High value relationships prospect research officer jobs

**PLEASE NOTE: To apply for this vacancy, please ensure you firstly download a copy of our application form from the documents section below and complete it. Click the 'apply' button and fill out your personal details in the relevant sections. Once you have submitted these you will be asked if you would like to attach any documents. At this stage please submit the completed version of the application form.**

Position: Proposal Writer  

Salary: £37,500 to £41,500 per annum based on experience

Contract: Fixed term maternity cover, up to 12 months.

Reports to: Senior Advisor, Private Philanthropy

Location: Shoreditch, East London (Hybrid Model) 

Key internal relationships: Teams across Major donors, Trust & Foundations, Corporate Partnerships, Comms, UNHCR global, CEO’s office

JOB PURPOSE

UK for UNHCR (UK4U), the UN Refugee Agency's national charity partner, is looking for a Writer. We are a small but high-performing team with big ambitions.

As a team player, you will work with colleagues across Private Partnerships and Philanthropy (PPH), Communications and UNHCR global.

Passionate about the refugee cause and UNHCR’s contribution, you will have prior experience of writing for philanthropic audiences.

This role is integral to the development of the Private Partnerships and Philanthropy (PPH) programme. You will work collaboratively across the PPH team and with international colleagues drawing on a diverse range of content to develop high quality compelling assets which convey our organisational story and priority needs. These assets may be written tailored propositions, investment cases, impact reports, budgets and other creative materials.

WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO  

United Kingdom for UNHCR is the United Nations Refugee Agency’s national charity partner for the United Kingdom. We generate public awareness of the plight of refugees and raise funds to help protect them through UNHCR’s humanitarian operations across the world.

Our supporters include UK private individuals, communities, corporate partners, trusts and foundations. The funds we raise help UNHCR deliver emergency relief such as shelter, medical care and basic supplies to people fleeing conflict and persecution, as well as healthcare, education and livelihoods opportunities for those who remain displaced over the long term.

Nobody chooses to be a refugee, but we can all play a part in their protection, and we want those who work with us to share our values and passion for the cause.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND BELONGING

We strongly value diversity and recognise that it is critical to our success and the cause that we serve. We are committed to providing an inclusive environment for all who work with us and strongly welcome applications from diverse backgrounds, particularly those with lived experience of being a refugee, asylum seeker, internally displaced person, or a stateless person.

UK for UNHCR is proud to have Diversity & Inclusion Working Group. The Diversity & Inclusion Working Group is a group of colleagues focusing on tasks that drive action in the implementation of our D&I Approach.  The group also works to create safe spaces that brings colleagues together for events, discussions and learning experiences that celebrate and support diversity and tackle barriers to inclusion. 

We are also open to flexibility in many ways, including an element of working from home and flexible hours. Please don’t be afraid to speak to us about this at the interview stage, so we can explore what’s possible.

Role Responsibilities  

The role operates primarily as an in-house writing and strategic support function, focused on the organisation’s highest-level donors and priority audiences.

Key responsibilities include:

• Taking the lead on drafting and delivering a bi-annually Philanthropy newsletter for existing donors and selected prospects, strengthening stewardship and positioning UNHCR’s philanthropic offer.
• Supporting the cultivation and stewardship of priority relationships through the development of bespoke, high-quality and strategically aligned concept notes, proposals, cases for support, business cases, and stewardship/impact reports for Corporate partners, Major Donors, Trusts and Philanthropists.
• Producing high value external communications for philanthropists & corporate partners, including CEO comms and timely email updates sharing relevant news and insights.
• Acting as a trusted internal service, working with colleagues to shape clear, consistent, and donor-focused narratives
• Developing trusted relationships with internal stakeholders across Partnerships & Philanthropy and relevant international colleagues to ensure messaging is accurate, aligned consistent, and reflects the supporter’s motivations and interests.
• Remaining flexible and responsive to emergency situations, supporting the development of targeted materials for priority audiences as required.
• Maintaining a bank of high quality, ready-to-use fundraising and stewardship materials to enable rapid response to new opportunities, including summaries of core thematic areas and flagship initiatives.
• Working closely with Communications colleagues to help position UNHCR’s philanthropic ambitions across external channels, including digital and social platforms. This includes occasional content development, reactive writing, and updating sections of the Philanthropy and Partnerships webpage.
• Managing deadlines effectively by setting clear priorities and timelines for drafting, review, approval, and dissemination.
• Staying up to date on issues affecting displaced communities, key campaigns, international priorities, and field-based reporting to ensure credibility and relevance.
• Maintaining strong awareness of organisational priorities and key fundraising moments throughout the year to support donor progression.
• Continuously improving ways of working by reviewing and refining processes, coordination, and core materials.
• Supporting the development of additional fundraising and stewardship materials as required by the line manager.

