Job Description

Head of National Community Fundraising

Location: National with travel to Dublin required

Contract: Full Time, Permanent

the Head of National Community Fundraising and Engagement is a key role within the leadership team of a large, ambitious fundraising department. The postholder will contribute to departmental leadership and strategy, with responsibility for delivering and growing over €1.5m of the organisation’s fundraised income, as well as strengthening Focus Ireland’s brand and connections in communities across Ireland, introducing new supporters, volunteers and champions into the organisation.

What you will do:

Leadership & Management

• Provide visible senior leadership within the Fundraising and Marketing Department, contributing to management decisions, departmental planning and a positive, united culture focused on shared departmental, and organisational outcomes.
• Lead, motivate and develop a geographically dispersed national team through clear objectives, regular communication, coaching, performance management, succession planning and opportunities for professional development.
• Provide strong governance and oversight of community fundraising activity, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, fundraising standards, organisational policies, financial controls, data protection requirements, brand guidelines and safeguarding and risk-management processes.

Strategy & Planning

• Build on existing Community Fundraising Strategy to deliver sustainable growth in income, looking at scalability across existing income lines, as well as building on donor recruitment, retention, and lead generation.
• Develop a national community engagement approach that deepens Focus Ireland’s presence, relevance and relationships in communities across Ireland to connect people with Focus Ireland’s mission and create accessible pathways for people, groups and local partners to become supporters, volunteers, and into long-term donors.
• Maintain and grow existing programmes, including building regional volunteer led committees, while creating a structured pipeline of innovation; use evidence, supporter insight and evaluation to test, learn, scale or stop initiatives.
• Manage and report on income and expenditure budgets, forecasts, risks and corrective actions, ensuring resources are deployed effectively and transparently.
• Report monthly on performance against targets, providing clear analysis, insight and recommendations to the Director of Fundraising and Marketing.

Cross team & Organisational Collaboration

• Work across the Heads of Fundraising team, including Campaigns, Individual Giving, Partnerships & Philanthropy, Supporter Services, and Digital Marketing to create appropriate cross-selling and supporter development opportunities, ensuring supporters receive relevant offers and a coherent experience.
• Work closely with fundraising colleagues to deliver key campaigns and events, including flagship campaigns such as Shine A Light, to community audiences and maximise recruitment, engagement and income opportunities.
• Foster a culture of working collaboratively across the national community team and with peer teams to enhance all opportunities.
• Build effective relationships with colleagues the wider organisation so that community activity reflects organisational priorities, tells Focus Ireland’s story effectively and makes best use of local knowledge and connections.
• Procure and manage external agencies, suppliers, partners and stakeholders as required.
• Undertake relevant work delegated by the Director of Fundraising and Marketing and engage in regular one-to-one sessions.
• Model Focus Ireland’s values, participate fully as a member of the Focus Ireland team and support activities across the organisation as appropriate.

What you will need:

• At least five years’ relevant experience in fundraising, marketing, sales or community engagement, including substantial experience with event management, and leadership.
• Proven experience of managing a significant income portfolio, with the ability to meet or exceed fundraising goals of €1.5m or more and manage budgets, forecasts, return on investment and cost-income ratios.
• Proven ability to lead, motivate and develop a high-performing team.
• A collaborative leadership style and evidence of working effectively across management teams and organisational functions to deliver shared outcomes.
• Excellent communication, influencing, relationship-management and presentation skills, with the ability to represent Focus Ireland internally and externally.
• Highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, projects and stakeholder groups, make sound decisions under pressure and maintain attention to detail.
• High levels of proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint and confidence in using CRM and digital reporting systems.
• Experience of volunteer-led fundraising, community partnerships, ambassador programmes or regional network development.
• A full driving licence and the ability to travel regularly across Ireland.
• Reasonable flexibility in working hours to meet the needs of the role, including some evening and weekend activity.
• Weekly presence in our head office in Dublin for Fundraising and Marketing Management Team meetings, team leadership and other duties as required.

Focus Ireland is an equal opportunities employer

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