Head of Development

The Festival wishes to recruit a dynamic Head of Development who can drive donor engagement to support Dublin Theatre Festival in bringing the best theatre in the world to audiences in Dublin and platforming the best of Irish theatre to the world stage. The right candidate will share our ambition for excellence in the delivery of our work. The successful candidate will be responsible for achieving an annual fundraising target and objectives as well as building the Development department of Dublin Theatre Festival alongside its significant artistic ambitions. They will be responsible for a portfolio of donors and prospects, major gifts, gift planning, annual giving, communications and donor relations at all stages from cultivation to stewardship for top prospects and donors. The Head of Development will also be responsible for engaging and stewarding relationships with the Friends and Members' Club of Dublin Theatre Festival. Crucially, the Head of Development will be responsible for implementing the fundraising goals articulated in Dublin Theatre Festival's strategy and achieving our objectives with purpose-driven fundraising campaigns.

Responsibilities

• Lead and build the Development Department of Dublin Theatre Festival.
• Proactively work with the Artistic Director/CEO, the General Manager, the Head of Marketing and the development sub-committee of the Festival's Board of Directors.
• Identify, cultivate and secure donations from individuals, corporations and foundations in support of Dublin Theatre Festival.
• Prepare annual plans and budgets which ensure the retention and development of our fundraising revenue streams, including strategic fundraising planning for Individual Giving, Multi-annual Corporate Partners & Sponsorship.
• Secure new sponsors for priority projects.
• Manage and increase donations to the Irish Theatre Trust, Dublin Theatre Festival's commissioning and co production fund.
• Identify opportunities with Trusts and Foundations and prepare approaches and grant applications and post project reports.
• Work with the Festival's Friends' Council to improve our friends offering.
• Develop, prepare and deliver purpose driven proposals and fundraising collateral as required.
• Develop a Case for Support for the festival that integrates strategic ambitions as outlined in the festival's strategic plan.
• Develop mid & major level gift propositions and a new legacy giving strategy, which ensures a clear transition plan is identified to upgrade our existing friends, patrons and other donors.
• Work closely with our Marketing and Sales team to ensure Friends recruitment and support for the processing of Friends memberships and tickets.
• Develop database processes and procedures, which enhance our data capture and documents and records each stage of the donor journey.
• Recommend and implement donor care policies in line with new data protection legislation.
• Proactively work with colleagues in the Festival to research, articulate and secure funding for priority projects.
• Other duties as deemed appropriate by the AD/CEO.

Qualifications

• Experience and proven results in developing and implementing individual giving plans and/or fundraising plans, which recruit, inspire and retain individual donors and corporate partners.
• A proven ability to work on collaborative projects, which deliver results within targets, while working on their own initiative, and as part of an effective fundraising team.
• Strong knowledge of budgets and experience of reporting financial performance against targets.
• Strong knowledge of the regulatory environment for fundraising including data protection, tax incentives, fundraising codes of practice and regulations.
• Excellent people management skills with a proven ability to lead and motivate a team to achieve results to a consistent high standard.
• A positive attitude and proactive approach to work.
• Enthusiasm for working in an ambitious International arts festival and a willingness to contribute to a positive working environment.
• A willingness to partake in and enhance their own professional development.
• A well established, professional network.

Skills and personal qualities

• Passion for and knowledge of the arts, and theatre in particular, is desirable.
• Experience in the festival / events industry is desirable but not essential.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with demonstrated ability to build trust based relationships internally and externally.
• The ability to think strategically.
• Integrity, honesty and a commitment to fair practices.
• Proven leadership, delegation, team building and management skills.
• Planning and decision making skills.

Hours of Work

The post is full time, working 40 hours per week, with an hour for lunch daily. The Head of Development will be required to work outside these hours including evenings and weekends during the festival.

Holidays

The Head of Development is entitled to twenty one days leave annually in addition to statutory and public holidays.

Benefits

A pension scheme is offered to all employees after a minimum of 12 months continuous employment. An amount equalling any contributions made by the employee is payable by the employer up to and including 5% of the total gross salary.

Probation

A probation period of 3 months will apply from the start of the contract.

Salary

The salary offered is €66,000.

Dublin Theatre Festival is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Dublin Theatre Festival is committed to a diverse workplace, and to supporting our staff with ongoing career development opportunities. We particularly encourage applications from members of groups who are underrepresented in the cultural sector. Black people, People of the Global Majority, people with disabilities, members of the Traveller community, LGBTQIA+ candidates and candidates of all gender identities are actively encouraged to apply.