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A rare and newly-created opportunity to join David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) as Director of Development at a pivotal moment of growth. As part of the Senior Mangement Team (SMT) you will help shape the future direction of the Foundation, leading its fundraising strategy, inspiring support and delivering significant and sustainable income growth.
We are looking for a collaborative team player, who leads with integrity, warmth and passion. Experience in the conservation sector is an advantage but not a prerequisite. The right candidate will be the person who can prove that they are able to ignite action, build lasting relationships and generate meaningful growth in support of the DSWF’s mission.
Throughout the interview process we’ll be keen to hear about your track record in fundraising at a leadership level and your experience of making an impact on an organisation of our size or larger. You will demonstrate how you develop strategies and implement them successfully, show an understanding of DSWF’s existing development portfolio, and a view on where you see you might help to take us over the next 3 years and beyond.
Application Process
To apply, please email a CV and supporting statement of no more than two pages no later than Monday 15th June.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Role: Director of Development (DoD)
Reports to: CEO
Works closely with: CEO/COO/CFO as part of the SMT
Line manages: Development Team: Development Manager, Trust and Foundations Manager, Development Executive, CRM Executive
Hours: Part-time, 28 hours per week (4 days)
Location: Hybrid working between the DSWF Shalford Office (GU4 8JU) for a minimum of two days per week (Tuesdays and Thursdays), and home with occasional travel
Annual Leave: 25 days per annum pro rata. Bank Holidays are also provided, and at DSWF’s discretion the office usually closes between Christmas and New Year (additional to annual leave)
Salary: Competitive executive-level salary dependent on experience and breadth of impact. Please ask for salary range on application.
Start date: Asap.
Summary of the Role
The Director of Development (DoD) provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all fundraising income and supporter engagement activity at DSWF. The role is accountable for delivering sustainable, diversified revenue growth aligned with DSWF’s mission across conservation, education and art, while building lasting relationships with major donors, trusts, foundations, corporate partners and senior supporters.
Working in close partnership with the CEO, COO, CFO, and Board of Trustees, the DoD translates organisational strategy into compelling Cases for Support, effective fundraising plans and measurable outcomes. The postholder leads and develops a high-performing Development team, ensuring strong delivery and continuous improvement.
As a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT), the Director shares responsibility for shaping the Foundation’s overall direction, contributing to governance, organisational culture and high-level strategic decision-making.
This is a pivotal position combining senior management with hands-on major gift fundraising and team leadership. Central to enabling the Foundation’s long-term impact and growth, the DoD is a driving force behind DSWF’s ability to successfully deliver its mission to protect endangered species in Africa and Asia.
Key responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
•Lead on the development, implementation, delivery and continuous refinement of DSWF’s multi-year Development strategy, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities and long-term financial sustainability.
•Advise the CEO and Trustees on fundraising performance, trends, risks and opportunities.
•Own and articulate the organisational Case/s for Support, ensuring a clear, compelling narrative that integrates conservation impact, education outcomes and artistic heritage.
•Working closely with the rest of the SMT, embed a culture of philanthropy across the organisation, enabling all team members, Trustees and ambassadors to actively support income generation.
•As part of SMT, be jointly responsible for over-arching decisions regarding the direction of the Foundation, its mission, strategies and culture.
Major & Strategic Fundraising
•Working closely with the CEO, cultivate, solicit and steward a portfolio of DSWF’s most significant donors and prospects, including major individual donors, trusts and foundations, legacy campaigns and strategic partners.
•Responsible, alongside the CEO, for the overall management of all corporate partnerships and sponsors.
•Design and lead bespoke solicitation strategies for new high-value prospects, involving the CEO, Trustees and senior colleagues as appropriate.
•Oversee the development of structured approaches to major giving, trusts & foundations, legacy giving and corporate partnerships.
•Have strategic oversight of lower-level individual giving programmes including appeals, regular individual giving and adoption schemes.
•Be responsible and ensure best practice in prospect research, due diligence, stewardship and ethical fundraising.
Team Leadership & Management
•Lead, manage and develop the Development team, setting clear objectives, KPIs and income targets aligned to the overall strategy.
•Ensure the structure, resourcing and capabilities of the team are fit for purpose and scalable as income grows.
•Coach and support all those within the organisation that are responsible for fundraising, providing professional leadership, mentoring and performance management.
