Director of Development

New Energy Nexus (NEX) is an international organization that strives towards a 100% clean energy economy for 100% of the population. It does this with a laser focus on diverse entrepreneurs, supporting them with accelerators, funds, skills, and networks they need to thrive. NEX has accelerated 1,500+ startups, empowered over 10,400+ entrepreneurs, and mobilized over US$ 4.7 billion in investment. Since its founding in California in 2004, NEX now operates programs or advisory services in Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, the UAE, Uganda, the USA (California and New York), and Vietnam.

The Director of Development will lead New Energy Nexus’ global fundraising strategy to secure multi-year, unrestricted, and programmatic support for our expanding network across Asia, Africa, and other emerging clean energy markets. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, this role will drive the design and execution of fundraising strategies and business development activities that enable locally-led programs to thrive, supporting clean energy entrepreneurs and the ecosystems that power their success.

This is an opportunity for an experienced fundraiser who understands how clean energy innovation, entrepreneurship, finance, and ecosystem building intersect across markets that New Energy Nexus operates in. The Director will steward and expand partnerships with philanthropic foundations, family offices, donor-advised funds, corporates, and high-net-worth individuals who share our vision for equitable energy transitions across the world.

The ideal candidate combines the relationship acumen of a global business development leader with the curiosity and adaptability of an entrepreneur. The Director of Development will understand the intersection of clean energy entrepreneurs and ecosystems, building cross-border collaborations and partnerships, and be able to distill market needs into impactful programs. In addition, the ideal candidate has a strong sense of the key stakeholders within the climate philanthropy landscape.

Fundraising & Partnerships (80%)

• Lead the development and execution of a multi-year fundraising strategy aligned with NEX’s global platform goals.
• Cultivate and steward six- and seven-figure relationships with philanthropic foundations, family offices, DAFs, corporates, and HNWIs.
• Translate NEX’s programs and initiatives such as New Energy Skills, Just Batteries, Financial Innovation and Women in Climate into compelling proposals and partnership packages.
• Manage multi-country proposals with country chapters, coordinating across programs, chapters, finance, and communications teams.
• Lead donor stewardship and reporting, ensuring NEX exceeds funder expectations.
• Identify and cultivate opportunities for unrestricted, catalytic programs, and global programs.
• Accountable for helping reaching platform (core) fundraising goals.
• Be a thought partner as it relates to funding various initiatives and programs.
• Responsible for best-in-class functional fundraising support to NEX chapters to enable chapters reaching their fundraising OKRs.
• Collaborate with the Chief Communications Officer to align on new product and program launches and initiatives.
• Collaborate with the Global Partnerships Director on relevant joint-programming initiatives.

Team Leadership & Capacity Building (20%)

• Responsible for recruiting, hiring and onboarding new development staff and overseeing their performance and KPIs.
• Manage and mentor a distributed Development team across U.S. and European time zones.
• Provide coaching and tools to Chapter Development Directors to strengthen local fundraising capacity.
• Oversee a Development Coordinator who is responsible for researching donor strategy and intelligence, relationship building with key funder accounts and High Net-Worth Individuals (HNWIs), and organizing fundraisers.

Professional Experience

• 10 years of successful fundraising results with over USD 20M in direct funding raised in their portfolio
• 3 years of global programmatic experience
• Proven history of meeting fundraising goals and cultivating and managing multi-year, six- and seven- figure relationships with foundations, family offices, donor advised funds (DAFs) and HNWIs
• Proven history of working with Foundations and HNWI in the climate, energy or entrepreneur space
• Proven history of developing and implementing a fundraising strategy
• Demonstrated experience in a non-profit organization

Personal Attributes

• High level of adaptability in an environment with evolving team structures and workflows, including a penchant for embracing change as an opportunity for growth and the ability for navigating ambiguity or periods of uncertainty
• Ability to frequently attend in-person meetings with funders and strategic partners
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, particularly storytelling
• Strong problem-solving skills combined with excellent budget and project management skills to effectively manage multiple priorities and functions
• Ability to work independently within a global team
• Ability to work with a global team and attending in-person meetings and working across time zones and travel, respectively
• Entrepreneurial mindset and ability to work within ambiguity
• Work collaboratively in a team environment and receptive to feedback
• Proficiency in database management (i.e CRM)
• Proficiency in Google Workspace and Slack

Preferred Qualifications

Passion for energy startups, with professional knowledge of or experience in the clean energy sector and a track record of contributing to or building clean energy ecosystems involving entrepreneurs, investors, corporates, and public-sector partners.

Due to the global nature of the organization and team, some meetings will take place outside of regular work hours.

New Energy Nexus values and celebrates diversity among our employees and in our movement and knows that’s the way we’re going to win big. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer - all qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, family/marital status or veteran status. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Compensation will be competitive and aligned with comparable senior fundraising and business development roles in the climate and social impact sectors. The package will reflect the candidate’s experience, geographic location, and track record in securing multi-year and strategic funding partnerships.

In addition to base compensation and benefits, the role offers the opportunity to shape and scale a global fundraising strategy that directly supports locally led clean energy ecosystems and entrepreneurs across emerging markets.

Interested candidates should send a CV and Letter of Motivation to Delphine Barringer-Mills at [email protected]. Please include the following subject to your email: your name.NEX.DirDevelopment

Qualified candidates will be invited to an introductory call and interview with the recruiter. Recommended candidates will be formally presented to New Energy Nexus. Those selected will move into the second phase with the client. More details will be provided to those candidates who are selected in the initial stage.

References will be checked for finalists only with your permission.