Title: Head of Fundraising

Reports to: Director of Fundraising and Marketing

Contract type: Specific Purpose Contract - Maternity Cover

Hours: Full-time (35 hours per week) Mon - Fri 9am to 5pm

Flexibility required, there will be regular travel, including evening and weekend work as required.

Location: The Society operates a hybrid working model with a combination of remote and in-person (Dublin 4 office) working

Office attendance days are Wednesday & Thursday

WHO WE ARE

The Irish Cancer society is a community of patients, survivors, volunteers, supporters, health and social care professionals and researchers. Together we are transforming the experiences and outcomes of people affected by cancer through our advocacy, support services and research.

At the Irish Cancer Society, we have a vision that by 2025, 3 out of 4 Irish cancer patients will survive their diagnosis and everyone affected by the disease will have access to world-class treatment, care and support.

In 2021 an estimated 44,000 people received a cancer diagnosis in Ireland. More people in Ireland are being diagnosed with cancer now than ever before. Our services and supports are more in demand and this will continue for the foreseeable future. The need for our work in research and advocacy is more important now as we try to find better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer.

Being told you have cancer can be devastating. The good news is that many people go on to live long lives after a diagnosis. There are now more than 200,000 cancer survivors in Ireland. This means that there is a growing need for the support that the Irish Cancer Society provides for survivors. With only 3% funding received from the State, our fundraising is vital to ensure we are able to continue to deliver key services, supports, advice and research to cancer patients and their families as we work towards our vision that, in future, no one in Ireland will die from cancer.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Main duties and responsibilities

• Significantly contribute to the development and delivery of an effective fundraising strategy to help deliver on the Society's goals.
• Deliver a cohesive common fundraising vision, philosophy and working practice across our corporate, community, national campaign and grant based fundraising activity.
• Identify new potential income streams, develop an income generation strategy and oversee a coordinated income pipeline across Corporate, Community, Relay For Life, Major Donor, Donor Development and National Campaign fundraising.
• Ensure an integrated approach to all fundraising campaigns and activities, identifying and effecting opportunities to leverage the full organisational capability to maximise returns. 
• Develop a KPI framework and enhanced reporting systems, and effectively manage fundraising performance, including financial controls and effective measurement of return on investment. 
• Oversee fundraising processes for corporate, community, grant and campaign based fundraising, and ensure continual improvement and optimisation.
• Effectively engage with the wider organisation, ensuring cross-organisational support for fundraising initiatives.
• Develop a pipeline of new fundraising channels, drive creativity and innovation and explore opportunities to convert all projects into sustainable income. Identify, assess and deliver new fundraising initiatives and innovations.
• Oversee grant programmes and support funding proposals and applications
• Support and work with fundraising managers to optimise and build on funding relationships, identify gaps and opportunities in the campaign calendar, and grow the reach and impact of our fundraising.
• Foster cross-functional integrated programmes in partnership with the Communications team.
• Develop sophisticated assets to communicate the Society's ongoing and planned initiatives to commercial partners and potential donors.
• Work with finance team to deliver financial controls, reporting and analysis.
• Keep at the forefront of new fundraising trends and development both at national and international levels with a particular emphasis on digital.
• Engage with all relevant legislative requirements and codes of practice for fundraising to protect the Society's interests.
• Represent the Society as appropriate at events throughout the country, including key fundraising events. 

Leadership and people management

• Manage and empower a team to deliver the annual fundraising operational plans to meet strategic goals and grow income.
• Lead, manage, motivate and inspire the team, ensuring a culture of learning, innovation and development, through effective recruiting, training, team building and succession planning.
• Be a leader in the Fundraising Department, working effectively with peers, contributing to the overall strategy and team development, identifying prospects and opportunities for the wider fundraising team.

WHO YOU ARE

The right candidate for this role is:

Passionate about raising funds to ensure the continued delivery of key services, supports, advice and research to cancer patients and their families.

A people person: whether it is meeting a corporate partner at an event, working with colleagues and volunteers, or engaging with supporters, you understand what makes people tick, and create effective, lasting relationships.

An excellent leader and motivator: you have a high degree of emotional intelligence and possess the ability to lead and motivate diverse people.

A great communicator: you are able to communicate effectively across multiple channels (face-to-face, written, digital, presenting) and adapt your style to meet the audience where they are, with the ability to influence internal and external stakeholders

Results focused: you have the ability to drive high-performance in others.

An effective project manager: you have proven experience in managing projects, both strategic and operational, and are able to bring people together to achieve goals on time, on budget and to deliver impact, with an ability to effectively manage multiple projects at a time, to ensure the delivery of campaigns within their timelines.

An adaptable team player: you work flexibly and collaboratively within your direct team, and with colleagues across the organisation, building strong relationships.

An innovative self-starter with initiative, drive and an ability to work independently, think creatively, and identify opportunities

 Your skills and experience:

·      A sophisticated understanding of the Irish fundraising environment and potential opportunities and threats for the Irish Cancer Society fundraising.  

• Substantial commercial leadership experience.
• Managerial experience in leading and coaching high-performing teams to deliver revenue KPIs.
• Track-record of delivering sustained revenue growth and new partnerships.
• Experience in fundraising or marketing strategy development.
• Experience in connecting marketing and the development of brand with income growth.
• Knowledge of fundraising governance and best practice guidelines.
• Managerial experience in a Marketing or fundraising role in a not for profit organisation.

The Irish Cancer Society measures experience by the quality of the experience gained, rather than number of years worked. 

The closing date for applications is Friday 28^th March 2025. 

Please note all CVs are logged through a third-party system for processing

The Irish Cancer Society is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to building an inclusive environment for all employees. We know that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.

WE DO NOT REQUIRE THE ASSISTANCE OF AGENCIES 

Some of our benefits:

·      23 days Annual Leave a year or Pro Rata equivalent, plus public holidays, Good Friday and Christmas Eve (if it falls on a working day)

·      Service Days - Additional days awarded to reflect long service with the Society.

·      Sick Pay Scheme (following Probationary period)

·      Flexitime

·      Defined Contribution Pension Scheme (after 6 months)

·      Group membership for VHI and HSF (health plans)

·      Bus/Rail Ticket Scheme and Cycle to Work Scheme

·      Death In Service Benefit (from commencement of employment)

·      Paid Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity, Adoptive, Force Majeure and compassionate Leave)

·      Learning and Development Programmes

·      Educational Assistance (Study and Examination Leave)

·      Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

·      Optional Flu vaccine provided