[Hiring] Lead Advisor, Development @Environmental Defense Fund

Role Description

The Lead Advisor, Development would work under the leadership of EDF’s Chief Advisor, India and in close collaboration with the global EDF Development team to raise the resources necessary to support EDF’s goals and objectives for India.

The Lead Advisor, Development will be responsible for:

• Identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding high-net worth individuals, foundations, and corporates.
• Developing the organisation’s donor pipeline in India.
• Managing a portfolio of donors and prospects throughout India.
• Working closely with senior professionals in the global EDF Development team to create fundraising strategies for non-India based donors interested in India.

The ideal candidate should demonstrate:

• Intellectual curiosity for EDF’s mission, programs, and unique selling points.
• Experience in successfully fulfilling a similar role in non-profit, higher education, or healthcare development, or in the family office arenas.
• Ability to work collaboratively and strategically with regional leadership and the wider Development team across the organisation.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 10 years of demonstrated success in front line fundraising. Master’s degree or equivalent may substitute for up to 2 years of relevant work experience.
• Deep understanding of the donor landscape in India, including the behaviours and motivations of Indian philanthropists.
• An extensive professional network and a demonstrated ability to cultivate and expand new networks.
• Proven expertise in developing and executing effective donor cultivation, stewardship, and solicitation strategies.
• Ability to represent EDF in India as an independent and genuinely Indian organisation, while remaining fully aligned with EDF’s global mission, values, and strategic priorities.
• High level of comfort engaging directly with donors, including discussions involving personal and family financial considerations.
• Demonstrated creativity, energy, confidence, and integrity, along with exceptional discretion and respect for donor privacy.
• Experience using fundraising databases and CRM platforms, such as Salesforce, to track donor engagement and manage pipelines.
• Strong commitment to EDF’s mission, values, and impact-driven approach.
• Fluency in English and Hindi, with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong initiative and independence, combined with the ability to work collaboratively as part of a global team.
• Proven capacity to operate autonomously and to collaborate productively across multiple offices and time zones.
• Strategic thinker with strong big-picture perspective and problem-solving capabilities.
• Highly self-motivated, exceptionally well organized, collegial, and able to perform with professionalism and composure under pressure.
• Demonstrates self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across all cultures and backgrounds.

Requirements

• Frequent travel in India and occasional international travel, including to the United States.

Benefits

• Strong total rewards package encompassing competitive salary, robust benefits, and professional development opportunities.
• Consideration of factors such as candidate experience, skills, training, internal team equity, and local norms.
• Salary range: 4,500,000 - 5,500,000 INR.