Head of Development

The Role Purpose: To lead and develop the Development Department, creating a step-change in fundraising capacity to meet the future development aspirations and priorities of The Auckland Project, both in terms of revenue funding (friends/membership scheme, donors, appeals, donations, gift aid, corporate giving, sponsorship etc.) and grants (charitable and public sector).    

Key Responsibilities:

- In conjunction with the Director of Engagement and the Leadership Team, develop an effective fundraising platform for The Auckland Project. This will include the establishment of a new Development Department to achieve, over an agreed period of time, an increase of income (revenue, grants, sponsorship).  However, the focus in the first 18-24 months will be creation of Friends Scheme and grants and charitable trust funding streams.

- In conjunction with Director of Engagement, set and deliver against all fundraising targets. 

- Prepare and submit external funding bids to support The Auckland Project’s activities and priorities.

- Support CEO, members of the Leadership Team, Founders and Board of Trustees to progress fundraising opportunities with high-net worth individuals and organisations.

- Produce high quality written proposals and make verbal presentations, face to face asks tailored specifically to meet donor’s personal interests 

- Lead on large funding proposals and applications.

- Line management of appropriate department staff, volunteers and consultants

- In conjunction with Commercial and Marketing and Communications Departments, take responsibility for organising and overseeing fundraising events.

- Ensure the dissemination of best practice across the Development Department, with particular emphasis on fundraising and stewardship standards.

- Responsibility for keeping up to date with fundraising trends and legislation and ensuring the team is compliant with GDPR and fundraising regulation.

- Being an ambassador for The Auckland Project and representing it at professional forums, networking and other key events.

- In conjunction with Marketing and Communications Department, oversee the development of a strong portfolio of fundraising literature (including digital).

- Maintain and keep up to date the appropriate section of the CRM system.  

Person Specification

Qualifications and Experience 

Essential
- Educated to Degree level or demonstrable experience in the development of Friends/Patrons Schemes and experience of a role of similar calibre

- Proven major grant/charitable trust funding success within a complex organisation

-Experience of working within a complex work environment with multiple stakeholders

- Knowledgeable about the charity sector

- Proven track record of building effective relationships with donors

- Proven track record of line management and development of a staff/workforce team 

- Demonstrable experience of setting, managing and delivering income targets - Experience of working with CRM systems in a start-up organisation  

Desirable

 - Experience of working in multi-site organisation

- Understanding of working in informal education learning/ community development

  - Experience of shaping and building a new department within a growing organisation 

-Entrepreneurial  

Skills and Abilities

 Essential

-Ability to think both strategically and tactically in the relations between grant makers/ potential donors and fundraising goals and to develop long term strategic fundraising relationships

- Ability to input into strategic planning and development 

-Ability to juggle multiple projects and prioritise own workload

- Excellent personal presentation, communication and social skills, both oral and written

- Ability to ask for, or arrange for others to ask for, significant gifts to enable the work of The Auckland Project to grow and develop 

- Ability to represent The Auckland Project at all levels with multiple stakeholders

- Ability to lead and motivate a workforce team, made up of staff, volunteers and consultants

- Exceptional communication skills with the ability to deliver inspiring succinct and clear communication to all audiences

- Excellent relationship management skills

- Ability to develop strategic thinking and plans  

Desirable 

- Good analytical and numeracy skills

-Ability to innovate