POSITION TITLE: Senior Development Officer

LOCATION: Remote, USA (specific states listed below), Washington D.C., or Geneva, Switzerland. Must possess valid work authorization.

SALARY RANGE: $75,000-$90,000 (12.5% increase applies in Switzerland)

DEADLINE: The priority application deadline is July 6, 2026. Applications submitted after that may not be reviewed

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION:

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) uses the power of law to protect the environment, promote human rights, and ensure a just and sustainable society. We work at the intersection of environmental protection and human rights, across sectors and borders, and in close collaboration with global partners and local communities to defend the right to a healthy planet.

The Senior Development Officer plays a critical role in advancing CIEL’s ambitious fundraising agenda by building new relationships with foundation and government funders, composing grant proposals and reports, and working with program and finance staff across the organization to advance fundraising strategy.

The Senior Development Officer will draft and refine grant narrative content for a robust (primarily foundation-based) portfolio throughout the entire grant life-cycle, including prospecting, developing proposals, monitoring progress on grant awards, reporting, and renewals. The Senior Development Officer will craft high quality, accurate, and persuasive proposals and reports and ensure all proposal and reporting requirements are met.

This position will work closely with Leadership and Program staff to develop and sharpen strategies and clearly and compellingly convey CIEL’s work and impact for both general operating and project grants. The successful Senior Development Officer will contribute to the growth and retention of funding by collaborating with program staff to steward current funders while also identifying and cultivating new foundation prospects. They will maintain a funder portfolio, keeping many projects moving at once, and balancing numerous priorities and emerging opportunities while meeting firm deadlines.

This position will require excellent writing ability, capacity to receive and integrate written and verbal feedback, strategic thinking, and deep commitment to CIEL’s mission, values, and goals. This position is included in the CIEL staff unit of the Washington Baltimore News Guild union.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Grant Writing (60%)

Develop and write compelling, substantive, outcomes-oriented, grant proposals and reports, collaborating across programs to develop project narratives, objectives, and deliverables that are aligned with CIEL’s mission, strategic priorities, and capabilities.
Coordinate with the finance department to meet grant budgeting and reporting deadlines.
Collaborate with relevant staff to align donor interest with grant deliverables, distill relevant material for proposals and reports, coordinate the drafting processes and review loops, and deliver high-quality, timely final products to foundation and government funders.
Ensure compliance with all relevant internal and external deadlines and standards.

Portfolio Management (35%)

Maintain a portfolio of institutional donors, working in collaboration with Leadership and program staff to grow these relationships and maximize funding potential.
Identify new prospects and create engagement strategies to cultivate foundations donors and secure additional support.
Ensure timely submission of proposal, renewal, and reporting requirements for current and potential grants (both project-based and general operating support)
Contribute to and support processes and procedures that improve the efficiency of the development team and its interactions with the rest of the organization.
Update records and information within CRM system.
Organize all grant files according to established protocols.

Administration (5%)

Maintain timesheets and submit them on time.
Meet periodically as requested, with supervisor and other team members.
Participate in weekly staff and team meetings and other organizational activities, including an annual staff performance evaluation.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum Qualifications:

At least 5 years of professional experience in an institutional development/fundraising role.
Proven experience securing grants in mid to upper six-figure range and managing a portfolio of grants with competing deadlines.
Strong grant writing skills including past experience with grants for projects and general operating support.
Ability to understand and interpret grant budgets.
Exceptional communication skills and attention to detail, including the ability to articulate complex subject matter clearly and compellingly both in writing and verbally.
Ability to successfully work on multiple priorities concurrently, including having strong planning and organizational skills, and ability to work well under pressure.
Ability to work and communicate effectively with people of different backgrounds, lived experiences, and communication styles.
Sound judgment in handling confidential donor information.
Ability to work both independently and in close coordination with a team.

Desired Qualifications:

Experience with CRM maintenance and use, such as Blackbaud products.

Experience in an organization with offices in multiple countries.
Past experience in a remote work environment.
Comfort leading meetings to discuss complex strategies and impact with managers across teams.
Experience with Google Suite (including Docs and Sheets) and Asana project management software.
Project management experience.

Center for International Environmental Law jobs

Senior Development Officer