Director of Development in Edmonton, Alberta at The Nature Conservancy of Canada

Position details: [Full Time]

Position title: Director of Development, Alberta Region

Taking care of our environment has never been more important. The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is looking for an energetic and experienced Director of Development to join a team committed to protecting our most important natural areas and the plants and animals they sustain.

NCC is the nation’s leading not-for-profit, private land conservation organization, working to protect our most important natural areas and the species they sustain. Since 1962, we have brought people together to conserve and restore more than 20 million hectares across Canada. NCC takes a collaborative, science-based approach to achieve conservation success for the sake of nature and Canadians. With office locations in all ten provinces across Canada, NCC delivers results you can walk on.

NCC recognizes that we work on lands that have long been cared for by Indigenous Peoples under their own laws and knowledge systems. We are committed to transforming how we do our work, advancing Reconciliation through conservation, and working with Indigenous Peoples in meaningful, respectful, and supportive ways.

Position Summary

The Alberta Director of Development assumes a key role in NCC’s Alberta leadership team, to grow support and accelerate conservation in Alberta, the Prairie provinces and NCC. This position leads the implementation in Alberta of a robust National fund development program that ultimately improves the long-term stability of the organization. It focuses on alignment of internal capacity and forging important external relationships to maximize ability to attract and retain donors and foster strong relationships with key partners. The successful candidate will report to the Regional Vice President, Alberta Region in the leadership and delivery of fundraising activities to further the mission of the Nature Conservancy of Canada and to maximize revenues in Alberta. The incumbent plays a key role in coordinating in implementing national strategic fundraising plans to increase revenues from individuals, foundations, and corporations; manages a team of 10 development staff; works with key volunteers and Alberta Regional Advisory Board members to achieve fundraising goals; mentors other staff in donor solicitation and stewardship; and ensures that regional development activities conform to national standards and policies.

The position also works closely with regional communications, engagement, and conservation staff, as well as NCC’s national development team and other regional Directors of Development.

Responsibilities

1. Planning and Management

• Work with staff and management to develop fundraising plans and tactics to build a program of giving aligned with the organization’s overall fundraising strategy.
• Lead a fundraising team and activities to deliver NCC’s mission and maximize revenues for Alberta’ programs and projects;
• Develop personal and departmental annual plans and targets to meet regional goals for individual, foundation, and corporate giving;
• As a member of the regional leadership team, collaborate with team leads and the Regional Vice President on implementation of NCC’s Strategic Plan;
• Lead integration of fundraising activities into regional budgets, business plans and team workplans;
• In collaboration with conservation staff, develop and successfully implement private sector fund raising plans for land securement, stewardship and planning;
• Collaborate with communications, engagement and conservation staff in the development of regional initiatives, marketing partnerships and sponsorships that will assist in growing support for NCC’s work ;
• Collaborate closely with national and other regional development and communications teams in developing regional plans and initiatives;
• Recruit, train and retain a motivated and effective development team. Set performance targets and annually review the performance of development staff.

1. Fundraising
   • Achieve personal and departmental annual fundraising targets;
   • Manage a personal portfolio of major individual, foundation, and corporate gifts;
   • Work closely with Regional Advisory Board members and other key fundraising volunteers to identify and solicit major individual, foundation, and corporate prospects;
   • In collaboration with conservation staff, develop, track and report on funding proposals supportive of regional programs and activities;
   • Oversee the development of proposals and related materials for use in soliciting gifts, including grants in Alberta;
   • Work closely with national marketing and development departments to align regional fundraising plans;
   • Keep up to date on provincial and national political issues, economics, and other external issues and opportunities to adjust fundraising plans and evaluate how these activities affect NCC’s fund raising capabilities;

Position Requirements

• A minimum of 7 years combined development and fundraising experience, preferably within the not-for-profit sector;
• Experience managing and leading a team located both locally and remotely.
• A keen interest in nature and conservation
• Exceptional interpersonal and donor/client communications skills including high comfort in interacting with high end donors and volunteers
• Excellent writing skills, including a demonstrated ability to generate accurately researched and persuasive proposals, business correspondence and donor acknowledgements;
• Experience in planning and budgeting including setting annual fundraising targets.
• Self-motivated and self directed, with superior time management skills and ability to work independently and proactively
• Demonstrated ability to work within defined processes and procedures to ensure timely and accurate record-keeping, with excellent organizational and administrative skills;
• A creative pro-active thinker;
• Track record of working well within a team structure, including the enthusiasm to both lead and assist in fundraising endeavors; ability to lead a team but also work with colleagues across the country;
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and Copilot, and experience working with contact management software such as Raiser’s Edge mandatory;
• A demonstrated awareness of conservation issues;
• Understanding and commitment to the role and mission of The Nature Conservancy of Canada;
• Ability to work within a flexible schedule, including occasional weekends and evenings.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel across Alberta and Canada on occasion.

Application Deadline

October 23, 2026 | 11:59pm EST, 9:59pm Mountain Time, 8:59pm Pacific Time, 10:50pm CST, 00:59 am +1 AST

At NCC, we're committed to providing a healthy, safe, barrier free and inclusive, workplace, where respect and diversity are recognized assets. We strive for bold conservation achievements in which equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) are the norm. We welcome applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. NCC implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated groups to self-identify.

Janet Soles and Associates has been retained to conduct this search on behalf of Nature Conservancy Canada. For more information about this opportunity or to apply, please send your curriculum vitae and letter of interest with the Subject Line – “Director Development, Alberta – Nature Conservancy Canada” in confidence to apply@jssearch.ca .