Associate Director (Development & Strategy)

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.

Download the Full Job Description and Wage and Application Packet

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.

 

Application Review Begins: May 13, 2026 (open until filled)

 

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:

1. Application cover sheet (see attached)
2. Cover letter
3. Resume
4. List of at least three professional references
5. Optional supporting materials (≤ 4 pages)
    
   Review of applications begins May 13, 2026.

Download the Full Job Description and Application Packet