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Prospect Research Manager
Location: Head Office (Regents Park) - Hybrid
Department: Fundraising
Salary: £14,700 per annum (£36,750 FTE)
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Part-Time
Business Area: Enabling Functions and Professional Services
At ZSL, we are working to restore wildlife and create a world where nature thrives. To achieve this bold vision, we rely on the support of an engaged and growing community of philanthropists who share our passion for protecting the natural world. The Prospect Research Manager will be instrumental in identifying and unlocking the potential of these supporters.
This strategic role sits at the heart of our development team, building and maintaining a data-led pipeline of high-impact donors to advance ZSL’s conservation science, fieldwork, and education. By leading on prospect research, philanthropic analysis, and network mapping, the postholder will help ensure ZSL’s fundraising efforts are focused, proactive, and aligned with our organisational priorities.
Following the implementation of a new CRM system, the Prospect Research Manager will also play a key role in embedding best practices in data management and prospecting across the team. From crafting research tools to spotting new funding opportunities, this role will directly support the success of ZSL’s fundraising programmes and, ultimately, our mission to save wildlife around the world.
This is a part-time role, with the option of working either 2 days (15 hours) or 3 days (21.5 hours) per week. We are happy to offer flexibility across the working week, and the specific days and schedule can be agreed with the successful candidate to ensure a good fit for both the individual and the team.
There is an expectation to attend the office once per week as well as any required in person meetings.
The full-time equivalent (FTE) salary for this role is £36,750, which equates to a pro-rata salary of:
£14,700 for 15 hours per week
£21,045 for 21.5 hours per week
Key responsibilities:
Prospect Research & Pipeline Development: Conduct high-quality, targeted prospect research to identify and support new fundraising opportunities across ZSL’s priority income streams: institutional fundraising, individual giving, and corporate partnerships.
Strategic Prospect Development: Collaborate with the leadership team to shape and implement a robust prospect development strategy that aligns with ZSL’s organisational goals and long-term fundraising ambitions.
Insightful Donor Intelligence: Create detailed research briefings, biographies, and insight reports to support donor cultivation, stewardship, and strategic engagement planning.
Tools, Processes & Compliance: Support the continuous improvement of prospect management tools and systems, ensuring data accuracy, regulatory compliance, and adherence to relevant codes of practice.
About You
- Experience in wealth screening, capacity assessment and affinity analysis to provide propensity scoring.
- Knowledge of data protection regulations and how it applies to prospect research and development (e.g. GDPR and the Fundraising Regulator Code of Practice).
- Experience of successfully implementing a prospect development strategy to support increasing and diversifying income.
- Proven experience in identifying and conducting detailed research on high-net-worth individuals, trusts and corporates for the higher education / charity sector.
- Evidenced track record of supporting fundraisers with insights in fundraising to achieve six or seven figure donations.
- Experience of using databases within fundraising for prospect management and reporting and making appropriate data management recommendations (Tessitura would be an advantage).
- Knowledge of the principles of philanthropic analysis, relationship mapping and connections, and what makes a good fundraising prospect.
- Demonstrable ability to engage, share expertise, and appropriately challenge senior stakeholders, including CEO with strong interpersonal skills and discretion.
About Us
We’re ZSL, an international conservation charity. Through our unrivalled animal experts in our two zoos (London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo), the work of our pioneering scientists, our dedicated conservationists, our purpose is to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wild animals going extinct. Our vision is a world where wildlife thrives and we’re working every day to achieve this. From investigating the health threats facing animals, to helping people and wildlife live alongside each other, we are committed to bringing wildlife back from the brink of extinction.
What do we offer?
At ZSL, we are proud of our approach to employee benefits. Our benefits include:
- Our vision and purpose - you’ll work alongside colleagues who are passionate about science-led conservation, knowing that you will help us to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wildlife going extinct
- Pension scheme - we offer a generous pension scheme with up to 12% contributory pension
- Flexible working – talk to us about your flexible working requirements and we will do everything we can to make sure you work in a way that suits you
- Holidays – 25 days annual leave allowance, plus UK bank holidays
- Wellbeing – access to a blended programme of wellbeing initiatives, including confidential access to our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
- Life assurance – eligible employees will be enrolled in ZSL’s life assurance scheme from their first day
- Complimentary tickets – annual allocation of Whipsnade Zoo and London Zoo tickets, with a 30% discount in online and retail shops
- Cycle2Work - our cycle to work scheme enables you to lease a bicycle
- Season ticket loan - we offer an interest free loan for eligibly London-based employees to buy a season ticket for travel between home and work
- Family friendly policies – we offer enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption packages
Closing Date: 30th July 2025
NB: We reserve the right to close our advertisement early or extend the advertising date until a suitable candidate has been found.
Interested?
If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.
