Associate Director (Development & Strategy)
Spirit League, Arcata, CA, United States
The Northcoast Regional Land Trust (NRLT) seeks a strategic, relationship-driven, and highly organized
Associate Director
to lead and grow fundraising and organizational development efforts for a dynamic conservation nonprofit serving northwestern California. The Associate Director is a senior leadership role and key partner to the Executive Director, responsible for development (approximately 60% of time), including donor engagement, major gifts, and grants (both public agencies and private foundations), while also contributing to organizational operations, cross-team coordination, and strategic alignment (approximately 40%). The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated passion for NRLT’s conservation mission, familiarity with the region, and a strong collaborative spirit. This position plays a central role in advancing NRLT’s mission to conserve and steward working lands and diverse habitats throughout the region.
Start Date:
June 1, 2026 (or as mutually agreed)
Status:
Full-time, 32-40 hours/week (negotiable)
Starting Salary Range:
$83,200-$100,000 (depending on experience)
Benefits
Generous paid holidays and vacation leave; paid sick leave; employer-paid health insurance; up to 3% SIMPLE IRA match; flexible schedule, and professional development support.
Key Responsibilities
Development Leadership & Strategy (Primary Focus)
Lead and grow NRLT’s fundraising program, including annual giving, major gifts, grants, sponsorships, and planned giving
Develop and implement annual fundraising plans, as well as special campaigns, aligned with organizational goals and long-term strategy
Collaborate on grant strategy, proposal development, reporting, and funder relationships with both private foundations and public agencies
Partner with the Executive Director, Board and staff to identify, cultivate, and steward donors and prospects
Support and help lead donor-facing aspects of key events, including NRLT’s annual celebration, Boots & Birkenstocks
Supervise, mentor, and support development-related staff and volunteers, including setting priorities, providing feedback, and fostering professional growth
Donor Engagement & Systems
Oversee donor stewardship and recognition systems to ensure timely, meaningful engagement
Ensure strong systems for timely, accurate gift processing and donor acknowledgment
Lead strategic use of the donor database (DonorPerfect or similar), ensuring data integrity and effective use
Support staff training and adoption of CRM best practices and reporting tools
Coordinate donor communications across staff, Board, and key stakeholders
Partner with outreach and communications staff to develop compelling donor-facing content
Prepare proposals, presentations, and communications materials
Help build a strong culture of philanthropy across the organization
Organizational Operations & Systems (Shared Leadership)
Partner with the Executive Director and Operations Director on organizational planning, internal systems, and process improvement
Help strengthen internal infrastructure, including tracking, reporting, and workflow systems
Contribute to budgeting, planning, and organizational decision-making
Support coordination to ensure organizational alignment across departments, including guiding staff workflows and cross-functional collaboration
Other duties as assigned
Programmatic Alignment & External Engagement
Collaborate with leadership to align fundraising priorities with conservation strategy, programmatic priorities, and staffing capacity
Participate in donor and partner engagement related to NRLT’s land protection and stewardship work
Represent NRLT in community settings, events, and partner meetings
Board & Committee Partnership
Serve as staff liaison to the Board’s Friends and Fundraising Committee
Support Board engagement in fundraising, including training and strategy development
Prepare reports and analysis to inform Board and leadership decision-making
Ensure practices align with NRLT policies, Land Trust Alliance standards, and accreditation requirements
Qualifications
Interest in land conservation, stewardship, and NRLT’s mission
5+ years of relevant experience in nonprofit leadership, development, or a related field
Demonstrated experience in fundraising, donor engagement, grants, or relationship-based work
Experience managing staff and/or volunteers, with a collaborative leadership approach
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Excellent organizational and project management ability, with capacity to manage multiple priorities
Comfort working across functions in a growing organization
Proficiency with CRM systems, spreadsheets, and standard office software
Experience managing projects or programs, ideally in a related field
Demonstrated ability to translate technical concepts such as conservation easements and restoration project design into clear, compelling funding proposals
Experience working with private landowners and rural communities is a plus
Physical & Work Requirements
Ability to work at a computer for extended periods
Ability to navigate outdoor terrain, including walking one mile or more on uneven surfaces during donor visits and events, with or without reasonable accommodation
Hybrid schedule may be considered after demonstrated performance and training
Valid driver's license and current auto insurance
Application Instructions
Email the following as a single PDF (preferred) to jobs@ncrlt.org:
Application cover sheet (see attached)
Cover letter
Resume
List of at least three professional references
Optional supporting materials (≤ 4 pages)
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Associate Director
to lead and grow fundraising and organizational development efforts for a dynamic conservation nonprofit serving northwestern California. The Associate Director is a senior leadership role and key partner to the Executive Director, responsible for development (approximately 60% of time), including donor engagement, major gifts, and grants (both public agencies and private foundations), while also contributing to organizational operations, cross-team coordination, and strategic alignment (approximately 40%). The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated passion for NRLT’s conservation mission, familiarity with the region, and a strong collaborative spirit. This position plays a central role in advancing NRLT’s mission to conserve and steward working lands and diverse habitats throughout the region.
