Senior Institutional Fundraising Manager - ZSL

We’re ZSL, an international conservation charity. Through our unrivalled animal experts in our two zoos (London zoo and Whipsnade Zoo), the work of our pioneering scientists, our dedicated conservationists, our purpose is to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wild animals going extinct. Our vision is a world where wildlife thrives and we’re working every day to achieve this. From investigating the health threats facing animals, to helping people and wildlife live alongside each other, we are committed to bringing wildlife back from the brink of extinction.

ZSL’s Fundraising department have a new permanent opportunity for a Senior Institutional Fundraising Manager whose goal will be to secure sustainable and large-scale funding from UK and global charitable trusts and foundations, government agencies and the National Lottery.  

Reporting into the Head of Trusts, Statutory & Major Project Fundraising and managing a team of four direct line reports, you will be instrumental in strengthening ZSL’s institutional donor base. You will build and enhance existing funder relationships, identify and cultivating new avenues for income generation, and increase the volume and success rate of funding proposals. With your strong track record in grant fundraising, you will support the operational management and workplan of the team and work closely with teams across our zoos, conservation and science directorates to develop compelling cases for support and robust technical bids that will generate general, restricted and capital grants for ZSL’s priority programmes.

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• Manage, monitor and report against the delivery of objectives and KPIs as outlined in the Institutional Fundraising Team operational plan.
• Support the Head of Trusts, Statutory & Major Projects Fundraising to monitor income and expenditure, ensuring that committed income is fulfilled as expected.
• Cultivate and maintain strategic relationships with UK and international funders, keeping them well-informed and seeking areas of mutual alignment and opportunities for collaboration.
• Support the identification and efficient moves management of institutional funders that are aligned to ZSL’s fundraising priorities, working with senior leaders and volunteers where appropriate to submit strong, costed funding proposals.
• Represent ZSL at internal and external events where required, in collaboration with ZSL staff and partners.

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The ideal candidate will:

• Have experience in managing and developing people and teams.
• Have extensive experience in the developing successful fundraising relationships with, and submitting proposals, to at least three of the following constituents: UK charitable trusts; international foundations; UK/international government institutions; bi/multi-lateral institutions, and National Lottery funds.
• Be a proven self-starter and dynamic with strong level of self-awareness. They will be assertive, confident, and capable of leading projects on own initiative with little supervision.
• Have a track record of meeting or exceeding financial targets.
• Have extensive experience in developing prospect pipelines and fundraising cases for support for a range of general, restricted and capital funding requirements.

We strongly encourage applications from all backgrounds and celebrate the value of having a team of employees with diverse skills, experiences, and backgrounds. We actively encourage applications from disabled and ethnic minority candidates as those demographics are currently under-represented across ZSL.

What do we offer?

“Work Your Way”: We empower people to work from where they work best. We believe work is something we do and not a place we go. Our offices have become important places for collaboration and social connection but are no longer our main place of work.

You will have access to a blended program of Wellbeing initiatives, including confidential access to our 24/7 Employee Assistance Program as well as regular webinars and activities around mental, physical, social and financial wellbeing. The opportunity to be part of an organisation that is committed to improving diversity and inclusion.

Other benefits include 25 days holiday, life assurance, stakeholder pension (ZSL will also match further contributions you may choose to make up to a further 5% - limited to 12% employer contributions), complimentary zoo tickets with a 30% discount in shops and online, subsidised canteen, enhanced paternity and maternity leave, season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme, discounted gym membership and access to a wide range of learning and development opportunities.

Ultimately, you’ll know that you’ll help us to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wildlife going extinct.

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