Rethinking Economics (RE) is an international network working to build better economics in society and the classroom. We started as a student movement in 2012 and have since grown to become a registered charity, (Rethinking Economics International), with a 10-person staff team. Through a mixture of campaigning, events and projects, we support over 100 groups in over 30 countries around the world. These students work alongside thousands of supportive members of the public, to reform the university economics curriculum to make it more pluralist, critical and applicable to the real world.

Rethinking Economics International is undertaking an exciting transition process in which we are developing and expanding the future of the organisation. This includes the development of a new strategy for 2023-6 and a move to a more international workforce.

We have a detailed fundraising strategy which we would welcome your input into finalising, to enable us to grow our income.

We are funded largely through core grants from our partners. As we are a global organisation, we will be seeking funding from a diversity of partners, particularly as we aim to expand into key areas such as USA, Latin America and other areas where we have strong National Networks. We aim to diversify and decolonise economics and will be seeking funding which helps us realise transformation across the globe, with a key interest in the Global South.

What we’re looking for:

To be successful in this role you will be a methodical individual who can work to tight deadlines and write compelling copy for fundraising applications. Experience in writing fundraising applications will be essential, and experience raising funds in our sector or a related sector will be very beneficial when understanding the specific needs of our movement.

You will be responsible for managing new and existing relationships with funders, including meetings and pitches. You will involve appropriate colleagues and our membership network to secure support, provide information and help maintain support from funders. You will be creative and persuasive in your approach to helping the organisation grow financially.You will manage some relationships with partners and support others to lead on relationship management when this is more effective.

You will be asked to write reports about our deliverables, identify leads and follow these up alongside your senior leadership colleagues. The ideal candidate will thrive when they are able to interpret a strategy, identify the key areas for us to focus on and write persuasive, concise and effective fundraising applications.

We have a longer-term goal to diversify our income, so your role may involve developing and implementing other fundraising streams such as individual giving and trading.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion:

We are committed to providing equality and fairness for all and not to discriminate on grounds of gender, marital status, race, ethnic origin, nationality, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, mental health, religion or age. We encourage and celebrate the different qualities that our colleagues, and others we work with, bring to our work. And we believe that seeing things from a wide range of different perspectives helps us to resolve problems, adapt our approaches and develop as an organisation. We want to bring greater diversity to our team and we’re keen to hear what you think you’ll bring from your own background and experience (beyond your professional skills and knowledge).

Terms & Conditions

Reporting to: Co-Director

Starting salary: £30,420 - £33,970 pro rata per annum on the basis of an offer by the organisation which cannot be negotiated.
For three days per week this means £18,252-£20,382

Start Date: October 2022 (negotiable)

Contract type: Permanent, 6 months’ probation period

Hours: 3 days a week based on 7 hours per day. We support flexible working across the whole team.

Benefits: 5% matched pension (only applicable to the UK candidates, negotiable for candidates based elsewhere), 31 days holiday pro rata in addition to winter break between Christmas and New Year, access to person centred training opportunities, yearly cost of living increase.

For a PERSON SPEC for this role, please see our website, before applying here: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/SnrFPMgr/

Purpose of the Role:

To lead on fundraising writing and reporting, making connections with funders and securing the income the charity needs to fulfil its strategy.

Ensure that all reports are handed in on time, working with the Senior Operations Manager, Finance Manager and Co-Director to ensure that budgets and deliverables are appropriate for the scale of the work and monitored effectively.

Ensuring that fundraising applications are written to meet the guidelines and priorities for the partners we work with.

Responsibilities:

Main Areas of Responsibility

• Bid writing for grant applications
• Relationship building with partners
• Identifying new leads to follow up on with the support of the Co-Director
• Report management for successful fundraising bids
• Management of the fundraising database
• Working with the Co-Director to ensure there is a healthy fundraising pipeline
• Lead on the strategy and delivery of public fundraising such as fundraising events or crowdfunders

Key Skills and Experience

The role profile asks for a wide range of competencies and we recognise that we are unlikely to find a candidate who fits every requirement. If you fit some of the criteria and believe you have the potential to learn the other areas of the role, we’d like to hear from you. A strong background in economics, organising and movement building would be of great advantage.

Fundraising - Technical Competencies & Experiences

• A proven track record in fundraising, and/or strong relationships with potential funders and supporters of RE.
• Experience in creating and managing large budgets (e.g. £1mn)
• Excellent relationship building skills, including the ability to proactively identify, explore and realise new partnerships and funding opportunities.
• An understanding of organisational strategy and theory of change
• Strong written and verbal communication skills – a persuasive and passionate communicator.
• An understanding of global philanthropy in relation to systems change/new economy and/or academic setting
• Ability to write and edit copy for different audiences
• Experience in individual giving, trading and other non-trust fundraising strategies
• An understanding of public fundraising and grant fundraising strategy

Economics

• An interest and understanding of economics, particularly a knowledge of alternative and pluralist economics
• Higher education qualification in economics or a closely related field
• A passion to reform economics teaching and practise

Essential Values and Behaviours

• Commitment to RE’s Values of Justice & Fairness, Diversity & Inclusion and Collaboration.
• Ability to adapt to a constantly evolving environment and a movement that is growing
• Self-reflective, willing to listen and consider other points of view.
• Ambitious, dynamic and energetic, constantly reflecting on RE’s effectiveness and seeking ways to improve our impact.
• A critical and strategic thinker, able to both see the big picture and have an eye for detail.

Essential Organisational Competencies & Experiences

• Ability to communicate complex information effectively to different audiences.  Adapting communication style as necessary and targeting communications to ensure that information is understood and has influence.
• Ability to bring together colleagues from different teams to work on projects or initiatives, or create networks, develop partnerships to support the aims of Rethinking Economics.
• The use of initiative and creativity to combine complex ideas or processes or quickly evolving ideas and situations.
• Experience of overseeing the work of external suppliers, contractors or freelancers and holding them to account for quality, delivery and timeliness of work.
• Working with a high degree of independence and self-direction.
• Experience of strategic leadership of a particular team, programme, or function.
• Experience of monitoring and reporting on financial resources

We will be accepting candidates for this role from anywhere which is  +/- 6 hours GMT/BST. The conditions of employment will vary location to location, depending on the law and equitable work standards for the territory where you are based.