Chief Development Officer

The Chief Development Officer (CDO) is a newly created role. The CDO will be responsible for providing leadership, strategic oversight and innovation and development of core funding. This role will support the CEO in execution of the business strategy and furthering the mission of the organisation. A key focus is to build Earthwatch Australia’s (EWAs) diverse revenue streams across partnerships, grants, donations and sales of expeditions and to revolutionize funding strategies. The CDO will assure that the organization’s corporate culture, systems and procedures support fund development and program delivery. The role will work closely with the executive team to drive innovation and increase agility within the business enhancing the organisations ability to deliver large scale conservation impact.

Primary Tasks and Responsibilities

1. Input into short and long term operational strategies and identify and address challenges that effect growth of the organisation
2. Establish performance and impact measures and report on organisations effectiveness to meet the mission and strategy
3. Drive and implement commercial strategies to grow overall funding and diversify funding streams
4. Develop, manage and implement a fundraising strategy, in particular high net worth donors
5. Identify innovative and scalable opportunities to increase impact and sales revenues
6. Support the CEO in corporate partnerships
7. Market EWAs proposition to support the outcomes above
8. Foster innovation and provide leadership to the broader EWA team and in market

Roles that Report to CDO

• Business Operations
• Accountant
• Marketing and Communications Manager
• Customer Manager

About You

It goes without saying that your passion for environmental sustainability and science will be highly regarded. Earthwatch Australia is a small organisation, so your ability to work in a small team, be self-motivated and show initiative is critical.

Essential criteria

• You must have an Australian work visa
• Financial acumen and commercial nous
• Ability to identify, articulate, assess and deliver on novel opportunities in market
• Ability to develop products and services to meet commercial market demands
• Knowledge and experience in NFP fundraising streams including donor acquisition, fundraising campaigns/appeals and grant writing
• Proven ability to develop partnerships and maintain high level relationships across a diverse range of sectors including government, corporate, trusts and foundations, not-for-profit and individuals
• Proactive leader able to prioritise, develop, lead and deliver on strategic and tactical plans
• Excellent negotiation and analytical skills with highly developed problem solving skills
• High level communication skills (oral and written), including the negotiation of contracts or service level agreements
• High levels of flexibility and versatility, demonstrating strong personal initiative and motivation
• An effective team player, both within the Earthwatch Australia office and within the funder / client environment
• Ability to travel interstate and occasionally overseas
• Relevant tertiary degree and minimum 5 years experience
• Understanding of environmental science/sustainability issues

Personal Attributes

• Collaborative
• Innovative
• Passion for the cause
• Results driven

Desirable criteria 

• Experience in business strategy development and execution
• Demonstrated success in building high net worth individual donation revenue and programs
• Established networks that support the ability to secure financially viable partnerships across government, corporate and not-for-profit
• Understanding of the citizen science environment and its inter-connectedness with the environment, community, business, industry and government
• Effective time-management and project-management skills and a demonstrated ability to meet deadlines
• An understanding of the not-for-profit sector
• Experience working in a small organisation/start up