The Nature Conservancy’s Asia Pacific (AP) Region spans a large part of the world, has extensive natural resources and a wide diversity of ecosystem types. For example:
- Australia, China and Indonesia are 3 of the top 10 forested countries by area.
- Mongolia’s temperate grasslands are the world’s largest.
- The Coral Triangle alone – encompassing parts of Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands - contains 75% of the world’s coral species.
- AP includes seven of the world’s top 10 fishing nations, by volume.
- The Yangtze, Yellow and Mekong are three of the 10 longest rivers in the world.
- The Pacific Ocean provides protein for coastal communities as well as drives huge economic and human well-being outcomes from its fisheries and reefs.
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is an organization with a mission of conserving the lands and water upon which all life depends, AP has a crucial role to play in that mission, but the region’s natural assets are under enormous pressure.
- 60% of the world’s population.
- China and Indonesia are two of the world’s four most populous countries.
- AP has been the fastest growing and most economically dynamic region of the world for the past 40 years.
- Seven of 10 of the world’s largest cities are in Asia.
- Large numbers of increasingly wealthy people living in urban areas creates enormous demand for food, fiber, fuel, water and minerals, impacting the region’s natural resources and ecosystems.
To address these challenges and to preserve the natural systems on which so many people depend, TNC’s AP Region, now 30 years old, in combination with TNC’s global priority teams, has developed ambitious conservation programs in more than a dozen countries across the region. And these programs, while increasingly engaged with local civil society in the mission of TNC and generating funding locally, rely on philanthropy from the U.S. and Hong Kong (HK) to support TNC’s conservation work in Asia Pacific. For more information on the scope of that work, go to https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/asia-pacific/
This position manages the fundraising teams in the U.S. and Hong Kong as well as the Regional Marketing and Communications staff who provide marketing and communications support from bases in the U.S. and HK. The DOD serves on the executive team for the AP Region which sets strategic direction and vision for the region. The DOD oversees fundraising in both the U.S. and Hong Kong as well as the development of content for funding proposals, marketing and communications materials, media placements, and executive communications. As such, the communications and marketing function for the region is integrated and aligned with the philanthropy program and reports to the AP DOD. The U.S. based fundraising team works with U.S. state-based and Principal Gifts Relationships Managers (RMs) to steward current donors as well as engage prospective donors in support for the region’s work. In that role, the DOD will work with RMs to develop donor strategies, identify moves, and close gifts that support the region. TNC also has fundraising teams in Australia, China, Indonesia and New Zealand that are managed by the local TNC Country Directors, The DOD will support these in-country fundraisers as needed and will also provide proposal support, marketing materials and other collateral needed by the in-country fundraising teams. The DOD maintains a dotted line relationship to the in-country fundraising leads and will provide strategic as well as resource support where needed to advance a donor strategy and/or close a gift.
We seek a Director of Development, Communications and Marketing (DOD) for the Asia Pacific Region who is responsible for directing all aspects of development, marketing and communications functions and who secures significant financial resources to support conservation goals for the AP Region, specifically,
- Supervise a team of 12 philanthropy and marketing professionals located in the U.S. and HK.
- Engage with RMs and individual donors personally, through the management of direct reports, and in partnership with senior conservation staff from the Region and Global teams.
- Lead TNC philanthropy staff across Asia-Pacific, including Australia, China, Indonesia, and New Zealand, to develop best practices, standardized metrics, organizational consistency and branding continuity in communications across the regions
- Optimize the integration between TNC development staff (e.g. Principal Giving Network, Global Strategy Team, and state-based DODs, to drive discussions regarding donor support for AP, share information, and present a One Conservancy face to AP donors.
- Serve on the AP Leadership Team.
- Maintain visibility into all aspects of the global marketing team, serve members of the Global Marketing and Communications team, and lead conversations on behalf of the region with respect to communications and marketing.
