Head Of Fundraising at Oxfam South Africa

Job description

Oxfam South Africa (www.oxfam.org.za) is seeking an outstanding individual to launch and lead public fundraising in South Africa which involves developing an ambitious strategy and hiring the skilled and driven team s/he will lead to deliver significant levels of unrestricted income and build a movement of inspired supporters of Oxfam in South Africa. The ideal candidate will have substantial fundraising and management experience, a talent for building relationships and a proven track record in securing funds from different fundraising channels.

Launched in May 2017, Oxfam South Africa is Oxfam’s first African affiliate. Oxfam’s 2020 strategy is working towards a more influential and representational presence in the global south to become more globally balanced. The Head of Fundraising for Oxfam South Africa is thus a key role: creating a unique opportunity for a talented candidate to drive public fundraising in South Africa, with the full support of the wider Oxfam confederation.

Purpose of Role

The Head of Fundraising will lead public fundraising in South Africa: Developing an ambitious strategy and hiring the skilled and driven team who s/he will lead to deliver significant levels of unrestricted income and build a movement of inspired supporters of Oxfam in South Africa.

Key responsibilities

• Strategy and Planning
• Work on Oxfam South Africa’s organisational readiness for public fundraising together with colleagues: database, infrastructure, banking, digital, welcome journeys, retention.
• Define, develop and implement Oxfam South Africa’s first public fundraising strategy, which should be supporter-centric and focus on regular giving, and which should help ensure long-term financial stability and growth.
• Investigate all potential acquisition channels for Oxfam South Africa and develop strong relationships with suppliers, agencies and consultants in South Africa as appropriate.
• Ensure robust business processes are in place for the selection and management of third party suppliers, agencies and/or consultants.
• Initiate the testing of innovative activities to diversify fundraising approaches and spread the risk across fundraising.
• Strive to underpin fundraising activities with a strong digitally-driven donor experience.
• Ensure that all new donors and supporters to Oxfam South Africa are thanked, welcomed, informed about how their donation helps, kept up-to-date and made to feel part of the global movement to end extreme poverty.
• Lead the development of plans, tactics and actions to increase supporter loyalty and to maximize value.
• Provide input into creative and functional aspects of supporter relationship management including development of new products and communication cycles.
• Lead an engaging supporter relationship programme with strong Public Engagement campaign focus.
• Lead on compliance and an ethical approach to fundraising, so that appropriate standards are set and that teams and colleagues take responsibility to implement and fulfil all required standards.
• Leadership and Management
• Create Oxfam South Africa’s ideal start-up fundraising team structure and hire specialist experienced staff, including digital staff, ensuring a planned approach to maturing the digital infrastructure of Oxfam South Africa
• Motivate, manage and support fundraising staff to achieve the objectives of the strategy.
• Introduce best practice procedures and work flow in all areas of responsibility.
• Work closely with Oxfam South Africa’s Head of Public Engagement to ensure that brand, communications and campaigns are optimised to assist with raising funds and recruiting new supporters.
• Be part of the Oxfam South Africa Senior Management Team, taking part of the strategical decisions of the organization and establish effective relationships with other teams and ensure that all fundraising staff collaborate and work effectively with these teams.
• Participate in meetings, projects and working groups with Fundraising and Marketing Directors of the Oxfam confederation.
• Budgets and targets
• Work closely with the Income and Supporter Development Team at Oxfam International to ensure budgets, targets and forecasts are realistic and in line with investment plans and agreed strategy.
• Work with Oxfam International colleagues on proposals to access funds for investment in Oxfam South Africa’s fundraising strategy.
• Lead, develop and implement monthly KPIs relating to acquisition to reduce attrition, drive lifetime value and tax effective giving.
• Ensure that all Oxfam South Africa and Oxfam International reporting requirements are met, and that reporting and forecasting are accurate and transparent.

Other

• Keep up-to-date with market knowledge and fundraising trends.
• Carry out any other reasonable tasks relevant to the post.

Profile

Skills, Knowledge and experience:

• A proven track record in delivering successful public fundraising strategies with a focus on individual giving: can provide a strong vision for supporter acquisition, retention and development.
• Individual giving experience in a range of fundraising markets, ideally including South Africa and in a market entry context.
• Forward thinking, innovative and dynamic with a problem-solving approach.
• Excellent planning, organisational, analytical, budgeting, numerical, problem-solving and time management skills.
• Delivery orientation and ability to inspire and work collaboratively and build cohesive relationships with others to achieve outcomes.
• Strong skills in developing people and teams, significant management and leadership experience and the ability to identify and develop talent.
• Knowledgeable about international development, humanitarian work and campaigning or motivated and able to learn quickly.
• Strong commitment to Oxfam’s mission and values and to ethical fundraising.
• Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s Degree, a Postgraduate Qualification will be advantageous
• Evidence of Continued Professional Development relevant to the role purpose and level will be highly advantageous

Essential Aptitudes:

• Innovative management style
• Energy, enthusiasm and flair to work hard and achieve ambitious targets
• The self-confidence, composure and stature to inspire respect and credibility at all levels, both inside and outside the organisation
• Courteous, diplomatic and tactful
• Self-motivated
• Proactive and delivery focused approach
• Flexible; able to work on own or part of team
• Enthusiasm for new challenges
• Organised
• Committed to quality, continuous improvement

Oxfam South Africa is an equal opportunity employer and is determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status, or race, or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable.