Challenge Fundraising Officer

Organisation – Dig Deep (Africa)

Role – Challenge Fundraising Officer

Line manager – Challenge Manager

Contract type – Permanent, Full time

Location – Sheffield, UK – with national and international travel required

Overview of Dig Deep

Clean drinking water, proper toilets and good hygiene are essential, and yet in rural Kenya too many children and communities lack these services. They have to walk long distances to collect water; children are getting sick from unclean water and poor hygiene and girls are dropping out of school because of the difficulty of not having private toilets. Dig Deep seeks to change this, giving children clean and safe environments to learn and communities the basic resources they need to survive and thrive.

We work in long term partnership with local government, schools and communities to build bespoke solutions to the challenges that they face, and ensure lasting change.

We are a small, rapidly growing, international NGO with 12 staff supported by 400+ volunteers based in both Kenya and the UK.

Overview of Dig Deep’s Challenge Event Programme

The successful applicant will be joining the challenges team to drive forward Dig Deep’s established fundraising challenge event programme.

The Dig Deep Challenges programme has supported over 1,200 volunteers who have undertaken a range of ethically led international fundraising events, specifically Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt Kenya, to raise vital funds for Dig Deep’s work.

Since 2013 we have managed all of the logistics for our trips in-house, working directly with East African suppliers to ensure that the international challenge events we provide are ethical, fair and raise more money for our projects. We are very proud to say that because of this work we have been awarded ‘Partner for Responsible Tourism’ status from the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP).

We are a small, forward-thinking team that works hard to create a fun, supportive and approachable environment for our volunteers. We are outgoing, experienced and professional fundraisers, who know how to successfully support out volunteers. We love adventure and have all had the taken part in our International Challenges.

We are now expanding our programme through offering new international fundraising events in East Africa to diversify our supporters, and the successful applicant will have an integral role in implementing these exciting changes.

Overview of the Challenge Fundraising Officer

You will make Dig Deep’s work in Kenya possible by recruiting and supporting volunteers for our international challenge events. You will achieve this by using outstanding presentation and interpersonal skills to communicate the challenge programme to a wide range of audiences and providing our volunteers with excellent fundraising support. The direct outcome of your work will be raising vital funding for Dig Deep’s water and sanitation projects and directly improving the lives of thousands of the charity’s beneficiaries every year.

Objective 1: Recruitment of Volunteers

• Develop and deliver training events for Challenge Leaders
• Drive the national recruitment campaigns of Challenge Leaders and volunteers
• Deliver recruitment presentations to a diverse range of audiences across the country
• Develop and implement recruitment marketing and communication campaigns
• Identify suitable clubs, societies and departments to partner with across the country

Objective 2: Fundraising Support

• Build excellent relationships with volunteers to provide effective personalised fundraising support
• Work with volunteers to create and deliver national fundraising opportunities and events
• Create and deliver support literature and presentations
• Ensure the accuracy and integrity of the data management system to provide effective support to volunteers
• Develop innovative and inspiring social media and blog content

Objective 3: Event Coordination in East Africa

• Work with overseas partners and contractors to ensure that challenge events are run effectively
• Provide in country support to volunteers in East Africa and, when required, undertake Challenges events with volunteers
• Facilitate visits to the charity’s beneficiary schools  and communities
• Accurately manage volunteer data to ensure high quality event logistics

General

In addition to the specific duties and responsibilities outlined in this job description, the post holder should be aware of their specific responsibilities towards the following:

· Promote and sustain a responsible attitude towards equal opportunities and diversity within Dig Deep.

· Demonstrate a commitment to ongoing learning and development and to participate in any training relevant to the role.

· Adhere to all relevant health and safety and fire regulations and to maintain good standards of health and safety in the UK and East Africa.

· Uphold ethical and professional standards and not behave in a manner that is likely to bring Dig Deep into disrepute.

Skills and Experience Required

Essential

• Degree Level Qualification
• Minimum 2 years of professional fundraising experience 
• Proven track record of successfully supporting volunteers
• Experience with successfully delivering marketing campaigns
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Excellent influencing and negotiation skills
• Proficient in MS Office Applications
• Experience of data management
• Flexible attitude to working hours at key times of year

Preferred

• Experience and/or knowledge of:
  • International Challenge Events
  • Student Fundraising
  • Sporting events e.g. hiking, cycling, running
• Experience with design and video editing

How to apply or request further information:

To apply please send your covering letter explaining why you are suitable for the career opportunity, CV (maximum 2 A4 sides) and where possible examples of your previous work. We are an Equal Opportunities employer.

Closing Date: 9th January 2017