All jobs The deadline for applications is Sunday 2nd March
Location: London, Paris, Madrid, Warsaw, Budapest, The Hauge, Berlin and Brussels
Location type: Hybrid
Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer
Manages: Team of 13
Annual salary: €130K - €160K EUR, salary is dependent on experience and location
Contract type: Permanent
Candidate level: Senior Executive
Background
The European Climate Foundation (ECF) is a major philanthropic initiative working to help tackle the climate crisis by fostering the development of a net-zero emission society at the national, European and global levels.
We support over 1000 partner organisations to carry out activities that drive urgent and ambitious policy in support of the objectives of the Paris Agreement, contribute to the public debate on climate action and help deliver a socially responsible transition to a net-zero economy and sustainable society in Europe and around the world.
The ECF brings together diverse perspectives and backgrounds to find the best innovative solutions to tackle climate change. We are focusing on engaging and hiring great people from a wide diversity of backgrounds to strengthen the cause. If you share our values of respect, innovation, and collaboration, join us.
Purpose of role
The Executive Director for Strategic Partnerships plays a pivotal role in driving the ECF’s mission by ensuring robust annual fundraising outcomes and fostering a diverse range of funding sources. This dynamic position encompasses several key responsibilities, including spearheading fundraising efforts and managing relationships with funders to maintain and expand financial support.
Governance is another critical facet of the role, as the Executive Director ensures best practices are upheld, particularly in fundraising activities, to safeguard transparency and accountability. Additionally, they contribute to the organisation’s broader vision by shaping strategy and serving as a vital member of the Senior Leadership Team.
Leading a dedicated Strategic Partnerships team of 13 professionals, the Executive Director inspires collaboration and innovation to secure and sustain impactful partnerships. This role requires a balance of strategic oversight, leadership, and relationship management to advance the organisation’s goals effectively.
Primary responsibilities
Fundraising leadership and relationship management
- Represent ECF externally and actively lead fundraising efforts.
- Guide ECF’s new fundraising to increase and diversify funding sources by exploring new relationships and avenues for revenue generation, especially in Europe.
- Act as a strategic partner to the CEO and Management Team on fundraising and funder relations. This includes providing updates on fundraising progress (managing data and dashboards) and guidance on fundraising objectives and priorities.
- Work with the Management Team and programmatic Executive Directors to develop and test fundraising messaging and packages and align outreach strategies across programs, campaigns, and hosted platforms (a ‘one-ECF approach’).
- Oversee the planning and execution of fundraising events and campaigns.
- Monitor and evaluate fundraising activities to ensure effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.
- Oversee the development and implementation of fundraising policies, procedures, and systems to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
- Support ECF's internal transformation, including developing efficient and harmonised fundraising practices and creating synergies between Strategic Partnerships and the organisation's financial workflows.
- Ensure the execution of a comprehensive annual stewardship programme and drive simplified funder reporting for existing partners with a ‘’one-ECF’’ approach.
- Actively contribute to the Development and Nominating and Governance Committees of the ECF Supervisory Board.
- As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, assume joint responsibility for the strategic and operational decision-making of the organisation, and cascade it to the Strategic Partnerships team.
- Contribute to cross-cutting organisational projects in a Management Team capacity as needed.
- Contribute to and reinforce ECF strategy and guide its translation into a fundraising case(s) for support.
- Develop and enact an overarching Fundraising and Funder Relationships strategy that positions ECF to respond to the changing and challenging philanthropic context and secure the funds needed to deliver ECF’s strategic objectives.
- Lead the Strategic Partnerships team, including direct line management of key strategic functions.
- Build and maintain a resilient and robust SP team.
- Supervise the delivery of the above objectives.
- Promote a collaborative spirit and inclusive processes.
- Proven experience (at least 3 years) in senior management with a successful track record in a senior Strategic Partnership role in a large organisation (>100M annually).
- Recognised successful team leader with strong leadership skills and ability to empower teams.
- Successfully secured 7 to 8 figure donations.
- Sensitivity to change management.
- Excellent English language skills, both spoken and written.
- Strong interest in climate, environment, and related fields.
- Strong negotiator.
- Collaborative approach to decision making.
- Ability to inspire donors and teams.
- The unique opportunity to work as part of a highly dynamic, international group of individuals who combine their passion to make a difference with a rigorous and results-oriented approach to work.
- A flexible work environment and a space to develop and challenge yourself.
- A ‘right to work’ license for one of the ECF offices is an asset but not mandatory. ECF will consider supporting the successful candidate in acquiring one if needed.
ECF is committed to diversity and inclusion in our organisation. We strongly encourage candidates from disadvantaged or marginalised backgrounds to apply.
If you have any questions about the role or organisation and would like an informal chat before submitting a formal application, please reach out to Ruth Gardner at ruth@darylupsall.com. Also, an applicant’s pack is available upon request.
The deadline for applications is Sunday 2nd March.
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Daryl Upsall International actively promotes equality, diversity and inclusion. In recruiting candidates, we seek candidates with the proven skills required; irrespective of race, gender, religion or belief, age, disability or sexual orientation.