Senior Development Officer

Senior Development Officer – Job Description:

Texan by Nature (TxN) is a conservation nonprofit whose mission is to advance conservation by bringing conservation and business together. We positively impact natural resources, communities, and economic prosperity by focusing efforts on impactful partnerships and science-based solutions.

Texan by Nature seeks a strategic, bold, and collaborative leader to direct its business development and donor engagement efforts. This full-time leadership position will work closely with the CEO and senior leadership team to drive growth in revenue, engagement, and impact. The ideal candidate combines creative thinking with rigorous execution and thrives in a collaborative, high-performing team environment. You will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the impact-focused world of conservation, working alongside professionals who are passionate about their work and enjoy working together.

Ideal candidates are driven, creative, trustworthy, hard-working, and interested in collaborating with great minds to help cultivate change and foster engagement in conservation. This position will be a key leader within the organization, helping achieve TxN’s strategic pillars of conservation impact, brand reputation, financial strength, and organizational excellence. The Senior Development Officer owns business development planning and execution, as well as member relationship and project management.

Location:

• Texan by Nature Office at 6805 N. Capital of Texas Hwy., Ste. 268, Austin, TX 78731
• Texan by Nature has a hybrid workforce; candidates should be within Texas, with preference for the ability to travel to the office at least 1x/week.

Principal Duties & Responsibilities*:

The Senior Development Officer has responsibility for Texan by Nature development, fundraising, and membership goals. They collaborate with the CEO and other senior leadership team members to create a development plan which increases brand awareness and revenue to support the growth of Texan by Nature. They will be heavily involved in the strategic direction of Texan by Nature and achieving the goals outlined in TxN’s strategic plan. The position reports to the CEO.

• Lead the development strategy for the organization in alignment with TxN’s mission, vision, and strategic plan, with annual fundraising goals exceeding $5M.
• Oversee donor pipeline development, cultivation, and stewardship across corporate, foundation, and individual giving portfolios.
• Drive multi-channel fundraising initiatives, including campaigns, multi-partner projects, and sponsorships, ensuring a diversified and resilient revenue model.
• Manage and grow partnerships with major donors, business members, and key stakeholders; represent TxN externally to elevate visibility and engagement.
• Develop, implement, and optimize fundraising systems and processes, including reporting, and performance tracking.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Marketing, Programs, and Operations to align messaging, storytelling, and program integration with fundraising goals.
• Guide and mentor development staff, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and accountability.
• Coordinate with the CEO on major gift solicitation, board engagement, and high-level partnerships.
• Scope and manage custom TxN Business Member projects, including partnership deliverables, timelines, and impact tracking.
• Lead donor communications strategy including appeals, newsletters, and impact reporting.
• Support and be responsive to the needs of Texan by
• NOTE: Texan by Nature’s model is consultative in nature; This function is not traditional nonprofit fundraising. It’s business and project development – aligning impact opportunities to donor goals and needs.

* This job description contains the basic requirements for the position and is NOT intended to be a complete list of responsibilities; other duties may be assigned.

Specialized Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• A strategic thinker who understands how development supports the broader mission.
• Depth of experience in managing teams, supporting cross-functional collaboration, developing staff, and setting clear goals.
• Action-oriented: seizes opportunities and enjoys working hard.
• Mission alignment: Passion for natural resources, the outdoors, and nature.
• Function alignment: Must have interest in development career growth.
• Outstanding organization skills; can marshal resources to get things done and orchestrate multiple activities at once to accomplish goals.
• Ability to problem solve and demonstrates high-quality decision making.
• Exceptional time management skills; uses time effectively and efficiently.
• Excellent communication skills; oral and written.
• Comfortable with public speaking – can represent Texan by Nature to audiences of all sizes; participates actively and comfortably in large group meetings.
• Creative ability and innate curiosity; brainstorms and comes up with new and unique ideas.
• Team player and relationship builder; cooperative and collaborative, gains trust and support.
• Flexible / Adaptable with various personalities, needs, and information; Demonstrates the ability to change perspective based on new ideas.
• Humility – takes ownership in role while also recognizing and respecting partner and team member importance.
• Improvement / Growth mindset – seeks progress, improvement, and opportunity.
• Ability to catch and manage details while also able to dream and perform long range planning.
• Must represent the office in a professional manner both virtually and in person.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10-15 years of professional experience in business development, nonprofit management, fundraising, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience leading a development function with $5M+ revenue goals across corporate, individual, and foundation donors.
• Proven experience in moves management, donor cultivation, and high-touch stewardship.
• Familiarity with conservation, sustainability, or natural resource sectors is strongly preferred.

Training/Equipment: MS Office Suite, Google Suite, QuickBooks, WordPress, HubSpot, Gusto, Adobe, DropBox experience preferred but not required

Work Environment/Mental/Physical Requirements: Position will require day-to-day multi-tasking, and well as managing multiple projects simultaneously. Requires in-state travel (~10%).

Compensation & Benefits:

• Annual salary range of $110,000 – $160,000, based on qualifications and experience
• Paid vacation and sick days
• Full health benefits (medical, dental, vision)
• 401K with 100% company match up to 5%