corporate philanthropy and/or sponsorship; a track record of soliciting and closing seven-figure commitments; and exceptional written and oral communication skills. If you thrive on strategically engaging funders, mentoring staff, and generating revenue for mission-based initiatives, we’d love to meet you. Your fundraising efforts will help WCS save more than 40% of the world’s biodiversity; advance nature-based solutions to climate change; and inspire the next generation of conservationists through our world-class zoos and aquarium.

Principal Responsibilities:

Reporting to the Vice President for Institutional Advancement, this role will:

• Own and execute an ambitious corporate revenue growth strategy with clear annual and multi-year targets for new business, renewals, upgrades, and multi-year partnerships.
• Lead development of corporate engagement strategies in alignment with organizational priorities, and generate new revenue for key initiatives such as new exhibits and experiences at the Bronx Zoo and global initiatives that advance conservation in priority landscapes and seascapes around the world.
• Lead and mentor a talented and growing team of corporate engagement professionals.
• Strategically develop and manage a portfolio of corporate relationships with high capacity and top potential support for the organization. Personally cultivate, solicit, and close significant corporate partnerships, prioritizing seven-figure-plus commitments.
• Establish annual work plans, revenue targets, and key performance indicators in close collaboration with the Development senior leadership team; assure the corporate engagement team’s revenue and expenditures remain in line with targeted budget goals; and that processes and database management protocols are followed.
• Prioritize key actions for WCS trustees, the President & CEO, CDO, VP for Institutional Advancement, and other senior staff, offering guidance and counsel in the engagement of existing corporate partners and the cultivation of prospective new partners.
• Serve as the institutional strategy lead for corporate engagements, partnering with internal teams such as Business Services, Conservation Markets, Public Affairs, and others to identify opportunities, coordinate relationship management, establish referral pathways, and present a more unified WCS approach to corporate partners.
• Build collaborative relationships with staff across the organization, serving as a knowledgeable and accessible resource, and as a primary point of contact for Finance, Legal, the Executive Office, and Operations staff in the engagement of corporate partners.
• Drive prospect identification and pipeline development efforts to grow the base of corporate partners, both in the U.S. and internationally.

Qualification Requirements:

• Minimum 5 years in leadership role in nonprofit or corporate sector with demonstrated ability to strategically manage corporate partnerships and raise revenue through corporate engagement.
• Demonstrated experience building and scaling a revenue-generating program; managing a significant portfolio and personally closing complex partnerships.
• Ability to navigate complex, matrixed organizations and develop partnerships that combine philanthropy, sponsorship, marketing, employee engagement, and other corporate interests within a holistic strategy.
• Strong leadership skills, with an entrepreneurial spirit and strong business and management skills; demonstrated ability to inspire and motivate staff, donors, and potential partners a must.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing and executing complex or multiple time-sensitive projects, including meeting financial goals, project deadlines, and coordinating the work of key staff and partners.
• Strong comfort and desire to represent WCS externally; outstanding interpersonal skills, judgment, and ability to collaborate with a wide range of colleagues at the local and global levels.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Willingness and ability to travel, and to work evenings and/or weekends for events and corporate engagement opportunities.
• Demonstrated interest in WCS’s mission and the ability to translate complex priorities into compelling opportunities.
• Experience working with nonprofits working with wildlife and/or conservation is a plus.
• Bachelor’s degree required.

Workplace Conditions and Environment:

Hybrid NYC-based position. Requires regular interaction with colleagues, donors, and leadership; occasional evening and weekend work for donor events; and periodic travel. The WCS Development team is in-office at the Bronx Zoo on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Compensation

Compensation for the Director, Corporate Engagement is $170,000 - $190,000 annually commensurate with experience and includes a stellar package of employee benefits.

WCS is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value. EOE/AA/M/F/Vets/Disabled