Position Overview
The Director of Strategic Development is a senior leader responsible for driving NET’s growth, sustainability, and long-term vision. This role blends strategic planning, business development, fundraising, and partnership-building to ensure NET thrives in a competitive and evolving landscape. The ideal candidate is a visionary strategist with proven experience in grant procurement, donor advancement, and cross-sector partnerships, combined with strong leadership and communications skills. This is a full-time, exempt position. The successful candidate will report to the Executive Director and manage all Development Department employees.
Responsibilities
Strategic Development
- Responsible for developing and executing strategic initiatives to achieve organizational objectives and drive growth
- Works with the Executive Director to promote organizational sustainability and growth
- Provides strategic leadership to internal teams and external partners
- Works closely with senior leadership to set goals, communicate strategies, and guide the organization toward its vision
- Addresses challenges that arise during the strategic planning and implementation process, such as shifts in the competitive landscape or regulatory changes
- Researches and analyzes market trends to identify new opportunities and potential challenges
- Leads the organization's business development in seeking new revenue streams and forming strategic partnerships
- Identifies multi-channel opportunities and plans that supports sustainable growth, strengthens donor engagement and achieves annual goals
- Establishes and maintains strong relationships with external partners, such as elected offices, agency representatives, and key partners to facilitate collaboration and drive strategic partnerships
Grants
- Leads and oversees public and private-sector grant procurement
- Solicits gifts and corporate sponsorships, creating annual campaigns, producing special events, and managing donor cultivation efforts
- Provides support as needed for fund solicitation
- Develops and implements the fundraising plan in concert with organizational strategic priorities
- Performs and/or manages government, foundation, subgranting, and corporate opportunities
- Leads team assessment of new grant opportunities through regular consultative grant strategy workshops with senior staff
- Recommends grant programs and applications that progress NET’s priorities and mission
- Attends community meetings and participates in webinars and grant related workshops
- Leads the cultivation and, management of relationships with grant program staff
- With a view towards successful implementation, provides guidance and assistance to NET project staff
- Responsible for grant budget development and new project hand off to department leads and project managers
- Supports grant compliance and reporting requirements
Donor Advancement
- Cultivates and stewards’ donors at all levels
- Researches, builds relationships, and seeks funding from foundations, corporations, business groups, individuals
- Develops, implements, and expands NET’s annual gifts campaign, including monthly donations, crowdfunding, corporate matching, stock donations, charitable distributions, corporate sponsorships
- Provides ongoing cultivation and stewardship of donors at all levels
- Co-leads the utilization and management of NET’s donor relationship management system, ensuring timely and accurate record keeping and timely donor acknowledgment
- Oversees social media and website fundraising in collaboration with Development Manager
- Supports goal of 100% Board participation in fundraising efforts
- Works with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to build a culture of resource development and philanthropy throughout the organization
- Supports and helps the Board fundraising committee to best achieve fundraising plans
- Assists with Board development and onboarding
- Builds, maintains, and grows relationships with nonprofit conservation organizations, federal and state agencies, tribal governments, and other public and private stakeholders
- Oversees the Donor Management System
Communications
- Oversees NET’s external donor-facing communications, such as social media content, e-newsletter, donor solicitation
- Supports NET’s media engagement efforts, and is available to speak as an external spokesperson for the organization
- Leads and oversees NET development events
- Represents the organization at external events
Administration
- Prepares regular reports
- Manages development and Marketing-communications for staff and subcontractors, fostering a high performing, accountable and collaborative team
- Oversees workflows and processes, including setting clear goals to ensure the team operates efficiently and is aligned with organizational priorities
- Collaborates with finance leadership to set annual budgeting, forecasting, and reporting
- Supervises and leads the development team to ensure adoption of best practices, professional growth, accountability and collaboration within the team and across departments
- Evaluates and monitors the effectiveness of goals and objectives, making recommendations for improvements as needed
- Provides insights and recommendations to senior leadership, enabling informed decision-making and effective resource allocation
Qualifications/Skills
- Strong grant writing, research, and communication abilities
- Extensive experience managing major gifts, donor campaigns, corporate and foundation relationships
- Significant experience in business development, strategy, management, and relevant industry sectors is crucial for this senior-level position
- Attention to detail to manage multiple projects and deadlines effectively
- Experience in CA and Los Angeles environmental efforts
- Experience with the successful event planning, production, and management
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work collaboratively with external stakeholders and the Board of Directors
- Detail-oriented with strong organizational, multitasking and prioritizing skills
- Ability to understand organizational needs and strengths to formulate persuasive storytelling that secures funding
- Financial and budget skills
- Strong computer skills with proficiency in the Google Office Suite as well as Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat, and CRM tools
- Strong knowledge of public and private funders
- Strong ability to prioritize and multitask
- A commitment to and ability to work in diverse communities
- Extensive skills in using social media and communication platforms
- Ability to work evening hours, occasional weekends
- Creativity and latitude are needed. Additionally, this position requires willingness to learn new programs
- Analytical Skills: Ability to process data, identify trends, and develop effective solutions to complex business problems
- Leadership: Proven ability to guide teams, influence stakeholders, and drive initiatives to successful completion
- Communication: Strong interpersonal and presentation skills to effectively communicate strategies and plans across the organization
Education and Experience
- A relevant undergraduate degree from an accredited college/university. Work experience in these fields will be considered in lieu of a degree
- At least 3 years of experience writing and receiving multimillion-dollar government grants, with a proven track record of success
Physical Requirements
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
- Ability to lift and move up to 25 pounds
- Ability to operate standard office equipment
- Work is performed in an office environment
- May require occasional travel to worksites and/or special events
Benefits
NET offers generous benefits which include 12 NET Paid Holidays, Health & Dental Ins., Personal Leave, and Vacation, in accordance with NET’s benefits policies.
To Be Considered
Email a cover letter and your resume to hr@northeasttrees.org. The position will remain open until filled. Thank you for your interest in working with North East Trees.
