About the Role: This post plays a key role in developing and delivering the strategy for major donors and gifts in Wills. Gifts in Wills has been identified as a high potential growth area for our income over the coming years. The post holder will be responsible for the growth and strategic direction of both RDA’s legacy and major gift programmes. You will design and implement a brand-new legacy marketing and administration programme and identify, cultivate, engage and steward existing and new major donor prospects, generating income and achieving ambitious targets. Specific Responsibilities: Strategic Planning and Development In collaboration with the Head of Fundraising, develop and implement robust strategies to secure income from major donors and legacies; Responsiblity for developing and implementing annual activity plans to achieve targets; Engagement with the wider sector and monitoring of trends to maximise opportunities. Operational Lead on the creation of impactful collateral to attract new donors (major gifts and legacy pledgers) and retain existing donors and legacy pledgers; Work effectively with the Fundraising Team and RDA teams to identify new opportunities for income growth; Lead on building, updating and generating donor portfolios (both major donors and legacies) and income pipelines, reporting against Key Performance Indicators (KPIs); Ensure all prospects have a positive donor journey, creating unique and engaging development plans to support relationship management; Identify potential major donors and research other prospects with a likely interest in our cause; Lead and directly manage a portfolio of key donor relationships, while maintaining accurate records, and growing RDA’s supporter database. Support the excellent stewardship of major donors, liaising with RDA teams as required, to ensure donor objectives are fully met. Lead on developing a special events programme for high value supporters and for promoting legacy giving; Lead on the management of major donor and legacy fundraising content on MyRDA (RDA network web platform). Financial Responsibility for the development of annual income targets in relation to major donors and legacies, in agreement with the Head of Fundraising and Director of Finance and Resources. Process all incoming donations in line with internal procedures and ensure prompt and appropriate acknowledgement of all income. Assist in quarterly forecasting, weekly and monthly reporting across a range of financial and non- financial KPIs. Other Implement the Equal Opportunities Policy into daily activities; Ensure compliance with the General Data Protection Regulations (2018) across all relationships, including data collection; Keep abreast of key fundraising trends/issues and the regulatory environment around fundraising. Ensuring standards are set, procedures are followed, and issues addressed or escalated as appropriate. Ability to travel and work evenings and weekends on an occasional basis. Undertake any other duties as may reasonably be required in this post. Person Specification: Knowledge and Experience (Essential) Experience of strategy development and implementation in major donor or legacy fundraising; Experience of managing and developing relationships with existing and potential major donors, influential individuals and senior volunteers to inspire them to support the charity; Demonstrable success in proactively identifying, cultivating and recruiting new donors and soliciting new major gifts/uplifting gifts; Experience of prospect research, formulating project and bespoke budgets to create proposals for high value donors; Experience of coordinating stewardship and engagement programmes which underpin a successful high value annual gift strategy; Experience of supporting senior volunteers, staff and trustees to maximise donor relationships; Proven experience of meeting targets and deadlines, and ability to work under pressure; Exceptional organisational skills with experience of managing multiple tasks and prioritising effectively; Proven ability to work collaboratively across teams to achieve organisational objectives; Ability to plan and report on activities; Excellent oral and written communication skills; Strong analytical and creative skills; Experience of using administrative systems and Central Relationship Management (CRM) systems. Knowledge and Experience (Desirable) Experience of reviewing and adapting plans; Experience of working with volunteers; Experience and/or understanding of working in a federated charity structure; Previous experience of building or running high profile and professional events; Some knowledge of working with disabled people. Attributes and Behaviours High level of motivation; Credible, with exceptional relationship development skills; Organised with great attention to detail; Collaborative approach; Desire to give RDA supporters an excellent experience; Empathy with the aims and values of RDA.