Environment and wildlife conservation jobs in Preston, lancashire

High Value Executive
Reference: HVE-2026
Hours: Full time, 35 hours per week
Contract: This is a maternity cover role for c.12 months to start early March 2026
Salary: £28,500 – £31,000 per annum
Location: Flexible remote with regular presence at our office in Horsham, West Sussex, for team meetings.

Are you passionate about wild animals with strong relationship management, communication and organisation skills?

About Us

Born Free works tirelessly to ensure that all wild animals, whether living in captivity or the wild, are treated with compassion and respect and can live according to their needs. As a leading wildlife and conservation charity, we oppose the exploitation of wild animals in captivity and campaign to keep them where they belong – in the wild.

We promote Compassionate Conservation to enhance the survival of wildlife, especially threatened species in the wild, and to protect natural habitats while respecting the needs and safeguarding the welfare of individual animals. We seek to positively impact animals in the wild and protect their ecosystems in perpetuity for their own intrinsic value and for the critical roles they play within the natural world.

About this Opportunity

As our High Value Executive, you will work closely with the High Value Relationships team across philanthropy, corporate and event fundraising. Approximate split is 45% philanthropy, 45% corporate and 10% events.

This role requires a candidate with strong relationship management, communication and organisation skills, who is able to work across a range of relationships and activities concurrently. You will also ideally have previous experience of managing projects, campaigns or other cross -team collaborative activities, and of using creative packages to produce engaging presentations and reports. 

Philanthropy:

You will assist the High Value Relationships Manager and the Head of High Value Relationships with research to create a prospect pipeline. For existing high-value supporters, you will ensure excellent stewardship by maintaining records and reporting and assisting with thanking, impact reports and proposals.

Corporate:

You will contribute to building long-term, sustainable and mutually beneficial relationships with businesses. You will be responsible for assisting the High Value Relationship Manager in providing high-quality account management to Born Free’s growing portfolio of corporate partners and supporting the High Value Relationships Manager and Head of High Value Relationships in developing new business to increase our income and impact.

Events:

You will attend Born Free events (4-5 per year) where you will be confident in networking with high-value supporters and, in the lead up to the events, help, when needed, with sourcing prizes for raffles and auctions.

The successful candidate should ideally demonstrate the following attributes: 

• A minimum of one year in a relationship management and/or fundraising-related role
• Strong interpersonal and account management skills
• Strong timekeeping skills and highly organised, with the ability to plan, prioritise and meet concurrent deadlines
• Professional with strong presentation and communication skills, including use of design programs to create visually impressive pitches, proposals and reports
• A “can do”, flexible approach, comfortable working in a busy, fast-paced team
• Strong attention to detail, able to notice errors in written information
• Proficient with Microsoft computer packages and other digital technology, including CRM systems and online meeting platforms, and use of the internet for research purposes
• A team-minded approach - taking others on the journey with you and sharing knowledge/expertise for the benefit of the wider fundraising team and organisation  
• Celebrates success
• Solutions-focused. Resilient in the face of setbacks and challenges
• Strong empathy and engagement with the work of Born Free, and the desire to drive it forward, bringing energy and determination to its mission.
• After induction, be able to effectively communicate, orally and in writing, the charity’s animal welfare and wildlife conservation priorities, and enhance the brand’s popularity and understanding at every opportunity.

This is a fantastic opportunity to make your mark in a nimble, fundraising team and a much-loved charity.

Our excellent benefits package includes opportunities for continuous professional learning, a generous annual leave entitlement, working from home with regular team meetings to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance, wellbeing support, and a competitive pension.

Born Free is an Equal Opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates, regardless of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital/civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity. We welcome requests for flexible working.

The closing date for applications is midnight on Wednesday, 7th January 2026.
Virtual interviews will be held on Monday, 19th January 2026.

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.

You must have the right to work in the UK.

Born Free politely requests no contact from recruitment agencies or media sales. We do not accept speculative CVs from recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.