Head of Conservation Funding At Frankfurt Zoological Society

Who We Are:

Frankfurt Zoological Society is an international nature conservation organization that executes projects in 18 countries. We envision a world where wildlife and wild lands are cherished and sustainably protected for their intrinsic and economic value. Our goal is the preservation of wildlife and wilderness. Together we protect biodiversity, the basis of human life. Our partners in the projects on site are local communities, nature conservation authorities, national park administrations and other NGOs.

The Position:

We are seeking a dynamic and visionary individual to serve as the Head of Conservation Funding. This pivotal role is part of the senior leadership team and involves leading the development and execution of a comprehensive global fundraising strategy to advance our mission of conserving biodiversity worldwide. With ambitious goals to double our conservation impact by 2030, we are looking for an innovative leader who can identify and cultivate diverse funding sources while ensuring alignment with our organizational values.

Your Tasks:

• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of fundraising and grant development experts, ensuring a collaborative and results-driven work environment.
• Develop and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies, including identifying and cultivating relationships with public and private donors.
• Explore opportunities for funding diversification and development, including sourcing new private donors, legacy funding, and potential carbon/biodiversity financing and corporate partnerships.
• Maintain and improve existing relationships with public and private funders, working closely with the communication team to align external communications strategies with fundraising objectives.
• Plan and execute special events and high net worth individual field trips to identify and cultivate new donors, while maintaining close relationships with field teams to coordinate fundraising activities and access necessary information.

Your Profile:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in communications, marketing, non-profit management, or related fields
• Minimum 7 years of experience in institutional donor grant development and/or private donor fundraising with significant team leadership experience
• Experience in an international organization, preferably in a non-profit environment
• Profound understanding of global fundraising trends and market dynamics
• Exceptional proficiency in written and verbal communication, fluent in both English and German, with additional languages considered advantageous.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships effectively, enhancing the organization’s network and fostering collaborations.
• A passion for nature and identification with the goals and visions of FZS.

We Offer:

• An exciting opportunity to shape and lead a growing department
• Opportunities for professional growth and development
• The chance to contribute to meaningful conservation efforts on a global scale
• Opportunity to get to know impressive wilderness areas and to contribute towards their protection
• A fair and competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience

The contract will be for 2 years initially with a long-term perspective.