Chief Development Officer

Search for the Chief Development Officer

The International Land and Forest Tenure Facility

Remote

The Opportunity

The International Land and Forest Tenure Facility (Tenure Facility) seeks an entrepreneurial and demonstrated fundraising professional to serve as chief development officer (CDO) at an exciting time of growth and momentum. Reporting to the executive director and serving as a critical member of the senior management team, the CDO is presented with a unique opportunity to construct the infrastructure of and advance priorities for the organization’s nascent development enterprise following significant investment from several donors, including the Bezos Earth Fund and TED’s Audacious Project. A decade since its incubation, and with a proven track record of funding projects that reduce deforestation, cut carbon emissions, restore ecosystems, and promote human rights for Indigenous Peoples and local communities, the Tenure Facility is uniquely positioned to expand funding from its current and loyal base of supporters while importantly expanding the donor pipeline of individual philanthropists and foundation support. As such, the CDO is charged with diversifying philanthropic revenue streams and amplifying the mission and impact of the Tenure Facility’s work to both new and existing benefactors.

The Tenure Facility is the first and only international, multi-stakeholder financial mechanism exclusively focused on securing land and forest rights for Indigenous Peoples and local communities. Indigenous Peoples and local communities live in more than half of the world’s land area, yet they legally own less than 10 percent of their territories. By offering grants and technical expertise at the speed and scale required to secure tenure and sustainably manage millions of acres at risk today, the Tenure Facility enables these populations and communities to have the cultural and economic independence to thrive and continue to protect systems vital to global climate, fresh water, and food security. The Tenure Facility works directly with the Indigenous Peoples and local communities, as well as their allies, to ensure laws on community rights are translated into rights recognition on the ground. It supports them to achieve formal legal recognition of their land and forest rights on maps, in laws, and in the plans and operations of government and private investors, and works strategically with local, national, and international constituents to foster community-level partnership and joint action with governments and the private sector. Today, the Tenure Facility’s portfolio includes projects with new or existing partners spanning three continents and 18 countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Tenure Facility currently has a fundraising target to raise $300 million by 2027, in diversified funding sources between bilaterals and philanthropy, and the CDO will construct the development infrastructure required to achieve and sustain the organization’s fundraising ambitions. In doing so, this individual will work collaboratively with key partners to design and articulate a compelling case for current and prospective funders to support the organization’s strategic priorities. Success will be determined by the CDO’s ability to expand the donor pipeline through identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and procuring major, principal, and transformational gifts from individual and institutional supporters. To support these efforts, the CDO will strategically organize and grow a high-performing team of fundraising and communications professionals, and implement necessary systems and processes to ensure a sustainable development infrastructure. This individual must possess a demonstrated ability to achieve ambitious funding goals and have a track record of working successfully in a complex organizational structure, ideally one that is global in nature and rapidly evolving from start-up mode into a more established organization. The CDO must be collaborative, adaptable, supportive, and transparent when building relationships with key internal and external constituents, including with the Tenure Facility’s board of directors and programs staff.

As a champion for the Tenure Facility’s mission, impact, and vision, the ideal candidate must be passionate about and personally committed to working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples and local communities to strengthen their tenure and ability to preserve, protect, and enjoy the benefits of their traditional lands, territories, and resources. The selected candidate will possess a minimum of 10 years of proven leadership and, ideally, organizational experience in creating inclusive, diverse, social, and environmental outcomes in complex and growing enterprises. They must also possess thorough knowledge of all areas of a comprehensive fundraising program and a track record of significant personal success in funding complex initiatives via public or private donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of high-net-worth individual philanthropists and foundations.

The CDO must possess extensive experience in co-creating organizational strategies to achieve ambitious fundraising goals; be able to create a results-oriented work environment that promotes collaboration and achievement; and demonstrate a high level of agility, adaptability, creativity, trust, and teamwork to achieve strategic objectives. Ideally, this individual will have a proven track record in the field which demonstrates cultural competence and the ability to integrate and respond to unique challenges presented by combining diverse Indigenous, land resource tenure issues. Demonstrated success using systems thinking to promote enduring and resilient outcomes is considered very valuable.

In addition, the ideal candidate must exhibit the credibility and sophistication to effectively engage and work with key partners across the Tenure Facility and beyond, as well as be a self-starter who effectively prioritizes and meets goals in a burgeoning organization with a global focus and an environment of rapid change. While there are facilitators deployed remotely around the world, Tenure Facility’s headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden serves as the base for 25 staff members with a similar number of focal points in the regions. This position will be remotely based, with significant travel expectations primarily throughout North America to meet with existing and prospective individual and institutional donors. The CDO will also have the ability and interest to travel internationally, including to Sweden and to field locations around the world, as well as to work effectively across multiple time zones and with individuals from all backgrounds, cultures, and socioeconomic statuses.

Application, Inquiries, and Nominations

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent via the Isaacson, Miller website for the search. Electronic submission of materials is strongly encouraged.

https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/tenure-facility/chief-development-officer

Rachel Ellenport, Partner

Nicole Poe, Managing Associate

Megan Gorman, Managing Search Coordinator

The Tenure Facility seeks to accompany Indigenous Peoples and local communities in the journey of securing their tenure. Harnessing different viewpoints, life and work experiences in a working environment that promotes innovation, agility, adaptability, creativity, trust, and teamwork is key to the organization’s vision. The Tenure Facility seeks candidates who demonstrate passion for its goals, deep technical expertise, and an ability to excel in an organization with a global focus.