We strongly encourage applications from all backgrounds and celebrate the value of having a team of employees with diverse skills, experiences, and heritage. We are committed to ensuring our teams can bring their authentic selves to work without fear of discrimination. ZSL has active equality networks for our staff with lived experience and those who provide active allyship in Race and Culture, Team Pride, Disability Network, and Menopause Network, complemented by our strategic EDI Steering Group.
This role is subject to standard pre-employment checks, including the candidate's right to work in the UK.
No agencies please.
We're recruiting for an Engagement Lead, to work in our Innovation & Practice team.
As Engagement Lead you will play a central role in our team – developing, leading and managing significant projects for us, including citizens’ assemblies, citizens’ juries, deliberative workshops, and participatory processes. You will need to have a good understanding of deliberative processes, have excellent project leadership and project management skills, as well the ability to build and maintain good relationships with a wide variety of people, including members of the public, project partners, colleagues and decision-makers.
The role sits in the Innovation and Practice team that designs and delivers high quality practical engagement work leading to better decisions, more engaged citizens and helps address critical challenges of our society. We are constantly balancing high quality standards with innovation to ensure that we stay at the cutting edge and that our engagement processes break down entrenched inequalities of power.
You will be a proven project leader looking to make your next move and develop your leadership skills and profile in this interesting and important area of public participation work. We are particularly interested in candidates who have experience in the design and delivery of large scale deliberative engagement projects.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Special Events Coordinator (Fundraising)
Salary £31,000 - £33,000 per annum - subject to skills and experience
Hours of work 37.5 hours a week over five days (due to the nature of this role,
some anti-social hours working will be required)
Base Hybrid working for the foreseeable future, with attendance in the office two days a week, including one day being a Thursday at our central office:
· Pears Building, Pond Street, London, NW3 2PP
Other office days may be worked from our other sites at:
· Barnet Hospital, Wellhouse Lane, Barnet, EN5 3DJ
· Chase Farm Hospital, 127 The Ridgeway, Enfield, EN2 8JL
The role
The special events coordinator will report to the special events manager.
We have a great opportunity for an experienced and proactive special events coordinator to join our dynamic philanthropy & campaign team at the Royal Free Charity. This is a role for someone with proven experience of delivering high-quality events end to end - someone who thrives on the detail, keeps things running like clockwork and brings creativity and poise under pressure.
You will be instrumental in delivering bespoke, high-value experiences such as private dinners, small group tours, donor visits and our flagship annual event, The Marsden Lecture. These are carefully curated opportunities to inspire generosity and deepen relationships with key supporters. You will work closely with internal teams and senior stakeholders, so diplomacy, adaptability and strong interpersonal skills are essential. If you're looking to deliver purposeful work in a fast-paced, mission-led environment, we would love to hear from you.
Principal responsibilities
Event planning and coordination
· Develop event concepts and themes, create detailed event plans and coordinate all logistical aspects of events of events falling within the remit of this role.
· Work closely with the philanthropy and campaign team to design and implement special events that maximise fundraising potential.
Stewardship events
· Plan and manage events to acknowledge and appreciate donors, facilitating their continued support and engagement with the charity.
Engagement activities
· Organise and execute events that foster engagement and increase awareness of the charity's mission and goals.
Supporting the new cancer campaign
· Prepare for campaign events in support of a £50m campaign for a ground-breaking cancer centre on the Royal Free Hospital site.
Vendor management
· Whether on-site at one of our hospitals or at an external venue, take responsibility for sourcing, negotiating and managing relationships with vendors, including caterers, suppliers and on-site partners.
Budget management
· Create and manage event budgets, ensuring cost-effective solutions while maintaining high-quality standards.
Communications and promotion
· Collaborate with the communications team to develop promotional materials and strategies to maximise event attendance and engagement.
RSVP management
· Managing the RSVP mailbox, ensuring timely and accurate responses to event invitations and queries.
Database management
· Maintain and update event-related databases, ensuring accurate records of participants, donors and sponsors.
Relationship management
· Act as the main point of contact for colleagues, donors and contractors, ensuring their needs and expectations are met throughout the event planning and delivery process.
Portfolio manager support
· Assist portfolio managers in engaging with prospects and donors effectively, providing event-related insights and facilitating meaningful connections.
On-site coordination
· Oversee event setup, execution, and breakdown, ensuring all elements are in place and events run smoothly.
Post-event evaluation
· Conduct post-event evaluations to gather feedback and identify areas for improvement.
Oversight and responsibility
· Manage risk assessment, risk management and first aid training to ensure the safety and well-being of all event participants.
This job description is not exhaustive; the role will include other tasks and responsibilities commensurate with the post and subject to change to meet legislative requirements.
This position would suit a candidate who:
- is highly organised, creative and possesses effective communication skills
- has proven experience in event planning and coordination, ideally including fundraising events
- develops excellent client relations with a wide variety of stakeholders
- has the ability to oversee events from setup to breakdown
- can manage RSVPs and maintain event-related activity on a CRM.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Qualifications
· No specific qualifications are required, but a good level of numeracy and literacy is essential.
