Senior Donor Communications Officer - The Nature Conservancy
About this role
Selection process developed by matteria
Location and Work Mode
Remote role based in Argentina or Mexico.
Who we are
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a global environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature thrive. Founded in 1951, TNC advances conservation with the support of more than a million members and the work of over 400 scientists, impacting conservation in +80 countries and territories.
Our impact
Since its founding in 1951, The Nature Conservancy has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Some key accomplishments include:
80+ countries and territories where TNC impacts conservation.
125M+ acres of land protected.
400+ scientists on staff.
1M+ members supporting our mission.
Purpose of the Position
The Senior Donor Communications Officer translates TNC's conservation priorities, results, and funding needs into compelling, donor-centered communications that support fundraising across Latin America.
As a strategic partner to the Director of Donor Communications, the role leads complex, multi-country initiatives and strengthens the quality, consistency, and persuasive power of communications for major and principal gift audiences. It is a senior individual contributor role, reporting to the Director of Donor Communications.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic planning and advisory
Partner with the Director of Donor Communications to develop regional communications strategies, priorities, messaging frameworks, and content plans aligned with fundraising and conservation objectives.
Advise Development colleagues, conservation teams, and regional leaders on donor positioning, narrative strategy, audience needs, and communications opportunities.
Exercise independent judgment to resolve complex messaging challenges, reconcile competing stakeholder inputs, and maintain donor relevance, accuracy, and strategic alignment.
Represent Donor Communications in designated regional, global, and cross-functional initiatives, meetings, and planning processes.
Provide continuity and senior-level decision support to the Director within agreed responsibilities.
Donor communications and persuasive storytelling
Lead high-priority communications for donor cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, campaigns, and major or principal gift opportunities.
Develop or oversee funding proposals, concept notes, regional and country overviews, donor visit materials, stewardship reports, campaign collateral, presentations, impact reports, and leadership messages.
Translate complex conservation, financial, and programmatic information into accurate, engaging narratives that inspire philanthropic support.
Adapt messaging to donor interests, cultural contexts, audience needs, and stages of the fundraising relationship.
Ensure communications do more than report information: they must explain why the work matters and why donors should support it.
Project and stakeholder leadership
Lead complex communications initiatives from initial briefing and strategy through stakeholder alignment, execution, review, delivery, and evaluation.
Define objectives, audiences, deliverables, timelines, responsibilities, risks, and trade-offs.
Coordinate contributors across countries, functions, and seniority levels in a matrixed environment.
Influence without relying on formal authority, facilitate decisions, and maintain momentum when priorities compete.
Take ownership of outcomes end to end rather than limiting responsibility to an individual writing assignment.
Functional leadership and capability building
Strengthen editorial standards, regional messaging consistency, multilingual content practices, and donor communications workflows.
Provide mentorship, constructive feedback, and subject-matter guidance to communications and Development colleagues.
Identify opportunities to improve the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of content production, tools, systems, and processes.
Oversee relevant vendor relationships and support training and knowledge-sharing across the region.
Promote effective use of digital collaboration tools and AI-assisted content solutions while maintaining accuracy and institutional standards.
Multilingual and cross-cultural collaboration
Develop and review content in English, Spanish, and Portuguese according to audience and business needs.
Collaborate directly with colleagues in Brazil and other Latin American markets, including in conversations where English may not be the primary working language.
Navigate cultural and organizational differences to build trust, ensure local relevance, and facilitate alignment across regional and global teams.
Requirements and competencies to work with us
Education
Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Philanthropy, International Affairs, Conservation, or a related field.
An equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience may be considered.
Experience
At least 5 to 7 years of relevant experience in donor communications, fundraising communications, strategic communications, or a related field.
Demonstrated experience developing audience-focused communications that support fundraising, persuasion, engagement, campaigns, or other organizational objectives.
Experience leading complex cross-functional, regional, or multi-country projects from planning through delivery.
Experience advising senior stakeholders, influencing without direct authority, and aligning competing priorities.
Experience producing a range of communication formats, including proposals, presentations, reports, campaign materials, and strategic narratives.
Knowledge and Skills
Strategic communications planning and narrative development.
Fundraising communications, donor engagement, and persuasive writing.
Strong writing, editing, synthesis, and storytelling skills.
Ability to interpret scientific, conservation, financial, and programmatic information.
Project management, prioritization, and delivery across multiple workstreams.
Stakeholder management and facilitation in matrixed organizations.
Editorial quality assurance and multilingual content coordination.
Desirable: familiarity with content management systems, project management platforms, digital storytelling, and AI-assisted content tools.
Languages
English: Professional fluency, with very strong writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.
Spanish: Professional fluency, with very strong writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.
Portuguese: Advanced working proficiency sufficient to understand discussions, participate in meetings, and collaborate directly with Portuguese-speaking colleagues, particularly in Brazil.
Competencies
Strategic thinking: Understands the organizational and fundraising context behind each communication.
Donor-centered storytelling: Connects the work being done with donor motivations, interests, and potential contributions.
Ownership and proactivity: Anticipates needs, identifies opportunities, and drives work forward with autonomy.
Influence and collaboration: Builds alignment across cultures, functions, and seniority levels.
Adaptability and sound judgment: Manages ambiguity, competing priorities, sensitive information, and complex stakeholder dynamics.
Our team profile
The successful candidate will join an experienced, collaborative, and relatively horizontal team that values initiative, expertise, and constructive partnership over formal hierarchy. They should be comfortable operating as a senior contributor who can influence peers and support the team without relying on direct managerial authority. The team is looking for someone who:
Is curious about the work behind the message. Invests time in understanding conservation projects, funding needs, and organizational priorities rather than simply receiving a brief and producing copy.
Takes initiative. Anticipates needs, identifies opportunities, and contributes beyond narrowly defined assignments when the broader objective requires it.
Combines autonomy with collaboration. Owns deliverables end to end while involving the right stakeholders and respecting colleagues' expertise.
Navigates complexity diplomatically. Reconciles different perspectives, works across geographies, and builds trust without relying on authority.
Values quality and impact. Understands that communications must be accurate, engaging, and useful to the fundraising process, not simply well written.
Key interests for working with us
The team seeks someone motivated by the opportunity to connect philanthropic resources with meaningful environmental and social outcomes.
Relevant interests include:
Biodiversity conservation and ecosystem protection.
Climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Protection of land, oceans, freshwater, forests, and other critical natural systems.
Sustainable food and water systems.
The relationship between nature, community wellbeing, and long-term resilience.
The role of philanthropy and strategic partnerships in enabling conservation at scale.
Reasons to join our team
Mission-driven work: Contribute to a global organization working to conserve nature and address interconnected environmental challenges.
Regional reach: Support fundraising and conservation initiatives across diverse Latin American countries and cultural contexts.
Strategic influence: Help shape the narratives and communications practices that support major and principal gift fundraising.
Professional autonomy: Lead complex initiatives and exercise independent judgment in a senior individual contributor role.
Multidisciplinary collaboration: Work closely with Development, conservation, communications, and regional leadership colleagues.
Remote work: Work remotely from an approved location in Argentina or Mexico.
Relevant details before applying for this vacancy
Role scope: This is a senior strategic communications position with substantial hands-on writing and editing responsibilities. It is not exclusively a strategy or management role.
Sector flexibility: Candidates from agencies, corporate communications, campaigns, public relations, marketing, and other persuasive communications environments may be considered, even without prior environmental nonprofit experience.
TNC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and offers accommodations in the application process for qualified individuals with disabilities.
Originally posted on Himalayas
