RESEARCH EXECUTIVE
LONDON OFFICE
Salary: £21-25k per annum
37.5 Hours per week
The Outward Bound Trust
The Outward Bound Trust is an educational charity providing adventure-based, outdoor
learning for young people from six centres across the UK.
Overview of the Fundraising Department
The Fundraising department currently raises £6m a year to support the work of The Outward
Bound Trust, predominantly to cover the cost of bursary supported places for underprivileged
young people on our personal development courses and towards capital (building project)
requirements across the Trust’s centres. Funds are raised from high net worth individuals,
corporate organisations, charitable trusts and foundations and through high quality events. The
majority of the 12 strong Fundraising Department is based in Waterloo, London, while our
Trusts and Foundations function is based at the Head Office in Hackthorpe, Cumbria.
Our Board of Trustees is chaired by HRH The Duke of York. Our Patron is HRH The Duke of
Edinburgh. Both are heavily involved in the Charity’s work.
Purpose of the Job
By 2017 we want to increase the number of young people we work with to over 30,000 (we
currently serve around 25,000 a year). Growing our donor base is key to delivering our plans.
As we expand our Fundraising Team in response to this organisational growth, we must also
enhance our research capacity. High-quality research is essential in the recruitment and
retention of donors. Our goal is to increase our pool of supporters to provide the sustainable
funding we require from High Value Individuals, Corporates and Trusts & Foundations.
This role will be responsible for helping gather intelligence and data to enable us to implement
and move our overall fundraising campaign to the next level.
Job description
This is an exciting opportunity for a creative and self-motivated individual to build and manage
a research and prospecting programme within a national charity to help deliver our fundraising
strategy and financial targets.
The post will form part of our Development function to help drive our hugely successful Major
Donor recruitment campaign in the first instance. However, the remit will also be to help gather
intelligence on behalf of all the areas in Fundraising.
The post holder will report to the Head of Development.
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Key responsibilities of the role include (but are not limited to) the following:
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To take ownership of all existing data for both current and potential donors to The Trust
To work with the Fundraising Team to create an overall research strategy to identify new
prospects that can be reviewed and then cultivated by the fundraisers
To provide accurate prospect lists, as well as research profiles, as directed by the
Individual Giving Manager and in accordance with the Data Protection Act
To explore the most effective way to acquire the details of the top 100,000 wealthiest
people in the UK and to maintain it with the utmost accuracy
To undertake desk research using a variety of online resources, as well as being able to
build and manage an in-house database of information
To lead on the sharing of information across the team to ensure opportunities are joined
up and maximised
Any other research activities that support the overall fundraising strategy
To support our voluntary research interns
To contribute to team meetings and organisational priorities
To carry out other associated duties as may arise, develop or be assigned in line with the
broad remit of the post
Person specification
Essential:
Experience
 Experience of researching, analysing, interpreting and developing data
 Excellent understanding of the use of a database and experience of utilising prospect
research tools
 An ability to develop new and innovative approaches to ensure information is available
to inform continuous improvement
 An ability and willingness to be involved in aspects of fundraising campaigns in terms of
audience targeting
Knowledge, Training and Qualifications
 Computer literate - excellent working knowledge of MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint and
ability to use databases for recording and reporting
Skills and Personal Attributes
 Proven team player, willing to accept additional responsibility, show initiative, and
proactively work to exceed targets
 Excellent planning and prioritising skills to manage a varied and pressurised workload,
while focusing on the strategic goals
 Excellent attention to detail
 Highly organised and committed to the role
 Excellent presentation and communication skills
 Diplomatic and discreet, particularly around the high-profile nature of the people who
support us
 Open to new approaches and alternative means in order to accomplish results
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General
 To care about The Outward Bound Trust, share in its values and objectives and
constantly innovate in order to deliver the best solutions for the organisation and its
supporters.
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The post holder may also be required to undertake an enhanced disclosure under the
Disclosure and Barring Service depending on the scope of the role.
Desirable:
 Experience of working in a busy fundraising department
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Salary and benefits
Basic starting salary £21 -25k p.a. (dependent on relevant experience) for a 37.5 hour week.
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Annual Leave of 21 days increasing to 24 after 2 years, plus bank holidays.
Life Assurance: 3 x salary, covered from start date; includes Employee Assistance helpline.
8 weeks’ sick pay at full salary in any 12 months
Long-term Disability Insurance: 2/3 salary less state incapacity benefit after 6 months’
absence for up to 5 years, covered from start date
Personal Accident Insurance while at work or commuting
Choice of private healthcare (currently BUPA) or cash plan: on application after completion
of probation; taxable benefit
Pension Scheme (currently Standard Life): Auto-enrolment of all staff after 3 months
service.
Berghaus uniform items provided. Also opportunity to purchase Berghaus products at
discount
Discounted course fees for family members to attend Outward Bound Trust courses (after 12
months service).
Childcare voucher scheme
Probation period
There is a 6-month probationary period from the employee’s start date.
How to apply
To apply for this job please email a covering letter of not more than 2 sides of A4, explaining
your fit to the job description and the person specification, together with an up to date CV by
Friday, 16th October, 2015 to fundraisingenquiries@outwardbound.org.uk
Interviews will be held in the week commencing 26th October 2015.
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