Are you a motivated and committed individual with a passion and enthusiasm for making a difference?

Please Note: This role is remote working with regular travel to Llanelli required. 

If so, we have an exciting opportunity to join our fantastic team at the Wales Air Ambulance Charity as our Head of Fundraising - High Value Partnerships.

Please note: Interviews will be held on 23 October 2024 at Cardiff Heliport, Foreshore Road, Cardiff, CF10 4LZ

About Us

Wales Air Ambulance delivers advanced lifesaving medical care to people across Wales, 24/7. We are the only air ambulance charity based in and dedicated to the people of Wales and rely entirely on your charitable donations to raise 11.2 million every year to keep the helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the road.

We have successfully grown our service over the last twenty three years from a single aircraft operating five days a week from a single base in South Wales to the four aircraft 24/7 service model that we have today.

With a motto of "Serving Wales, Saving Lives", we are absolutely committed to delivering the very best service we can for the people of Wales.

Job Purpose

A senior role within the Charity, pivotal in establishing and unlocking the full potential of a high value philanthropy and capital appeal programme for Wales Air Ambulance Charity. You will also be required to deputise for the Director of Income Generation on occasions.

The main purpose of this role is to secure major and multi-year gifts (of five and six figures) from individual donors, corporates, as well as trusts and foundations. The Head of Fundraising - High Value Partnerships, will personally develop and manage strong relationships working to targets and contributing towards the creation and delivery of the charity’s strategic, operational, and departmental plans.

This role is also responsible for establishing and galvanising a team around philanthropy goals and includes managing a team of fundraisers focussed on Corporate, Grants and Trusts, Major Gifts, Legacy Fundraising and Special Events.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Identifying existing and new individual donors, corporates and funders (pan Wales) who can give at a game changing level and over multiple years (five & six figure sums).
• Leading and inspiring a team of fundraisers - Corporate, Grants and Trusts, Major Gifts, Legacy Fundraising and Special Events to achieve ambitious and strategic fundraising goals, through driving a results driven culture.
• Personally, cultivating a pipeline of donors and corporates to achieve targets and fundraising appeals.
• Developing and executing a comprehensive strategy to grow the charity’s philanthropy programme, leveraging existing connections and identifying new opportunities for engagement.
• Working with and across Trusts and Corporate networks to coach, advise and support the development of peer led approaches.
• Devising and developing the strategy and approach for new fundraising committees and giving circles, including a programme of special events.
• Engaging Internal stakeholders to support and continually evolve the charity’s case for support and refresh how we are communicating priorities and needs to funders.
• Develop inspiring communications and donor journeys relevant to donor types that encourage movement of prospects through the donor journey providing ample opportunities for two-way engagement.
• Work with a wide range of colleagues to identify donors and legacy prospects for cultivation, embedding a culture of lead generation and pipeline development.
• Effective use of CRM, recording, reporting of pipeline and monitoring of portfolio. Use data to shape personalised approaches to HNWs and UHNWs to build successful relationships that build long term support rather than one-off gifts.
• Responsible for all aspects of income and expenditure management and reporting for own area of fundraising e.g. contributing to reports for Trustees, and KPI dashboard development.
• Contribute to the Charity’s strategic development through active and collaborative working practices demonstrating positive leadership behaviours to support and reinforce the charity’s values-based leadership culture, centred on strategic thinking; a commitment to learning and development; collaboration and results; promoting a culture of continuous improvement, insight, and innovation and the unlocking of employee potential.

Personal Specification - Essential Criteria

• Successful experience of working at a senior level within an external facing business development role, preferably within the charity sector.
• Proven experience of establishing and developing strong relationships and securing donations with high-net-worth individuals, corporates, trusts and other key supporters.
  
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship building skills with a strong ability to empathise, build rapport and credibility with a diverse range of people, both internally and externally.
• Strong financial skills and commercial acumen with the ability to evaluate opportunities and drive the development of effective initiatives.
• A highly skilled and experienced people manager, with success in creating, leading, motivating and developing a high-performing, diverse and collaborative team.
• Experience of effectively planning and managing projects (preferably cross-departmental) with a focus on efficiency and value for money.
• Excellent data analysis, insight and evaluation skills, and experience of evidence-based decision making.
• Excellent IT skills including MS packages, databases, and CRM systems
• Ability to work autonomously towards a shared strategy and objectives
• Excellent time management and organisational skills with the ability to plan and prioritise work; handle conflicting demands, manage a wide range of projects, and meet tight deadlines.
• Up-to-date knowledge and understanding of regulation, policy and best practice codes, and ethical considerations relevant to charity fundraising and income generation.
• Extensive experience of positively embracing and adapting to change by identifying, leading, and managing change programmes.
• Ability to work in a consultative and open way, promoting inter-departmental teamwork and sharing of ideas to achieve the Charity’s goals

Desirable Criteria

• Fundraising Qualification (institute of Fundraising Certificate or similar)
• Welsh speaker