Senior Acquisition Manager (Fundraising)

Join Operation Smile UK as our Senior Acquisition Manager and make a difference in the lives of children. We're searching for a fundraising professional with experience in acquiring new donors through a variety of fundraising channels including Door to Door (F2F), digital fundraising, DRTV, cold mailing and door drops. You'll be responsible for managing a £2.4 million budget and developing innovative strategies to increase individual cash and regular giving support. This role is not responsible for the supervision or direction of staff.

Operation Smile is a global nonprofit specialising in cleft surgery and care. We provide medical training, education and mentorship to surgical teams around the world, along with expertise, research and care through our staff and volunteers, working alongside local governments, nonprofits and health systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and drive recruitment of regular givers and cash givers to grow income and supporter volumes, in a multi-channel programme including Door to Door (F2F), digital fundraising channels, DRTV, cold mailing and door drops.
• Manage relationships with agency partners executing acquisition campaigns on behalf of Operation Smile UK for the betterment of the acquisition programme.
• Lead and execute our door-to-door (F2F) programme with the goal of expanding this form of acquisition fundraising over the coming years.
• Conduct a comprehensive evaluation of OSUK's digital acquisition fundraising program, including the performance of current agencies and consultants. Develop strategic recommendations and a future-focused plan that leverages the expertise of existing or new external partners.
• Full campaign management and execution in line with prescribed deadlines. This includes briefing agencies, sourcing content, managing data, copy development, proofing, briefing stakeholders, training agents, developing campaign analysis and reporting, managing costs and invoice processing.
• Monitor and report on budgets and assist in building future expenditure and income targets. Work as part of the Individual Giving team to reach strategic targets.
• Work closely with the Communications & Digital team, and Individual Giving team to ensure campaigns are in line with brand standards and integrated seamlessly with supporter retention.
• Work closely with the Individual Giving team to constantly refine the newly introduced ‘welcome programme’ aimed at transitioning new donors to retained donors and improving retention rate.
• To work closely with the Senior Database Manager and agency partners to review direct marketing acquisition campaigns and ensure that information is used to maximise income for future campaigns.
• Collaborate with the Senior Database Manager to develop and implement essential Power BI dashboards. Proactively request ad-hoc data analysis to track key acquisition metrics and inform strategic decision-making.
• Introduce new acquisition channels and develop existing ones within KPIs to manage risk and keep fundraising up-to-date within evolving channels.
• To ensure that campaigns are where possible integrated or co-ordinated thematically, creatively and/or by target audience to maximise impact.
• To lead in the training of external agencies, effectively communicating the work of Operation Smile to key representatives.
• Travel to meetings in the UK and overseas where necessary.

Staff Benefits

• Hybrid Working 
• Season Ticket Loan
• 1-day additional holiday each year to a maximum of 30 days annual leave
• Additional days off over the Christmas period
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Enhanced maternity and sick pay benefits, subject to length of service
• 6.1% employer pension contribution
• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme, a confidential employee benefit designed to help you deal with personal and professional problems that could be affecting your home life or work life, health, and general well-being. The EAP service provides a complete support network that offers expert advice and compassionate guidance 24/7, covering a wide range of issues. 

Application Process

Please submit your CV for review. We will be interviewing candidates from the beginning of December (dates to be confirmed). The first interview for this role will be held in person at our UK office.

The full job description and person specification is provided as a PDF with this job advert.

Note: The deadline for applications has been extended until the 18th of December.