Research and Development Associate jobs in Pittsfield, MA

Find full job description and application instructions at columbialand.org/jobs.

The Development Associate will play a crucial role in supporting the fundraising and donor relations efforts of the Columbia Land Conservancy. The successful candidate will work closely with the President, Donor Relations Manager, the Finance & Operations Team, and CLC’s Board to implement and execute fundraising strategies, engage donors, and contribute to the overall growth and sustainability of CLC. This position will also work closely with the Communications & Marketing Team. Key aspects of this role include supporting the President and serving as a liaison to the Board. The ideal candidate will have great organizational and communication skills. This position primarily works in-office with opportunities to support donor events in the field.

Duties and Responsibilities

Executive Support (30%):

• Provides administration, programmatic, and coordination support to the President including but not limited to: Plan, schedule, and coordinate meetings, appointments, conference calls, itineraries, and travel. Assists in the management of the President’s schedule and calendar. Assist with materials needed for presentations and meetings. Ensures that proper administrative records are kept and files are maintained in an orderly fashion.
• Provides support to the Vice President of Conservation mainly through the completion of the annual Payment In Lieu of Taxes and tax exemption forms.Database Management (25%):
• Supports the Donor Relations Manager in maintaining accurate and up-to-date donor records in the organization’s donor database (Raiser’s Edge).
• Generates reports and lists to assist with fundraising efforts and help keep the team on track to meet fundraising targets.
• Supports the Donor Relations Manager in wealth screening and prospect research.

Board Liaison (20%):

• Provides regular communication to the Board on key accomplishments of staff.
• Coordinates the on-site arrangements for meetings including food and drinks.
• Attend in-person quarterly board meetings (generally 1/2 day on Saturday).
• Assists in the development and posting of Board meeting agendas (via Govenda)
• Draft meeting minutes for all board meetings, including committee meetings.
• Sets up and manages remote/hybrid meetings, serving as the technical support for board members during such meetings.

Donor Relations (15%):

• Responds to inquiries, emails, and calls from supporters. Connect supporters with the appropriate staff and ensure there is follow-up.
• Works with the Donor Relations Manager to ensure all donors are thanked and recognized for their generous support.
• Meet and greet donors at fundraising events and other events as needed. Make each event participant feel appreciated and welcomed.
• Help ensure follow-up after each event.
• As skills grow and time allows, serve as the relationship manager for select donors.

Other tasks (10%):

• Assists in the coordination of all fundraising events (e.g. event set-up and take down, location review, working with vendors).
• Attend and assist with other events as needed.

Qualifications

Qualifications required to excel in this position can come from professional and lived experiences. Below we describe what we believe to be important qualifications for a candidate while remaining open to diverse backgrounds that can lead to these skill sets. Position descriptions are often presented in a way that leaves qualified candidates, particularly women, people of working-class backgrounds, people of color, and LGBTQIA applicants, feeling unwelcome, intimidated, uncomfortable, and/or unqualified to apply. Recognizing that, we strongly encourage anyone who feels passionate about this work and believes they have what it takes to thrive in this role to apply.

Essential Qualifications:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Outstanding organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple calendars.
• Eagerness to learn.
• Desire to communicate with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.
• Must possess discretion and maturity to handle highly confidential information.
• Passion for environmental conservation and the mission of the Columbia Land Conservancy.
• Commitment to CLC’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion values.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with Raiser’s Edge or similar donor relations software.
• Experience with fundraising events.
• Fluency in Spanish.

How to apply:

• Please submit a cover letter, resume, and three references to jobs@ColumbiaLand.org in a word or PDF format. Only electronic submissions will be accepted.
• Applications will be reviewed as they are received.
• Applications received by April 15 will be given preference.
• Interviews will begin the week of April 15. Questions will be provided in advance and initial interviews will be conducted by phone or on Zoom by a panel of staff.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $45,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 403(b)
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Relocation assistance
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Evenings as needed
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Ability to Relocate:

• Chatham, NY 12037: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person