Experience
Essential
· Significant events delivery experience, ideally within the not-for-profit sector.
· Proven track record in developing and managing events on time and ensuring they are in line with budget (managed by the special events manager), achieving key performance indicators and receiving positive feedback from guests.
· Evidence of outstanding planning skills to deliver complex projects.
Desirable
· Experience of leading on the creation and implementation of innovative events that are tailored towards a specific audience’s interests.
Skills and knowledge
Essential
· A keen interest in the fundraising sector, with a desire to learn and grow in the role.
· An excellent eye for detail.
· Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including diplomacy and the ability to negotiate.
· Committed to achieving objectives and delivering a high-quality service to agreed timescales.
· Excellent IT skills in MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint) and experience of using a CRM.
Desirable
· Understanding of the events sector and appropriate techniques and approaches for a major donor audience.
· Ability to develop and monitor budgets.
· Understanding of major donor fundraising and the role events can play in successful cultivation of relationships (ideally learned through direct experience).
· Ability to contribute to a collaborative and agile team, enabling others to learn and deliver and celebrating successes.
· Ability to:
- support colleagues and stakeholders positively
- build supportive and trusting relationships .
- Knowledge of fundraising regulations and best practice including Gift Aid and GDPR.
The team
Our dynamic fundraising department generated £4.5m through donations in 2023/24, and we are now preparing for an ambitious multi-million-pound campaign in support of a ground-breaking cancer centre on the site of the Royal Free Hospital.
We pride ourselves on being a supporter focused and agile function, working at the heart of the charity to deliver impact for patients and staff across our hospitals.
Responsible for attracting and retaining donors, and delivering an outstanding supporter experience, the fundraising department comprises two teams which work closely together to achieve our shared objectives:
·Our philanthropy & campaigns team builds relationships with individual philanthropists, trusts, foundations, corporate organisations and intermediaries, giving or facilitating donations of £10,000 or more to the charity each year. They lead major appeal activity for the charity, currently focused on our forthcoming cancer campaign, the charity’s first patron programme, and special events to support these activities.
·Our public fundraising team harnesses the support and energy of individuals and groups, helping them to give back in the way that works for them. This includes committed giving, in memory support, gifts in wills, and fundraising events and challenges.
·Our database and supporter care colleagues underpin and support the entire department.
Organisation
The Royal Free Charity stands at the threshold of its most important period of development.
Our vision is for everyone served by the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust (RFL) to have access to world-leading healthcare, delivered by a thriving workforce, and driven by medical research that has a global impact. We support the 17,000 staff of the RFL and their two million patients across Barnet, Chase Farm, North Mid and Royal Free hospitals and more than 30 NHS services.
Through the services we provide, and the programmes and equipment we fund, we make a profound and immediate difference to patients’ experiences of care.
The recruitment process
To apply for this post, send your:
- CV (please include your last employer and dates of employment)
- Cover letter: 1-2 page letter detailing your interest in the role and how you meet the person specification
Please note, that applications submitted without a cover letter may not be considered for this role.
Closing date for application: 27 July 2025, midnight.
Interview date: 5 August 2025
Please kindly note that we may close the job advert before the closing date if we receive a large volume of applications.
- You must be eligible to work in the UK
We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may require during the recruitment process.
As an equal opportunities’ employer, the Royal Free Charity is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.
Benefits:
Core benefits
· 25 days of paid holiday, plus three-day office closure rest period between Christmas and New Year, and UK bank holidays. This increases to 30 days leave after five completed years of continuous employment (all leave is pro rata for part time employees).
· A contributory pension scheme, where we match your 4% contribution towards your pension. If you choose to increase your payments into your pension scheme, we’ll match your contribution up to 9%.
· A sick pay package that offers one month’s full pay and one month’s half pay in any 12-month period if you’ve been with us for less than two years. This rises to two months’ full pay and two months’ half pay in any 12-month period after two years of continuous employment.
· Occupational maternity pay and paternity pay packages that provide more generous support than statutory pay alone.
· A flexible working policy to support our employees’ work/life balance.
Support for your financial wellbeing
As a member of the Royal Free family, you’ll be entitled to benefit from:
· Expert financial advice from our financial partner, the London Credit Union
· Savings on purchases with the Blue Light Card
· Our Death in Service benefit
Support for your health and wellbeing
· Subsidised gym, pool and classes at our Rec Club in Hampstead
· Secure bicycle parking and shower facilities at our Hampstead site
· Fortnightly guided meditation
· Free massage therapy from our complementary therapy team
· Menopause peer support group
· Employee Assistance Programme offering 24-hour access to free confidential advice and support on work and personal issues.
We accelerate improvement and innovation beyond what the NHS can provide





The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.