Role Purpose

This is a unique opportunity for someone who is passionate about conservation, youth empowerment, and creating a more sustainable future. A chance to make a real difference for people, animals, and the environment. At JGIA, we bring Dr. Jane Goodall’s vision of hope to life by protecting wildlife, restoring habitats, and inspiring young changemakers through our African and Australian programs. We’re looking for a dedicated and driven Head of Development to lead and implement our philanthropy, development and external communications - to ensure our sustainability and extend our impact.

The Head of Development will be strategic in outlook, able to conceive and develop effective business development strategies and plans but also willing to be hands-on with end-to-end execution and operationalisation.

The Head of Development manages and executes all external communications to encourage the acquisition and retention of donors, partners, volunteers, program participants, and other third parties. The role is responsible for overseeing and delivering business development initiatives, nurturing partnerships and philanthropy, as well as supporting the JGIA team to develop commercial ventures with the view to ensure the sustainability of the organisation.

The role develops all internal and external JGIA communications and marketing materials, fundraising appeals, program support and database management, with the aim of growing and diversifying our revenue streams and increasing our profile and network. The role will work very closely with the CEO, volunteers and other members of the JGIA team.

Key Responsibilities

As the Head of Development, you will be a strategic and innovative thinker who is comfortable being hands on whilst also keeping the wider organisational objectives and priorities in mind. This is a key role that will work closely with the CEO to grow JGIA into its next chapter and includes relationship-building with donors, major gifts, and both short and long-term fundraising strategies.

This role is responsible for:

• Philanthropy – Cultivating regular giving and major gifts.

• Donor stewardship – Building long-term relationships with existing supporters.

• Planned giving – Encouraging bequests and legacy donations.

• Strategic fundraising planning – Creating multi-year development strategies.

• Sponsorships, corporate and foundation relations – Managing partnerships and sponsorships.

To be successful in this role you will have a broad range of skills, knowledge and experience to cover the key responsibilities, which include:

• Develop and deliver the annual communications & fundraising plan to raise revenues and awareness of JGIA and its local, national and international work
• Work with the CEO to drive organisational growth and business development, and develop resources and materials to support implementation and delivery
• Devise and execute fundraising campaigns and communications strategies across multiple channels (e.g. social media, direct communications, web marketing, e-communications, print, media)
• Increase revenue from growth in community fundraising while strengthening existing partnerships through exceptional donor relations and event management
• Manage the website including content, digital strategy, analytics, administration and supplier management
• Grant writing
• Oversee brand management in line with international JGI chapters
• Oversee the management of the JGIA database and fundraising and communications records
• Lead the creation of content and collateral for use across multiple channels (copy, graphics, video)
• Develop and manage a volunteer team as required to conduct and support social media and marketing campaigns
• Use analytics to measure, evaluate and report against goals and performance of digital marketing activity and plans
• Support organisational program growth through the support of, and liaison with, program leads in Africa Programs and Australia's Roots & Shoots programs
• Conduct research to identify prospective individual donors and support the CEO to build and maintain relationships with donors as required
• Undertake administrative duties required, including maintaining comprehensive database records on the CRM system
• Perform other duties as assigned by the CEO

Essential Criteria

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in a similar role
• People management experience, and skills to bring out the best in volunteers, particularly during times of change
• Understanding of digital and social media trends
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Prior experience of completing formal funding proposals
• Experience implementing scalable supporter and program participant journeys
• Extensive experience and technical knowledge managing websites and databases
• A demonstrated ability to meet and exceed agreed goals and fundraising targets set to match organisational objectives
• Excellent attention to detail and strong organisational skills
• Demonstrated experience working autonomously and as part of a team
• The ability to work well remotely and with remote team members located interstate.
• Passion for the not-for-profit sector, including volunteer management
• A current police check and working with children check (or willingness to apply)

Desirable Criteria

• Tertiary qualification in Marketing, Communications or a related field
• Graphic design skills
• Prior experience in the not for profit sector
• Experience in business development, partnerships or sharing impacts of social change.

Working at JGIA

JGIA is committed to creating a diverse working environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or age.

We value flexibility and autonomy, and encourage the team to work in ways that meet their work/life commitments and support their wellbeing and professional development while enabling a cohesive workplace culture.

Child Safeguarding

JGIA believes that it is our duty to ensure that we do everything we can to keep children safe. We have a responsibility to those children that we come into contact with, and as an organisation, we are committed to ensuring the safety of children by not harming them or placing children at risk. As part of the screening process, candidates will be required to complete a National Police Check and a Working with Children Check.

About JGIA

JGIA is part of a broad network of 27 chapters around the world and takes its inspiration from the life and work of Dr Jane Goodall. Dr Goodall is a world-renowned scientist, humanitarian, conservationist, ethologist, and UN Messenger of Peace who founded the Jane Goodall Institute in 1977.

Founded in 2007, JGIA is a small not for profit currently going through significant growth. We focus on youth conservation and environmental education programs in Australia, as well as supporting chimpanzee conservation and community development in Africa.

Further information on JGIA can be found here.

If the above resonates with you and you feel you can positively contribute to our close-knit and passionate team, please read our full position description attached below, and click Apply Now to submit an application.