Special Projects Manager
Job Description
Job title:
Special Projects Manager
Place of work:
47-49 Durham Street, London, SE11 5JD
Band:
C
Reports to:
Direct Marketing Team Leader
Manages:
N/A
Budget responsibility:
Delegated income budget as part of team £34m annual
target (2014/15).
Delegated expenditure budget within £6m budget (2014/15)
Supporter Recruitment Team Manager has overall budget
responsibility.
Introduction
WaterAid’s Direct Marketing Team (consisting of a Supporter Recruitment team and
Supporter Development and Retention team) is predominantly responsible for the
recruitment, management and development of individual regular and cash supporters.
The team is responsible for delivering effective and accountable programmes of work
contributing to long-term, sustainable growth of unrestricted income for WaterAid.
The Special Projects Manager will be responsible for the strategy, income, expenditure
and implementation of key projects within the recruitment and development & retention
programmes; they will support the Supporter Recruitment and Development & Retention
Team Managers in overall programme development, and work closely with Direct
Marketing Managers and Officers to ensure the smooth implementation and
development of projects and activities to meet team objectives. When projects require,
the Special Project Manager will be responsible for wider cross-organisational projects
and campaigns, working with the wider Fundraising and Communications team.
Job Purpose
To lead, manage and develop key projects which span the remit of both the recruitment
and retention & development programmes, contributing to and helping ensure both
teams meet agreed objectives, income targets within agreed timeframes and budgets.
Key accountabilities
1. To analyse and identify opportunities for cost-efficient recruitment of financial
supporters, develop and execute complex strategies for testing and developing
these opportunities. This includes cross team projects such as prospecting &
conversion to regular giving, cash recruitment campaigns and word of mouth.
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2. To work closely with other supporter facing teams, up to team leader level, to
identify opportunities for recruitment and to influence the development of plans and
work culture to maximise opportunities. Identifying strategies to support the growth
of other team’s income portfolio with the long term view of conversion of these
prospects/supporters to a regular gift.
3. To manage and continue to optimise the programme for engaging new supporters
in their first crucial months of support, to improve retention, with a focus on high
attrition channels such as digital and DRTV. Working closely with Supporter
Development and Retention team to integrate with communications plan.
4. To proactively drive forward the research and development of new areas of
fundraising, including roll out and testing, to identify new opportunities to maximise
net unrestricted income
5. To develop and manage complex income and expenditure budgets for a portfolio of
projects. To monitor, evaluate and report on project performance, and against
annual plans, regularly. Including providing reforecast projections for income and
expenditure for areas of responsibility to Team Managers and Team Leader.
6. To line manage the Direct Marketing Executive to provide support to the wider direct
marketing team
7. To act as Fundraising Lead on large cross organisational projects that span teams
including major partnerships, community and events, media, PR and digital.
8. To represent fundraising teams on the Voices from the Field story and content
gathering group, ensuring requirements are met and content is shared
9. To play a key role in integrating Direct Marketing team activities to create
efficiencies and share learning. Including leading on the development of cross
team processes and leading regular Direct Marketing team meetings.
10. To remain up-to-date about developments in the external market-place and assess
the suitability of new, innovative approaches for recruiting supporters. Support DM
managers and officers with the initiation of new fundraising activities.
11. Manage agency relationships; including liaising with account handlers through to
managing directors. Act as first point of contact for external partners, taking
responsibility for resolving queries, trafficking all stages of the project and
escalation of potential problems.
12. Liaise with team leaders and project managers in other departments to identify and
where appropriate, implement cross-working opportunities.
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13. Take responsibility for ensuring that all supporter communications are consistent
with the WaterAid brand, working closely with the International, Policy and
Campaigns, and Communications departments to develop coordinated and
effective messages about WaterAid’s work.
14. To ensure that all communications are carried out within FRSB, DPA and Charity
Commission guidelines
15. Contribute to WaterAid’s organisational strategy to influence governments and
policy makers, through project management of integrated and campaigns
communications using direct marketing expertise.
