Associate Director of Development I Latin America - The Nature Conservancy

Selection process developed by matteria

Based in Brazil; regional role operating remotely across Latin America.

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a global environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature thrive. Founded in 1951, TNC advances conservation with the support of more than a million members and the work of over 400 scientists, impacting conservation in +80 countries and territories. 

Since its founding in 1951, The Nature Conservancy has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Some key accomplishments include: 

• 80+ countries and territories where TNC impacts conservation.

• 125M+ acres of land protected.

• 400+ scientists on staff.

• 1M+ members supporting our mission.

The Associate Director of Development I (ADOD I), Latin America, works in partnership with the Senior Associate Director of Development for Latin America, TNC Relationship Managers (RMs) and fundraising leaders across TNC to discover, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors for major or principal gifts that contribute to Latin America's conservation and fundraising goals. This is a regional role; the ADOD I does not manage a personal donor portfolio but works collaboratively with and through RMs so the international donors they manage direct philanthropic support to Latin America and Brazil.

The ADOD I understands and applies complex principles of developing donor strategies and builds strong relationships to support RMs and TNC leadership in making asks for both global and local priorities to meet funding needs. They can articulate all global priorities of TNC and work within a campaign at an advanced level. They understand organizational budgets and are proficient utilizing this knowledge to build proposal budgets. They have an advanced knowledge of international charitable giving, particularly in the areas of private foundations, operating foundations, and Donor Advised Funds, and can discuss complex charitable options with donors. They will work across chapters and programs and manage a referral network. The ADOD I will staff Latin America leadership on trips. They share and reinforce the organization's policies and procedures related to travel and events to ensure consistent, best in class engagement experiences for all TNC donors and chapters, and to minimize organizational risk.

They lead diverse activities, project outcomes, and initiate solutions to improve effectiveness. The ADOD I leverages constructive and effective relationships with a wide range of people, including donors, executives, senior management, public and private sector colleagues, and partners including staff across the organization. They liaise with diverse teams across the organization delivering TNC's global conservation work, including the Regional Managing Director of Latin America, Principal Gifts, Global Priorities, Planned Giving, Business Unit Directors, Directors of Development, global conservation leadership, and local development and conservation teams. They will be required to use the Conservancy's donor database.

The ADOD I supports the Latin America Development team in implementing the strategy to engage TNC Relationship Managers, Business Unit Directors, Division Directors, and other leadership to increase the number and level of donations supporting TNC's work in Latin America.

• Assist in achieving the "raised for" goal of US $40M (FY27) with the goal of doubling philanthropic revenue by 2030.

• Execute strategies to engage RMs, Business Units, Divisions, and other Regions to support them in the discovery, cultivation, and stewardship of international prospects and donors with the capacity to give over US $100,000 to TNC's work in Latin America.

• Support donor and leadership engagement opportunities including (but not limited to) donor meetings, donor trips to the region, in-person donor events, or TNC leadership visits and trips for the international and local portfolio.

• Manage a portfolio of 25 to 50 RMs who manage major donors or prospects with the capacity to give over US $100,000. Responsible for 25 to 50 visits with relationship managers and 75 to 150 moves annually.

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

• Project manage TNC internal review processes needed at the local, regional, and global level for international solicitations/gifts for their assigned country market.

• Work with the Donor Communications team in drafting personalized correspondence for donors such as (but not limited to) donor proposals, stewardship notes, and reports.

• Support the design and implementation of collaborative, complex, and diversified fundraising projects, coordinating the work of other development professionals, and ensuring accountability.

• Use TNC's donor database to update donor information, produce reports, perform analysis, and track and cultivate donors.

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

• Share and reinforce the organization's policies and procedures related to travel and events to ensure consistent, best in class engagement experiences for all TNC donors and chapters, and to minimize organizational risk.

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

• Maintain confidentiality of frequently sensitive and emotionally charged information.

• Travel domestically and/or internationally frequently and on short notice, work long hours and weekends as needed.

Education

• Bachelor's degree and 5 years of related experience, or equivalent combination.

Experience

• Experience building and maintaining long-term relationships with major and principal gift donors, volunteers, and staff.

• Experience designing and implementing fundraising strategies, including cultivation, solicitation, and recognition strategies.

• Strong project management skills, including coordinating activities led by others and managing deadlines.

• Experience and ability to work across departments and multiple teams.

• Experience generating reports and analyzing and interpreting data.

• Familiarity with the Latin America Region.

• Based in Brazil.

Knowledge and Skills

• Fluency in English and Portuguese (Spanish is a plus).

• Ability to determine an individual's interests, capacity, and potential for helping the Conservancy meet its goals, and act appropriately to tie those interests with the Conservancy's work.

• Demonstrated use of listening, diplomacy, and tact to build strong relationships and motivate donors and volunteers.

• Proven ability to negotiate complex, high-profile, or sensitive agreements.

• Proficient use of TNC's donor database/CRM for portfolio management.

Desirable

• Experience in asking for and closing gifts of $100,000 or more.

• Experience, coursework, or other training in current and evolving trends in charitable giving, particularly capital campaigns, major gifts, and planned giving.

• Multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience.

The Nature Conservancy is rooted in our mission and guided by our values. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment where all colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging and their unique contributions are valued. Our goal is to build a diverse workforce that reflects the communities where we work, knowing that diversity of experience and skill is key to innovation.

"You'll join for our mission, and you'll stay for our people."

• A drive to make a direct impact on global conservation efforts.

• Genuine interest in environmental sustainability, biodiversity protection, and the conservation of critical ecosystems in Latin America.

• A real drive for fundraising and relationship-building — cultivating donors, stewarding relationships, and supporting Relationship Managers in securing philanthropic support.

• Energized by the development mission, not solely by conservation work on the ground.

TNC offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package, which may include health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, a retirement plan with employer match, parental leave, paid time off, life & disability insurance, and an employee assistance program, within a supportive and flexible work environment. (Benefits vary by country; see TNC's Culture site for details).

• Travel (often on short notice); long and flexible hours as needed.

• Legal work authorization and residence in Brazil are required.

• TNC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and offers accommodations in the application process for qualified individuals with disabilities.