Deputy Director in West End

Whitley Fund for Nature is seeking an experienced, values-driven senior leader to join as Deputy Director (Maternity Cover) - a key leadership role focused on maintaining momentum, safeguarding key relationships, and continuing to generate income from a warm, well-cultivated portfolio.

WFN is an incredible nature conservation charity, generously supported for more than 20 years by our Patron HRH The Princess Royal and WFN Ambassador and former Trustee Sir David Attenborough. Established in 1993, it has channelled £26 million to 220 conservation leaders in 80 countries across the Global South, benefitting wildlife, landscapes, and people.

WFN offers long term, laddered support to courageous changemakers leading local solutions to the global biodiversity and climate crises; they are acting on the latest science and igniting projects with passion. Through these award winners, we support work rooted in communities that creates lasting benefits for wildlife, landscapes and people.

With a clear, established strategy and a strong pipeline of committed major donors, this is a rare opportunity to step into a pivotal senior role and help steer an organisation with genuine global impact.

The Role

As Deputy Director, you will act as a key strategic partner to the Director and a senior figure across the charity, ensuring continuity during the maternity leave period. You will:

• Line manage two Heads of department (Head of Partnerships and Head of Communications), offering supportive, calm and confident leadership.
• Play a hands-on role in major giving, stewarding key supporters including HNWIs, family foundations and trusts.
• Support the delivery of WFN's income ambitions for this financial year.
• Represent WFN at donor meetings, pitches, and engagement events, drawing on your own network where appropriate.
• Work alongside colleagues on the prestigious Whitley Awards, supporting donor engagement and communications linked to the event.
• Oversee high-quality proposals and reports, typically at the £5k-£40k+ level, and support renewals, revisits, and long-term partnerships.
• Maintain oversight of communications and brand, ensuring alignment with WFN's mission and global conservation agenda.

This is a brilliant position for a senior major gifts or partnerships specialist who enjoys balancing strategy with hands-on delivery, and who thrives in a collaborative, mission-led environment.

About You

We’re looking for a confident, thoughtful and solutions-focused leader with:

• A strong track record in major donor fundraising (HNWIs, family foundations, trusts).
• Experience in securing and stewarding gifts, managing a portfolio where gifts often sit at the upper major-giving threshold.
• Senior leadership experience, ideally in a charity or environment-focused organisation.
• Willingness to represent WFN externally and maintain strong personal relationships with donors and partners.
• The ability to step into an already well-structured programme and ensure momentum continues smoothly.
• A collaborative, calm and people-centred leadership style.
• An understanding or background in wildlife conservation would be welcomed.

Working at WFN

WFN is a warm, committed and mission-driven team, supported by a highly engaged Trustee Board and a clear strategic direction. Income is derived primarily from major donors, making this an ideal environment for someone who enjoys relationship-led fundraising and partnering closely with supporters.

How to Apply

Please contact Kevin Croasdale from our recruitment partners, Charity People, with your CV and to request a full job pack.

Charity People is a forward thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.