Director of Advancement Operations and Administration

The New York Climate Exchange (“The Exchange”) is an exciting new nonprofit climate solutions center designed to build community, foster collaboration, advance climate knowledge, and empower marginalized communities through cross-disciplinary networking, impactful programming, and cutting-edge facilities. While The Exchange will have a physical presence on Governors Island, its spirit and influence will extend beyond the Island into New York City and, eventually, across the country and world. The Exchange’s diverse coalition of partners – committed and prepared to collectively disrupt the status quo – incorporates local and global perspectives on climate change from academia, industry, environmental justice, public health, and government. As the first of its kind, The Exchange will unlock integrated and scalable approaches to sustainability, ultimately serving as a global model for scalable and sustainable positive change.

The Exchange is a highly impactful and visible initiative, selected in April 2023 after a two-year global competition by the Trust for Governors Island and NYC Mayor’s Office to create a first-of-its-kind climate solutions center.

As the world rallies to face the consequences of climate change, the degree of public and private financial support already expressed for the important work of The Exchange is heartening. The Exchange secured a total of $160 million in philanthropic support as of September 2023, including a combined gift of $100 million from the Simons Foundation and Simons Foundation International, and $50 million from Bloomberg Philanthropies. Over an additional $300 million in philanthropy is needed in the next two years to successfully enable the capital and operating visions.

The Exchange seeks to recruit its first-ever Director of Advancement Operations and Administration to lead the auxiliary operations of its Advancement team. This is a unique opportunity to help build and lead a fundraising organization from the ground up in collaboration with diverse partner organizations focused on affecting real change battling the biggest crisis of our time — climate change. This role will be a key partner to The Exchange’s Chief Advancement Officer and will provide leadership for a portfolio of communications, prospect and data management, donor relations, and gift management functions that are critical to operating an efficient and effective advancement operation.

This position will require a seasoned, entrepreneurial advancement professional who wishes to play a key role in building a sophisticated and sustainable philanthropic model for an emerging organization. The Director will be adept in establishing and overseeing best-in-class advancement systems and processes as well as in providing compelling development communications.

The Exchange is committed to identifying a diverse hiring pool for the Director of Advancement Operations and Administration role.

While The Exchange will consider a broad range of backgrounds, the ideal candidate will have the following qualifications/experience:

• Commitment to, and passion for, the mission of The New York Climate Exchange.
• Minimum of five to seven years of progressively responsible experience in advancement services and operations, development communications, stewardship/donor relations, or grant writing.
• Experience with constituent database management preferred.
• Experience in a start-up environment is highly preferred, and experience working with climate/environmental initiatives is a plus.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in progressively responsible development leadership positions.
• Demonstrated knowledge of organizational mission and vision; demonstrated knowledge of structure, policies, and procedures.
• Strong operational and project management skills; strong organizational skills.
• Execution of planning regimen on an individual, program, and institutional partner level.
• Strong willingness to collaborate in a highly team-based environment; ability to build working relationships across the organization.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to prioritize workload according to volume and urgency.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to build, foster, and maintain positive professional relationships with colleagues, organizational partners, and external constituencies.
• Excellent writing, communication, proofreading, and editing skills.
• Knowledge of data analytics and demonstrated experience preparing, analyzing, and interpreting data.
• Bachelor’s degree.

The New York Climate Exchange provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Research indicates that men tend to apply for jobs when they meet just 60% of the criteria, while women and people from other marginalized groups only apply if they are a 100% match. If you are passionate about The Exchange’s mission and think you have what it takes to be successful in this role even if you don’t check all the boxes, please apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

You must be able to work in the United States as The Exchange does not yet have visa-sponsoring capabilities.

The Exchange has retained the DSG Fundraising & Advancement Practice of the Diversified Search Group to assist in this confidential search process. Inquiries, nominations, and applications (current resumes and cover letters) may be submitted via the following link or directed to the leader of the search team.

https://talent-profile.diversifiedsearchgroup.com/search/v2/21131

Gerard F. Cattie, Jr.
Managing Director and DSG Fundraising & Advancement Practice Leader
Diversified Search Group
The Chrysler Building, 405 Lexington Avenue, 49th Floor, New York, New York 10174
[email protected] | 212.542.2587