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Description

Contract: Fixed term (12 months), full time, 35 hours over 5 days 
Location: Burford, (Hybrid – 2 days in the office, 3 days remote) 
Salary: £40,000 - £45,000 per annum 
Closing Date: Sunday 6 July 2025
Interview Date: w/c 14 July 2025  Are you a passionate and strategic direct marketer? Join Blue Cross, a leading animal welfare charity, and play a vital role in deepening relationships with our supporters to maximise long-term value and impact. 

Our Individual Giving team raises around £27 million annually, engaging thousands of individuals through cash donations, regular giving, and legacies. As our Direct Marketing Manager (Donor Development), you'll lead our efforts to inspire, engage and retain these valued supporters. 

More about the role

Reporting to the Head of Individual Giving, you’ll lead a small, dedicated team to deliver compelling campaigns and stewardship communications across multiple channels – including direct mail, email and phone. 

You’ll be responsible for managing a wide range of donor development activities. These include planning and delivering cash and raffle appeals, and driving cross-sell initiatives such as converting one-off cash donors into regular givers. Your team will also be key to delivering projects such as Gift Aid stewardship, regular giving upgrades, and reactivation efforts. 

A central part of the role will be managing the production and distribution of our supporter communications. You’ll collaborate closely with colleagues across the organisation and external agencies to ensure we provide a consistently excellent experience for our supporters, while maximising income and long-term engagement. 

You’ll bring strategic thinking, creativity and a strong results focus to shape and grow our donor retention and development efforts, ultimately helping us raise more funds to support the pets and people who rely on our services. 

Key Responsibilities 

Work with the Head of Individual Giving to develop and deliver a strategic business plan and budget for Donor Development, including milestones, KPIs and income targets. 

Lead a wide portfolio of multichannel campaigns with a focus on cash and raffle appeals, and wider supporter communications (including RG upgrades/conversions and Gift Aid). 

Manage stewardship activities, including ‘thank you’ and update communications. 

Collaborate with your Direct Marketing Manager colleagues in the Individual Giving team to improve supporter engagement and retention, including enhancing regular giving products and materials. 

Ensure all activity aligns with Blue Cross brand guidelines and values. 

Build strong internal and external relationships to deliver effective, insight-driven campaigns. 

Champion continuous improvement by applying best practice to campaign planning, delivery and analysis. 

Line-manage the Donor Development Officer and Assistant, supporting their performance, goals and development. 

Monitor and control income and expenditure, providing regular budget forecasts. 

Work cross-functionally with teams such as Data and Insights, Fulfilment Services and Customer Care to maximise supporter lifetime value. 
 
About you
You’re an experienced and results-driven direct or digital marketer and/or fundraiser, with a strong understanding of supporter motivations and a passion for delivering excellent supporter experiences. You bring a strategic mindset, a keen eye for detail, and the ability to manage multiple campaigns in a fast-paced environment. 

You’re confident working to financial targets, optimising budgets, and using insight to drive innovation and continual improvement. A skilled project manager, you’re comfortable juggling priorities and deadlines, while ensuring quality and performance stay high. 

Your strong communication and interpersonal skills make you a collaborative team player and effective line manager. You build positive relationships across teams and with external partners to deliver ambitious goals. 

Essential Qualifications, Skills, and Experience 

Proven experience in Direct or Digital Marketing and/or Fundraising (client or agency side) 

Strong track record in managing agencies and budgets 

Demonstrable success in delivering income growth and supporter engagement 

Excellent project and people management skills 

Good working knowledge of GDPR and fundraising legislation 

Skilled in using CRM databases, with proficiency in Word and Excel 

Desirable Qualifications, Skills, and Experience 

Diploma in Direct or Digital Marketing/Fundraising 

Copywriting and content evaluation experience 

Knowledge of lottery, raffle or gaming products 

Experience working with communications or brand teams 

Familiarity with print and production processes 

How to apply   Click the apply button below and complete the online application process before the closing date on Sunday 6 July 2025.  We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive an overwhelming response.   
Blue Cross benefits
Our people are the most important part of delivering our purpose. If it were not for their amazing efforts and commitment, we would not be able to make the difference that we do today.   In return, Blue Cross wants to ensure we provide you with the best working environment we can. We want you to be happy working for us and will do everything we can to make sure you are.   Our generous benefits package includes: 

Full time equivalent of 38 days holiday rising to 43 with service (including Bank Holidays)  

Programmes for physical and mental wellbeing support  

Free access to GP via MetLife- 24/7 GP services, private prescriptions and more for you and your family   

Free physiotherapy advice and face to face intervention  

Health cash plan  

Unlimited access to an employee assistance programme  

Pension scheme with enhanced employer contribution   

Professional fees paid with Continuing Professional Development and personal development support.  

Life assurance   

20% discount on Pet Plan pet insurance   

Enhanced family friendly policies   

Recognition scheme   

Annual volunteer days  

Charity worker discounts across a variety of retailers 
 To read more about the benefits Blue Cross has to offer, please visit the