16. Undertake other reasonable tasks as requested.
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Person specification
Essential
 Substantial proven experience of working in a similar fundraising and/or
customer marketing role.
 Successful track record of working in a complex direct marketing role / team.
Including experience of developing and managing retention and development
campaigns (telephone, print and online activities) as well as experience
managing large data driven activities.
 Experience of managing cross-organisational campaigns, leading project teams
to deliver against organisational objectives
 Experience of planning and executing recruitment campaigns including media
planning and buying, prospect management and creative development.
 Experience of digital direct marketing.
 Significant project management experience including identifying new fundraising
opportunities and developing a framework for implementation.
 Experience of developing complex strategies from research and analysis to
achieving stakeholder buy-in; including advising on the direction of the
overarching direct marketing programme.
 Experience of managing successful relationships with external suppliers and
other external stakeholders.
 Ability to work flexibly and with autonomy, to manage varying competing priorities
under your own initiative and to meet strict deadlines
 Ability to make judgements, and recognise when required decision is outside
scope of responsibility.
 Excellent written and numeracy skills with attention to detail and the ability to use
spreadsheets to formulate and analyse complex budgets and make informed
decisions.
 ‘Hands-on’ experience of using a fundraising or similar database, preferably
Raiser’s Edge
 Degree-standard or equivalent professional qualification
 Excellent negotiation skills, and communication skills including experience of
presenting to internal and external stakeholders.
 A good understanding of fundraising principles.
 A good understanding of legislation related to direct marketing/data protection
issues.
 Commitment to WaterAid’s values and a working style that reflects these.
Desirable
 Experience of working in the voluntary/ fundraising sector
 A recognised Direct Marketing qualification
 An empathy with overseas development issues
 Line management experience
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Abbreviated Terms & Conditions
Salary
Starting from £37,672 per annum, with excellent benefits
Location
WaterAid, 47 - 49 Durham Street, London, SE11 5JD
In order to apply for this role you must be able to demonstrate
your eligibility to work in the UK
Right to Work
Working Hours
Full time - Standard working hours at WaterAid are 35 hours
per week, Monday to Friday. Core office hours are between
10.00am and 4.00pm. Start and finish times are to be agreed
with the line manager upon joining.
Annual Leave
25 days per year plus all UK public holidays (pro rata). The
number of annual leave days will increases to 27 days (pro rata)
after four years’ service
Contract Period
The post is offered on a permanent contract
Probation
The appointment is subject to the satisfactory completion of a
six month probationary period
Group Personal Pension Scheme with following contribution
rates:
UK Benefits
Employee’s
Employer’s
Contribution
Contribution
3%
6%
4%
8%
5%
10%
There is an option for pension contributions to be made through
a salary sacrifice arrangement
Life Assurance scheme equating to 4 x basic annual salary
Interest free season ticket loan, available on completion of
probation
Employee Assistance Programme with access to 24 hour free
and confidential helpline
Child care voucher scheme
Cycle to work schemes
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Recruitment process
Closing date:
Interviews:
8 April 2014
First interview: 11 April 2014
Second interview: 15 April 2014
Please apply using our online application form at: https://jobapplication.wateraid.org.
WaterAid is committed to welcoming people from the widest possible diversity of
backgrounds, culture and experience, and is signed up to the ‘Positive About Disabled
People’ scheme. We will make any practical, reasonable adjustment to enable disabled
people to participate fully in an inclusive working environment.
We are committed to interviewing all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria
for a job vacancy and to consider them on their abilities.
Please let us know if you are disabled and need any assistance in making your
application or you have any special requirements should you be selected for interview.
Your application must be in English. You must also be able to demonstrate your ability
to work in the UK in order to apply.
If you are unable to apply online, you may post your application to the People Team,
WaterAid, 47-49 Durham Street, London SE11 5JD, UK or fax it to +44 20 7793 4994
under confidential cover by the closing date.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Please assume that you have not
been shortlisted if you have not heard from us within 2 weeks of the closing date.
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