The above list is not exhaustive, and the post holder may be required to undertake other duties appropriate to the role.

Essential Skills/Knowledge

• Research skills and an ability to digest and distil technical information from a range of sources to produce donor-friendly, compelling, persuasive, and concise copy for a range of specific target audiences.
• Attention to detail and proofreading skills and an ability to give and receive clear and constructive feedback on creative and copy.
• Ability to create content that is well-written, well-designed, and factually reliable Ability to work at speed to respond to new opportunities as they emerge and prioritise accordingly.
• Knowledge of the principles of fundraising from philanthropists and high value donors.
• A flexible approach to managing and prioritising multiple tasks.
• Experience of taking initiative to ensure open and collaborative working.
• Experience of working across a busy team and managing a busy workload.
• Passion and motivation to raise vital funds to support refugees and internally displaced people.

Personal Attributes and Experience

Essential Experience

• Experience of building effective and persuasive cases for support, collaborating with relevant internal teams
• Proven proficiency with design principles and tools (experience of Canva/Adobe suite desirable)
• Experience of developing inspiring and compelling proposals for HNWIs, corporates and/ or trusts. 
• Demonstrable experience of working constructively and collaboratively with colleagues from different teams
• Experience of delivering high quality work with minimum supervision, and the ability to be self-motivated.

Desirable Skills/Experience

• Experience of, or a passionate interest in, the charity sector and the drive to mobilise supporters to stand with refugees
• Experience of working with Trustees and Development Boards
• Experience of using technology and other digital tools to support donor stewardship
• Experience of working in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment

WHY JOIN UNITED KINGDOM FOR UNHCR?

You will be part of a high performing agile team of talented people; all committed to build solidarity and raise funds for refugees and displaced people worldwide. You will be working in a flexible, supportive, and inclusive environment, where your work will be recognised and appraised.

What else?

Wellbeing

• 28 days’ leave per annum plus bank holidays (pro-rata).
• Employee Assistance programme providing 24/7 access to online GP, mental health support and virtual wellbeing.
• Access to 100s of perks with discounts on everyday purchases.
• Office wellness perks.
• Discount on gym memberships.
• Hybrid and Flexible Working.
• Staff socials.

Financial

• Pension scheme with an employer contribution of 8%.
• Non-contributory group life assurance scheme
• Non-contributory Income protection scheme.
• One-off contribution towards homeworking set up.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental, and adoption pay.
• Enhanced sick pay scheme.

Development

• Comprehensive training and continuing development opportunities.
• Individual training budget.

HOW TO APPLY

If you have the relevant skills and the passion to use them to support refugees, please apply by completing our application form which is available in the documents section.   

Closing date: 8th May

Interviews date: Week commencing 18th May

If you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to the application or hiring process that may better facilitate your participation, please contact us. We will make every effort to respond to your request for assistance as soon as possible.

United Kingdom for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is registered with the Charity Commission (England & Wales), charity no. 1183415. It is the UK national partner of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Refugee Agency.

Job Title:  Development Manager

Location:  London

Reports to:  Chief Executive Officer

Job Summary

The Development Manager will be a dynamic and experienced fundraiser with strong technical skills in grant and funding solicitation, management and stewardship across Crisis Action’s current donor targets including major foundations, governments, and High Net Wealth Individuals (HNWI). They will serve as the anchor of a newly configured fundraising team designed to support Crisis Action to nurture its existing donors and secure the next generation of support for its ground-breaking work.

This role is pivotal in ensuring excellence in our outreach, proposals, reporting and communication to drive resource mobilisation that is essential for the organisation’s financial sustainability at a time when our distinct model and way of working is needed more than ever.

Principal responsibilities

Donor engagement and communications 

• Oversee and coordinate day-to-day engagement with current and prospective foundation, government and individual donors by members of the Crisis Action team
• Represent the organisation vis-à-vis donor representatives 
• Support HNWI donor benefits structure and cultivation plans
• Prepare compelling and timely donor reports, donor updates, letters of receipt and other outreach materials in collaboration with finance and campaign teams.

Grant management and oversight 

• Ensuring timely and skilled drafting, consultation and sign off of high-quality grant proposals 
• Timely acknowledgement of all contributions and compliance with donor requirements
• Preparation of high-quality proposal budgets and financial reports for donors in compliance with grant specifications and deadlines, in close cooperation with the Finance Team
• Review all grant agreements and monitor/ensure the organization's adherence to its contractual commitments. 

Strategic vision and guidance: 

• Provide strategic support to the Chief Executive Officer on short- and long-term fundraising strategies and broader resource mobilisation initiatives to ensure our fundraising strategy and its implementation helps achieve organisational goals
• Set fundraising targets and produce periodic funding forecasts in consultation with members of the team.

