At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and inspire a team to enhance legacy supporter engagement and stewardship.
- Company: Join the RNLI, a vital organisation dedicated to saving lives at sea.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, home-based work, and a commitment to safeguarding.
- Other info: Inclusive culture that values diversity and offers career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference by building meaningful relationships with legacy supporters.
- Qualifications: Strong leadership and fundraising experience, with a focus on high-value relationships.
Salary: £42,479 - £49,976 (dependent on experience)
Contract type: Permanent
Hours: Full-Time
Location description: Home-Based
Interview location: Online (via Teams)
Interview date: w/c 22 June
Closing Date: 14-06-2026
Reference: 21551
About us
Legacies account for over two-thirds of the RNLI’s annual income today and will continue to be a vital fundraising stream for many years to come. Our stewardship offering is evolving. Creating meaningful and personal connections with those who choose to support us with a gift in their Will is what can set us apart from others.
In this role, working alongside your peer, you’ll be responsible for leading and inspiring our Engagement team, with a particular focus on how we steward and grow high-value legacy relationships. You will line manage up to five individuals who deliver both stewardship and awareness activity across their regions, ensuring our supporters receive a seamless and personalised experience and our volunteers are equipped to talk about gifts in Wills.
You’ll collaborate closely with colleagues across Legacy Marketing & Administration, Philanthropy and Regional Engagement teams to ensure we take a more proactive, insight-led approach to identifying and supporting high-value pledgers. Working with your peer, you will shape the culture and direction of the team, ensuring focus, consistency and delivery across a range of key projects.
Your role
As a Senior Legacy Engagement Manager – Stewardship and Blended Giving, you will focus on:
- Inspiring and managing the team, working in partnership with the other Senior Legacy Engagement Manager, to deliver a world-class stewardship programme for legacy supporters
- Leading the development of a more structured, insight-led stewardship approach, ensuring clarity on when a personalised, relationship-led approach adds the most value
- Supporting and guiding Legacy Engagement Managers to prioritise and build relationships with supporters most likely to leave significant gifts
- Driving a more proactive approach to identifying and engaging high-value legacy supporters, moving beyond passive acquisition routes
- Playing a key role in developing our Blended Giving approach, working closely with the Philanthropy team to connect legacy and major giving opportunities
- Collaborating with colleagues across the organisation to deliver a seamless, supporter-centric experience that secures and grows long-term income
- Using insight and data to continuously evaluate and improve our stewardship approach, identifying opportunities to enhance supporter experience and value
- Contributing to the wider legacy strategy, helping evolve our approach to meet new opportunities and challenges
About you
As an experienced fundraising or engagement leader, you’ll be comfortable building meaningful relationships with supporters, working collaboratively across teams and inspiring others to deliver excellent stewardship.
To be considered for this role, you’ll need to have:
- Strong leadership experience, including managing and motivating a geographically dispersed team and driving performance
- Demonstrable experience in managing high-value relationships, including stewardship of major donors or legacy pledgers
- Experience of developing and delivering personalised engagement approaches that drive long-term value
- Proven ability to use insight and data to inform decision-making and prioritisation
- Experience of working across teams to deliver integrated approaches, ideally including exposure to both legacy and major giving
- Ability to influence a wide range of stakeholders and drive change in a complex organisation
- Strategic thinking skills, with the ability to translate strategy into clear, practical delivery
This post requires a valid driving licence.
Safeguarding
The RNLI is committed to safeguarding; protecting a person’s health, wellbeing, and human rights, enabling them to live free from harm, abuse, and neglect. We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment and have a zero-tolerance approach. The suitability of all prospective employees and volunteers will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment. This will include relevant criminal record checks being carried out dependent on the eligibility of the role.
Diversity at the RNLI
Our staff and volunteers have been saving lives at sea without prejudice for 200 years. We respect and value diversity of background, skills and perspectives within our teams, and consider it essential to help us deliver a world-class lifesaving service. We are an inclusive organisation and welcome applications from everyone. In addition to having the skills needed for the role, we also look for applicants who share our commitment to living our RNLI values (trustworthy, courageous, selfless, and dependable) and helping us work towards Our Vision: To save Every One.
Senior Legacy Engagement Manager in Poole employer: RNLI
The RNLI is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work culture that values diversity and fosters personal growth. As a Senior Legacy Engagement Manager, you will lead a passionate team dedicated to creating meaningful connections with legacy supporters, while benefiting from flexible home-based working arrangements and opportunities for professional development within a mission-driven organisation committed to saving lives at sea.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Legacy Engagement Manager in Poole
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the RNLI inside out! Research their legacy programmes and understand how they engage with supporters. This will help you tailor your conversations during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in their mission.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice makes perfect! Set up mock interviews with friends or family, focusing on common questions for leadership roles in fundraising. This will boost your confidence and help you articulate your experience effectively.
✨Tip Number 3
Network like a pro! Connect with current or former RNLI employees on LinkedIn. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for your interview. Personal connections can give you valuable insights!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up! After your interview, send a thank-you email to express your appreciation for the opportunity. It’s a simple gesture that can leave a lasting impression and show your enthusiasm for the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Legacy Engagement Manager in Poole
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your experience aligns with the role of Senior Legacy Engagement Manager. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:Since this role involves managing a team, be sure to include examples of your leadership experience. Talk about how you've inspired and motivated others in previous roles, as this is key for us at StudySmarter.
Highlight Your Relationship Management Experience:We want to see how you've successfully managed high-value relationships in the past. Share specific examples of how you've built and maintained connections with supporters or donors, as this will set you apart.
Apply Through Our Website:Don't forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves.
How to prepare for a job interview at RNLI
✨Know Your Legacy Engagement
Familiarise yourself with the RNLI's legacy engagement strategies and how they impact fundraising. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their mission of creating meaningful connections with supporters.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership experience, especially in managing geographically dispersed teams. Think about specific instances where you motivated your team to achieve high performance and how you can inspire others in this role.
✨Data-Driven Decision Making
Be prepared to discuss how you've used data and insights to inform your strategies in previous roles. Highlight any successful initiatives where your analytical skills led to improved stewardship or engagement outcomes.
✨Collaborative Mindset
Demonstrate your ability to work across teams by sharing examples of successful collaborations. Emphasise how you’ve integrated different approaches, particularly in legacy and major giving, to enhance supporter experiences.