Balmer Dawson are delighted to announce a wonderful new opportunity with Focus Ireland. We are looking for a suitably qualified Direct Marketing Manager to join their dynamic and collaborative team.

This role could be a perfect fit for you, if you are looking for a new challenge within Marketing or a move to the charity sector.

Focus Ireland works with people who are homeless or at risk of losing their homes across Ireland. They are driven by the fundamental belief that homelessness is wrong.

Focus Ireland has developed a new ambitious strategic plan to prevent homelessness ever occurring for as many people as possible, to provide effective support and solutions to homelessness for those who do become homeless.

Since its foundation, Focus Ireland has continued to grow and its research and advocacy work ensures that the rights of people who are homeless remain on the political agenda. In addition to its Dublin projects, it now has services and housing projects across Ireland including in Waterford, Kilkenny, Cork, Sligo and Limerick.

Values make it clear what is expected of both leaders and employees in the organisation. The expectation is that for every employee, the values of Focus Ireland are reflected in work practice, written documentation and in their relationships with each other, with customers and tenants, volunteers, partners, donors and funders and the wider public.

Focus Ireland's models of service provision are dictated by the needs of their customers. Therefore, the quality of services delivery is equally as important as the kind of services they provide. These values underpin their behaviour and attitudes in the provision of service to all stakeholders.

Role Purpose:

The Direct Marketing Manager will play a key role in delivering Focus Ireland's fundraising Strategy, helping to deliver significant income from the public and increasing engagement with their current and new supporters around their mission. Particular focus will be given to generating cash donations and regular giving income, driving donor acquisition, repeat giving and lifetime value. 

This is an exciting role that will draw on your expertise in segmentation, proposition development and campaign management to develop strong relationships with all newly acquired and existing donors and supporters of Focus Ireland.

Reporting to the Head of Public Fundraising; and also working collaboratively with other teams across the fundraising team and the organisation; some of these teams in particular are Services, Digital & Brand, Campaigns, and Partnerships & Philanthropy.

The Direct Marketing Manager will:

• Implement, monitor and develop a direct marketing strategy, engaging supporters in the mission of Focus Ireland.
• Input into the development of the digital and social media strategy, testing and innovating for fundraising and marketing purposes.
• Develop engaging fundraising appeal propositions from concept to delivery to highlight the work of Focus Ireland's services to current and new donors.
• Project manage 4-6 multi-media above and below the line campaigns annually, targeting warm and cold audiences, from proposition and creative development stages to identifying and negotiating contracts with appropriate suppliers, working with the CRM and Data Insights team to segment data, with a strong focus on donor acquisition and generating cash income.
• Work closely with the team to develop multi-stage acquisition strategies to develop overall regular giving programme that acquires and keeps donors over the lifecycle (to include direct marketing, telephone fundraising, advertising (press, radio, outdoor) and digital fundraising.
•  Coordination of key lifecycle communications working with telephone and direct marketing partners to ensure that all donor relationships are leveraged, enhanced, and retained longer as engaged and committed supporters of Focus Ireland.
• Manage and lead a team of two fundraisers.
• Working with fundraising team colleagues to map out donor journeys, develop and deliver targeted communications plans and integrated campaigns.
• Working with the Donor Care Coordinator to identify opportunities for increasing response of donors for tax efficient giving (tax back programme) through proactive calling, follow up, and top up call coordination.

General Responsibilities:

·        Tracking, reporting, analysis and identifying trends in campaign results and donor development KPIs, including ROI, average values, retention rates, enhancement numbers etc.

·        Using both quantitative data from CRM system and qualitative from donor engagement pieces and surveys to inform decision making and strategy

·        To demonstrate creativity, drive, dynamism, commitment, attention to detail and best practice in all activities.

·        Ensure information systems are maintained and kept up to date as appropriate.

·        Ensure compliance of charities regulation, data protection acts, governance and best practice.

·        Represent Focus Ireland on relevant external working groups and networks.

·        Represent the Public Fundraising Team on cross-functional project groups to optimize direct marketing campaign performance and outcomes.

·        To keep abreast of current developments in the NFP sector.  

The successful candidate will have:

• Degree level or equivalent qualification in Marketing, Business or Communications.
• Minimum 2+ years relevant experience.
• Proven, extensive experience of Direct Marketing and donor/customer development strategies.
• Strong database/CRM system experience and knowledge of managing data, segmentation, targeting and analysing results.
• Excellent experience in MS Office.
• Budget responsibility and agency and third party management experience
• Strong creative and writing ability and a strong attention to detail.
• Excellent presentation, communication (written & verbal) and organisational skills
• Ability to prioritise and work independently to achieve results.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to lead and motivate staff, volunteers and supporters
• Have empathy with and for Focus Ireland's customers, volunteers and supporters.
• Ability to work as part of a team as well as proactively working alone.
• Flexibility, innovation, initiative and a growth mind-set.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship building skills.

Desirable Criteria:

·        People management experience an advantage

·        Working knowledge of digital communications, e.g. Mailchimp, a plus

·        Knowledge of digital media

·        Microsoft Dynamics experience desirable but not essential

·        Knowledge of the charity sector and the environment in which Focus Ireland works

·        Experience in the not-for-profit sector

·        Diploma or Certificate in Fundraising

Remuneration:

•  Salary will be in the region of €50,000 - €52,500 (Depending on Experience)

Benefits:

·        Annual Leave –25 days, with flexibility to carry annual leave days to following calendar year.

·        Concession days – 3 days – Good Friday plus 2 days following St. Stephens day.

·        Pension - Defined Contribution – 5% employee contribution and 7% employer contribution.

·        Education Policy - provision of financial support for upskilling/qualifications.

·        Cycle to Work scheme.

·        Tax saver scheme.

·        EAP – Employee assistance programme –staff counselling.

Location: 

·        This role will be based in Christchurch but with requirements for travel and out of hours activities.

·        Focus Ireland have a hybrid working policy in place. This is a mix of in office and home-based work for all employees where possible.

Application process:

To apply, please submit your CV and Cover Letter (maximum one page) outlining how your motivation, experience and skills fit the role for the attention of Gilly Balmer & Zena Dawson at the following email address: info@balmerdawson.ie 

Closing date: 

• The closing date for applications is Friday 4^th February by 5pm (GMT)