Head of Proposition Development - National Trust : Job Details

We're looking for an experienced Head of Proposition Development to join our fundraising team on a 24-month fixed term contract. You will play a critical role in the Fundraising Growth programme: an internal change programme that will strengthen and scale fundraising capabilities across the National Trust so that we can create a step-change in our fundraising income - essential to delivering the Trust’s new 2035 strategy.To achieve this goal, we need to change the way that we fundraise and the way that we think about fundraising at the National Trust. We know that there is an exciting opportunity for us to diversify our income by developing products and propositions for new audiences, deepening our relationships with existing audiences and ensuring our systems, processes and people capabilities are as good as they can for fundraising. By doing this we can better support our work to conserve nature, beauty and history. Ultimately, the more funds we can sustainably generate, the more positive impact we can have for people and for nature.This is a particularly exciting time to join this part of the Fundraising family as the National Trust is preparing its organisational strategy for the next 10 years. This new strategy will require a refresh of existing propositions and provides a compelling platform to connect with new audiences by telling powerful stories about the exciting work and positive impact that can be achieved in next chapter in the National Trust. 

The Fundraising team is dynamic, ambitious and focused on making things happen; playing a vital role in enabling the National Trust to deliver its purpose. Our team sits within the Support and Revenue Directorate, which brings together our supporter-facing income streams from Membership to Fundraising through to our Commercial teams.Your contractual location will be one of our national hubs, and you will be expected to attend the office. However, there is flexibility on where you are based at other times. You will be required to work at a National Trust location for 40-60% of your working week. This will be discussed in more detail at interview.Please be aware that this role will involve some travel to work with National Trust colleagues and visit our projects & properties across the UK.

You'll be leading a small team focused on developing new propositions and proposals for our high-value audiences, made up of Corporations, Major Donors, Grant Makers and Trusts & Foundations. You'll work closely with existing resource in our core fundraising teams to share learnings and build new processes to make it quicker and easier for fundraisers to develop propositions themselves, whilst also providing a suite of centralised resources. You will develop a strategic approach to proposition development at the National Trust, working with senior leaders to understand funding opportunities relevant to donor motivations, and establishing a prioritised pipeline for propositions in alignment with the Fundraising and National Trust strategy. You will establish best practice in fundraising proposition development by drawing on your own experience and engaging with internal & external expertise.You'll play a key role in helping the National Trust to develop its capabilities for insight-led propositions for high-value audiences: developing and strengthening processes, working with agility to simplify and reduce ‘time to market’. You'll engage with project, programme and finance teams to influence ways of working, embed propositions and build the understanding of the strategic approach. You and your team will provide coaching and training to colleagues within fundraising and beyond, to create a community of practice for colleagues working on propositions across the National Trust.As team leader you'll provide line management for the proposition development team and keep a dotted line to existing fundraising development resource in the core fundraising team. You will be proactive in building relationships and establishing confidence rapidly with key stakeholders and programme leads. You will operate within a budget and support on producing investment cases for additional funding, as required.

We’d love to hear from you if you have;

• Experience of developing creative, insight-led proposals and propositions for high-value audiences - spotting opportunities and crafting strong narratives
• Experience of managing, leading and developing a high performing team in proposal or proposition development: establishing strategic approach and processes for efficiency, quality and scalability
• Experience of building relationships across organisational boundaries, demonstrating tact and negotiating sensitively; skilled at navigating conflicting priorities
• Experience of managing multiple projects simultaneously using project management processes and tools
• The ability to interpret complex content into engaging content and effective calls to action; strong storytelling skills
• The ability to build and evaluate financial data to produce creative cases for support for high-value audiences across a range of strategic priorities Experience in working with design capability (in-house and external)
• Experience of developing and moderating workshops with internal colleagues to build creative funding packages and propositions.
• A passion for fundraising and a strong desire to advance the charitable mission of the National Trust.
• Experience of the UK Charity Sector, and in-depth knowledge and experience of fundraising with understanding of donor motivations and interest.

The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.

•Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary

•Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)

•Rental deposit loan scheme

•Season ticket loan

•EV car lease scheme 

•Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts

•Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.

•Flexible working whenever possible

•Employee assistance programme