About the Role
This is a high-impact strategic leadership position at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), following an ambitious brand relaunch. You'll be working on a hybrid basis from the London and Horsham hubs, balancing home working with on-site collaboration and external events, as required.
As Assistant Director of Fundraising, you'll drive income generation across all fundraising streams while integrating the charity's refreshed brand and audience strategy. You'll work closely with the Director of Engagement and Income Generation, plus the Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications, to ensure cohesive delivery. This role carries genuine autonomy: your strategic decisions directly shape the charity's ability to deliver lifesaving animal welfare work across England and Wales.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the development and delivery of a data-driven, audience-focused fundraising strategy, owning income performance across all streams and balancing short-term targets with long-term supporter value
- Provide strategic direction to a high-performing leadership team overseeing heads of Philanthropy and Partnerships, Individual Giving, Legacy Fundraising, Community and Events, and Retail
- Develop a portfolio approach to investment, driving innovation in fundraising products, propositions, and channels to expand market share
- Build and maintain critical relationships with major donors, corporate partners, philanthropic advisers, and external creative agencies
- Utilise data, insights, and integrated supporter information to optimise experiences across acquisition, retention, and development
Requirements
- Proven track record at Assistant Director or Director level within fundraising, or genuine readiness to make a significant step up to this level
- Extensive experience leading and developing large, multi-disciplinary fundraising teams at scale within complex or matrixed organisations
- Demonstrated ability to deliver substantial income growth across a diversified fundraising portfolio; high-value fundraising experience is highly prioritised
- Exceptional influencing skills and ability to work effectively alongside senior leadership teams and high-profile external stakeholders
- Solid understanding of legal and regulatory compliance requirements in modern fundraising
- Resilience and strong relationship-building capability across complex organisations
- Legal right to work in the UK; visa sponsorship is not available
- Subject to Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check for this role
Benefits
- Salary: Circa £90,000 per annum
- 35 hour working week (full time)
- 25 days holiday per year
- Pension scheme
- Healthcare cash plan
- Life assurance
- Occupational sick pay
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Family-friendly policies
- Dog-friendly policies
- Cycle to work scheme
- Discount schemes
- Professional development opportunities
About the Charity
The RSPCA is England and Wales's oldest and largest animal welfare charity, registered charity number 219099. The organisation works to improve the lives of all animals: pets, farmed animals, wildlife, and animals used in science and research. Following a major brand relaunch, the charity is embarking on an ambitious fundraising programme to support its mission and expand its reach.
The interview process will take place in August 2026, with first-stage interviews held remotely on 3rd or 4th August, team meetings on 5th or 6th August, and final interviews at the London Hub on Blackfriars Road on Friday 7th August. The process includes a task (such as a presentation) and a panel interview with competency-based questions.