A rare and newly-created opportunity to join David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) as Director of Development at a pivotal moment of growth. As part of the Senior Mangement Team (SMT) you will help shape the future direction of the Foundation, leading its fundraising strategy, inspiring support and delivering significant and sustainable income growth.
We are looking for a collaborative team player, who leads with integrity, warmth and passion. Experience in the conservation sector is an advantage but not a prerequisite. The right candidate will be the person who can prove that they are able to ignite action, build lasting relationships and generate meaningful growth in support of the DSWF’s mission.
Throughout the interview process we’ll be keen to hear about your track record in fundraising at a leadership level and your experience of making an impact on an organisation of our size or larger. You will demonstrate how you develop strategies and implement them successfully, show an understanding of DSWF’s existing development portfolio, and a view on where you see you might help to take us over the next 3 years and beyond.
Application Process
To apply, please email a CV and supporting statement of no more than two pages no later than Monday 15th June.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Role: Director of Development (DoD)
Reports to: CEO
Works closely with: CEO/COO/CFO as part of the SMT
Line manages: Development Team: Development Manager, Trust and Foundations Manager, Development Executive, CRM Executive
Hours: Part-time, 28 hours per week (4 days)
Location: Hybrid working between the DSWF Shalford Office (GU4 8JU) for a minimum of two days per week (Tuesdays and Thursdays), and home with occasional travel
Annual Leave: 25 days per annum pro rata. Bank Holidays are also provided, and at DSWF’s discretion the office usually closes between Christmas and New Year (additional to annual leave)
Salary: Competitive executive-level salary dependent on experience and breadth of impact. Please ask for salary range on application.
Start date: Asap.
Summary of the Role
The Director of Development (DoD) provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all fundraising income and supporter engagement activity at DSWF. The role is accountable for delivering sustainable, diversified revenue growth aligned with DSWF’s mission across conservation, education and art, while building lasting relationships with major donors, trusts, foundations, corporate partners and senior supporters.
Working in close partnership with the CEO, COO, CFO, and Board of Trustees, the DoD translates organisational strategy into compelling Cases for Support, effective fundraising plans and measurable outcomes. The postholder leads and develops a high-performing Development team, ensuring strong delivery and continuous improvement.
As a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT), the Director shares responsibility for shaping the Foundation’s overall direction, contributing to governance, organisational culture and high-level strategic decision-making.
This is a pivotal position combining senior management with hands-on major gift fundraising and team leadership. Central to enabling the Foundation’s long-term impact and growth, the DoD is a driving force behind DSWF’s ability to successfully deliver its mission to protect endangered species in Africa and Asia.
Key responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
•Lead on the development, implementation, delivery and continuous refinement of DSWF’s multi-year Development strategy, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities and long-term financial sustainability.
•Advise the CEO and Trustees on fundraising performance, trends, risks and opportunities.
•Own and articulate the organisational Case/s for Support, ensuring a clear, compelling narrative that integrates conservation impact, education outcomes and artistic heritage.
•Working closely with the rest of the SMT, embed a culture of philanthropy across the organisation, enabling all team members, Trustees and ambassadors to actively support income generation.
•As part of SMT, be jointly responsible for over-arching decisions regarding the direction of the Foundation, its mission, strategies and culture.
Major & Strategic Fundraising
•Working closely with the CEO, cultivate, solicit and steward a portfolio of DSWF’s most significant donors and prospects, including major individual donors, trusts and foundations, legacy campaigns and strategic partners.
•Responsible, alongside the CEO, for the overall management of all corporate partnerships and sponsors.
•Design and lead bespoke solicitation strategies for new high-value prospects, involving the CEO, Trustees and senior colleagues as appropriate.
•Oversee the development of structured approaches to major giving, trusts & foundations, legacy giving and corporate partnerships.
•Have strategic oversight of lower-level individual giving programmes including appeals, regular individual giving and adoption schemes.
•Be responsible and ensure best practice in prospect research, due diligence, stewardship and ethical fundraising.
Team Leadership & Management
•Lead, manage and develop the Development team, setting clear objectives, KPIs and income targets aligned to the overall strategy.
•Ensure the structure, resourcing and capabilities of the team are fit for purpose and scalable as income grows.
•Coach and support all those within the organisation that are responsible for fundraising, providing professional leadership, mentoring and performance management.
•Lead on all training and offer career progression for all staff within the Development team.
•Foster strong collaboration between Development and all departments, including; Policy and Programmes, Marketing and Communications, Education, Art, Finance and Operations.
Supporter Engagement
•Represent DSWF externally with senior donors, partners and sector peers, enhancing the organisation’s profile and credibility.
•Oversee a high-quality supporter journey across all touchpoints, ensuring donors feel valued, informed and connected to impact including lower-level individual giving.
•Champion systematic all level stewardship, donor care and impact reporting to maximise retention, lifetime value and advocacy.
•Ensure accurate, GDPR-compliant data capture and effective use of CRM systems (Beacon) to drive insight-led fundraising.
