Director of Development, DAVID SHEPHERD WILDLIFE FOUNDATION

A rare and newly‑created opportunity to join David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) as Director of Development at a pivotal moment of growth. As part of the Senior Management Team (SMT), you will help shape the future direction of the Foundation, leading its fundraising strategy, inspiring support and delivering significant and sustainable income growth.

We are looking for a collaborative team player who leads with integrity, warmth and passion. Experience in the conservation sector is an advantage but not a prerequisite. The right candidate will ignite action, build lasting relationships and generate meaningful growth in support of the DSWF’s mission.

Job Information

• Role: Director of Development (DoD)
• Reports to: CEO
• Works closely with: CEO/COO/CFO as part of the SMT
• Line manages: Development Team – Development Manager, Trust and Foundations Manager, Development Executive, CRM Executive
• Hours: Part‑time, 28 hours per week (4 days)
• Location: Hybrid working between the DSWF Shalford Office (GU4 8JU) for a minimum of two days per week (Tuesdays and Thursdays), and home with occasional travel
• Annual Leave: 25 days per annum pro rata. Bank Holidays provided; the office usually closes between Christmas and New Year at DSWF’s discretion (additional to annual leave)
• Salary: Competitive executive‑level salary dependent on experience and breadth of impact. Please ask for salary range on application.
• Start date: As soon as possible.

Summary of the Role

The Director of Development (DoD) provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all fundraising income and supporter engagement activity at DSWF. The role is accountable for delivering sustainable, diversified revenue growth aligned with DSWF’s mission across conservation, education and art, while building lasting relationships with major donors, trusts, foundations, corporate partners and senior supporters. Working closely with the CEO, COO, CFO and Board of Trustees, the DoD translates organisational strategy into compelling Cases for Support, effective fundraising plans and measurable outcomes. The postholder leads and develops a high‑performing Development team, ensuring strong delivery and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Lead on the development, implementation, delivery and continuous refinement of DSWF’s multi‑year Development strategy, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities and long‑term financial sustainability.
• Advise the CEO and Trustees on fundraising performance, trends, risks and opportunities.
• Own and articulate the organisational Case/s for Support, ensuring a clear, compelling narrative that integrates conservation impact, education outcomes and artistic heritage.
• Work closely with the rest of the SMT to embed a culture of philanthropy across the organisation, enabling all team members, Trustees and ambassadors to actively support income generation.
• Be jointly responsible as part of SMT for overarching decisions regarding the Foundation’s direction, its mission, strategies and culture.

Major & Strategic Fundraising

• Work closely with the CEO to cultivate, solicit and steward a portfolio of DSWF’s most significant donors and prospects, including major individual donors, trusts and foundations, legacy campaigns and strategic partners.
• Responsible, alongside the CEO, for the overall management of all corporate partnerships and sponsors.
• Design and lead bespoke solicitation strategies for new high‑value prospects, involving the CEO, Trustees and senior colleagues as appropriate.
• Oversee the development of structured approaches to major giving, trusts & foundations, legacy giving and corporate partnerships.
• Have strategic oversight of lower‑level individual giving programmes including appeals, regular individual giving and adoption schemes.
• Ensure best practice in prospect research, due diligence, stewardship and ethical fundraising.

Team Leadership & Management

• Lead, manage and develop the Development team, setting clear objectives, KPIs and income targets aligned to the overall strategy.
• Ensure the structure, resourcing and capabilities of the team are fit for purpose and scalable as income grows.
• Coach and support all those within the organisation that are responsible for fundraising, providing professional leadership, mentoring and performance management.
• Lead on all training and offer career progression for all staff within the Development team.
• Foster strong collaboration between Development and all departments, including Policy and Programmes, Marketing and Communications, Education, Art, Finance and Operations.

Supporter Engagement

• Represent DSWF externally with senior donors, partners and sector peers, enhancing the organisation’s profile and credibility.
• Oversee a high‑quality supporter journey across all touchpoints, ensuring donors feel valued, informed and connected to impact, including lower‑level individual giving.
• Champion systematic all‑level stewardship, donor care and impact reporting to maximise retention, lifetime value and advocacy.
• Ensure accurate, GDPR‑compliant data capture and effective use of CRM systems (Beacon) to drive insight‑led fundraising.

Events

• Be responsible for any fundraising or donor profile events, currently including the Wildlife Ball held at the Dorchester Hotel.
• Work closely with the rest of SMT to direct the Development team to ensure that all events deliver optimum, high‑level donor experiences and are run professionally with logistics and operational support from the COO and team.
• Ensure the CEO has all information required to support engagement with donors at all events.

Governance & Reporting

• Report on Development performance to the CEO, SMT and Trustees, providing clear analysis against agreed targets.
• Work closely with Finance to support forecasting, budgeting and long‑term income planning.
• Work closely with Finance and legal advisors in relation to all legal matters pertaining to legacies and bequests.
• Ensure all Development activity aligns with regulatory, governance and ethical standards.

Person Specification

Knowledge and Experience

• Significant senior leadership experience in fundraising and development within complex, mission‑driven non‑profit organisations, at Director level or equivalent, where philanthropy is critical to organisational impact and growth.
• Significant experience in leading and delivering long‑term development strategies, with a demonstrable track record of translating organisational ambition into clear, costed and achievable fundraising plans.
• Proven ability to set strategic direction across multiple income streams, establish measurable objectives and KPIs and use data and insight to monitor performance, evaluate impact and adapt approach over time.
• Experience of driving sustained income growth, strengthening donor pipelines, and delivering measurable outcomes aligned to organisational priorities and long‑term sustainability.
• Deep understanding of the UK philanthropic landscape, with well‑established networks across major donors, trusts and foundations, corporates and high‑net‑worth individuals and the ability to build credibility and influence rapidly at national and international levels.
• Demonstrable experience of leading and scaling fundraising income through periods of organisational change, growth or strategic transformation.
• Proven track record of securing transformational gifts and long‑term partnerships from individuals, corporates, trusts and foundations.
• Strong history of inspirational leadership, team building and talent development, with the ability to motivate teams towards ambitious shared goals.
• Experience of working with public sector stakeholders and cross‑sector partnerships to advance organisational objectives.
• Experience of implementing and embedding robust CRM systems and donor stewardship frameworks to support data‑led decision making and excellent supporter journeys.

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