Start Date:
June 1, 2026 (or as mutually agreed)
Status:
Full-time, 32-40 hours/week (negotiable)
Starting Salary Range:
$83,200-$100,000 (depending on experience)
Benefits
Generous paid holidays and vacation leave; paid sick leave; employer-paid health insurance; up to 3% SIMPLE IRA match; flexible schedule, and professional development support.
Key Responsibilities
Development Leadership & Strategy (Primary Focus)
Lead and grow NRLT’s fundraising program, including annual giving, major gifts, grants, sponsorships, and planned giving
Develop and implement annual fundraising plans, as well as special campaigns, aligned with organizational goals and long-term strategy
Collaborate on grant strategy, proposal development, reporting, and funder relationships with both private foundations and public agencies
Partner with the Executive Director, Board and staff to identify, cultivate, and steward donors and prospects
Support and help lead donor-facing aspects of key events, including NRLT’s annual celebration, Boots & Birkenstocks
Supervise, mentor, and support development-related staff and volunteers, including setting priorities, providing feedback, and fostering professional growth
Donor Engagement & Systems
Oversee donor stewardship and recognition systems to ensure timely, meaningful engagement
Ensure strong systems for timely, accurate gift processing and donor acknowledgment
Lead strategic use of the donor database (DonorPerfect or similar), ensuring data integrity and effective use
Support staff training and adoption of CRM best practices and reporting tools
Coordinate donor communications across staff, Board, and key stakeholders
Partner with outreach and communications staff to develop compelling donor-facing content
Prepare proposals, presentations, and communications materials
Help build a strong culture of philanthropy across the organization
Organizational Operations & Systems (Shared Leadership)
Partner with the Executive Director and Operations Director on organizational planning, internal systems, and process improvement
Help strengthen internal infrastructure, including tracking, reporting, and workflow systems
Contribute to budgeting, planning, and organizational decision-making
Support coordination to ensure organizational alignment across departments, including guiding staff workflows and cross-functional collaboration
Other duties as assigned
Programmatic Alignment & External Engagement
Collaborate with leadership to align fundraising priorities with conservation strategy, programmatic priorities, and staffing capacity
Participate in donor and partner engagement related to NRLT’s land protection and stewardship work
Represent NRLT in community settings, events, and partner meetings
Board & Committee Partnership
Serve as staff liaison to the Board’s Friends and Fundraising Committee
Support Board engagement in fundraising, including training and strategy development
Prepare reports and analysis to inform Board and leadership decision-making
Ensure practices align with NRLT policies, Land Trust Alliance standards, and accreditation requirements
Qualifications
Interest in land conservation, stewardship, and NRLT’s mission
5+ years of relevant experience in nonprofit leadership, development, or a related field
Demonstrated experience in fundraising, donor engagement, grants, or relationship-based work
Experience managing staff and/or volunteers, with a collaborative leadership approach
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Excellent organizational and project management ability, with capacity to manage multiple priorities
Comfort working across functions in a growing organization
Proficiency with CRM systems, spreadsheets, and standard office software
Experience managing projects or programs, ideally in a related field
Demonstrated ability to translate technical concepts such as conservation easements and restoration project design into clear, compelling funding proposals
Experience working with private landowners and rural communities is a plus
Physical & Work Requirements
Ability to work at a computer for extended periods
Ability to navigate outdoor terrain, including walking one mile or more on uneven surfaces during donor visits and events, with or without reasonable accommodation
Hybrid schedule may be considered after demonstrated performance and training
Valid driver's license and current auto insurance
Application Instructions
Email the following as a single PDF (preferred) to jobs@ncrlt.org:
Application cover sheet (see attached)
Cover letter
Resume
List of at least three professional references
Optional supporting materials (≤ 4 pages)
#J-18808-Ljbffr