Research and intelligence: 

• Carry out donor research and provide strategic insights and donor related updates and background information to relevant colleagues.
• Monitor and ensure a solid pipeline of donor prospects

Team coordination and collaboration 

• Ensure that there is a clear workplan that anticipates what has to happen when to guide team resource allocation and workload management
• Ensure effective and efficient processes of gathering and sharing information across the team to support timely donor engagement and stewardship with clear protocols on the cadence of team calls and written updates 
• Support colleagues to adhere to agreed fundraising roles and responsibilities 

Communications 

• Ensuring effective and timely communications to donors, Crisis Action’s board and team 
• In collaboration with the CEO, ensure timely and regular flow of information to the team on fundraising progress
• Timely production of high-quality fundraising updates for our Board 

Data and Systems Management 

• Sustain, manage and where possible further develop the relevant administrative infrastructure, including grant tracking and reporting systems, Salesforce contact database, events calendars, contact lists, donor profiles, website and annual report donor acknowledgement lists and meeting minutes 

Job Specifications 

Essential Skills & Experience

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in fundraising, donor relations, or development within the non-profit or international advocacy sector
• A proven track record of engaging with foundations and government officials to secure and manage grants
• Demonstrated ability to forge new donor partnerships, and a track record of bringing in new revenue
• Strong understanding of government and foundation funding landscapes with at least some familiarity with differences between them and the stewardship of major gifts from individual giving 
• Experience in drafting compelling fundraising proposals, reports and donor updates for a variety of donors – foundations, governments and individuals 
• Strong all-round communication and storytelling skills
• Experience producing a range of communications materials for different audiences
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate organisational goals into actionable fundraising plans
• Proficiency in CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and grant management tools
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams and cultures with colleagues dispersed across the world
• Financial literacy and a proven ability to understand and construct budgets
• Collaborative and empathetic approach to team and donor engagement 
• Enthusiasm, initiative and willingness to learn
• Ability to work well under pressure and meet deadlines 
• Excellent organisational and administrative skills, including a systematic approach to maintaining donor tracking systems
• Fluency in oral and written English 
• Proficiency in Salesforce and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Ability/willingness to travel to staff retreats and for donor visits. 
• Legal right to work in the UK

Desirable skills and experience

• Proficiency in additional languages
• Established donor networks
• Experience managing major gifts and cultivating individual donor relations
• Knowledge of conflict, human rights, or social justice issues

Key Relationships

• Senior Management Team, Development Team, Finance Team, Campaign Leads, Office Directors

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Salary & Benefits 

Salary: We have set bands for the salary range for all positions at Crisis Action. The baseline of our salary range for this position is £40K per annum. 

Benefits: 25 annual leave days (30 days after 3 years). Up to 6% contribution to pension. 3-month long service leave after 6 years and one-month sabbatical leave in year 10. CA additionally offers an annual inflationary increase, and 2% salary increase in year 2, 4 and 8 subject to availability of funds. 

DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) Statement

Crisis Action values and nurtures an inclusive culture that sees the diversity of its board, staff, partners, and all we work with as a strength and source of innovation and creativity. We welcome applications from anyone no matter your background, gender identity and expression, nationality, language, ethnicity, colour, caste, race, sexual orientation, ability, religion or belief, age, marriage, civil partnership, or parental status. Equality among all is a driving force in our work and a feature of our recruitment. We strive to ensure that all employment decisions are made entirely on merit. 

Scottish Opera is Scotland’s national opera company and the country’s largest performing arts organisation. Founded in 1962 to make opera accessible to all, the company presents productions of international acclaim, from early works to world premieres. Performances are designed to be inclusive, with supertitles, audio-described and dementia-friendly shows, free and discounted tickets for under-26s, refugees, asylum seekers and schools, and touring productions reaching communities across Scotland.

The charity has developed their fundraising strategy and identified corporate partnerships as clear area of growth and potential. As a result they are bringing in this brand-new role to provide dedicated capacity and focus. The post holder will proactively develop the corporate pipeline, securing new partners and provide excellent account management to existing, valued partners.

It is an exciting time to join Scottish Opera. They have invested in the fundraising team, there is organisation-wide support for fundraising, and many opportunities to engage potential partners across their annual programme.

This role might be for you if have broader fundraising experience, and are looking to specialise in corporate fundraising, are an experienced corporate fundraiser looking to step up to a manager level role.

Working within an arts and culture charity would be helpful for the candidate to have but isn't essential.

Application notes 

Please download the Candidate Info Pack provided for further information about the role, timelines and next steps.

To progress your application, please contact THINK Recruitmen to organise an informal screening call. Please note, we cannot shortlist candidates who have not had a screening call so please allow enough time to have a call before the closing date.

Closing date for applications: Midnight Tuesday 19th May 

Interviews are planned for 27th and 28th May (Stage 1) and 2nd and 3rd June (Stage 2)