Bonsai Leadership Group is excited to support Ocean Conservancy in its search for a Chief Development Officer.  Download a copy of the full position brochure here.

ABOUT OCEAN CONSERVANCY 

Ocean Conservancy works to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together with its partners, it creates evidence-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it.  Ocean Conservancy has an operating budget of approximately $55 million supported by a workforce of 150+ individuals. Learn more about Ocean Conservancy at oceanconservancy.org.

THE OPPORTUNITY 

Ocean Conservancy takes a visionary pragmatic approach to its work and is excited to bring on an exceptional Chief Development Officer (CDO) to take its conservation reach to the next level.  Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the CDO will envision, operationalize, and activate all fundraising and development strategies to support the institution’s annual budget and ensure long-term financial sustainability and global conservation impact.   

The CDO will oversee a fundraising team that raises between $30-50 million annually through a balanced strategy, driving and expanding a wide range of revenue programs, including:   

• Individual Philanthropy (mid, major and principal gifts)  

• Direct Mail   

• Foundations & Governments  

• Planned Giving   

• Corporate Partnerships

• Membership   

The CDO will inspire a high-performing development team of 30-35 to achieve collective impact through integrated fundraising strategies that engage current and prospective donors.   

As a core member of the institution’s C-Suite leadership team, the CDO will collaborate to define the institution’s mission and direction, build a strong organizational culture, and set, execute, and achieve institutional strategies and priorities. The CDO will partner to build collaborative teams across departments, create innovative and impactful solutions, and ensure staff feel motivated by the institution’s mission and direction. 

In addition to leading the Development team and serving as an essential organizational leader, the CDO will manage an expansive personal portfolio of key external relationships that deliver critical resources.   

The CDO will have the following primary responsibilities:  

Strategic Fundraising Program Leadership   

• Drive the creation and execution of a comprehensive fundraising strategy to achieve organizational fundraising goals.   

• Work closely with the CEO, Board of Directors, and institutional leaders to develop, diversify, and sustain a wide base of support while fostering a culture of philanthropy across the organization. 

• Lead the Development team in designing and executing effective cultivation and solicitation strategies that involve the CEO, senior leadership, Board members, conservation leaders, and other key stakeholders.  

• Strategically enhance donor engagement in emerging competitive markets by clearly communicating Ocean Conservancy’s impact.  

• Maintain and manage a significant personal portfolio of high-net-worth donors, ensuring personalized engagement and stewardship. 

• Establish and nurture meaningful relationships between prospective and current donors and Board members, supporting the Board’s active role in development activities. 

• Define and implement processes and systems to support the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors. Ensure the team uses the best tools, systems, and practices to achieve efficient and successful outcomes. 

• Regularly assess the effectiveness of communication strategies and tools and utilize feedback and data to make continuous improvements, ensuring that donor communication efforts are compelling, aligned, consistent, and well-coordinated across teams.  

• Refine and lead storytelling initiatives with a donor-centric approach. 

• Promote effective collaboration between the Development and Digital Fundraising teams, in partnership with the Chief Brand and Communications Officer (CBCO), to optimize the donor experience. 

Team Leadership, Professional Development and Accountability 

• Lead and mentor a high-performing Development team by providing visionary and strategic guidance and fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, collaboration, and growth.  

• Inspire and motivate the team to achieve ambitious fundraising targets that support organizational goals and objectives.  

• Establish, communicate, and monitor clear metrics and fundraising performance indicators. 

• Monitor team progress towards goals, analyze data, and adjust strategies as needed to ensure the success of team and organizational goals.  

Collaboration & Partnership 

• Leverage cross-functional collaboration to create compelling and impactful fundraising strategies and programs that align with conservation priorities and initiatives.  

• Work closely with the CEO to develop and implement a Board growth strategy that leverages Board members’ skills and networks to advance fundraising efforts. 

• Collaborate with the CEO, Executive team, Chief Conservation Officer and the CBCO to develop and refine organizational branding and marketing strategies to reach new markets, sustain existing ones, and drive long-term growth. 

