The Director of Strategic Initiatives leads, but is not required to be a content expert on, key projects that aim to optimize efficiencies in the WO Development division, field fundraising and across marketing, communications, and conservation.
The Director of Strategic Initiatives leads division and organization wide efforts to enhance performance, identify new strategies and ensure overall fundraising success. They will translate data and findings for a broad range of audiences. They will be responsible for coordinating multiple projects simultaneously and ensuring project goals, success factors, project plans, budgets and schedules are established with input and buy-in from key stakeholders and team members. The Director monitors and measures project progress, communicates project status to all stakeholders and highlights when corrective action is necessary to successfully achieve project goals in the most cost-effective and time-saving manner possible. They will provide leadership to all programs within the devision and must posses the ability to lead a clear process even where they are not a subject matter expert.
The Director will be required to go beyond project management and provide proactive advice and analyses to the Chief Development Officer (CDO) and Associate CDO regarding resources, opportunities and possible obstacles. They ensure coordination between related projects and sub-projects that may span across multiple Conservancy divisions and/or departments. They maintain a high degree of collaboration across the organization, developing networks, providing mentoring opportunities, and facilitate resource and knowledge sharing among staff. The Director acts as a resource to other project managers to provide project management guidance and expertise. They will engage appropriate partners across the organization, keeping leadership apprised of potential issues, concerns, and opportunities.
The Director of Strategic Initiatives will report to the Vice President and Associate Chief Development Officer with a dotted line to the Chief Development Officer and will also work closely with the entire Development Leadership Team (DLT) on key initiatives that the DLT is driving.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Coordinate the work of cross-functional, cross-divisional teams towards a desired outcome;
- Decisions may have program-wide impact, affect staff in non-program areas, and bind the organization financially or legally.
- Design and lead collaborative, complex, and diversified projects, coordinating the work of other professionals, managing budget, and ensuring accountability.
- Direct or participate in negotiations for complex, high profile or sensitive agreements.
- Ensure compliance with TNC policies and procedures and external (donor/legal/IRS) requirements; be alert to ethical compliance issues.
- Ensure programmatic commitments, Conservancy policies and procedures, financial standards, and legal requirements are met and managed for compliance; decisions may bind the organization financially or legally.
- Facilitate strategic dialogues with senior-level stakeholders, articulating a development vision, synthesize and vet a plan of action, identify key issues, develop potential solutions, and implement plans to deliver targeted outcomes.
- Financial responsibility includes working within a budget and negotiating and contracting with vendors.
- Maintains confidentiality of frequently sensitive and emotionally charged information.
- Manage and implement strategic initiatives with broad impact by collaborating with key stakeholders to enhance overall performance in accordance with short and long-term objectives.
- Maximum opportunity to act independently, resolves complex issues within scope.
- Travel frequently and on short notice, and work long hours and weekends.
- Work environment involves only infrequent exposure to disagreeable elements and minor physical exertion and/or strain.
- Work proactively towards implementing organizational and departmental strategic goals.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- 8 years related experience, including 3 years working various roles in a fundraising program.
- Experience analyzing program results.
- Experience building and maintaining long-term relationships with program constituents.
- Experience managing and tracking cross-functional projects.
- Experience managing project teams and working with cross-functional staff.
- Experience managing scheduling and financial aspects of small to large projects that range from short to long term.
- Experience working across complex organizations.
- Experience, coursework, or other training in current trends in project management.'
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross cultural experience are appreciated.
- Ability to make strategic decisions based on analysis, wisdom, experience and judgment.
- Ability to manage and implement complex processes.
- Ability to train on and direct complex processes and procedures.
- Ability to work in partnership with others in a collaborative or advisory role, including senior staff.
- Certification in project management.
- Detailed knowledge of principles, practices and procedures in project management.
- Proficiency in interpreting guidelines and manipulating, analyzing, and interpreting data.
- Proven ability to negotiate complex, high profile or sensitive agreements.
- Strong communication and presentation skills.
The Nature Conservancy offers competitive compensation, 401k or savings-plan matching for eligible employees, excellent benefits, flexible work policies and a collaborative work environment. We also provide professional development opportunities and promote from within. As a result, you will find a culture that supports and inspires conservation achievement and personal development, both within the workplace and beyond.