General Description: 

Our mission at Coast Funds is to partner with First Nations in achieving their goals for conservation, stewardship, and economic development centered in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii.

The Development Manager works closely with Coast Funds Director, Development, Coast Funds senior management, First Nations leadership and philanthropic partners to deliver development activities including fundraising and donor stewardship. 

The role supports Coast Funds strategic plan with a focus on: (1) Supporting First Nations with securing sustainable finance to sustain and expand Guardian programs, Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA’s) and regional stewardship initiatives (2) Supporting First Nations with securing funding for economic development and community well-being (3) Supporting Coast Funds with diversifying funding to support organizational goals and to reduce costs for First Nations.  

The Development Manager reports to the Director, Development, working closely with the Conservation Finance Specialist on the creation and delivery of fundraising plans for individual First Nations, regional partners and Coast Funds. This includes working with other internal colleagues, First Nations leadership and their staff to build budgets, identify funding priorities and develop strategies for engagement with Crown governments, philanthropy and industry. 

The role will also support donor engagement including delivery of community visits, tracking of reporting requirements and associated management of internal systems. 

This role is a key member of a close working staff team, including the Director, Development, CEO, and Conservation Finance Specialist who will collaborate and foster a high trust environment within Coast Funds and with the Nations it serves in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii. 

Reports to: Director, Development

Supervisory role: N/A

Key Responsibilities:

Fundraising strategy

1. Support the Director, Development with creation and delivery of fundraising strategies for individual First Nations, regional organizations and Coast Funds. Ensure progression of the fundraising process by tracking actions and maintaining related documents. 
2. Identify and track funding opportunities and develop proposals for First Nations and Coast Funds, in alignment with fundraising strategies.
3. Support Director, Development and with development of financial projections to inform First Nations fundraising plans and strategies. 
4. Prepare and manage documentation required for funding agreements between Coast Funds, First Nations, philanthropic partners and government departments.
5. Ensure timely and accurate record keeping for all projects and related correspondence in the organization’s Salesforce database and file server.

Donor stewardship and engagement 

1. Lead reporting to funding partners with input from Director Development and Chief Financial Officer, including financial and narrative reporting, and maintain internal records via Salesforce and related tools. 
2. Lead design and delivery of donor community visits.
3. Support Director, Development, with ongoing donor research and proactive engagement with potential funders.  
4. Collect and analyze data related to development activities and donor engagement. Prepare reports summarizing the impact of development activities and project success.

Communications  

1. Work with Director, Development and Communications Manager to support creation of fundraising communications materials including presentations, proposals and events.
2. Build and maintain collaborative relationships with Indigenous and philanthropic networks including the Circle on Philanthropy, Indigenous Leadership Initiative, Environment Funders Canada, Nature Investment Hub, Pollination Foundation and other Indigenous organizations and philanthropic partners. 

General 

1. Be available for intermittent travel within the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii to attend meetings or project site visits. Day trips to Vancouver Island are semi-frequent and overnight travel is up to 6 (one/two night) trips into the region annually.
2. Understand and comply with all Coast Funds internal policies and the employee handbook.
3. Maintain confidentiality of First Nations’ and Coast Funds financial and strategic information.
4. Conduct yourself to highest standard of ethical conduct, exhibiting integrity in all your interactions to develop and maintain high-trust relationships.

Key Measures of Success:

1. Coast Funds consistently engages with the First Nations it serves to ensure strategic fundraising is affective in alignment with the organizations’ mandate and with First Nations’ priorities.
2. First Nations affirm their satisfaction with Coast Funds collaboration, guidance, and support in developing fundraising strategies.
3. Philanthropic partners are actively and effectively engaged based on high trust relationships and valued support in alignment with Coast Funds’ strategic plan.
4. Colleagues affirm that effective collaboration with this position is occurring that encourages a positive, team atmosphere.
5. All records are maintained, and tasks completed in a timely manner.

Qualifications:

1. The competencies for this position would typically be acquired through the participation in post-secondary field related to business/public administration, communications, project management, or Indigenous affairs and/or an equivalent combination of the following competencies, training, and experience:
2. Five years of experience of development and fundraising, or similar project management experience, coordinating and implementing projects from ideation to completion.
3. Working knowledge and experience of development and fundraising concepts, practices and techniques, especially those relevant to Indigenous-led conservation, stewardship or economic development. 
4. Understanding of and respect for the inherent stewardship responsibilities First Nations have throughout their unceded territories, and their need for sustainable finance and capacity building to develop and sustain stewardship capacity to fulfill those responsibilities in a modern context as they have done for millennia.  
5. Lived or work experience in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii region. Familiarity with land and/or marine use issues in the Great Bear Rainforest region and the First Nations that participate in Coast Funds would be an asset.
6. Experience managing confidential client information and corporate file systems.
7. Strong word processing and computer skills using Microsoft Word, Excel, Acrobat, Zoom, and Teams.
8. Proficient with Microsoft Outlook in arranging meetings and managing multiple calendars.
9. Experience in drafting, proofing, and editing correspondence for professional audiences.
10. Experience creating compelling, high-quality communications materials would be an asset.
11. Experience with customer relationship management software such as Salesforce would be an asset.

Competencies:

1. You approach your work with clients as a true partner; you offer your perspectives, knowledge, and experience to support First Nations as they develop plans that enable informed business decisions.
2. Strong interpersonal skills to create a clear understanding of expectations; address escalated challenges and issues, and to positively represent the organization to external audiences. Always a team player with a positive attitude when handling complex topics and adapting to situations.
3. Strong business communication skills in both written and verbal form with an ability to write clearly, concisely, and quickly.
4. Solid listening and compassion skills with a high level of emotional maturity.
5. A naturally inquisitive mindset to assess and recommend a course of action based on experience, new information, or research that is proactively uncovered, and to identify risks and opportunities that may impact First Nations or Coast Funds.
6. Highly collaborative, team-oriented, and passionate about achieving win-win outcomes.
7. Detailed, organized, and motivated. Able to move tasks/projects with multiple players to their conclusion without missing anything.
8. Adaptable to an evolving work environment and open to new ideas.
9. Well-organized with an ability to balance multiple priorities to produce tangible results in a deadline-driven work environment.
10. Self-directed, self-motivated, efficient, and energetic with enthusiasm and an ability to learn quickly.

Benefits and Additional information:

• Salary: $85,000 - $95,000 range depending on experience. 
• Starting vacation of 4 weeks per year. After 1 full year of employment, 1 day vacation will be added up to a maximum of 6 weeks.
• Work format: This position can be performed as hybrid role with three days per week in the Coast Funds Vancouver office. Semi-frequent in-person meetings, working groups, workshops, etc., will be held in Vancouver, BC, and the ability to attend at short notice is necessary. A regular schedule of in-office hours for coordination and team meetings is anticipated. This position may require occasional compensated travel outside of the Vancouver region (likely once per quarter). The above information on this position profile has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by the position. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this position.
• Coast Funds intent is to assist employees in providing a contribution towards retirement savings. Quarterly contributions to an employee RRSP or TFSA is based on the following formula: 15% of base salary less cost of all benefits paid by the company on behalf of the employee.
• We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person. 
• All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. Given the nature of our work, we will be giving priority to Indigenous candidates and then to candidates who have worked with Indigenous organizations and bring a solid understanding of Indigenous practices, traditions, and worldviews.

Application deadline: We are accepting rolling applications until the position is filled.

Check the status of the search process here.