•Lead on all training and offer career progression for all staff within the Development team.
•Foster strong collaboration between Development and all departments, including; Policy and Programmes, Marketing and Communications, Education, Art, Finance and Operations.
Supporter Engagement
•Represent DSWF externally with senior donors, partners and sector peers, enhancing the organisation’s profile and credibility.
•Oversee a high-quality supporter journey across all touchpoints, ensuring donors feel valued, informed and connected to impact including lower-level individual giving.
•Champion systematic all level stewardship, donor care and impact reporting to maximise retention, lifetime value and advocacy.
•Ensure accurate, GDPR-compliant data capture and effective use of CRM systems (Beacon) to drive insight-led fundraising.
Events
•This senior role will have overall responsibility for any fundraising or donor profile events (at present this would include the Wildlife Ball which is an annual fundraising/profile raising event that takes place at the Dorchester Hotel).
•Working closely with the rest of SMT, this role will direct the Development team to ensure that all events deliver optimum, high level donor experiences and are run professionally (with logistics and operational support from the COO and team).
•This role will have overall responsibility for ensuring the CEO has all information required to support engagement with donors at all events.
Governance & Reporting
•Report on Development performance to the CEO, SMT and Trustees, providing clear analysis against agreed targets.
•Work closely with Finance to support forecasting, budgeting and long-term income planning.
•Work closely with Finance and legal advisors in relation to all legal matters pertaining to legacies and bequests.
•Ensure all Development activity aligns with regulatory, governance and ethical standards.
Person Specification
Knowledge and Experience
•Significant senior leadership experience in fundraising and development within complex, mission-driven non-profit organisations, at Director level or equivalent, where philanthropy is critical to organisational impact and growth.
•Significant experience in leading and delivering long-term development strategies, with a demonstrable track record of translating organisational ambition into clear, costed and achievable fundraising plans.
•Proven ability to set strategic direction across multiple income streams, establish measurable objectives and KPIs and use data and insight to monitor performance, evaluate impact and adapt approach over time.
•Experience of driving sustained income growth, strengthening donor pipelines, and delivering measurable outcomes aligned to organisational priorities and long-term sustainability.
•Deep understanding of the UK philanthropic landscape, with well-established networks across major donors, trusts and foundations, corporates and high-net-worth individuals and the ability to build credibility and influence rapidly at national and international levels.
•Demonstrable experience of leading and scaling fundraising income through periods of organisational change, growth or strategic transformation.
•Proven track record of securing transformational gifts and long-term partnerships from individuals, corporates, trusts and foundations.
•Strong history of inspirational leadership, team building and talent development, with the ability to motivate teams towards ambitious shared goals.
•Experience of working with public sector stakeholders and cross-sector partnerships to advance organisational objectives.
•Experience of implementing and embedding robust CRM systems and donor stewardship frameworks to support data-led decision making and excellent supporter journeys.
Personal Skills, Qualities and Attributes
•Exceptional interpersonal, communication and relationship management skills, with the ability to engage, influence and inspire a wide range of stakeholders.
•A collaborative team player who values partnership working and shared success.
•Strategic, visionary thinker with the confidence and credibility to operate at senior leadership and Board level, influencing internal and external decision-makers.
•A strong personal commitment to wildlife conservation, environmental protection and the role of philanthropy in driving long-term change.
•Clear alignment with DSWF’s mission, vision and values, and a genuine passion for advancing David Shepherd’s legacy through impactful fundraising.
•Entrepreneurial and opportunity-led mindset, with the confidence to set and pursue ambitious income and growth targets.
•Resilient, adaptable and resourceful, with the ability to navigate complexity, manage ambiguity and maintain momentum in a fast-evolving environment.
•Credible and compelling ambassador for DSWF, able to represent the organisation confidently with major donors, partners and at public-facing events.
•Willingness to travel and attend events as required to support donor engagement, stewardship and organisational visibility.
•Commitment to being actively engaged in the life of the organisation, contributing to its culture, leadership and long-term success.
Please note that as part of a small team, the role may include occasional additional duties to help meet the charity’s wider needs.
Application Process
To apply, please email a CV and supporting statement of no more than two pages no later than Monday 15th June.