• Serve as a core member of the institution’s budget team. Collaborate regularly with the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and leadership team to ensure effective financial oversight and stewardship of organizational resources.  

• Partner with the CFO to integrate data, maintain and improve security, and leverage technology to streamline and enhance cross-departmental workflows.  

Communication 

• Maintain open lines of communication with all stakeholders and internal teams. 

• Regularly disseminate updates and progress reports on program activities, initiatives, and milestones to keep everyone informed and aligned on goals, messaging, and strategies to maximize the organization's impact. 

• Partner with Conservation, Communications and Development teams to oversee the efficient development and sharing of content across teams.  

REQUIRED SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE 

The ideal candidate will possess many of the experiences and qualifications described below but need not possess them all for consideration: 

• Bachelor's degree, 15+ years of professional experience, including 8+ years of demonstrated experience in an executive development leadership role, preferably in conservation organizations.  

• Superior knowledge of all areas of fundraising with a particular strength creating in effective systems and processes; implementing multi-channel programs; generating, building, securing and growing major and principal gifts; and developing sustainable multi-year campaigns.  

• Proven team builder with a high emotional intelligence, demonstrated through a collaborative, constructive, and results-oriented leadership style. 

• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement innovative and adaptive fundraising strategies in dynamic environments. 

• Track record of securing six- and seven-figure contributions from high-net-worth donors, while consistently meeting and/or exceeding ambitious fundraising goals. 

• Superior ability to provide deft management of people, finances, and performance, including building high-performing teams, integrating across functions, and fostering a culture of accountability and excellence. 

• Trusted and respected leader with experience engaging and motivating individuals and teams to success; Skilled at collaborative problem-solving, embracing a growth mindset, and inclusive leadership.   

• Exceptional written and oral communication skills, capable of crafting and articulating compelling narratives and business cases to a diverse representation of audiences. 

• Excellent ability to simplify complex issues, balance detailed analysis with decisive action, and make effective data-driven decisions. 

• High ethical standards and integrity with a passion for collaborative conservation, advocacy, and justice.  

TRAVEL 

Approximately 25-35% of your time will be spent traveling.    

LOCATION  

While Ocean Conservancy embraces a hybrid work structure requiring employees to reside in one of the following US states: AK, CA, DC, FL, MD, OR, VA, TX, WA, and WV, there is a strong preference for this position to be based in the Washington, DC metro area. Other locations will not be considered.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS  

The salary range for this position is $198,600 - $270,848 annually, with an anticipated starting salary dependent upon the hired candidate’s location, qualifications, background, and experience. In addition, Ocean Conservancy offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:   

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance for employees, spouses (both same sex and opposite sex), domestic partner, and dependent children (effective day 1 of employment)  

• Short- and Long-Term Disability (free for employee)  

• Basic Life Insurance (free for employee)  

• Healthcare and/or Dependent Care Reimbursement Account  

• Retirement Planning - 100% vested upon hire; can begin contributing at hire. After 1 year, Ocean Conservancy will open a 401(a) account for you and will contribute 6% of your monthly salary whether you participate in the 403(b) or not.   

• 20 paid vacation days, 11 holidays, 12 sick days, and two personal days  

See full list of benefits at: Ocean Conservancy Benefits 
 

HOW TO APPLY  

Bonsai Leadership Group has been exclusively retained for this search. For consideration, submit a meaningful cover letter and resume outlining your qualifications by clicking the apply link below.

If you are a person with a disability and need help applying, please contact us at careers@bonsaileadershipgroup.com.    

Ocean Conservancy encourages applicants with a diverse level and range of relevant skills and experiences to apply. A 100% match is not required. Ocean Conservancy wants to support employees’ career growth, and in return, its employees help it grow into a stronger, more inclusive institution. 

All applications, nominations, inquiries, and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.  Candidates will be evaluated on a rolling basis. 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER 

Ocean Conservancy provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.