Head of finance jobs for the Environment sector
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About GSG Impact
GSG Impact is a global network of National Partners working to build impact economies that mobilise capital for measurable social and environmental impact. Through its network spanning more than 48 countries, GSG Impact works with governments, investors, regulators, development finance institutions, and ecosystem actors to strengthen the enabling conditions for impact-oriented economies, where capital flows to create positive social and environmental outcomes.
Position Summary
The Head of Fundraising will lead GSG Impact’s fundraising function at a critical stage of organisational growth and income diversification. The role is responsible for delivering GSG Impact's fundraising strategy, supporting the achievement of annual income targets of approximately £3 million per year, converting strategic priorities into fundable propositions, and building the systems, processes, relationships, and team capabilities required to secure sustainable long-term funding.
Working closely with the Chief of Engagement and Strategic Partnerships, senior leadership, fundraising team, Trustees, and National Partners, the Head of Fundraising will oversee the development of a diversified funding portfolio and will be responsible for building and managing a robust fundraising pipeline, strengthening donor stewardship, improving cost recovery, and ensuring fundraising activity is aligned with organisational priorities and financial sustainability goals.
This role requires a proactive fundraiser who can originate opportunities, open senior relationships, develop compelling narratives, lead complex proposal processes, and create a culture of shared fundraising responsibility across the organization.
Key Responsibilities
Business development, Prospecting and Pipeline Conversion
Build and maintain a prioritized list of top institutional, philanthropic, bilateral, multilateral, DFI, corporate, and family-office, and high-net-worth prospects aligned with GSG Impact's strategic priorities.
Proactively identify, research, qualify, and cultivate new prospects, with a particular focus on funders aligned with impact economies, domestic capital mobilisation, climate adaptation and resilience, impact transparency, policy reform, investment vehicles, and emerging markets.
Develop and manage a rolling pipeline of high-quality funding opportunities, moving prospects from initial identification through cultivation, concept development, proposal submission, negotiation, and grant close in collaboration with programme staff and National Partners.
Translate GSG Impact’s strategy into compelling fundable propositions, including unrestricted/core support, restricted programme grants, regional funding, National Partner support, and special initiatives.
Personally lead the development and conversion of the highest-value opportunities, especially prospects requiring senior-level cultivation.
Identify and develop new revenue opportunities, strategic partnerships, and funding models that support GSG Impact's long-term sustainability and income diversification
Proposal Development and Grant Acquisition
Lead the development of high-quality funding proposals, concept notes, and donor engagement materials.
Ensure strategic alignment of all proposals with organisational priorities and donor interests.
Ensure all proposal budgets meet or exceed GSG Impact's cost-recovery targets
Set and ensure implementation of standards for proposal quality, narrative framing, and budget methodology across the fundraising team
Donor Management and Stewardship
Support the Chief of Engagement and Partnerships with relationship management of GSG Impact's most significant donors and strategic prospects
Lead the annual stewardship strategy, ensuring renewal and growth of key funding relationships
Oversee narrative and financial reporting, ensuring high quality, consistency, and timeliness
Functional Leadership
Manage the fundraising team, providing coaching, oversight, performance management, and professional development
Ensure compliance with Fundraising Regulator, GDPR, and relevant UK legislation
In collaboration with colleagues across the organisation monitor and update the information in CRM for fundraising contacts and other relevant information.
Implement strong financial tracking, reporting, and forecasting processes
Foster a culture of fundraising responsibility across GSG Impact teams
Innovation & Growth
Identify new funding opportunities and diversify income streams
Explore digital fundraising and emerging trends
Drive continuous improvement in fundraising performance, effectiveness and operational excellence.
External Representation
The Head of Fundraising plays a key role in relationship management with GSG Impact's most significant funders and prospects. They represent the organization at key sector events and convenings as delegated by the Chief of Engagement and Partnerships.
Qualifications
Demonstrable track record of originating new donor relationships and converting them into six- or seven-figure grants.
Experience in building prospect pipelines from a limited starting base.
Strong understanding of institutional philanthropy, bilateral and multilateral funding, DFIs, and/or impact investing funders.
Proven ability to develop fundable propositions from complex, technical, organisational strategies, including on policy, systems-change, market-building, or ecosystem-development initiatives
Experience working directly with CEOs, Boards, Trustees, or senior principals on donor cultivation.
Strong commercial discipline: pipeline management, probability weighting, forecasting, and cost recovery.
