Head of Development and Communications

Job Title: Head of Development and Communications

Reporting to: Chief Executive

Line management: Communications and Governance Co-ordinator, Fundraising and Development Co-ordinator

Salary: £40,000 - 45,000 per annum depending on skills and experience

Benefits: 25 days annual leave + bank holidays, 6% Employer pension contribution

Location: Flexible working options available

Purpose of the role

Wikimedia UK receives around half our funding in the form of an annual grant from the Wikimedia Foundation, based in San Francisco, from whom we have recently secured an additional grant of £120,000 to develop our fundraising capacity over the next three years. We are therefore looking for an ambitious and creative fundraiser to fill a newly created senior management team role with responsibility for building and managing the development, fundraising and communications functions for the charity. You will play a leading role in Wikimedia UK’s activities to increase our profile and impact, through building better visibility for our work and a more diverse and sustainable income base.

We are seeking a strategic thinker who will lead and organise our fundraising from individuals and trusts and foundations, contribute to wider income-generation activities, build the charity’s brand and presence and successfully manage the distribution of content across a number of channels and platforms. The successful candidate will be motivated by our vision and mission and enjoy working within a small, supportive, friendly and committed team.

Wikimedia UK is an equal opportunities employer. We hold diversity and inclusion at the heart of our organisation and in this recruitment process. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply, and we particularly welcome applications from potential candidates from traditionally underrepresented groups, such as those with protected characteristics as defined by the Equality Act.

The organisation has an office in Southwark, however all staff are currently working from home. We are developing our plans to return to the office in late 2020/early 2021 if we consider it to be both safe and beneficial to do so, but with flexible working options in place.

Job Description

Fundraising Planning, Management and Delivery

• Play a key role in the development and delivery of the charity’s fundraising strategy, in close collaboration with the Chief Executive, Fundraising Coordinator and other stakeholders, such as the Development Advisory Board.
• Oversee and develop the Fundraising Co-ordinator - a new role, to be appointed in Autumn 2020 - whose work will focus on researching and writing applications for trusts and foundations, and supporting other development activities.
• Lead on the creation of action plans for specific areas of fundraising, including individual supporters and trusts and foundations
• Work with the Chief Executive to develop and deliver a cultivation plan for major donors to the charity (which includes anyone who makes a gift of £1000 or more).
• Work with the Chief Executive and Director of Programmes and Evaluation to identify priorities for funding, and develop targeted approaches to support these activities.
• Research funding sources and trends to help build a pipeline of potential funders, and to stay on top of major funding changes or trends.
• Build and maintain key internal and external relationships, and help to build relevant professional knowledge and influence within the wider team.

Communications Planning, Management and Delivery

• Play a key role in developing and implementing the charity’s communications strategies and plans - in close collaboration with the Chief Executive, the Communications and Governance Co-ordinator, and other stakeholders.
• Oversee and develop the work of the Communications and Governance Co-ordinator, who manages the online public profile of Wikimedia UK - including our social media presence and blog - on a day to day basis.
• Work with the Chief Executive, other staff and external agencies to develop Wikimedia UK’s brand and visual identity, including the design and production of printed materials and merchandise.
• Ensure that the Wikimedia UK website (currently being redeveloped) is maintained and kept up to date, welcoming and informative, commissioning the production of online content as necessary.

• Support the Chief Executive and other staff and trustees to ensure that Wikimedia UK responds quickly and effectively to all media enquiries and opportunities, and work with the team to develop targeted campaigns around specific events, partnerships or policy issues.

Donor, Member and Volunteer Communications

• Work with the Chief Executive and other staff on the creation and distribution of regular, targeted communications for individual supporters and other stakeholders including donors, members and volunteers.
• Supervise the work of the Communications and Governance Co-ordinator in relation to donor and membership administration and support, and the smooth delivery of the charity’s Annual General Meeting for members.

Senior Management Responsibilities

• Line manage staff within the Development and Communications team. This currently includes a Communications and Governance Co-ordinator, with plans to appoint a Fundraising and Development Co-ordinator in autumn 2020.
• Attend and contribute to Senior Management Team meetings and discussions, providing updates on development, fundraising and communications activities.
• Attend board meetings and subcommittee meetings as required, providing updates and reports as directed by the Chief Executive.
• Work with the Chief Executive and Director of Finance and Operations to plan and manage expenditure budgets related to fundraising and communications, and to plan and monitor revenue projections.
• Any other reasonable duties as directed by the Chief Executive.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential Experience, Skills, Knowledge and Behaviours

• Demonstrable experience of fundraising within a not for profit environment, preferably with some experience of both trusts and foundations and individual supporters
• Experience of developing other staff or volunteers, whether in a formal line-management capacity or otherwise
• High level of planning, organisational, time-management and prioritisation skills
• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to adapt tone to suit different audiences and a strong attention to detail
• Excellent interpersonal and networking skills, able to build positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders and leverage connections
• Effective software skills and the ability to learn and use new systems
• A broad understanding of how different communications channels, including social media, can be used to develop a charity’s profile and impact
• A commitment to the aims and values of Wikimedia UK
• A high degree of flexibility, with the ability to work at both a strategic and hands-on level as the organisation requires
• An appreciation and understanding of issues relating to diversity, equity and inclusion

Experience in the following areas is not necessary, however a strong interest and capability towards taking on these tasks is essential:

• Managing staff
• Budget management
• Developing strategies and action plans for yourself and others

How to apply

Please be in touch with our recruitment partner, Femke Vorstman at Prospectus, for more information about the role and process to apply. To arrange a briefing call, please email your CV to [[1]] and reference this position.

Your formal application for this role will include your tailored CV alongside a supporting statement and a separate equal opportunities form. Your supporting statement should be no more than two pages and indicate how you meet the person specification, focusing on the following three areas:

1. Your fundraising skills and expertise, including any formal or informal leadership experience
2. Your communication skills, and any formal or informal involvement in communications activities within a non-profit environment
3. Your commitment to what Wikimedia UK is trying to achieve through our work

The deadline for all final applications is Wednesday 2nd September. We expect to hold first interviews during the week beginning 7th September, and second round interviews during the week beginning 14th September.

Background information

Equal Opportunities: Wikimedia UK has a commitment to achieving equality of opportunity in both services to our members and clients, and in the employment of people, and expects all employees and volunteers to understand and promote its policies in their own work.

Fire, Health and Safety: Wikimedia UK is committed to a healthy and safe working environment and expects all its employees to consider and integrate health and safety in all work activities.

Sustainable Development: Wikimedia UK is committed to the principles of sustainable development and all employees are expected, in so far as possible, to maintain work practices in line with the principles of sustainable development.

Continuing Professional Development: Wikimedia UK is committed to the continuing professional development of all its staff and volunteers. Employees are expected to develop learning plans in conjunction with their line manager in order to undertake training or other career development opportunities that they feel would develop their work and the operation of the Charity.

Data Protection: Wikimedia UK holds sensitive data on its members, volunteers, donors and those using its services. All employees are required to maintain an awareness of data protection responsibilities, and to execute all relevant duties with tact, discretion and due respect to confidentiality of clients, members and staff.