Head of Development

LOCATION

UK, France or Thailand preferred. Remote applicants considered.

PACKAGE

Pay is dependent on location. The UK salary of £55,000 plus pension contribution will be converted using ICSC scales. All locations receive 28 days annual leave, counselling support and annual well-being days.

VIDERE

Videre is an award-winning, UK-registered NGO. Our mission is to centre and elevate communities impacted by human rights abuses and environmental crimes, assisting them to lead investigations and direct evidence gathering to hold power to account through legal action, advocacy and the media.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Head of Development will provide overall leadership for Videre's fundraising activities. They will develop and implement the fundraising strategy ensuring income goals are achieved in the short, medium and long-term through direct relationship building, input to programme design, concept note drafting and deployment of the CEO and Senior Directors. They will be part of the organisational Management Team, working closely with colleagues to deliver on the organisational strategy.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic planning and management

• Lead on the delivery of the fundraising strategy, adjusting as required, ensuring that Videre has the resources to deliver on its mission and strategic goals.
• Lead on maintaining our backbone infrastructure of prospect research, concept note coordination and drafting and deployment of senior staff (including yourself) into the right spaces with the right messages and background information.
• Track progress against the fundraising strategy, with regular reporting to senior management and the Board of Trustees against strategic indicators and outcomes, and pro-actively address any potential shortfalls.
• Maintain detailed and accurate income projections and forecasts, liaising with the Head of Finance & Compliance to closely monitor organisational cash flow.
• Line manage the Trust & Foundation Officer (expected to hire in late 2025), providing close support on operational tasks, time management and prioritisation, and pro-actively supporting professional development.
• Monitor external donor trends and adapt plans accordingly to ensure Videre remains well placed to secure funding over the long-term.
• Contribute to long-term organisational planning and positioning, and proactively identify aligned funding environments and opportunities.
• Fully participate and contribute to the Management Team, raising fundraising matters where appropriate and helping ensure the organisation achieves its strategic mission.
• Manage the fundraising budget to ensure most effective use of resources.

Donor cultivation, approaches, and retention

• With the CEO, develop and maintain strong working relationships across Videre's donor portfolio, ensuring timely and responsive communications with all existing and potential funders, including institutional donors, private foundations, trusts, individuals, and other partner organisations.
• Lead the development of cultivation strategies for existing and potential donors and manage their implementation.
• Develop materials, including proposals, grant applications, and supporting documentation tailored to the donor audience, ensuring accuracy, fit, and timely submission.
• Collaborate closely with Head of Finance & Compliance to prepare proposal and grant application budgets.
• Conduct prospect research and monitor new funding opportunities, analyse donor trends and maintain relevant knowledge on donor priorities, rules and requirements.
• Analyse the reasons for success or failure of funding proposals, extracting and applying learning to improve the success rate of future funding applications.
• Ensure adherence to Videre's Ethical Funding Policy, carrying out due diligence on funding sources where appropriate
• Support regional staff with the development of strategic relationships with in-country donor offices and government embassies.
• Maintain comprehensive records of contacts, meetings and points of cultivation with all donors, and ensure proper follow up.

Grant management and reporting

• Lead on the preparation and submission of high-quality donor progress reports, coordinating teams as required for input.
• Ensure contract information is maintained and recorded accurately.
• Develop and maintain a tracking system to ensure timely submission of proposals, reports and acknowledgements.
• Liaise with the Head of Finance & Compliance to support organisational and donor audits.

Other

• Ensure Videre's website and donor portal are regularly updated and effectively communicate the organisations values, mission and activities.
• Further organisational Diversity, Equity and Inclusion goals by ensuring project teams are equal partners during the creation of funding strategy, proposal development, reporting, and the creation of key communications materials.
• Manage relationships with fundraising related consultants, designers and suppliers, including fiscal sponsors and the fundraising regulator.

APPLICATION PROCESS & TIMELINE

• Please apply via Breezy: submit your CV (maximum two pages) and a Cover Letter (maximum 400 words) describing your suitability for this position.
• Applications will close on January 13, 2025.
• Initial interviews will be conducted remotely.
• Second round interviews may be conducted in-person depending on applicants' location. Requesting an online interview will not be detrimental to your application.
• We intend to complete the recruitment process by the end of January 2025.

We are committed to providing equal opportunities for everyone regardless of their background. We acknowledge that people from certain backgrounds are under-represented in the human rights sector and we are committed to doing what we can to correct this. Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the communities that we serve. Therefore, we are particularly keen to receive applications from people who identify with minority and/or underrepresented groups (whether based on race, ethnicity, gender, disability, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other legally protected status). We also value diversity in terms of personal and professional experience; believing that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create stronger and more creative working environments.