Executive Director

Executive Director

Faunalytics

Location: Remote (United States); must be eligible to work in the U.S.
Type: Full Time
Salary: $100,000 to $110,000
Sector: Animal Protection / Research
Website: faunalytics.org
Reports To: Board of Directors
Application Deadline: October 18, 2026

 

About the Organization

 

Faunalytics is a nonprofit research organization dedicated to helping animals by providing useful information to advocates so they can increase their impact. Faunalytics works behind the scenes to help advocates across the animal protection movement be as effective as possible.

 

Position Summary

 

The Executive Director leads Faunalytics with strategic vision, external presence, and operational accountability. The ED is the organization's chief executive, chief fundraiser, strategy lead, and primary ambassador to the animal protection movement. The ideal leader is as comfortable cultivating major donors as presenting research findings to advocates, and understands that Faunalytics' credibility rests on rigorous data as well as relationships, authenticity, and genuine commitment to animals.

 

Current Executive Director Brooke Haggerty will end her tenure on January 15, 2027. The organization is well established and financially stable, making this an exceptional moment for its next leader to shape the next chapter. The ED directly supervises the Research Director, Resource Director, People and Operations Director, and Philanthropy Manager.

 

Key Responsibilities

 

Movement Leadership and External Relations (15%)

 

• Serve as Faunalytics' primary external voice, building relationships with organizational leaders, funders, researchers, and advocates across the movement

• Represent Faunalytics at conferences, convenings, and public forums and contribute to movement-wide conversations on strategy, evidence, and impact

• Cultivate partnerships with aligned organizations, research institutions, and advocacy networks

• Maintain active engagement with the effective altruism and evidence-based philanthropy communities

 

Strategy and Organizational Direction (15%)

 

• Lead strategic planning with the Board Strategy and Impact Committee and senior staff, translating mission into multi-year priorities

• Translate strategic initiatives into implementation steps and milestones and lead goal-setting and progress reviews with direct reports

• Monitor trends in animal advocacy, philanthropy, research, and AI, and position Faunalytics as a thought leader

• Oversee monitoring, evaluation, and learning, including the organizational impact dashboard and regular reporting to the Board and stakeholders

 

Fundraising and Development (20%)

 

• Hold ultimate responsibility for fundraising outcomes as a core, permanent part of the role

• Collaborate with the Philanthropy Manager on annual fundraising strategy, grants, donor communications, and prospecting

• Set and execute fundraising goals, with accountability for meeting or exceeding revenue targets

• Lead major gift fundraising and personally steward a portfolio of high-value donor and funder relationships

• Conduct regular general and personal donor appeals and outreach

• Identify and pursue new revenue opportunities to diversify and grow the operating budget

 

Programmatic Oversight (15%)

 

• Oversee the independent research strategy with the Research Director, including the annual research agenda and approval of research proposals and budgets

• Facilitate coordination across departments and committees on cross-cutting projects and research dissemination

• Support senior staff in moving projects through key milestones and resolve resource or timeline concerns

• Evaluate and implement new programs aligned with strategic direction

• Ensure programmatic excellence through rigorous evaluation and quality standards

 

Board Governance and Relations (15%)

 

• Serve as primary liaison to the Board, keeping members informed, engaged, and effectively leveraged

• Work with the Board President to set agendas and facilitate twice-quarterly board meetings and manage committee structures

• Prepare and present board materials, including financial updates, program reports, and strategic outcomes

• Partner with the Board on recruiting new members to fill key skills and experience gaps

 

Financial Oversight (10%)

 

• Lead annual budget development with key staff and the Board Finance Committee and present the budget for Board approval

• Partner with the Operations and Finance Coordinator on financial operations, including Form 990, financial reporting, independent audit, fiscal controls, and insurance

• Work with the Board Finance Committee on asset management and allocation aligned with strategic priorities and long-term sustainability

 

Team Leadership and Culture (10%)

 

• Supervise four direct reports with clear direction, coaching, and accountability

• Oversee performance management, professional development, and organizational health with the People and Operations Director

• Support development and maintenance of organizational policies, manuals, and operational documentation

• Model transparent, values-driven leadership and sustain a meaningful, sustainable workplace

 

Qualifications

 

• Deep personal commitment to animal protection and to using research to increase impact for animals

• Five or more years of experience in animal protection and a genuine understanding of the advocacy landscape

• Professional experience in leadership, advocacy, philanthropy, research, or a related field

• Proven fundraising record, including cultivating and closing major gifts and fundraising at the $1M+ level

• Financial acumen to oversee a $1.5M budget, work fluently with financial reports, and hold fiduciary responsibility

• Demonstrated ability to build relationships with donors, organizational leaders, researchers, and community members

• Experience leading strategic planning and positioning an organization as essential to the solution

• Experience managing and developing a remote, mission-driven team

• Ability to set priorities, make sound decisions with incomplete information, and allocate limited resources

• Exceptional public speaking, writing, and relationship-building skills

• Understanding of the opportunities, limitations, and risks of AI, with experience applying it to strategy, research, or organizational processes

• Valid passport or willingness to obtain one, and ability to travel nationally or internationally approximately 4 to 5 times per year

 

Preferred Experience

 

• Prior experience as an executive director or in senior nonprofit leadership

• An existing network in the animal protection movement or aligned funding communities

• Familiarity with effective altruism, evidence-based philanthropy and advocacy, and research-driven organizations

• Conceptual comfort with research methodology sufficient to engage researchers and communicate findings

 

Benefits

 

Comprehensive benefits package designed to support team well-being.

 

Application Process

 

The process includes three interview rounds. Qualifying candidates will complete a five-hour work task, and candidates not selected will receive a $200 stipend for their time. Applications are redacted to reduce bias, so please do not include a headshot on your resume. Faunalytics cannot sponsor employment visas and participates in E-Verify.

 

How to Apply

 

Complete Faunalytics' online application form and attach your resume as a PDF by October 18, 2026. For accommodations or questions, contact board@faunalytics.org.

 

Equal Opportunity

 

Faunalytics is committed to equal employment opportunity and strongly encourages women, BIPOC, LGBTQ+ individuals, people living with disabilities, and people of varied national origins to apply, even if they don't meet 100% of the criteria.