Fundraising and Operations Director

Who we’re looking for and why join us

At Refugee Legal Support (RLS), we’re seeking a dynamic leader to become our new Fundraising Director. This pivotal role offers the opportunity to shape the future of a values-driven legal organisation that stands in solidarity with people on the move. 

Following significant growth in recent years, you’ll build on strong foundations to support the organisation’s sustainability. You’ll bring strategic vision, excellent stakeholder management skills and a collaborative approach to support the delivery of RLS’s new strategic plan. 

However this role goes beyond fundraising. You’ll also be a key member of our Management Team and work closely with our Executive Director, Legal Director and board of trustees to shape the future of the organisation. This is therefore a perfect opportunity for anyone looking to develop their senior management skills. 

This role combines strategic oversight with hands-on work, bridging urgent funding needs, long-term fundraising strategy and organisational leadership. For a leader passionate about migrant justice and equity, this is a career-defining opportunity to sustain and grow RLS’s impact while shaping its future.

About Refugee Legal Support (RLS)

Our structure

Refugee Legal Support (RLS) operates as a registered organisation in both the UK and Greece, reflecting our international scope and impact. Our governance structure includes a dedicated Board of Trustees and specialised subcommittees that provide oversight and strategic direction. We’re supported by a dynamic management team and dedicated, expert project teams who deliver our mission across Greece, the UK, and Northern France.

What we do

Refugee Legal Support is an international legal support organisation, with operations in Greece, the UK and Northern France. We’re committed to ensuring access to justice through expert legal information and advice to people seeking safety and family reunification. Our casework is a tool to tackle individual and systemic injustice in immigration systems. 

We strive to develop inclusive, sustainable and regenerative ways of working which are directly informed by those with lived migration experience. We support the global movement that fights entrenched inequalities, racism and other forms of discrimination that force people to migrate. In doing so we recognise that immigration systems are weighted against those forced to migrate and stand in opposition to hostile policies, along with all forms of violence against people compelled to migrate. 

We’re specialised and use our expertise for strategic impact. We strive to be thorough and aim for precision and accuracy in all of our work. In a fast changing environment we use our experience and expertise to move quickly to meet needs, but to also think beyond the immediate context and push for positive systemic change. 

We continuously think and challenge ourselves in how we develop our anti-racist practice and empower refugee leadership. We recognise that climate justice and migrant struggles are interconnected and view our work through this lens. 

To get a fuller picture of our financial health and impact, have a look at our most recent accounts on the charity commission website. (Refugee Legal Support, Charity number: 1191680)

Our ethos

We have a strong commitment to consultative decision making and strive to be non hierarchical. We’re rooted in our foundational values of solidarity, anti-racism, independence, openness and transparency.  Our colleagues play a central role in shaping our work and how we respond to need. They are dedicated to our mission and have the best interests of our clients at heart. We enable each other to fulfil our individual and collective potential in a work environment of mutual trust and respect.

Working at RLS:

The wellbeing of our colleagues is of paramount importance. We foster a friendly, supportive and collegiate working environment, and we practise consultative ways of working. We work flexibly and prioritise effective recuperation. 

Some of our benefits include:

• Generous annual leave: 28 days (pro rata for part time employees) plus bank holidays and additional days at Christmas;
• Flexible working schemes, compressed hours and remote working are available;
• 8% pension scheme with ethical pension provider. RLS contributes 5% with minimum 3% staff contribution;
• Wellbeing offering: access to specialist individual counselling, group clinical supervision or alternative means of wellbeing support (body and mind classes of choice);
• Enhanced maternity and partner leave;
• Enhanced sick leave and pay;
• Wellbeing leave;
• Learning & Development: each member of staff has access to training resources and courses and shadowing opportunities;
• We work in a purpose built office environment near Old Street Station, shared with two like-minded organisations. 
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Role Overview: Fundraising and Operations Director

The successful candidate will lead RLS’s income generation through our next phase of development. You’ll oversee our relationships with key funders, individual giving, our approach to major donors and our communications. You’ll work closely with the Management Team and trustees to set and implement fundraising strategy and highlight and manage risk.  

As a member of the Management Team, you’ll be involved in the day-to-day leadership and oversight of the organisation, with involvement in decisions from strategy to HR, project design and many other aspects of our work.  

Core Responsibilities:

Fundraising strategy and development 

• Lead the development and delivery of RLS’s fundraising strategy to meet our funding targets and deliver our strategy.
• Meaningfully involve and guide the Management Team, trustees and Fundraising Officer in strategy development and delivery. 
• Develop new funding sources as appropriate.  
• Ensure that funding sources fit with RLS’s values and our moral and ethical fundraising policy.

Organisational leadership 

• Work with the Management Team and trustees to lead on the delivery of RLS’s strategic objectives.
• Work with the Management Team to lead RLS, including finding creative solutions to issues as they arise and ensuring the smooth running of the organisation.
• Foster a supportive work environment that’s true to RLS’s values.

Lead on funder relationships 

• Develop and cultivate relationships with potential funders.
• Develop and maintain a strong pipeline of funding opportunities to meet our targets and fulfil our strategy.  
• Lead relationships with existing funders, ensuring that they’re regularly engaged and that all reporting deadlines are met.
• Support the Fundraising Officer to lead on certain funder relationships. 

Proposal and application development

• Lead the development of compelling applications and proposals for funders. 
• Work closely with internal stakeholders to ensure that all funding applications meet the needs of RLS and align with our strategy.
• Support the Fundraising Officer to deliver high quality proposals and applications.

Individual giving and major donors 

• Work closely with the Fundraising Officer to develop and deliver a high quality individual giving programme to meet our fundraising targets. 
• Manage relationships with major donors and further develop this income stream. 

Communications and events 

• Work closely with the Fundraising Officer to develop and deliver RLS’s communications strategy. 
• Work with the Fundraising Officer and CEO to oversee and continue to develop RLS’s website. 
• Organise and deliver events from time-to-time to support the delivery of RLS’s fundraising strategy. 

Risk management, reporting and record keeping 

• Ensure that the Management Team and board have an accurate picture of RLS’s financial position, including a clear picture of risk. 
• Oversee accurate records of funder and donor relationships and income through our CRM. 

Representing RLS and occasional travel

• Represent RLS at events from time to time.
• Occasional travel, potentially including international travel. 

Line management 

• Provide high quality line management to the Fundraising Officer.
• In future, there may be other line management responsibilities as RLS’s staff changes to meet our new strategy. 

Person Specification

Essential:

• Senior leadership experience in income generation 
• Proven success in securing significant, multi-source funding, including trusts and foundations. 
• Expertise in developing long-term financial strategy and sustainability
• Experience in shaping and overseeing individual giving campaigns 
• Excellent relationship-building and communication skills
• Ability to find creative, innovative solutions and problem-solve. 
• Strong leadership skills, including the ability to foster a team-wide understanding of and involvement in fundraising. 
• Have a strong commitment to advancing migrant justice.
• Be an active listener and a progressive leader. 
• The successful candidate will be required to obtain an enhanced DBS certificate (we cover the cost). A criminal record is not necessarily a barrier to recruitment but should be disclosed on application
• Have the right to work in the UK.
• Fluent in English.
• Have lived experience related to migration and/or experience of and relationships in the migrant justice sector (desirable).