Development Operations Associate

About Climate Central :

Climate Central is an independent group of scientists and science translators who research and report the facts about our changing climate and how it affects people’s lives. We use science and tech to generate thousands of local storylines and compelling visuals that make climate change relevant and show what can be done about it. We address climate science, sea level rise, extreme weather, energy, and related topics. We collaborate with journalists, TV meteorologists, and other respected messengers, reaching broad audiences through local voices in the US and 150 nations. Our research and visuals appear in thousands of TV spots and tens of thousands of other news stories each year, and our impact is growing.

About the role :

Climate Central seeks a Development Operations Associate to join a dynamic team at a time of new leadership and opportunity. Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, the Development Operations Associate will provide crucial database, research, and administrative support to the development team.

The successful candidate will be detail-oriented, thrive in a fast-paced work environment, excel at data tracking/ analysis and using technology, and have a passion for our mission. This person will also be a productive and creative problem solver.

Database Management

• Manage the development database in Salesforce, including:
  • Data entry (new donors, gifts, and opportunities)
  • Update contact information
  • Assisting with gift acknowledgment
  • Generate regular reports to ensure accurate revenue projects and progress toward team and individual goals
• Collaborate with the Finance team to reconcile data across Salesforce and accounting software each month.

Research and Administrative Support

• Support the Chief Development Officer by conducting research on prospective donors, developing donor briefs, drafting emails/ communications, conducting other meeting preparations, and scheduling calls, meetings, and follow-up.
• Lead prospect research efforts across verticals (individual, institutional, annual giving, etc.).
• Assist with the gift receipt process ( open/scan/circulate gift-related mail, acknowledgement letters).
• Support stewardship activities across the team.
• Provide support for virtual and in-person fundraising events, including:
  • Developing invitations and collecting RSVPs
  • Liaising with event speakers and guests
  • Scheduling and coordinating webinars and large online meetings
  • In-person event logistics (identifying venues, contracts and deposits, catering, liaising with event staff, etc.)
  • Coordinating any travel
  • Developing donor and prospect mailing lists for outreach
• Maintain organized departmental files, documents, and procedures.
• Maintain relationships with vendors and consultants, including Salesforce, database support, Classy, iWave, Foundation Search, and others.
• Drive organizational compliance with state charity regulations and maintain strong charity ratings across relevant platforms.
• Coordinate development team meetings and maintain the team calendar, including tracking all deadlines
• Monitor common email addresses and direct emails to the appropriate team member.

Other duties may be assigned as needed.

Required Skills and Experience:

Skills and Experiences

• At least two (2) years of experience on a fundraising team at a nonprofit organization
• Understanding of and/or enthusiasm to learn about climate science, environment, and communications space and increasing revenue to support social enterprises
• Creative, flexible, and entrepreneurial approach, with an orientation toward results and comfort establishing clear metrics and driving results according to plan
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy
• Outstanding organizational, communication, and time-management skills
• Strong customer service orientation, with the ability to connect with and provide support to our donor community
• Adept at Salesforce and Google suite; able to quickly learn new technology and incorporate it into the work
• Self-starter, able to work independently

Attributes and Competencies

• Eager to learn and natural curiosity/ interest in improving systems and processes
• Energetic, positive outlook
• Unquestionable integrity and commitment to professional ethics, and the ability to responsibly handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills; experience interacting with individuals from diverse backgrounds
• Able to undertake occasional evening and weekend work

Compensation: The expected base salary range for this position is $60,000-$70,000. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Climate Central offers generous benefits including:

• Medical benefits
• Dental/ Vision benefits
• More than 7 weeks of paid vacation and holidays available annually
• 12 weeks of paid family leave
• 401k with up to 12% matching
• Partial college tuition for children of employees who qualify

Location and employment eligibility: This position can be mostly remote, in accordance with Climate Central's organizational policy. Presence at headquarters or other U.S.-based locations is required for periodic team and organizational meetings, events, and convenings. Climate Central's headquarters are in Princeton, NJ. Candidates must be eligible for employment in the United States.

Equal Employment Opportunity at Climate Central: Climate Central is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and promotes a diverse and inclusive workplace. We do not discriminate against any applicant for employment or employee on the basis of race, color, religious creed, gender, age, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other classification protected by applicable discrimination laws.

How To Apply: Please apply via . Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis; candidates are encouraged to apply by October 10, 2025.

Please note that our application process requires the submission of a resume only. We are intentionally not asking for a cover letter, so please do not send one with your application.

When including your education history in your resume, please remove the name of your school from your resume. You may leave your degree (e.g., “B.A. Communication”), but please remove any undergraduate or graduate school names. This is one part of our effort to assess candidates against the essential qualifications for this role and to mitigate bias in the decision making process.

Due to the volume of employment applications and queries received, Climate Central is unable to respond to each application individually. Applicants will be contacted directly if selected as a candidate.