DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Position: Development Manager at Sacred Earth Solar

Contract length: 12 months (with possibility of extension) 

Contract start: January 6, 2025

Reporting: Reports Directly to Serena Mendizabal

Applications: Accepting applications until the position is filled. Please submit your application to info@sacredearth.solar and see below for full application instructions.

This is a full-time, work-from-home position. The hours of work are based on a 30 hour work week with a $70,000 salary. The hours are somewhat flexible and subject to change depending on needs of the organization.

JOB DESCRIPTION:
The Development Manager performs a wide variety of complex and confidential administration and relationship management duties in support of Sacred Earth Solar; duties that require considerable confidentiality, initiative, tact, mature and independent judgment; strategic thinking; and strong interpersonal skills. Multi-tasking and multi-tracking skills are essential.

3.1 Main Tasks:

• The general role of the Development Manager is to provide administrative capacity to develop and maintain SES’s donor engagement strategies and nurture donor relationships. 

• The Development Manager will work to produce donor engagement materials, grant applications, reports, and all associated stewardship strategies to help build an understanding and appreciation for the importance of resourcing Indigenous leadership in climate action.

3.2 Position Description:

The Employee will be employed by Sacred Earth Solar. Hours and location of work are somewhat flexible  and will amount to 30 hours a week to begin with, between the hours of 9:00am - 4:30pm (in your timezone) reporting to Serena Mendizabal. 

3.3 Responsibilities:

The DM increases SES’s effectiveness by dealing with and prioritizing grant writing, donor engagement, and maintaining donor relationships. Also, by providing highly effective reporting support on an as-needed basis. The DM is relied upon to exercise a high degree of tact and discretion.

Manage SES grants including:

1. Grant-writing at the discretion of SES (Melina & Serena) 

2. Impact and Grant Reporting with donors and fiscal sponsors 

3. Manage donor relationships, and follow up after SES engagements (ex. Funders from conferences and online engagements, etc)

4. Research grant opportunities for SES and develop donor relationship strategies for strategic fundraising direction. 

The Development Manager duties are as follows:

Data Management

• Work in collaboration with the team to create and implement, and maintain a comprehensive database for SES’s grants, current status for each grant and future opportunities

• Reconcile donor database with financial statements in collaboration with finance team (Serena)

• Ensure all communications (hard-copy and electronic) associated with donors and donations are filed and recorded properly for audit purposes 

• Develop and maintain a Library of Written Content in support of grant reports and applications, as well as maintenance of digital filing system 

Donor Stewardship 

• Draft grant proposals and reports for funders as assigned

• Provide donor stewardship and function as lead for a small portfolio of donors, all donor inquiries related to gifts, online donations and other donor database requests

• Support meetings, key events, fundraising efforts, development activities and other duties as assigned.

• Prepare timely correspondence, gift agreements and acknowledgements, reports, pledge reminders, invitations and other communications 

Qualifications and Experience:

• 5 years of development experience and donor engagement required 

• Proven skills with administrative and coordination support with teams

• Passionate about the mission, values, and goals of SES

• Strong written and verbal communication

• Great at organizing emails, setting priorities, and creating timelines for responses

• Skilled with maintaining digital filing

• Excellent knowledge of Google Suite Tools

• Great organizational and time management skills

• Familiarity or willingness to learn SES’ office software and communication applications (e.g. e-calendars, zoom, signal and notes)

• Embodies what it means to move at the speed of trust

• Having a working computer and strong internet access is essential for this position

• Ideally the candidate has completed post secondary education

• Member of an Indigenous community preferred but not required

To Apply:

If you are a mission-driven professional who is passionate about climate justice and Indigenous-led initiatives, we encourage you to apply. Please submit your resume and cover letter to info@sacredearth.solar addressed to Serena Mendizabal  with the subject line “Development Manager Application” and your name included by November 30, 2024.

Please address the following in your cover letter:

• What is your understanding of Indigenous sovereignty, climate justice, just transition and healing justice? Do you have personal experience in your life or work?

• Please describe in detail your previous development/fundraising work and duties.

Please send samples of the following:

• Organizational Grant Samples (if able to share).