Ability to write or lead the development of high-quality proposals under tight timelines.
Competencies
Alignment with GSG Impact mission and values
Proven fundraising track record in international development, impact investment, philanthropy or social sector
Strategic thinking and fundraising planning
Senior donor relationship management
Team leadership and coaching
Strong written communication and proposal development
Budget and cost-recovery literacy
Collaborative working style
How to apply
Please send your CV and a covering letter of no more than two pages outlining how your skills and experience meet the essential criteria for this role.
The deadline for applications is 5pm on 22 June 2026.
We are committed to equality and diversity of opportunity and positively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. All applicants will also be asked to complete a short equality and diversity monitoring form, which is held separately from your application and plays no part in shortlisting decisions.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
The Woodland Trust is looking for a Funded Projects Officer to aid the success of our project delivery.
The Role:
• Aid the successful delivery of projects through the development of realistic project budgets that inform internal decision-making and strengthen funding applications.
• Monitor income and expenditure against approved budgets, highlight risks and implications, and help ensure the Trust remains in a healthy financial position.
• Maximise grant income through organised grant claims, good funder relations and effective negotiations.
• Report on restricted income within projects, feeding into budgets, forecasts and year end requirements.
• Manage complicated funding packages, whilst avoiding double funding, and coordinate claims and reports for multi partner projects.
• Ensure compliance with funder, Trust and statutory requirements, including VAT, procurement and funded-project guidance.
• Produce financial and written reports for internal decision-making and for updating funders, project teams, management and senior leaders.
• This is a hybrid position with a mix of home working, and from our head office in Grantham, Lincolnshire. Head office attendance would be required no more than once a month on average.
• This is a fixed term contract until March 2027.
The Candidate:
• A confident communicator able to listen, interpret, challenge, influence and explain complex financial principles to non-experts.
• Experienced in the development, production and monitoring of project budgets, including analysing implications, risks and assumptions.
• Skilled in project management, delivery and grant management, ideally across multiple projects at any given time.
• Able to develop and deliver high quality numerical and written reports, ensuring accuracy and spotting potential risks.
• An understanding of funder rules, requirements and funding opportunities, maintaining good working relationships with funders.
• Able to consider the impacts and implications of projects on Trust budgets, resources and funds, contributing to accurate reforecasting.
• Experience working in a similar role or fundraising-related role in the charity sector would be advantageous.
Benefits and Wellbeing:
Joining our team means you’ll be a big part of tackling environmental and climate issues. We take good care of our staff, offering support and training opportunities. We also offer:
• Enhanced Employer Pension
• Life Assurance
• Flexible & Hybrid Working Options
• Generous Annual Leave - 25 Days Plus Bank Holidays (pro rata’d for part-time)
• Buy and Sell Holiday Scheme
• Enhanced Parental Pay
• Employee Assistance Programme
About Us:
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity. We want to see a world where trees and woods thrive for people and nature. The Trust engages and inspires people to make their difference tackling the nature and climate crisis helping protect, restore and create our vital woods and trees.
Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion:
To achieve our vision of a world where woods and trees thrive for people and nature, we need to better reflect society and the communities we work in. All people, no matter their background, identity, ability, or circumstance, should benefit from trees.
People of colour and disabled people are currently under-represented across the environment and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we particularly encourage you to apply.
Please contact us to discuss any additional support or adjustments you may need to complete your application.
Application Advice:
For fairness we keep our candidates’ personal details hidden from the hiring managers, and we
Make sure that your Personal Statement clearly shows how your skills and knowledge link to the specifications in the job description and you share with us your passion for the role. Even if you don't meet every requirement of the role, we would encourage you to apply.
Acceptable Use - Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We understand that candidates may choose to use AI tools to support their job applications-for example, to help structure or edit written responses. We welcome the use of AI in this way, particularly where it helps improve accessibility, such as for neurodivergent applicants. However, we ask that any information submitted reflects your own experience, skills and understanding. During interviews, candidates are expected to respond independently without the use of AI tools.
Apply Now:
If you're ready to make a difference and grow with us, send in your application today. We might close the job opening early if we get a lot of applications, so it's a good idea to apply soon. If we do close the advert early, and you have an application in process, we will email you prior to closing to give you time to complete.
1st stage interviews are to be held via MS Teams on June 23rd & 24th, with 2nd stages on June 25th.