Job Profile:

Director of communications & Fundraising

Job Title: / Director of Marketing and Fundraising
Responsible to: / Chief Executive
Direct Reports / Membership Manager
Communications Manager
Fundraising Team
Events Manager
Location: / SWT Headquarters – Pirbright, Surrey

Overall Purpose of Job

The Director of Communications and Fundraising is a member of the Trust Leadership Team (TLT) and is responsible for ensuring that the three key Strategic Enablers which reside within the Department are clearly defined, strategically promoted and implemented to enable the achievement of the Trust’s Strategic Goals.

The Director is specifically responsible for Communication with Members, Stakeholders and general public, and securing Income from Membership Subscriptions and Fundraising.

The purpose of this role is to develop and deliver Fundraising, Membership and Communications strategies that support and drive forward the aims and objectives of the Trust. Key deliverables are clearly defined in Operational Plans in all three areas, and successfully meeting annual and long term income and fundraising targets.

Responsibilities

  • Support achievement of Surrey Wildlife Trust’s aims and objectives as identified in the Strategic Plan via:
  • Development and implementation of Membership Growth and Retention Strategy
  • Development and implementation of Fundraising Strategy
  • Development and implementation of Communications Strategy.
  • Manage the Department staff, budget, and tasks.
  • Play an active and influential part in the general management of the Trust.

Key Tasks

a)Provide clear and supportive leadership to the Membership, Communications and Fundraising teams. Motivate and develop staff and set work programmes to enable the whole department to meet its goals in the most effective manner.

b)Ensure that the Trust’s Communications, Membership and Fundraising Strategies are clearly defined, agreed by TLT and Trustees,and successfullyimplemented.

c)Identify and source new funding opportunities to support the Trust’s business plan. Ensure that fundraising targets and policies are clearly defined and establish a framework and programme to meet fundraising targets to provide longer-term future income for the Trust.

d)Act as part of the Trust Leadership Team, interacting with other Directors and Operational Managers to ensure the efficient running of the Trust, particularly in relation to matters that cross departmental boundaries.

e)Prepare and accuratelymanage Departmental budgets, to achieve Income and Expenditure targets.

f)Maintain high quality communication and engagement with Members, ensuring a high degree of satisfaction and positive feedback.

g)Maintain an engaging, varied and cost-effective range of Events for Members and the public to promote the work of the Trust.

h)Develop the value of the Trust’s website and use of social media.

i)Ensure the Trust is maximising potential Legacy income.

j)Ensure the promotion of a strong corporate image of the Trust, ensuring that the work and conservation messages maintain a high and positive profile across the county to support the Trust’s aims and objectives.

k)Ensure application of best practice and regulatory and legislative compliance within the Department.

l)Ensure that the Trust meets its health and safety obligations in relation to the specific activities of the department.

m)Support the Chief Executive and the rest of the TLT in developing a sustainable and progressive business environment.

n)Carry out all other such duties as may from time to time be determined by the CEO or Trustees.

Person Specification

EXPERIENCE

  • Minimum of 5 years successfully managing a team of marketing, communications and/or fundraising professionals.
  • Significant experience of developing successful campaigns for fundraising from a range of sources, especially major gifts, and achieving/exceeding targets.
  • Hands on involvement in the developmentand implementation ofstrategic plans and achievement oftime-dependent targets, including financial targets.
  • Planning, monitoring and controllinga significant Departmental Budget.
  • Dealing competently with a substantial amount of personal responsibility, delegated authority and autonomy.
  • Achieving a high level of impact on decisions both internally and externally.
  • Interaction with other organisations at a senior and executive level.

KNOWLEDGE

  • Degree-level qualification in a relevant discipline.
  • Good background, likely to be over 5 years, in marketing principles and practices, and public relations.
  • Excellent understanding of fundraising and partnership working.
  • Ability to interact confidently and professionally with all levels of external Business, Political and Funding contacts.
  • Knowledge of methods of planning work programmes, budget controls and staff management and development.
  • Experience of contributing to the planning and control of the organisation’s finances.
  • Keen interest in wildlife and environmental conservationis advantageous but not essential.
  • Understanding of legislation relating to charitable giving and financing.
  • Knowledge of business organisations and networks.

SKILLS

  • An excellent communicator, verbally and in writing across several media, to a wide range of people and organisations at all levels.
  • Ability to inspire and involve staff and external people in a cause.
  • Capable of prioritising effectively, responding to swiftly changing demands, and dealing with multiple complex issues.
  • Fluent in the use of main IT tools, including word processing, spreadsheets and databases.
  • Adept at allocating workloads, managing concurrent work programmes and projects in an effective manner, and managing and motivating staff and volunteers.

PERSONAL QUALITIES

  • A strong and personable leader to take the Trust confidently forward in Communications, Membership and Fundraising while integrating well into the Trust Leadership Team.
  • A good strategist, able to articulate what is required to take us forward into new opportunities, especially fundraising opportunities, and create practical plans to get there.
  • Good at finding sources of funding and able to raise funds in to enable us to move forward strongly.
  • A good manager with proven ability to handle multiple teams and drive plans forward by empowering staff.
  • Ability to inspire, lead, motivate and manage a team, and work co-operatively as part of a team.
  • A good budget manager, able to handle, control and report on a complex budget with multiple cost centres, income streams and externally funded projects.
  • A high level of commitment and enthusiasm, highly motivated, with a self-disciplined approach to work and an ability to organise others.
  • Innovative, imaginative and resourceful.
  • A flexible, professional and supportive approach.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • A full driving licence is required asit will be necessary to visit other Trust locations not easily accessible by public transport.
  • The nature of the role will involve commitment to deadlines and will, on occasion, involve some evening and weekend working.
  • The Trust works in a cooperative way with a high workload, and in order for the organisation to work effectively senior staff need to be willing, flexible and prepared to undertake other duties appropriate to the post as delegated by the CEO.