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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.
Thank you!
Battersea is entering an exciting phase of innovation and transformation during this first year of our new five-year strategy. With increased investment in income generation, we are strengthening our team to drive the growth necessary to achieve our organisational goals.bThis role sits within the Philanthropy, Partnerships & Commercial (PPC) team, made up of Philanthropy & Trusts, Corporate Partnerships & Commercial, Special Events & Stewardship, and Fundraising Operations.
The focus of the Philanthropy & Trusts team is to build a solid base of support through excellent stewardship of existing trusts and major donors alongside cultivation of new prospects, reached through prospect research and the networks of senior volunteers.
The key purpose of this Philanthropy Manager is to meet both financial and strategic KPIs, by managing a portfolio of key individual relationships and cultivating new prospects to support the long-term health of the Philanthropy pipeline. This role, together with Battersea’s other Philanthropy Manager, will also work closely with senior leadership, senior volunteers and other individuals to open up networks and introduce new major donors to Battersea.
What we can offer you:
In return for your commitment to our cause and to recognise the value of our employees, Battersea offers a range of benefits to support the wellbeing of our employees. These include:
- 28 days of annual leave (plus 8 days paid public holidays) per year.
- Discounted gym memberships and cycle to work schemes.
- Employee Assistance Programme and access to Wellbeing Resources.
- Generous pension contributions - up to 10% employer contribution.
- Free healthcare cash plan, where you can claim for a range of treatment including dental, optical, physiotherapy, chiropody and acupuncture every year.
- Annual interest-free season ticket loans.
We are also committed to providing learning and development to our employees. During your time with us, we provide support for your professional and career development, including access to digital and in-person training programmes, leadership and management training, mentoring and much more.
Our hybrid working model:
We operate a 50% onsite hybrid working model, with our office-based staff splitting their time between site based and home working. This enables our office-based staff to balance the benefits of home working with onsite collaboration and maintaining a connection to our cause.
Diversity and inclusion:
We are committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive experience for all staff, volunteers and trustees and those hoping to join us. We operate an anonymised shortlisting process and actively seek to ensure our process is fair and equitable for all.
We understand the value of diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences to help us deliver even more for our dogs and cats, and we welcome applicants from all sections of the community.
As a Disability Confident Committed Employer we will ask about any adjustments you may need at application and/or interview stage, and if you are offered a role with us, we’ll talk to you about any workplace adjustments you may need to help you perform at your best.
More about us:
At Battersea, we aim to never turn away a dog or cat in need of help. We give each one lots of love, expert care and get to know their characters and quirks so we can find them a new home that’s just right for them. Join us and help us be here for every dog and cat, wherever they are, for as long as they need us.
Closing date: 3rd August 2025
Interview date(s): w/c 11th August 2025 (1st round), w/c 18th August 2025 (2nd round)
All applications must be submitted before the closing date advertised. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications is received.
Registered Charity
501 - 1000
Battersea is here for every dog and cat, and has been since 1860. We believe that every dog and cat deserves the best.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.