Registered Charity
11 - 20
We focus on saving endangered species and ending the exploitation of wildlife before it’s too late.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Project & Finance Officer
Location: London (Hybrid working – minimum 3 days per week in the office)
Salary: £30,000-£34,000 per annum, depending on experience
Contract: Permanent, Full-Time
Reports to: Director of Finance & Administration
About the Changing Markets Foundation
The Changing Markets Foundation was formed to accelerate and scale up solutions to sustainability challenges by leveraging the power of markets. We work to expose unsustainable corporate practices and drive systemic change across sectors, helping to shift markets towards more sustainable models. Through research, advocacy, communications and coalition-building, we work with partners around the world to influence businesses, policymakers and consumers.
We are a small, dynamic and mission-driven team, committed to creating meaningful impact. This is an exciting opportunity to join a collaborative organisation working at the forefront of sustainability campaigning and market transformation.
About the Role
We are seeking an organised, proactive and detail-oriented Project & Finance Officer to support the smooth day-to-day running of the organisation across finance, project coordination, fundraising administration and office operations.
This is a varied and hands-on role suited to someone who enjoys working across multiple priorities in a small, fast-paced NGO environment. The successful candidate will play an important role in supporting financial processes, grants administration, campaign delivery and organisational coordination, ensuring strong internal systems and effective operational support across the team.
The role requires excellent organisational skills, strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple workstreams independently.
Key Responsibilities
Finance & Administration
- Process staff expenses, credit card reconciliations and invoices in a timely and accurate manner.
- Support payment processing, including setting up bank payments as part of internal dual-control financial procedures.
- Assist with maintaining accurate financial records and supporting internal financial controls.
- Support during the audit by collating documentation, schedules and supporting information.
- Draft service agreements and support contract administration, including maintaining organised records and tracking approvals.
- Support organisational governance, including preparation for Board meetings, drafting agendas, compiling papers and taking minutes.
- Assist with general financial and administrative processes to support the smooth running of the organisation.
Fundraising & Grants Administration
- Set up, maintain and monitor a fundraising and grants calendar, including proposal deadlines, grant start and end dates, as well as financial and narrative reporting deadlines.
- Support donor communications, including individual giving administration and correspondence.
- Track grant and subgrant agreements, monitor signature status, and ensure fully executed agreements are appropriately stored and accessible.
- Support correspondence and administration relating to US foundations and other funders.
- Maintain accurate grant records and filing systems to ensure compliance and effective reporting.
Project & Campaign Support
- Support the delivery of the organisation’s campaigns and advocacy projects, primarily on methane, including coordination across workstreams and follow-up on agreed actions.
- Assist with website updates, newsletters and other communications materials.
- Manage correspondence with companies, policymakers, partners and other external stakeholders.
- Support campaign launches, including coordination of logistics, report production and visual materials.
- Help organise events, workshops and webinars, including technical and logistical support.
- Support partnership working on joint campaigns and advocacy activities, including administration of subgrants and partner coordination.
Office Operations
- Support the smooth day-to-day running of the London office.
- Organise internal meetings, staff activities and office logistics.
- Liaise with building management and service providers as required.
- Coordinate office procurement, supplies and mailings.
Person Specification
Essential
- At least 2–4 years’ relevant professional experience, ideally within an NGO, charity, public interest or mission-driven organisation.
- Experience supporting financial administration, including invoices, expenses, payment processing or financial record-keeping.
- Experience of project coordination, grants administration or organisational operations.
- Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Excellent IT skills, including Microsoft Office, including Excel/Google Workspace, and confidence working with databases and online systems.
- Ability to work independently, take initiative and problem-solve in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively within a small team.
Desirable
- Experience working in an NGO, campaigning or sustainability-focused organisation.
- Familiarity with grants cycle, donor reporting or fundraising administration.
- Experience supporting events, webinars or stakeholder engagement.
- Experience of board administration or governance support.
- Interest in sustainability, environmental issues or public-interest advocacy.
What We Offer
- The opportunity to contribute to high-impact sustainability and advocacy work.
- A collaborative and supportive working environment within a small, international team.
- Hybrid working arrangements (minimum three days per week in our London office).
- 25 days annual leave plus UK Bank Holidays
- Employer pension contributions of 4% of eligible salary
- Annual personal Health & Wellbeing budget (after probation)
- Private health and life insurance benefits reimbursement (after probation)
- Opportunities for professional development and learning.
Diversity & Inclusion
We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, communities and experiences.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.