Senior Development Officer | Nature Conservancy of Canada

Position details: Full time, permanent

The salary range is $99,428.00 To $111,784.00 Annually.

Position Summary

The Senior Development Officer is responsible for working in collaboration with the Development team to develop and execute an integrated and long-range cultivation, solicitation and stewardship plan of current and prospective major donors. The position is a key contributor to the annual revenue goals of the Alberta region.

The incumbent will focus on building and facilitating philanthropic relationships with individuals, businesses, corporations, organizations and foundations and on facilitating the decision process of making a current major gift (minimum of $10,000 but with a primary focus on $100,000 and larger gifts). The candidate should expect to spend nearly 90% of their time attending or planning face-to-face meetings with prospective donors and should be willing to travel frequently within the
Alberta region and occasionally elsewhere within Canada as required.

The candidate will be a self-directed and motivated individual with proven, exceptional interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with people from all walks of life. The incumbent must have an excellent proven record of donor relationship building, cultivation and solicitation of major gifts. The incumbent will work collaboratively with the organization’s Development and Marketing department. In this role, the Senior Development Officer will work with the team to identify and implement strategies and tactics to grow the number of major gift donors across the Alberta region.

Key Responsibilities

• Fundraise major gifts from private sources
• Actively build and manage a portfolio of prospects and donors;
• Develop and execute strategic plans for fundraising programs, donor approaches and solicitations;
• Meet with donors and prospects face-to-face to facilitate donor decisions resulting in major gifts and the signing of donor agreements;
• Collaborate with other members of the Development team, research ideas, contribute to developing funding proposals, gift agreements, and other donor communication materials and ensure the highest standard in the management of donor communications;
• Provide timely information and professional responses to donor inquiries;
• Support the execution of and attend major donor events and cultivate and steward relationships with the attendees;
• Work in collaboration with the team to develop annual work plans and budgets to ensure that the region and the Regional Development team meets its annual targets;
• Effectively communicate NCC’s vision nationally and communicate to donors national and regional fund-raising priorities and donor impact through storytelling;
• Contribute to the strategic direction of the department and advise on and contribute to continuous improvements related to industry best practices.
• Work toward achieving an agreed upon annual revenue target;
• All other duties assigned

Position Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years of fundraising experience, preferably in major gifts; or equivalentexperience;
• Proven exceptional donor/client relations experience;
• Solid understanding of best practices in donor/ client cultivation, closing, acknowledgement, recognition and stewardship;
• Exceptional active listening skills and excellent attention to detail;
• Excellent communication skills, oral and written, with the ability to effectively persuade and inspire others to support NCC’s work;
• Ability to work independently, communicate at all levels with confidence and exercise sound judgment, tact and confidentiality in relation to donors and the general public;
• Proven ability to develop annual donor plans, set priorities, use planning and analytical skills, complete work with minimal supervision and meet deadlines;
• Ability to work in a fast paced environment, prioritize and multi task;
• Strong interpersonal skills and team player with a flexible and helpful attitude and outlook;
• Experience in use of Raiser’s Edge or other CRM software and general proficiency in the use of MS Office software;
• French language an asset but not required

TO APPLY: those interested are encouraged to apply through our Career Centre | Recruitment page

Application Deadline

April 17, 2025 | 11:59pm EST, 9:59pm Mountain Time, 8:59pm Pacific Time, 10:50pm CST, 00:59 am +1 AST

At NCC, we’re committed to providing a healthy, safe, barrier free and inclusive, workplace, where respect and diversity are recognized assets. We strive for bold conservation achievements in which equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) are the norm. We welcome applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. NCC implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated groups to self-identify. 

Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. For a confidential inquiry, contact us by email at [email protected] to make any required arrangements. If you have questions regarding accessible employment at NCC, please email us at [email protected].