Senior Prospect Researcher

Senior Prospect Researcher

Job reference: REQ000828

£43,851pa

Woking, Surrey GU21 4LL / Hybrid Working

This is a UK based contract and as such, you are required to have the Right to Work in the UK. Evidence of your Right to Work will be checked prior to interview.

At WWF-UK we’re committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. As a Disability Confident Employer, we acknowledge that some candidates may require additional support to overcome barriers experienced during the application process. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview, please reach out to the Talent Acquisition team via our website.

About the role

We’re looking to recruit a Senior Prospect Researcher to join our dynamic Philanthropy & Events team within the Supporter Income & Engagement directorate. The successful candidate will be responsible for identifying and qualifying a continuous pipeline of prospects who can provide significant financial support for our efforts to restore nature.

As Senior Prospect Researcher you will focus on building and delivering a strategy for researching and prospecting high-net-worth individuals as well as trusts & foundations capable of principal-level giving (£1m+). You will provide research and insight for both fundraisers and the Executive Group, preparing briefing documentation, collaborating with colleagues on the allocation of prospects, and regularly assessing our Due Diligence and Gift Acceptance Framework to ensure we remain compliant and demonstrate best practice. Working with the Philanthropy & Events leadership, you will also help develop a prospect pipeline for the new Three Basins campaign. You will develop the team’s use of our CRM system (moving to Microsoft Dynamics in 2025), collate strategic guest lists and implement an internal screening process to identify existing supporters with potential for uplift. You will also have responsibility for developing an effective workload management approach for the prospect research unit. You will share our passion for protecting the future of our planet for people and nature and be skilled at inspiring supporters both in person and in writing.

We’re looking for someone with:

• Experience of prospect research within a high-value fundraising environment.
• Experience managing and prioritising a prospect research function pipeline.
• Ability to analyse and interpret information from a range of sources.
• A history of working in partnership with donor-facing colleagues & supporting their activities through research and market intelligence.
• Ability to use fundraising databases/CRM systems, especially Microsoft Dynamics.
• Excellent communication, organisational & interpersonal skills.
• Desire to embrace and encourage collaborative working.
• Ability to inspire and develop others.

Benefits, rewards & location

The salary for this role is £43,851. We also offer a full benefits and rewards package including:

• Annual leave starting at 26 days a year, rising one day each year to a maximum of 30 days plus bank holidays
• Flexible working options
• 7.5% employer contribution to pension, increased to 10% with employee contribution.
• Training and development opportunities
• Regular wellbeing initiatives.

This role is hybrid and you’ll be required to be in the office 20% of your contracted hours. The job is based at our UK head office, the Living Planet Centre in Woking, Surrey. The Living Planet Centre is one of the greenest buildings in the UK, and you’ll hot desk among trees and gardens.

About WWF-UK

We’re a global conservation charity with hundreds of projects around the world and millions of supporters. 

At WWF-UK, we’re bringing our world back to life. Protecting what’s left is not enough – we’re now in a race to restore the natural world and prevent catastrophic climate change before it’s too late. And it’s a race we can still win. 

We’re courageous and passionate about fighting for the future we want to see – a world where people and nature can thrive. 

We were born out of passion and science, and for more than 60 years we’ve been at the forefront of global efforts to protect wildlife and the natural world. We operate with integrity, collaboratively and with respect for those we work alongside. 

How to apply and the recruitment process

Please click on the link and apply via our website by completing the application form and submitting a copy of your up-to-date CV and a supporting statement to highlight what makes you a good fit for us.

Application closing date: 19/01/2025

Our policies and benefits reflect the importance of people being able to have a good work-life balance and being able to bring their ‘full self’ to work.