Events
•This senior role will have overall responsibility for any fundraising or donor profile events (at present this would include the Wildlife Ball which is an annual fundraising/profile raising event that takes place at the Dorchester Hotel).
•Working closely with the rest of SMT, this role will direct the Development team to ensure that all events deliver optimum, high level donor experiences and are run professionally (with logistics and operational support from the COO and team).
•This role will have overall responsibility for ensuring the CEO has all information required to support engagement with donors at all events.
Governance & Reporting
•Report on Development performance to the CEO, SMT and Trustees, providing clear analysis against agreed targets.
•Work closely with Finance to support forecasting, budgeting and long-term income planning.
•Work closely with Finance and legal advisors in relation to all legal matters pertaining to legacies and bequests.
•Ensure all Development activity aligns with regulatory, governance and ethical standards.
Person Specification
Knowledge and Experience
•Significant senior leadership experience in fundraising and development within complex, mission-driven non-profit organisations, at Director level or equivalent, where philanthropy is critical to organisational impact and growth.
•Significant experience in leading and delivering long-term development strategies, with a demonstrable track record of translating organisational ambition into clear, costed and achievable fundraising plans.
•Proven ability to set strategic direction across multiple income streams, establish measurable objectives and KPIs and use data and insight to monitor performance, evaluate impact and adapt approach over time.
•Experience of driving sustained income growth, strengthening donor pipelines, and delivering measurable outcomes aligned to organisational priorities and long-term sustainability.
•Deep understanding of the UK philanthropic landscape, with well-established networks across major donors, trusts and foundations, corporates and high-net-worth individuals and the ability to build credibility and influence rapidly at national and international levels.
•Demonstrable experience of leading and scaling fundraising income through periods of organisational change, growth or strategic transformation.
•Proven track record of securing transformational gifts and long-term partnerships from individuals, corporates, trusts and foundations.
•Strong history of inspirational leadership, team building and talent development, with the ability to motivate teams towards ambitious shared goals.
•Experience of working with public sector stakeholders and cross-sector partnerships to advance organisational objectives.
•Experience of implementing and embedding robust CRM systems and donor stewardship frameworks to support data-led decision making and excellent supporter journeys.
Personal Skills, Qualities and Attributes
•Exceptional interpersonal, communication and relationship management skills, with the ability to engage, influence and inspire a wide range of stakeholders.
•A collaborative team player who values partnership working and shared success.
•Strategic, visionary thinker with the confidence and credibility to operate at senior leadership and Board level, influencing internal and external decision-makers.
•A strong personal commitment to wildlife conservation, environmental protection and the role of philanthropy in driving long-term change.
•Clear alignment with DSWF’s mission, vision and values, and a genuine passion for advancing David Shepherd’s legacy through impactful fundraising.
•Entrepreneurial and opportunity-led mindset, with the confidence to set and pursue ambitious income and growth targets.
•Resilient, adaptable and resourceful, with the ability to navigate complexity, manage ambiguity and maintain momentum in a fast-evolving environment.
•Credible and compelling ambassador for DSWF, able to represent the organisation confidently with major donors, partners and at public-facing events.
•Willingness to travel and attend events as required to support donor engagement, stewardship and organisational visibility.
•Commitment to being actively engaged in the life of the organisation, contributing to its culture, leadership and long-term success.
Please note that as part of a small team, the role may include occasional additional duties to help meet the charity’s wider needs.
Application Process
To apply, please email a CV and supporting statement of no more than two pages no later than Monday 15th June.
Registered Charity
11 - 20
We focus on saving endangered species and ending the exploitation of wildlife before it’s too late.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Role Overview:
The Talent Set are delighted to partner with a respected charity to recruit an Individual Giving Manager. This pivotal role focuses on enhancing and expanding the organisation’s supporter engagement and fundraising efforts, directly contributing to their strategic growth and mission.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop and execute the organisation’s individual giving strategy to meet income targets.
- Manage and grow supporter programmes across channels, including regular giving, digital campaigns, payroll giving, legacies, and experimental fundraising initiatives.
- Lead delivery of compelling campaigns to acquire, retain, and deepen donor relationships, ensuring seamless supporter experiences.
- Oversee supporter communications, including email stewardship, website donations, merchandise sales, and third-party platforms.
- Collaborate with the marketing team to produce innovative, engaging marketing materials tailored to target audiences.
- Analyse campaign performance using data insights to refine approaches, maximise ROI, and improve supporter retention.
- Line-manage the Senior Individual Giving Coordinator, supporting data segmentation, reporting, and supporter database management.
- Administer supporter databases and ensure compliance with data protection and fundraising regulations.
- Monitor budgets, forecast income, and prepare detailed reports for project and strategic planning.
- Manage supporter enquiries and administrative activities associated with fundraising activities and merchandise sales.
- Support the continued development of the organisation’s supporter engagement and fundraising infrastructure.
Person Specification:
- Minimum of 3 years’ experience in individual giving or supporter fundraising, with proven success in programme management.
