Hours: Full-time (35 hours/week) or Part-time

Reports to: Head of Philanthropy

Location: Shoreditch, East London (Hybrid Model)

Key relationships:UK for UNHCR: Fundraising Team; Communications & Content Team; CEO; Trustees; UNHCR international: PSP team (Private Sector Partnerships).

JOB PURPOSE

You will work closely with the Head of Philanthropy, CEO, trustees and international colleagues to steward and cultivate key donor relationships and continue the development and implementation of the strategy to grow the major donor pipeline. As a Senior Manager, you will take ownership of the overall Major Donor Strategy, and budget and provide strategic insight into how we grow and improve our programme.

You will be confident in navigating complex environments with multiple stakeholders and in negotiating internally as well as externally, championing the major donor programme to ensure a strong enabling environment for the growth of the programme. You will enjoy developing strong relationships, have excellent communication and problem-solving skills and will be adept at managing donor and prospect pipelines as well as crafting compelling donor communications.

This role will be responsible for managing the Philanthropy Manager role and will provide support, mentorship and coaching to help the development of this role.

WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO

United Kingdom for UNHCR is the United Nations Refugee Agency’s national charity partner for the United Kingdom. We generate public awareness of the plight of refugees and raise funds to help protect them through UNHCR’s humanitarian operations across the world.

Our supporters include UK private individuals, communities, corporate partners, trusts and foundations. The funds we raise help UNHCR deliver emergency relief such as shelter, medical care and basic supplies to people fleeing conflict and persecution, as well as healthcare, education and livelihoods opportunities for those who remain displaced over the long term.

Nobody chooses to be a refugee, but we can all play a part in their protection, and we want those who work with us to share our values and passion for the cause.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND BELONGING

We strongly value diversity and recognise that it is critical to our success and the cause that we serve. We are committed to providing an inclusive environment for all who work with us and strongly welcome applications from diverse backgrounds, particularly those with lived experience of being a refugee, asylum seeker, internally displaced person, or a stateless person.

UK for UNHCR is proud to have Diversity & Inclusion Working Group. The Diversity & Inclusion Working Group is a group of colleagues focusing on tasks that drive action in the implementation of our D&I Approach. The group also works to create safe spaces that brings colleagues together for events, discussions and learning experiences that celebrate and support diversity and tackle barriers to inclusion.

We are also open to flexibility in many ways, including an element of working from home and flexible hours. Please don’t be afraid to speak to us about this at the interview stage, so we can explore what’s possible.

ROLE RESPONSIBLITIES

• Manage the philanthropy manager role through coaching, and by motivating and supporting them to reach their annual target.
• Build on a warm portfolio of donors to achieve current income targets and spot opportunities for growth and deeper development of philanthropic relationships
• Monitor and deliver annual philanthropy budgets and KPIs, assessing ongoing performance, proactively managing risks and providing accurate reporting.
• Own and drive the Major Donor strategy in collaboration with the Head of Philanthropy.
• Support on intermediary strategy and growth in this area.
• Work as part of the Philanthropy Team to grow opportunities within the major donor funding stream in line with UK4U’s fundraising strategy
• Lead on the growth and development of a robust prospect pipeline working with the corporate team, individual giving team, trustees, prospect research team, philanthropy team and other key stakeholders.
• Work with the wider international organisation to identify the most appropriate funding propositions for donors and also the internal technical experts and leadership colleagues who can help support and drive forward opportunities.
• Craft compelling propositions and proposals for major donors and ensure quality and timely reporting on donations made.
• Establish a strategic and tactical response to selected prospects and existing major donors in the event of humanitarian emergencies.
• Work independently and with the prospect researcher to gather up-to-date and accurate information on existing and prospective donors.
• Maintain accurate records on Salesforce, for income recording and earmarking.
• Work with the wider team to deliver bespoke activities including virtual and in-person events
• Support wider PPH strategic initiatives: helping identify and implement enablers to help the organisation secure and grow more multi-year partnerships, including at transformational levels.
• Help to position and raise awareness of UK4U’s role among peers, donors and other audiences by participating in sector networks and representing UK4U at events, as appropriate.
• Work within UK4U’s due diligence policy and GDPR policies and processes.
• Support the philanthropy team in other activities, as requested.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES AND EXPERIENCE

· Experience of inputting into annual plans, multi-year budgets.

· Experience of working towards and monitoring and tracking KPI targets

· Experience of inputting to and implementing strategy

· Experience of growing prospect pipelines

· Experience of working in an income generating capacity with an NGO, INGO or university to identify, approach, secure and steward prospects and major donors giving or capable of giving over 5 to 7 figure gifts.

· Experience of developing donor care plans and delivering bespoke proposals and communications to generate income.

· Experience working with senior stakeholders (including CEO and Chair of Trustees)

· Strong experience of networking.

· Must be comfortable working at pace and on multiple opportunities.

· Confident communicator with the ability to effectively influence and negotiate with internal and external stakeholders at senior levels.

· Strong understanding of the philanthropic environment within the UK

· Ability to analyse reports and communicate complex themes and subjects in an accessible and compelling manner in writing and verbally.

· Ability to act proactively to identify new and strategic fundraising opportunities.

· Good attention to detail, ability to proof-read.

· Able to demonstrate flexibility, with a willingness to respond quickly, particularly at times of humanitarian crisis.

· Excellent stakeholder and relationship management skills.

· Proficient in using Word, excel, PowerPoint.

· Working knowledge of fundraising databases.

· Knowledge of international development or related subjects helpful but not essential

· Line management experience

· Experience of leading on developing multi-year budgets and plans.

WHY JOIN UNITED KINGDOM FOR UNHCR?

You will be part of a high performing agile team of talented people, all committed to build solidarity and raise funds for refugees and displaced people worldwide. You will be working in a flexible, supportive, and inclusive environment, where your work will be recognised and appraised.

What else?

• 28 days’ leave per annum plus bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time contracts).
• Employee Assistance programme providing 24/7 access to online GP, mental health support and virtual wellbeing.
• Access to 100s of perks with discounts on everyday purchases.
• Office wellness perks.
• Discount on gym memberships.
• Hybrid and Flexible Working.
• Staff socials.
• Pension scheme with an employer contribution of 8%.
• Non-contributory group life assurance scheme
• One-off contribution towards homeworking set up.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental, and adoption pay.

• Comprehensive training and continuing development opportunities.

If you have the relevant skills and the passion to use them to support refugees, please apply by completing our application form which is available in the documents section.

Closing date: 20 July 2025

Interviews date: 24th – 28th July 2025

If you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to the application or hiring process that may better facilitate your participation, please contact hr@unrefugees.org.uk . We will make every effort to respond to your request for assistance as soon as possible.

United Kingdom for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is registered with the Charity Commission (England & Wales), charity no. 1183415. It is the UK national partner of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Refugee Agency.

28 days' annual leave + Bank Holidays
Life Assurance x4 of basic salary
Income protection scheme
8% employer contribution pension scheme
Hybrid working

Notes

**PLEASE NOTE: To apply for this vacancy, please ensure you firstly download a copy of our application form from the documents section below and complete it. Click the 'apply' button and fill out your personal details in the relevant sections. Once you have submitted these you will be asked if you would like to attach any documents. At this stage please submit the completed version of the application form.**