Director of Development

Overview

Title: Director of Development (listed internally as Director of Organizational Development)

Reports To: Executive Director, Liz Ricketts

Location: Remote with travel to Ghana, Europe, and the US

Salary: $108,000-$132,000 USD

 

ABOUT THE OR FOUNDATION:

Since 2011 The Or Foundation has worked at the intersection of education, environmental Justice and fashion development to identify and manifest alternatives to the dominant model of fashion, alternatives that bring forth ecological prosperity as opposed to destruction to allow citizens to form relationships beyond their role as consumers. Today this work is centered primarily in Accra, Ghana, where we operate in solidarity with the world’s largest secondhand clothing market to catalyze a Justice-led circular textiles economy. Our team of 40 people work across three different levels of programming. We offer critical relief to members of the secondhand market ecosystem in Accra, from direct grants to help rebuild after fire outbreaks to wrap-around job training and immersive support for young women to transition out of conditions of modern day slavery. We develop and bring to life new pathways to transform waste material into economically and ecologically useful products and systems, from business incubation for upcyclers to experimental design with bioreactors. And we conduct extensive environmental and socio-economic research to inform strategy, policy and action at both the local and global level, bringing awareness of waste colonialism into classrooms, boardrooms and legislative sessions through media, scientific publication and delegation trips that build bridges beyond single stories and across perspectives.

Our team is as diverse as our programming, with many members joining the organization directly from within our communities of impact, some members coming from throughout Ghana, and others coming from the Netherlands, France and the USA, including our co-founders. We are registered as a not-for-profit in both the USA and Ghana. The Director of Organizational Development will most likely work remotely, though immersion in our work on the ground in Ghana will be required for a period.

As we continue to expand on our tangible impact in Accra, as we amplify our international advocacy, and as we build new coalitions to seek reparative environmental justice both in Accra and around the world, we are looking for an inspired individual to lead our organizational development efforts. This person will be responsible for raising funds to move our work forward and for supporting related political campaigning efforts toward long-range systems to address the ecological loss and damages caused by rampant overproduction and overconsumption. This new position will report to the Executive Director and will interface with the Executive Producer and the Board of Directors.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

While the role may evolve as the organization continues to grow, the Director of Organizational Development will:

• Lead fundraising effort to identify and pursue grant opportunities amounting to at least seven figures in the first year.
• Build a database of funders and nurture organizational relationships to support long-range vision.
• Oversee grant administration and relevant communications with appropriate implementing teams and departments within the organization.
• Engage in high-level policy discussions and stakeholder sessions, particularly as related to Extended Producer Responsibility programs.
• Follow up on and independently pursue potential corporate collaborations and sponsorships.
• Support long-range visioning and planning processes with other members of the organizational leadership team and the Board of Directors.
• Support financial decision making and accounting processes.
• Support institutional collaborations with fellow not-for-profits and advocacy groups as relevant.
• Help identify potential new hires and provide mentorship to select team members to strengthen internal capacity on measuring and reporting impact.
• Maintain a deep and up-to-date understanding of organizational mission, theory of change, projects and programs.
• Serve as a professional representative of The Or Foundation in a variety of settings, including at public events and in media.
• Travel to Ghana 2-3 times per year for extended periods of time and to other locations as required.

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

• The ideal candidate will have an understanding of fundraising methodologies – from large institutional grants to family foundations and corporate collaborations – developed through 3-5 years of work experience most recently in a management position in an environmental or human rights not-for-profit.
• The standout candidate has a network of funders including corporate foundations, individuals, family offices, etc. and experience on a fundraising team raising more than five million dollars annually.
• A background in policy, such as a masters degree in public administration or a related field is ideal but not required.
• Demonstrated international experience, particularly on the Continent of Africa, is strongly preferred.
• Fluency in English and strong communications skills, both written and verbal, are required.
• While the position is remote, the ability to travel, including to Ghana, Europe and the USA, and an interest in systemic transformation are essential.

Don’t quite meet the above qualifications but feel like you could be a strong fit for the role? We would love to still hear from you and encourage you to apply!

 

SALARY: The position offers health insurance and a salary between US $108,000 and $132,000 depending on experience.

 

 

This search is being led by NRG Consulting Group. Please reach out to jobs@nrgconsultinggroup.org for more info.