- Experience in planning and delivering multi-channel supporter acquisition and retention campaigns.
- Strong knowledge of donor stewardship principles and engagement strategies.
- Ability to analyse data to inform campaign development and measure effectiveness.
- Excellent organisational skills, with a proactive approach and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
- Comfortable creating compelling marketing materials for digital and print channels.
- Knowledge of fundraising regulations, data protection, and supporter management systems.
- Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to build relationships across levels and teams.
- Experience managing budgets and financial reporting.
- Demonstrates a passion for environmental causes and supporter-centred fundraising.
What’s on Offer:
- Salary: £39,000 - £42,500
- Location: Hybrid – South London
- Contract: Permanent
How to Apply:
To apply, please submit your CV demonstrating your suitability for this role by clicking the 'apply now' button (please do not apply via email). We aim to get back to all successful candidates within 48 working hours.
Commitment to Diversity:
The Talent Set are committed to diverse and inclusive recruitment practices, ensuring equal opportunities for all applicants regardless of race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, disability, or age. We actively encourage applications from a wide range of backgrounds and are always happy to make reasonable adjustments to ensure a fair recruitment process.
Thank you!
Community Organiser
Salary: £26,950 - £27,972 per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working hours: Full time
Location: Working across Buckinghamshire with some travel to sites across the three counties (Bucks, Berks and Oxon). Hybrid working available.
The Community Organiser will help nature recover by collaborating with and organising communities around shared issues and interests, facilitating them to take action for nature in a way that is most meaningful to them, ensuring that positive change is sustainable and systemic. The Community Organiser will build trusting relationships with a range of community groups and stakeholders, identifying and developing local leaders to enable sustainable community-led change for nature.
The Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust has a vision for “more nature everywhere, for everyone”. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. This includes you being comfortable bringing your whole self to work, and us co-working with the diverse communities we serve to ensure we are meeting everyone’s needs.
The Community Organiser will help nature recover by collaborating with and organising communities around shared issues and interests, facilitating them to take action for nature in a way that is most meaningful to them, ensuring that positive change is sustainable and systemic. The Community Organiser will build trusting relationships with a range of community groups and stakeholders, identifying and developing local leaders to enable sustainable community-led change for nature.
You’ll be joining a small but cohesive team of community organisers working across the three counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. While we work largely independently in our own areas, we come together often to evaluate and reflect on our work, so that we can continue to develop and improve our craft of organising.
What you’ll be doing:
- Building authentic relationships with communities developing them to take action to win the positive changes for nature and wildlife that they want to see in their localities
- Working with communities to embed a community organising ethos so that positive changes won for nature and wildlife are sustainable
- Facilitating groups to work together on issues that matter to them
- Identifying and supporting potential community leaders, helping them to develop their skills and confidence to lead change
What we’re looking for
- The ability to build authentic relationships with a diverse range of audiences including global majority and underserved groups
- Comfortable working independently with groups in a variety of locations
- Skills and ability to listen intentionally to a range of viewpoints to identify desired community outcomes, barriers to these, and how they may be overcome
- Current UK valid car driving licence or eligible for Access to Work support driver
For all your hard work you can expect a great rewards package in return. In addition to being part of a friendly, skilled and knowledgeable team who are passionate about making a difference, when you work for us you’ll also receive
- Generous annual leave entitlement with paid birthday leave, balance days, urgent personal business leave and generous occupational sick pay
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, and family-friendly policies
- Flexible working to achieve work-life balance
- Salary exchange pension with generous employer contribution
- Learning & Development Programme for all
- Wellbeing initiatives including qualified Mental Health First Aiders, YuLife benefit package - access to immediate and confidential help for any work, health, or life matters; 3x life assurance, online GP access, discounts and trade YuCoin points for gift cards
- Salary sacrifice Cycle scheme & Electric Vehicle scheme
- Membership to BBOWT’s, and The Wildlife Trusts’, Staff Network Groups for social interaction, peer support, mentoring and personal development
The Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust is committed to equal opportunities and maintaining a safe and secure environment for all children and young people. Therefore, the successful applicant for this position will be subject to pre-employment checks including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Please note, it is an offence to apply for this position if barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.
The closing time and date for applications is 11.59pm on Tuesday 9th June 2026.
Online speed interviews will take place on Tuesday 16th June and in-person interviews will take place on Monday 22nd June.
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 want our people to be as diverse as nature, so we particularly encourage applications from people who are underserved within the communities in which we operate. This includes people from visible ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities (including those who are neurodivergent), the LGBTQ+ community, those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, and younger people. We are committed to creating an organisation that recognises and truly values individual differences and identities.
BBOWT values diversity and inclusion and the benefits this brings. We want every candidate to have the best chance of success as part of this process. In order to do this, we know that some candidates will need reasonable adjustments. You will be able to contact BBOWT Recruitment Team if there are any reasonable adjustments we can provide during the recruitment process, including completing your application.
No agencies please.
