Corporate Partnerships Manager at WWF South Africa

Background:

Responsible for leading the corporate engagement strategy and team to deliver on WWF SA strategic outcomes and funding needs. This position will report directly to the Head of Business Development Unit.

Minimum Requirements    

• Appropriate post graduate tertiary qualification in Sales / Marketing / Sustainability / Commerce / Finance / Economics or similar.
• 10 years’ experience in Relationship management / fundraising
• 5 years management experience.
• Knowledge and understanding of the components of corporate fundraising, CSR, CSI, BBBEE, Shared Value, Marketing, Corporate Relations, and Sustainability is required.
• Computer literate - good working knowledge of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and ability to use databases for recording and reporting.
• Research skills, fundraising skills, knowledge sharing, presentation skills, negotiation and diplomacy skills, which enables an understanding of the corporate and its sector orientation, networking and fundraising at corporate level are required.
• Leadership skills
• Management skills
• Planning & organising
• Project management
• Ability to network with and influence senior people both internally and externally in order to achieve a pre-defined outcome.
• Ability to work in a networked environment (such as the WWF Network), with a proven capacity to define and defend priorities
• Collaborative spirit and ability to work in team settings across cultures and internally within a diverse institution
• Good interpersonal skills and relationship building
• Enthusiasm, confidence and high EQ
• Passion for conservation

Duties and Responsibilities    

• Give strategic input into the overall fund development for projects and programmes
• Draft specific funding proposals to attract unrestricted and restricted funding:
• Write up tailored funding proposals;
• Establish communication channels with programmes and projects;
• Ensure projects information is up to date;
• Engage and gain inputs and comments from relevant managers, coordinators and consultants;
• Edit documents;
• Get approval and sign off fundraising proposals from relevant Managers.
• Identification and cultivation of prospective business and related Trusts and Foundations:
• Examine all prospects:
• Oversee and assist in the identifying and research of potential businesses/Trusts/Foundations to be targeted;
• Develop and nurture relationships, in association with relevant WWF colleagues, with key stakeholders (Business, Trusts and Foundations) on behalf of the WWF-SA;
• Monitor WWF project and programme outputs and manage all related fund reporting;
• Establish regular communication channels with programme and project staff to ensure expedient reporting to donors;
• Liaise readily with the Programme and Conservation teams to better know and represent their funding requirements.
• Be able to make presentations and share all aspects of WWF-SA’s work to Corporates, Trusts and Foundations. 
• Proactively build networks with key decision makers and influencers with prospective funders and existing funders, as well as the wider commercial sector to secure maximum support for WWF-SA.

General 

• Contribute to the development of corporate relationships to maximise value and establish a foundation on which to secure longer-term, fully integrated conservation and transformative partnerships. This will include the Corporate Network, Funding & Donations-in-Kind, Loyalty Programmes, Staff engagement of corporate partners and Licensing.
• Participate in specific events that form part of the WWF Business Development engagements.
• Update and maintain the database of all related fundraising contacts including contact reports and fundraising relationships.
• Provide monthly activity and new business status reports (including income potential) and maintain accurate database records of all approaches to potential/existing supporters.
• Work with the Communications, Business Development, Corporate Partnerships and Individual. Relations teams within WWF to develop and implement fundraising initiatives and campaigns, and look to maximize all initiatives and activities of the Business Development Unit.
• Attend internal fundraising activities, meetings, briefings and working group sessions as required.

Staff Management

• Line manage the BDU Corporate Communications Manager and BDU Corporate Partnerships Officer, providing motivation, leadership and direction.
• Provide leadership for team activities and performance.
• Focus on team development & retention.