Head of Communications & Giving (maternity cover) in London

Reporting to the Managing Director, you will lead on the recruitment, retention, and value growth of Afghanaid’s supporter base by directing and implementing communications, fundraising and engagement strategies, aligned with broader organisation goals. Designing and managing a tight budget, you will direct the Communication and Giving unit to maximise their success.

You will provide strategic and supervisory oversight of fundraising income from individual giving, regular giving, major donors, trusts and foundations, corporates, community and student fundraising and events, managing annual fundraising appeals and driving organisational unrestricted income growth. You will lead on communications for Afghanaid, overseeing print, digital, and paid marketing activities and the growth of communications channels. You will execute Afghanaid’s organisational brand strategy which ensures the integrity of the brand and maximises awareness. You will manage all public relations including crisis communications, as well as the growth of strategic media placements and high profile relationships. You will drive the success of organisational impact storytelling and communications for both internal and external stakeholders. As a member of the executive department, you will collaborate and synergise with other departments to promote organisational success.

Key Responsibilities:

• Drive organisational strategy, culture and cross-department collaboration to advance Afghanaid’s mission and objectives.
• Lead development and delivery of Communications, Engagement and Fundraising strategies and work plans.
• Line manage and develop a high-performing team, including staff, volunteers and interns.
• Build and maintain relationships with consultants, agencies and pro bono partners.
• Oversee budgets, reporting and data-driven performance management to ensure efficiency and impact.
• Promote a positive and cohesive London team environment, coordinating hybrid working, inductions and HR support.
• Oversee public fundraising strategy across multiple income streams.
• Lead design and delivery of internal and external appeals, campaigns and donor stewardship.
• Identify new funding opportunities, partnerships and innovation in engagement.
• Oversee the full range of Afghanaid’s event portfolio, and attend relevant events to represent Afghanaid.
• Ensure effective CRM management, data integrity and financial reconciliation.
• Serve as brand guardian, ensuring consistency and evolution of Afghanaid’s identity.
• Oversee creation and execution of integrated communications and marketing plans.
• Direct production of engaging digital and print content, including newsletters, social media, and fundraising collateral.
• Manage website optimisation, SEO and analytics to drive engagement and conversions.
• Lead innovation in digital marketing, email campaigns and supporter journeys.
• Advise leadership on reputation management and crisis communications.
• Develop media policies and act as spokesperson when required.
• Manage proactive and reactive media relations, building relationships with journalists, influencers and advocates.
• Promote Afghanaid’s thought leadership through strategic storytelling and public commentary.
• Commission and direct multimedia content to strengthen organisational storytelling.
• Lead content planning, production and performance analysis.
• Champion participatory storytelling approaches and creative innovation.
• Undertake any other duties as and when required by the line director.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

You will be an experienced and dynamic communicator with significant demonstrable experience in fundraising and/or communications at a senior level, coupled with an awareness and up to date knowledge and experience of the tools that would maximise the success of our communications and fundraising activities. In addition, you will have excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to confidently build and maintain strong relationships with a diverse group of stakeholders. Possessing strong management skills, you will have experience of managing small multi-disciplinary teams, providing direction and leadership to enable development and high performance, and the ability to role-model a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion.

Education/ Training

Master’s Degree in communications, marketing, public fundraising or another relevant field (or at least 5-years’ experience).

Work Experience

At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, supporter engagement or communications, with at least 2 years’ experience directly managing staff. Experience developing and leading integrated multi-channel and multi-stakeholder communications, engagement and/or fundraising strategies. Experience in growing audiences, engagement and/or income streams. Experience communicating about and/or fundraising for and/or maintaining engagement with Afghanistan or a similar context. Experience using KPIs and data to make data-driven decisions to improve efficacy and efficiency. Experience managing and monitoring a tight budget. Experience conceptualising, producing and commissioning multimedia content, from marketing and fundraising collateral to audiovisual content. Experience running full-funnel, multi-channel marketing strategies including paid advertising. Understanding of risks associated with communications, public fundraising, and NGO operating contexts, and experience in mitigating those risks. Experience supervising, organising, motivating and developing staff. In depth knowledge of trends in storytelling, brand, PR, marketing and fundraising.

Professional Skills, Competencies, Values and Attitudes

Afghanaid’s core values are creativity, fairness and honesty. Our staff is passionate about and proud of Afghanaid. Teamwork is fundamental to our standards and demonstrated by taking initiative, assisting others and taking on additional responsibilities and tasks if necessary. We are results driven, committed and motivated to achieve targets and take accountability for our own actions. Specifically, the holder of this position should also demonstrate the following:

Essential

• Fluent in spoken and written English.
• Track record of increasing audiences, fundraising totals and engagement metrics from multiple different sources, with a strong business development mindset.
• Experience securing five or six figure gifts from funders.
• Solutions and results orientated; energised by thinking outside the box, and by finding and pursuing novel or innovative approaches and solutions.
• Experience using Salesforce CRM and Marketing Cloud.
• Skilled at spotting and prioritising opportunities and synergies, and effective in securing wide-ranging forms of engagement and partnership.
• Excellent listening, speaking and writing skills; strong capabilities of persuasion and a proven track record of uniting people around a common goal.
• Multimedia skills, with knowledge, experience and enthusiasm in driving digital innovation.
• Highly organised with strong leadership and project management skills, able to collaboratively manage competing priorities with senior and junior colleagues.
• Demonstrably skilled brand custodian, able to mitigate risks, anticipate and capitalise upon opportunities, and strengthen reputation.
• Capable of working independently as well as collaboratively, both in leading a team and as part of the team.
• Passionate about driving change, and inspiring individuals and groups to support a cause to deliver that change.

Desirable

• Experience working within an international development or humanitarian context, particularly with causes related to Afghanistan.
• Strategic understanding of UK and global fundraising landscapes and emerging giving trends.
• Proven ability to represent an organisation publicly with confidence, professionalism and credibility.
• Experience guiding senior leaders or trustees on media, communications and reputational matters.
• Skilled in crisis communications and reputation management.
• Understanding of inclusive and ethical storytelling practices, with sensitivity to safeguarding considerations.
• Experience developing high-value corporate or media partnerships.
• Comfortable working in a fast-moving, resource-limited environment and adapting to changing external circumstances.

The Organisation

Afghanaid is a British humanitarian and development organisation. For over forty years, our dedicated personnel have worked with millions of families in some of the poorest and most remote communities in Afghanistan. We build basic services, improve livelihoods, strengthen the rights of women and children, help communities protect against natural disasters and adapt to climate change, and respond to humanitarian emergencies. We are headquartered in Kabul, and operate provincial and district offices across Afghanistan, as well as a Marketing and Fundraising office in London. We employ around 500 personnel, 97% of whom are Afghans.

Other Information

Afghanaid’s core values are creativity, fairness and honesty. Our staff are passionate about and proud to work at Afghanaid. Teamwork is fundamental to our standards and demonstrated by taking initiative, assisting others and taking on additional responsibilities and tasks if necessary. We are results driven, committed and motivated to achieve targets and take accountability for our own actions. Our remuneration and benefits package is competitive with other similar organisations. This position presents an excellent opportunity for someone who has the ambition and determination to move up in their career.