Associate Director of Development I

Job description

**This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for an Associate Director of Development I based in Brazil.** As an Associate Director of Development I, you will help drive philanthropic support for conservation initiatives across Latin America. You will work closely with senior development leaders, Relationship Managers, executives, and cross-functional teams to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major and principal gift prospects. This regional role focuses on enabling relationship managers to secure significant philanthropic commitments, particularly from donors with the capacity to contribute more than $100,000. You will bring strong fundraising strategy, project management, stakeholder engagement, and donor relationship skills to complex, high-impact initiatives. The role requires the ability to navigate multicultural environments, manage sensitive information, and align diverse stakeholders around shared fundraising objectives. You will contribute to ambitious revenue goals while helping strengthen long-term donor engagement and support for conservation priorities across the region. ### Accountabilities - Support the achievement of ambitious regional fundraising objectives, including contributing to a US $40 million fundraising goal for FY27 and the broader objective of doubling philanthropic revenue by 2030. - Develop and execute strategies that engage Relationship Managers, business units, divisions, and regional teams in the discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of international prospects and donors capable of contributing more than US $100,000. - Manage a network of approximately 25 to 50 Relationship Managers responsible for major donors and prospects, supporting approximately 25 to 50 visits and 75 to 150 donor engagement moves annually. - Support donor and leadership engagement opportunities, including donor meetings, regional donor trips, in-person events, and leadership visits. - Manage internal review and approval processes at local, regional, and global levels for international solicitations and gifts within assigned country markets. - Take financial responsibility for assigned fundraising objectives, evaluate results, and develop corrective strategies when required. - Partner with donor communications professionals to prepare personalized proposals, stewardship communications, reports, and other donor materials. - Support the design and implementation of complex, collaborative, and diversified fundraising initiatives while coordinating the contributions of other development professionals. - Use the organization's donor database and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems to maintain donor information, manage portfolios, generate reports, analyze data, and track cultivation activities. - Persuasively communicate conservation priorities and organizational objectives to donors, volunteers, executives, partners, and other influential stakeholders. - Build and maintain effective relationships with senior leaders, donors, public and private sector partners, and development and conservation teams across multiple regions. - Reinforce policies and procedures related to travel and events to deliver consistent, high-quality donor experiences while minimizing organizational risk. - Ensure compliance with organizational policies, donor requirements, legal obligations, and applicable regulatory requirements, while identifying and addressing ethical compliance issues. - Maintain strict confidentiality when handling sensitive, complex, or emotionally charged information. - Travel domestically and internationally, often on short notice, and work extended or weekend hours when required by donor or business needs. ### **Requirements** - Bachelor's degree and at least 5 years of relevant professional experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. - Proven experience building and maintaining long-term relationships with major and principal gift donors, volunteers, senior leaders, and internal stakeholders. - Demonstrated experience designing and implementing fundraising strategies covering donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, recognition, and stewardship. - Strong project management skills, including coordinating activities across multiple contributors, managing deadlines, and maintaining accountability for outcomes. - Experience collaborating across departments, functions, and geographically distributed teams. - Experience generating reports and analyzing, interpreting, and applying data to support fundraising decisions. - Familiarity with Latin America and its multicultural and regional context. - Fluency in English and Portuguese is required; Spanish proficiency is a plus. - Ability to understand donor interests, giving capacity, motivations, and potential, and connect those factors effectively with organizational priorities. - Strong listening, diplomacy, tact, communication, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to motivate donors and volunteers. - Demonstrated ability to negotiate complex, high-profile, or sensitive agreements and situations. - Proficiency using donor databases or Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems for portfolio management and fundraising activities. - Experience requesting and closing gifts of US $100,000 or more is highly desirable. - Knowledge, coursework, or professional training related to evolving charitable giving practices, particularly major gifts, capital campaigns, and planned giving, is advantageous. - Multicultural or cross-cultural professional experience is a plus. - Strong interest in environmental sustainability, biodiversity, conservation, and the protection of critical ecosystems across Latin America. - Genuine motivation for fundraising, donor cultivation, relationship management, and advancing philanthropic support. - Legal authorization to work and residence in Brazil are required. - Willingness to travel frequently, including on short notice, and work flexible or extended hours when necessary. ### **Benefits** - Competitive and comprehensive benefits package, which may include healthcare benefits. - Flexible Spending Accounts, where applicable. - Retirement plan with employer matching. - Parental leave. - Paid time off. - Life and disability insurance. - Employee assistance program. - Supportive and flexible working environment. - Fully remote work arrangement. - Opportunity to contribute to high-impact conservation and fundraising initiatives across Latin America. - Collaboration with diverse, international teams and stakeholders. - Professional environment that values inclusion, belonging, diversity of experience, and innovation. - Opportunity to support a mission-driven organization focused on environmental sustainability and conservation.