Head of Philanthropy Operations in Woking

Join us at WWF-UK as we recruit a Head of Philanthropy Operations to help grow the income and relationships that fund vital work for nature. Sitting within our Philanthropy & Institutional Giving team, you’ll lead the operational engine behind an ambitious growth strategy and help us unlock environmental philanthropy.

You’ll lead a team of six colleagues across prospect research, pipeline management, supporter communications, stewardship, and impact reporting. You’ll be a system-thinker ensuring that our fundraisers have the management information insight and support they need to build strong, long-term relationships and grow income from major donors, trusts, and foundations. A major focus of the role will be strengthening the fundraising pipeline.

You’ll oversee initiatives that grow the pipeline to meet our funding needs and manage the interface between the pipeline and our income targets, sharpening prospect management to give the team a clear view of future growth. You’ll also lead the development of the systems, reporting, and ways of working that underpin the programme. From improving our CRM to generating fundraising intelligence insights to drive growth, strengthening management information, and improving planning and reporting, you’ll help the team work with greater clarity, efficiency, and confidence.

Your responsibility also includes oversight of regulation and compliance across our team operations. Working closely with the Director of Philanthropy & Institutional Giving and Finance colleagues, you’ll play a central role in annual planning, income forecasting, and performance monitoring, using data and insight to support strong decisions and keep the team focused on the opportunities that matter most.

As part of the Philanthropy & Institutional Giving leadership team, you’ll bring strategic thinking, sound judgement, and strong people leadership. You’ll help create the conditions for your team to thrive while continually looking for ways to strengthen performance, improve how we work, and support ambitious fundraising growth.

We’re looking for someone who enjoys making complex things work well. You’ll be as comfortable getting into the detail of data, systems, and forecasting as you are stepping back to see the bigger picture, spot opportunities, and help others turn them into action.

Skills and experience

You’ll bring the skills and experience needed to succeed in this role, including:

• A strong track record in philanthropy, fundraising operations, research, management information or a closely related environment.
• Deep understanding of how successful philanthropy programmes build and sustain long-term relationships with major donors, trusts, and foundations.
• Proven experience leading, motivating, and developing a high-performing team.
• Confidence using data, insight, and reporting to shape decisions, track performance, and identify where growth is coming from.
• Experience improving CRM, reporting, project management, or other operational systems so they work better for teams and supporters.
• Strong understanding of fundraising pipelines, prospect management, and how to turn opportunity into focused action.
• Experience planning, forecasting, and monitoring significant income and expenditure budgets.
• Strong strategic and analytical thinking, with the ability to cut through complexity and turn information into clear priorities and decisions.
• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills, with the ability to keep multiple workstreams moving and deliver to deadlines.
• Clear and confident communication skills, with the ability to influence senior colleagues and build trust across different parts of an organisation.
• A collaborative approach, with experience bringing teams together around shared goals and ways of working.
• Good understanding of data protection, due diligence, and the responsible management of donor information.
• Experience working with high-value or principal-gift fundraising and an understanding of what strong operational support looks like around these relationships.
• Familiarity with CRM and reporting platforms such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power BI.
• Experience of using AI tools.
• Confidence using project management or event management tools such as Asana, EventsForce or similar.
• Understanding of how audience segmentation, insight, or product development can support philanthropy growth.
• Knowledge of gift management, stewardship, and impact reporting, and how these contribute to a strong donor experience.
• A strong connection to WWF-UK’s mission and an interest in how philanthropy can help grow the support and investment needed to support WWF-UK's mission.

What we offer

We believe in rewarding our team with more than just a salary. Here’s what you can expect:

• Annual leave starting at 26 days a year, rising one day each year to 31 days plus bank holidays.
• Flexible working options, to support your work-life balance.
• 7.5% employer contribution to pension, rising to 10% with employee contribution.
• Learning and development opportunities to help you grow.
• Regular wellbeing initiatives to support your health and happiness.

This is a UK based contract, and you are required to have the Right to Work in the UK. Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer sponsorship and any offer of employment will be subject to evidence of your Right to Work in the UK. This role is hybrid with a minimum 40% of your contracted hours spent at our beautiful UK head office, the Living Planet Centre in Woking, Surrey, where you’ll hot desk among trees and gardens.

WWF-UK is a global conservation charity with millions of supporters and hundreds of projects around the world. We’re bringing our world back to life. Protecting what’s left isn’t enough. We’re racing to restore nature and prevent catastrophic climate change. And it’s a race we can win with everyone’s help. We’re courageous, passionate, and driven by science. For more than 60 years we’ve been at the forefront of global efforts to protect wildlife and the natural world.

At WWF-UK, we work with integrity, collaboration, and deep respect for those we partner with. Our Diversity Promise to You: At the heart of our mission is a simple truth: the planet needs everyone. That means you - in all your uniqueness, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or how you choose to express yourself. We don’t do stereotypes. We work together with purpose, driven by passion and enhanced by respect, courage, and integrity.

We pull together from all walks of life to fight for a better future, and we want you to feel supported every step of the way. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident employer and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels they belong. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and identities. So, if there’s anything we can do to make your application or interview experience more comfortable or accessible, just give our Talent Acquisition Team a shout at recruitment@wwf.org.uk.

Safeguarding Commitment: Just as we celebrate diversity in all its forms, we are equally dedicated to creating a safe environment for every person we work with or encounter. Our commitment extends to children, adults at risk, and individuals experiencing any form of vulnerability, whether temporary or permanent. We proudly stand behind CAPSEAH (Common Approach to Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Abuse and Sexual Harassment) and put this commitment into action through clear policies, thorough training, and recruitment checks tailored to each role, which may include external vetting. If you ever have a concern, however big or small, know that there are confidential channels ready to support you at WWF-UK. We promise to respond promptly and with care, because protecting every individual is at the heart of everything we do.