Head of Fundraising & Communications (England)
Ref: DEC20204748
Location: Flexible in England
Salary: £48,848 - £54,231 Pro Rata
Terms: Contract, Part Time
Benefits: Pension, Life Assurance, Annual Leave

The Head of Fundraising & Communications is an exciting role that leads on communications, engagement (including volunteering, education families and youth) and fundraising in England in order to inspire people to save nature. It is a highly visible role where you can determine how the RSPB is viewed, supported and involved in movements to save nature.

This is a golden opportunity to join the largest voluntary nature conservation charity in Europe, consistently delivering successful conservation at scale, forging powerful new partnerships and inspiring others to stand up and give nature the home it deserves. It is a rare opportunity to be part of a job share (each 3 days a week) where you will lead on communications and engagement but have equal responsibility and oversight for the delivery of the whole role.

About this role

We are looking for an influential and transformational leader in communications and engagement to join our Country Leadership Team in RSPB England. You will also work with counterparts in NI, Wales and Scotland and RSPB Headquarters to develop plans to engage and empower people across the UK while adapting approaches to suit the context of England. This post is ideal for someone who enjoys creating strategies, developing people, teams and partnerships, a real team player who is unfazed by working in a busy team and who wants to build support for nature’s recovery and the RSPB.

The successful candidate will be an experienced leader with a strong track record who can work collaboratively to help shape RSPB's strategic direction in fundraising and communications. You will be able to inspire colleagues to meet ambitious communications, engagement and fundraising targets representing a renowned brand that is trusted by our members and supporters.

The primary purpose of the Fundraising & Communications team is to grow support – moral, financial and practical - for the RSPB in England and our mission of saving nature. The role delivers this in four main ways;

1. Working with other senior fundraising & communications professionals around the RSPB, including your job share partner, you will contribute to shaping the RSPB’s strategic programmes – for communications, income and engagement, contributing your enthusiasm, knowledge and understanding of the country context and audiences in England. You will ensure knowledge and decision making is integrated amongst peers across the organisation.
2. As member of the RSPB England Country Leadership Team, you will play a key role in developing and leading your own area of work while also working collaboratively and taking collective responsibility within the country leadership team for pan-England leadership, always striving to maintain high performance and a positive team culture.
3. As the leader of the Fundraising & Communications Function in England, you will jointly lead a team of staff based across England
4. As an influential advocate, the post-holder will develop strong working relationships that benefit nature with key audiences in sub-national government, statutory agencies, funders and communities and build partnerships that enable RSPB to have greater impact for our mission, through working with others

What we need from you

The Head of Fundraising & Communications England (Job share), will require an individual who can demonstrate functional knowledge and experience and an understanding of country specific obligations arising in a range of areas including:

• developing and delivering our youth and volunteering objectives in a safe environment
• communications and media engagement and reputational risk management;
• promoting brand development/audience awareness;
• leading teams who provide support and advice to colleagues based in area and site teams on
• nature reserves;
• partnership working with wide variety of organisations and funders; and
• understanding of the ability to meet ambitious fundraising targets while complying with regulatory standards and data protection, in support if your job share partner who will lead this area.

We are seeking candidates with the following skills and experience

Essential

• Proven experience of operating at senior management level, including leading change initiatives and development of strategy
• Proven experience of leading, managing and developing teams of staff
• Proven experience of managing brand and corporate communications at senior level, including media relations and issues management
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and able to present, influence and represent the organisation to a wide variety of audiences including experience of advocacy and influencing to a senior level
• Problem solving skills, showing innovation and creativity
• Sound understanding of the people and places of England
• Able to provide a calm influence while managing priorities to meet deadlines
• Experience or understanding of activities/delivery models to engage diverse audiences
• Interest in and commitment to RSPB’s conservation mission
• Demonstrable experience of developing, implementing and monitoring strategies, business plans and budgets
• Able to occasionally flex working days to join priority team events, and ability to work occasional weekends, evenings and stay nights away from home, by prior arrangement

Desirable

• Demonstrable track record of managing a diversity of income streams (e.g. grants, community fundraising, individual donors);
• Knowledge of fundraising standards, safeguarding and safety compliance in the workplace
• Professional qualifications in communications or fundraising and membership of relevant professional bodies
• Experience of commercial sponsorship or corporate partnerships
• Planning, developing and implementing campaigns or other activities designed to raise profile or generate support
• Knowledge of nature conservation and wildlife, particularly of England
• Experience of working in a multi-functional or UK/international organisation

This role is a Maternity cover working 22.5 hours per week.

Closing date: 18 January 2021

TO APPLY AND FOR MORE INFORMATION:

If you would like to find out more about this position and to apply, please click the Apply button to be directed to our website where you can download the role profile and complete the online application.

When you make your application please ensure you include reference number DEC20204748 on all correspondence.

No agencies please.