Associate Director, Philanthropy

About The Nature Conservancy The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is the largest global conservation non-profit organization in the world dedicated to protecting the lands and waters on which all life depends. Working in more than 80 countries and territories, TNC collaborates with governments, local communities, bus nesses and philanthropic partners to develop practical, science-based solutions to the world's most pressing environmental challenges, including biodiversity loss and climate change. Supported by approximately USD 1 billion in annual philanthropic contributions and one of the largest conservation endowments in the world, TNC invests more than USD 1.5 billion annually in conservation projects and programmes across the globe.Through innovative conservation initiatives and strategic partnerships, TNC seeks to create lasting impact for both people and nature. The Nature Conservancy’s global philanthropy engagement programme works with major donors across key global wealth markets. Through the “One Future: Together, We Find a Way” campaign, which aims to raise USD 12 billion by 2030, this role will focus on securing new donors—many of whom may be new to both the organisation and to conservation and climate philanthropy. Location and Reporting Line This is a home-based position in Switzerland, embedded within TNC’s European Philanthropy team, a highly collaborative group of experienced fundraising professionals. The role also benefits from the support of dedicated US-based teams specializing in prospect research, donor stewardship and donor engagement. Reporting to the Director of Philanthropy, Europe, based in London, the position requires regular interaction with colleagues, and partners across multiple countries, as well as occasional travel within Europe and internationally. POSITION SUMMARY The Associate Director, Philanthropy in Switzerland will play a key role in strengthening The Nature Conservancy’s philanthropic presence and long-term funding base in the Swiss and European markets. The position is focused on building trusted relationships with high-value donors and strategic partners, aligning local philanthropic interests with TNC’s global conservation priorities. This is a senior, externally facing role for an experienced fundraising professional able to operate with autonomy, credibility and strategic judgement in a highly international environment. The successful candidate will act as an ambassador for TNC, helping to grow awareness, engagement and support among individuals, foundations, corporations and other philanthropic actors for all TNC’s global conservation priorities. Working closely with colleagues across Europe and globally, the Associate Director will contribute to the continued growth of one of the world’s leading conservation philanthropy major donor programmes creating opportunities for donors to support lasting impact for people and nature. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Strategic Fundraising and Partnership Development

• He/she develops and implements fundraising strategies to secure financial support for The Nature Conservancy's conservation priorities.
• He/she identifies, cultivates and manages relationships with prospective donors, including individuals, foundations, corporations and institutional partners, while supporting colleagues in the stewardship of existing donor relationships as appropriate.
• He/she develops tailored donor engagement plans and funding opportunities aligned with donor interests and organizational priorities, coordinating with dedicated support teams on the preparation and presentation of high-quality proposals and partnership opportunities.
• He/she guides donors on various ways of supporting the Conservancy, including major gifts, strategic philanthropy and legacy giving.
• He/she contributes to achieving annual and multi-year fundraising targets, with a clear focus on sustainable revenue growth. Donor Relationship Management
• He/she manages his/her portfolio of key donor and partner relationships, ensuring a high level of engagement, stewardship and follow-up.
• He/she develops a deep understanding of donor motivations, interests and philanthropic objectives.
• He/she connects donors with relevant conservation projects and organizational priorities.
• He/she ensures timely reporting and communication, demonstrating the impact of donor support.
• He/she represents The Nature Conservancy at meetings, events and other external engagements. Collaboration and Leadership
• He/she collaborates closely with conservation, finance, communications and leadership teams to identify and develop funding opportunities.
• He/she leads or contributes to complex, cross-functional projects involving multiple stakeholders.
• He/she supports senior leadership, board members and volunteers in donor engagement and fundraising activities.
• He/she shares knowledge and best practices and contributes to a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement. Governance, Compliance and Operations
• He/she ensures fundraising activities are conducted in accordance with organizational policies, legal requirements and ethical standards.
• He/she maintains accurate donor records and fundraising information within the organization's CRM system.
• He/she monitors fundraising performance and contributes to strategic planning and reporting.
• He/she handles sensitive and confidential information with professionalism and discretion.