The DOD conceives, develops, and manages fundraising and marketing plans, donor strategies and communications to build support for the region’s conservation work. S/he focuses on long-range strategic priorities, advances the Conservancy’s goals, and communicates a broad vision to others. S/he establishes and monitors activity level benchmarks and measures of success. S/he manages the development and implementation of a strategic, integrated, and collaborative approach to maximize success, including organizing communications. S/he facilitates strategic dialogues with clients and senior-level stakeholders, probing to identify key issues and requirements, negotiating and developing solutions, and synthesizing a plan of action tailored to audience. S/he directs diverse activities, develops complex practices and processes, project outcomes, and initiates changes to improve effectiveness. S/he manages priority vendor relationships. The DOD works closely with and manages relations with key stakeholders including senior management, internal teams, donors, and volunteers to achieve program goals. S/he may be responsible for presenting analysis and recommendations to Trustees and AP Council members.
The DOD is responsible for a select group of prospects and donors, the size of the portfolio will be determined in part with consideration for the scope of supervisory responsibility. S/he may be responsible for volunteer engagement and managing selected trustee relationships. Specific roles and responsibilities are as follows:
Lead AP Region in fundraising, including:
- Supervise and develop U.S. and HK based philanthropy, marketing and communications teams.
- Serve as RM for key AP donors and prospects.
- Liaise with key TNC teams including principal gifts, foundations relations, corporate engagement, etc.
- Support Co-Regional Managing Directors to develop and implement fundraising and revenue vision, as well as drive fundraising planning and initiatives across the AP region, with primary goals reflecting key AP priorities for the organization.
- Participate in regional leadership decision-making and provide support to the AP Council Program Manager.
- Responsible for monthly and quarterly progress/challenges across AP region.
Lead communication and marketing efforts including internal and external communications, themes, fundraising goals, campaign materials, collateral materials, donor strategies, proposals, grant writing etc.
- Drive efforts to obtain, create, store in an easily accessible and useful format, manage and disseminate content from country programs around individual project and campaign themes.
- Work with global communications team staff in development of proposals and strategy for AP principal gift donors.
- Facilitate cooperation and collaboration, as appropriate, across the various AP teams in pursuit of regional and global philanthropy, communications and marketing objectives.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Accountable for fundraising goals of $20 million a year through a fundraising department or development program.
- Broad management responsibility for administrative, professional, and volunteer staff, including recruitment, retaining, training, professional development, establishing clear directions, and setting “stretch” objectives.
- Conceive, design and direct high-level and interdepartmental projects, coordinating the work of other professionals, managing budget, and ensuring program accountability.
- Conceive, design, and lead strategic initiatives and goals through collaboration with senior-level stakeholders to enhance overall performance in accordance with short and long-term objectives.
- Direct or participate in negotiations for complex, high profile or sensitive agreements.
- Ensure functional program meets commitments and is managed for ethical compliance with TNC policies and procedures, financial standards, and legal requirements.
- Exercises leadership in strategic and tactical manners, works with fellow leaders to establish and evaluate policies and/or long-term programs.
- Financial management of program; setting budget and fundraising objectives, analyzing results, and taking corrective actions.
- Maintains confidentiality of frequently sensitive and emotionally charged information.
- Strategic decisions may affect public image, impact multiple programs, and bind the organization financially or legally.
- Travel frequently and on short notice, work long hours and weekends. Approximately 33% travel required, both in the US and internationally.
- Experience with Principal Gift level fundraising and with the use of fundraising tools and systems.
- Experience developing strategies, building and maintaining long-term relationships with fundraising constituents such as major donors, foundations and corporations.
- Experience working in, or with clients, from the Asia Pacific region or other non-US region.
- Experience leading and managing performance of a geographically distributed team of professionals
- Experience conceiving and implementing strategic initiatives.
- Experience working in a large, complex, not-for-profit environment.
- Experience, coursework, or other training in principles, practices, and procedures of relevant field.
- Experience managing a large multidisciplinary department, including planning and delivering budgetary responsibilities.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Familiarity with Asia Pacific region and culture.
- Effectively communicate via presentations, conversations, and documents.
- Experience in managing a geographically dispersed team.
- Expert knowledge of current and evolving trends in relevant discipline.
- Expert understanding of best practices in non-profit management.
- Knowledge of advanced gift planning concepts.
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.