Are you a talented, energetic leader with significant, proven experience of fundraising and communicating at a high level? We're recruiting for a new Director of Fundraising & Communications to lead our growing and dynamic team, meet ambitious targets and communicate our impact.

About FareShare South West

FareShare South West is the region’s largest food redistribution charity, fighting food poverty and hunger by tackling waste. We source good quality food that is surplus to requirements from retailers and manufacturers. We rely on over 200 brilliant volunteers to help redistribute this food to 400 frontline charities such as school breakfast clubs, community centres and organisations supporting those who are homeless, unemployed, socially isolated and recovering from addiction.

Purpose of the Role

This is an exciting time to be joining FareShare South West as we develop and invest to do more to fight hunger and tackle food waste.

The postholder will need to:

Inspire, lead and manage the fundraising and communications teams, exemplifying and demonstrating FareShare South West values and behaviours at all times.
Develop the strategy and operations of FareShare South West’s fundraising and communications function, ensuring that the organisation and its work are professionally and effectively promoted and that income targets are met and exceeded.
Be an active member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) in driving the strategic direction and management of the Charity, ensuring the highest standards and governance apply to all of our operations, so that we can fulfil our mission effectively.

Main duties

Strategic

Lead and support the Fundraising and Communications team and be a source of expertise, knowledge and guidance to the rest of the organisation on fundraising and communications matters.
Lead the development and implementation of ambitious fundraising and communications strategies that will generate the long-term sustainable growth of both our fundraised income and our profile within the South West.
Ensure annual fundraising and communications plans are delivered to budget, strive for ambitious targets, and contain the necessary level of innovation to support longer term growth of the fundraising portfolio.
Ensure effective evaluation and monitoring systems are in place for assessing the impact of the organisation's fundraising and communications initiatives, and to provide regular information and reports to the CEO and Board of Trustees, as required.
As part of the Senior Leadership Team, support the development and implementation of the wider organisational strategy, creating the environment to ensure our fundraising and communications strategies can thrive as well as significantly contribute to our mission.
Work with the CEO, set the annual fundraising and comms targets, budgets and reforecasts, providing regular financial, KPI, and commentary reports to the CEO and Board.
Lead and manage the Fundraising and Communications department and ensure staff are developed, invested in, and motivated to contribute to our charity mission.
Be a passionate representative and advocate of FareShare South West to all our internal and external stakeholders.

Fundraising

Develop and deliver FareShare South West’s three year fundraising strategy to meet agreed goals and achieve ambitious fundraising targets across a diverse range of income streams including Trusts & Foundations, corporate relationships, individual giving and statutory funding.
Lead on securing large (six-figure) multi-year grants, for example National Lottery, Government/Statutory Funding, institutional funders.
Ensure implementation plans and key performance indicators are in place across our income streams.
Manage the fundraising income and expenditure budget, ensuring that industry ratios are met, that expenditure is allocated strategically and that annual budgets are drafted robustly.
Identify new fundraising opportunities and develop new fundraising ideas and activities across all income streams, fostering a culture of innovation within the team.
Ensure that FareShare South West’s fundraising work is communicated effectively both internally and externally.
Ensure that effective supporter journeys and stewardship plans are in place for all donors and to personally build/manage relationships with a number of key supporters and major donors.
Ensure the consistent application of best fundraising practice and knowledge across the organisation, including building a fundraising culture and awareness among all staff.
Develop new resources, agreement templates, policies and to support the stewardship and onboarding of corporate supporters, corporate partnerships, and commercial partnerships in line with Fundraising Regulator best practice, legal obligations and FSUK guidelines.
Be responsible for ensuring compliance with any relevant legislative or regulatory requirements for fundraising practices and procedures.
Build organisation-wide capacity to engage in fundraising at every level.
Maximise the synergy between fundraising, raising awareness, operations and new programmes.

Communications

Lead Communications support to all functions of the Charity, including new/diversified activities. Working with the Communications Team, develop and deliver communications strategies, in line with available resource, that address key organisational needs and challenges, across all Charity functions, programmes, and regions. Key areas include Membership Development, Food Sourcing, Fundraising and Volunteering.
Build the capacity of all departments to engage in effective communications activity, externally and internally. Working with the Communications Manager and SLT, develop training, culture-setting, policies, and resources.
Ensure implementation, operation, monitoring and review of the organisation’s digital and social media strategies, including website maintenance and development
Be responsible for brand management and development, including brand awareness and ensure that all communications are effective and consistent in style and content.
Build organisational understanding of our key supporter audiences and ensure we are developing and delivering content and channels that increase our profile within them as well as their desire to engage with us.
Maintain, develop, and grow engagement with FareShare South West’s core comms platforms including newsletters, social media channels, PR activity, website.
Create new compelling narratives and stories that effectively communicate and elevate our charity’s work.
Develop the charity’s ability to expand and replicate communications strategies, platforms, and campaigns across our South West region, reflecting and adapting to our diverse regional audiences, specific regional needs and stakeholders and emerging opportunities, while ensuring brand consistency and coherency.
Support and enhance stakeholder engagement work across the charity, working across all teams to enable better communication with key stakeholders including:
Food Partners
Member charities
Volunteers
Suppliers
Civic Leaders, Politicians, and Local Authority Officers
Business community/networks
Media
Voluntary sector
Manage and strengthen relationships with FareShare UK around Communications to align with national messaging, strategies, and campaigns, and capacity to share resources and best practices.

General

Oversee management and development of new systems and resources to support fundraising and communications, including the Fundraising and Stakeholder CRM.
Ensure that accurate and up to date financial and supporter records are maintained and are accessible
Work within national FareShare policies, procedures and adhere to legal frameworks
Receive, record, bank, and process income in accordance with FSSW policies and procedures
Undertake administrative duties as required
Ensure all fundraising and comms activity is carried out in accordance with Charity Law, Fundraising Codes of Practice, and Data Protection regulation.
When requested, deputise for the CEO at meetings/events, or to cover their duties in the event of their absence.

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