CANDIDATE PROFILE Required Qualifications and Experience

• University degree or equivalent professional experience.
• At least 7 years of experience in fundraising, philanthropy, partnership development, business development or relationship management.
• Proven experience building and maintaining long-term relationships with senior stakeholders, donors, foundations, corporations or strategic partners.
• Demonstrated success in securing significant financial commitments, partnerships or investments with a strong track record of delivering against ambitious fundraising targets.
• Experience managing multiple stakeholder relationships simultaneously.
• Strong understanding of philanthropy and fundraising principles.
• Ability to work independently in a remote and international environment.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills.
• Fluency in English is required. Candidates must also have a native-level fluency in either French or German together with a strong professional command of the other language, enabling effective interaction with donors, partners and stakeholders across Switzerland. Knowledge of Italian would be considered a distinct advantage. Preferred Qualifications
• Experience working in an international NGO, foundation, philanthropic organization or missiondriven institution.
• Strong knowledge of the Swiss philanthropic landscape.
• Established network within the Swiss philanthropy, foundation and/or wealth management ecosystem, combined with a strong understanding of Switzerland’s culture of giving and the structures, decision-making processes and mechanisms that shape major philanthropic engagement.
• Ability to design and implement strategic fundraising and donor engagement plans.
• Strong influencing, negotiation and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience working in multicultural and international environments. Personal Competencies
• Strong relationship-builder with excellent interpersonal and listening skills, able to understand donor motivations, build trust over time and engage credibly with high-profile donors, senior leaders and influential stakeholders.
• Strong networking skills and proven ability to open doors and develop opportunities within Switzerland’s philanthropic, foundation and wealth-management communities.
• Strategic thinker with a proactive and entrepreneurial mindset, able to exercise sound judgement and work autonomously while remaining closely connected to a collaborative international team.
• Comfortable operating within a highly collaborative organisation that partners extensively with the private sector, financial institutions and corporate leaders to achieve conservation outcomes.
• Ability to navigate a complex international organisation, connecting donors with the most relevant experts, programmes and leadership stakeholders.
• Demonstrated cultural agility and ability to thrive in a diverse, international and predominantly Anglo-Saxon working environment.

Ability to manage multiple priorities, remain flexible and work effectively under pressure in a dynamic environment.

• High level of integrity, discretion and professionalism.
• Genuine commitment to TNC’s mission and the ability to represent its values with credibility and conviction. Travel and International Exposure The successful candidate will regularly travel throughout Switzerland and Europe to cultivate donor relationships, attend events and represent The Nature Conservancy. As part of the European Philanthropy team, he/she will participate in annual strategy meetings in Europe and travel approximately once per year to the United States for collaboration and planning with global colleagues. In addition, the role may offer opportunities to accompany donors on visits to conservation projects around the world, providing direct exposure to the impact of The Nature Conservancy's work and helping deepen donor engagement. WHY JOIN THE NATURE CONSERVANCY? The Nature Conservancy has developed one of the most successful fundraising organizations in the world. Supported by a global community of more than 350 philanthropy professionals and an extensive infrastructure of donor engagement, research, stewardship and communications specialists, TNC provides fundraisers with an unparalleled platform for success. The successful candidate will join a highly respected European team of senior philanthropy professionals with extensive experience of working with UHNW individuals and foundations characterised by strong collaboration, generosity of spirit and a shared commitment to excellence. He/she will benefit from the collective expertise, resources and best practices of one of the largest and most accomplished philanthropic communities in the nonprofit sector. For an experienced philanthropy professional, this is a rare opportunity to focus on what matters most: building trusted relationships with donors, connecting them to inspiring conservation solutions and creating lasting impact on a global scale. HOW TO APPLY Please submit the following by 19 July 2026 (midnight CET) to contact@headtohead.ch, with “TNC_Philanthropy” in the subject line:
• CV highlighting achievements, education, and qualifications
• Motivation letter addressing the role requirements
• Current salary, notice period, and contact details of two referees (referees will only be contacted with your prior consent). Please do not wait until the deadline to apply, as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis

Who We Are

The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our mission and guided by our values, which include respect for all people, communities, and cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s many reasons to love life inside TNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube to hear stories from staff or visit Glassdoor .

One goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. In addition to the requirements in our job postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job and consider each applicant’s unique experience. Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you’ll join for the mission, and stay for the people.”

What We Bring

Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can believe in. Through grassroots action, we have grown from a small non-profit into one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and partners, we impact conservation around the world!

TNC offers competitive and comprehensive benefits packages tailored to the individual countries where we work. These may include health care benefits, retirement benefits, parental leave, paid time off, life insurance, and disability coverage as well as an employee assistance program and other life and well-being benefits. Learn more about our Benefits and Perks here .

We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports the health and well-being of the people we employ.

Our recruiting process includes a rolling interview process to ensure we engage applicants in a timely manner. This means we may review applications in the order in which they are received. Once a strong candidate pool is identified, the role will be unposted. The timeline may vary depending on the expressed interest in the role, so we highly encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible.

Employees must submit their application by logging into Workday and applying via the Jobs Hub.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to equal employment opportunity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process.

TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to applyhelp@tnc.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.