Director of Development at Blue Ventures

Summary job description 

• We seek an experienced Director of Development to drive Blue Ventures' fundraising efforts, secure resources, and support our ambitious Thriving Fishers Thriving Oceans Strategy.
• Reporting to the Chief Programme Officer, this senior leadership position oversees the development team and is responsible for a portfolio of trusts and foundation grants, high-net-worth individual giving, and government funding. The team oversees the entire fundraising cycle across the portfolio, including identifying and cultivating funding relationships, developing high-quality proposals, managing grants, and stewardship. 
• As part of the Senior Leadership Team, the Director of Development collaborates cross-functionally with other department leads, regional directors, and country teams to understand the resourcing needs across multi-year plans and organisational priority setting. The director also leads fundraising efforts to ensure Blue Ventures continues to grow and scale effectively. 
• We seek a results-oriented individual with an exceptional track record for strategic fundraising, leading teams to successfully secure significant, multi-year commitments and build long-term, trust-based relationships with donors committed to the mission and vision of Blue Ventures and its Thriving Fishers Thriving Oceans 2030 strategy. 
• The successful candidate will have built and maintained networks of relationships with relevant donors, especially in the United States, overseen the development of compelling proposals, and been successful in identifying opportunities and forging new relationships. This individual will be a confident leader, able to use their experience to mentor colleagues and build a motivated and performance-oriented team. They will have exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, forming strong relationships across the Senior Leadership and Executive leadership teams and engaging with the Board of Trustees. 
• This role requires working across multiple time zones and some international travel, including visiting countries of operation and attending global events and conferences. The compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience. 

Responsibilities 

Member of the Senior Leadership Team 

• Participate in collaborative and open forums to discuss, make informed decisions, and respond to consultations effectively. 
• Actively contribute to consultations, including helping to define and establish BV’s long-term strategy and priorities in alignment with its mission and vision.
• Promote cohesion across functions to enhance operational efficiency.
• Ensure the effective utilisation of resources to achieve organisational objectives.
• Support and foster the professional development of team members.
• Contribute to the development of OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) and take accountability for their delivery. 
• Ensure regular communication from the SLT is cascaded to the team, facilitating the clear delivery of key organisational messages, including to their direct reports. Align
• and plan organisation-wide communications per BV’s Internal Communications and Engagement Strategy. 
• Provide input for board papers to be delivered by the ELT member to the Trustee Board or create and present papers directly, as required. 
• Build relationships with key stakeholders, including the Board, donors, and partners.
• Contribute ideas and solutions to major strategic areas such as risk management, implementing mitigation strategies and developing contingency plans for emerging challenges and crises. 
• Take accountability for operational delivery within functional areas, ensuring alignment with the agreed plan and supporting the organisation’s growth, sustainability, and impact. 

Strategic Donor Relationship Management & High-Level Engagement 

• Responsible for the overall fundraising portfolio of Blue Ventures and the strategy and tactics to cultivate and maintain high-value relationships with major donors, foundations, and philanthropists, focusing on achieving income targets to achieve Blue Ventures' strategy. 
• Ensure effective stewardship of existing donors while building a strong pipeline of new opportunities that intersect with Blue Ventures' work's different themes, impacts, and outcomes. 
• Lead strategic networking, personalised outreach, and compelling online and in-person presentations, including representing Blue Ventures at high-profile meetings, conferences, and events globally, enhancing our profile and expanding our network. 
• Ensure quality and consistency across all donor engagements, recognising that engagement is an organisation-wide responsibility to clearly and accurately represent Blue Ventures' strategy, impact, and values. 

Development Strategy & Income Generation 

• Oversee the delivery and refinement of the fundraising strategy to meet Blue Ventures' growth objectives across restricted and unrestricted income.
• Map fundraising needs across the Blue Ventures regions and departments, linking strategic priorities and the operating plan to a fundraising plan. 
• Maintain accurate income forecasts and provide regular progress reports to ensure transparency and accountability. Support the ELT for quarterly reporting to the board. 
• Ensure adherence to Blue Ventures' ethical fundraising policy and data protection requirements. 

Proposal Development & Grant Management 

• Lead a high-performing team in developing and submitting proposals that align with Blue Ventures' strategy.
• Ensure consistency between narratives in proposals, strategic communications, and global events to build synergy across the organisation’s communications channels.
• Collaborate with department leads and regional directors to ensure new proposals evolve based on the priorities, learning, and evidence of impact that the program delivers over time. 
• Oversee grant management, smooth communication flow across teams for reporting, and practical knowledge management across the fundraising team.
• Use and evolve the CRM system to ensure accurate record-keeping, grant tracking, critical analysis, and insights that can improve performance. 

Leadership & Management 

• Lead and manage the development team, forming a cohesive and collaborative culture. 
• Invest in team capacity and capability by providing mentorship, training, and professional development opportunities. 
• Be an active member of the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to organisational strategy and decision-making. 
• Support the board of trustees in understanding the donor landscape, implementing the fundraising strategy, and progressing against targets. 

Skills, experiences and Behaviours 

Skills and Experience  

• Demonstrated experience in fundraising, donor stewardship, and major gift solicitation, especially with U.S.-based philanthropy and high-net-worth individuals.
• Exceptional leadership and team management skills, with experience managing remote teams across multiple time zones. 
• Comfortable balancing competing priorities while ensuring delivery in a fast-paced, results-driven environment. 
• Excellent attention to detail and knowledge management skills, including managing processes and information through CRM systems. 
• Ability to travel internationally as and when required. 
• Commitment to Blue Ventures' mission and values. 
• Fluency in English and exceptional written and oral communication skills are essential.