The European association “SOS MEDITERRANEE” is a humanitarian sea rescue organization founded in 2015 by European citizens to combat drownings in the Mediterranean. Since then, the teams aboard the ships Aquarius and Ocean Viking (in operation since 2019) have rescued and provided aid to more than 42,000 people in the central Mediterranean, the world’s deadliest migration route.
SOS MEDITERRANEE is a European network with four organizations in Germany, France, Italy, and Switzerland. Its mission consists of…
- Saving lives of people in distress at sea
- Protection and care of the rescued until disembarkation in a safe place
- Bearing witness to the situation and events in the Mediterranean.
The four national organizations jointly finance search and rescue operations at sea and mobilize civil society in their respective countries.
SOS MEDITERRANEE Deutschland gGmbH was newly founded in Germany in 2022. In 2023, SOS Mediterranee won the Right Livelihood Award (the “alternative Nobel Prize”) for its humanitarian work. At the end of 2025, a new phase began: aerial reconnaissance with the Albatross Uno aircraft.
In Germany, an individual donation program and a volunteer program were introduced in 2025.
Role
We are looking for a Head of Fundraising to start in early 2026 in Berlin or another suitable location (within Germany).
This is a position for a dynamic fundraising manager with several years of experience in fundraising, management and strategy, especially in the area of digital one-off and recurring donations.
In mid-2025, a new, successful digital individual donation strategy was introduced. The main tasks are the further development of this individual donation program and the acquisition of major donations. This role reports to the Managing Director and leads a team of three fundraising managers and one part-time student employee.
Tasks
Further development of the existing fundraising strategy, in particular donor acquisition, donor retention, and donor services via digital channels. In addition, development of major gift acquisition, primarily from foundations, but also major donors and corporations.
- Leading the team with a Partnership Manager, a Brand and Content Communications Manager, and the Digital Fundraising Manager
- Close collaboration with the communications, advocacy, and community engagement teams
- Liaison with fundraising agencies and consultants
- Planning and implementation of fundraising initiatives and collaboration on events
- Monitoring, budgeting, and revenue and expenditure control
- Representation with key stakeholders and in the SOS MEDITERRANEE network
Qualifications and experience
- University degree and/or professional qualification in areas such as fundraising, digital marketing, sales
- Ideally, several years of fundraising experience in Germany, especially with digital individual donation programs and foundations/civil society.
- Proven track record in acquiring leads and (digital) donors
- Experience in strategy development, planning and implementation
- Experience in organizational development and management
- Coordination of agencies and consultants
- Ability to work effectively under time pressure and while meeting deadlines
- Excellent communication, presentation, and writing skills
- Fluency in German and English, both spoken and written.
- Familiarity with MS Office and digital fundraising, monitoring and analysis tools
Personal skills
- Hands-on mentality and high affinity for numbers
- Autonomy, Initiative
- Energy, creativity and dynamism
- Interpersonal skills: listening, building relationships, understanding
- Sense of teamwork
our range
- Attractive NGO salary
- 30 days of vacation for full-time employees
- Meaningful work
- Further development of an organization that saves human lives
- Small, young and dynamic team
- Diverse and varied work
How to apply
Please apply with a meaningful CV and cover letter via Join (see application button).
We will continuously review applications and invite suitable candidates for interviews.