Location: Flexible: A current BV hub location (Kenya, Indonesia, Senegal or UK). We will also
consider the United States or other locations.
Closing date for applications: April 30, 2025
Contract status: National contract based on location
Start date: As soon as possible
Contract duration: Permanent
Remuneration: Starting from USD 100,000 gross annually
Salary Band: A1 (Member of Senior Leadership Team)

Thriving Fishers, Thriving Oceans
Blue Ventures is a marine conservation organisation that puts people first. We support local organisations working with coastal communities to rebuild their fisheries and restore ocean life.

Across the Asia Pacific, Western Indian Ocean, West Africa and Central America, we are unlocking the power and potential of local organisations on the frontlines of the ocean emergency to be powerful change agents.
We are building a global network of partners, providing flexible, sustained funding to community-based organisations and local NGOs to catalyse, expand, and sustain local management and marine conservation efforts. We strengthen local capacity through peer learning, knowledge-sharing, and access to practical training and tools. We amplify the voices and priorities of coastal communities to ensure their recognition and rights to manage and conserve coastal areas and that their ecosystems, fisheries, and cultural
traditions are protected from pervasive threats.

Summary job description
We seek an experienced Director of Development to drive Blue Ventures’ fundraising efforts, secure resources, and support our ambitious Thriving Fishers Thriving Oceans Strategy.

Reporting to the Chief Programme Officer, this senior leadership position oversees the development team and is responsible for a portfolio of trusts and foundation grants, high-net-worth individual giving, and government funding. The team oversees the entire fundraising cycle across the portfolio, including identifying and cultivating funding relationships, developing high-quality proposals, managing grants, and stewardship.
As part of the Senior Leadership Team, the Director of Development collaborates cross-functionally with other department leads, regional directors, and country teams to understand the resourcing needs across multi-year plans and organisational priority setting. The director also leads fundraising efforts to ensure Blue Ventures continues to grow and scale effectively.

We seek a results-oriented individual with an exceptional track record for strategic fundraising, leading teams to successfully secure significant, multi-year commitments and build long-term, trust-based relationships with donors committed to the mission and vision of Blue Ventures and its Thriving Fishers Thriving Oceans 2030 strategy.

The successful candidate will have built and maintained networks of relationships with relevant donors, especially in the United States, overseen the development of compelling proposals, and been successful in identifying opportunities and forging new relationships. This individual will be a confident leader, able to use their experience to mentor colleagues and build a motivated and performance-oriented team. They will have exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, forming strong relationships across the Senior Leadership and Executive leadership teams and engaging with the Board of Trustees.

This role requires working across multiple time zones and some international travel, including visiting countries of operation and attending global events and conferences. The compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience.

Responsibilities
Member of the Senior Leadership Team
● Participate in collaborative and open forums to discuss, make informed decisions,
and respond to consultations effectively.
● Actively contribute to consultations, including helping to define and establish BV’s
long-term strategy and priorities in alignment with its mission and vision.
● Promote cohesion across functions to enhance operational efficiency.
● Ensure the effective utilisation of resources to achieve organisational objectives.
● Support and foster the professional development of team members.
● Contribute to the development of OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) and take
accountability for their delivery.
● Ensure regular communication from the SLT is cascaded to the team, facilitating the
clear delivery of key organisational messages, including to their direct reports. Align

and plan organisation-wide communications per BV’s Internal Communications and
Engagement Strategy.
● Provide input for board papers to be delivered by the ELT member to the Trustee
Board or create and present papers directly, as required.
● Build relationships with key stakeholders, including the Board, donors, and partners.
● Contribute ideas and solutions to major strategic areas such as risk management,
implementing mitigation strategies and developing contingency plans for emerging
challenges and crises.
● Take accountability for operational delivery within functional areas, ensuring
alignment with the agreed plan and supporting the organisation’s growth,
sustainability, and impact.
Strategic Donor Relationship Management & High-Level Engagement
● Responsible for the overall fundraising portfolio of Blue Ventures and the strategy
and tactics to cultivate and maintain high-value relationships with major donors,
foundations, and philanthropists, focusing on achieving income targets to achieve
Blue Ventures’ strategy.
● Ensure effective stewardship of existing donors while building a strong pipeline of
new opportunities that intersect with Blue Ventures’ work’s different themes,
impacts, and outcomes.
● Lead strategic networking, personalised outreach, and compelling online and
in-person presentations, including representing Blue Ventures at high-profile
meetings, conferences, and events globally, enhancing our profile and expanding
our network.
● Ensure quality and consistency across all donor engagements, recognising that
engagement is an organisation-wide responsibility to clearly and accurately
represent Blue Ventures’ strategy, impact, and values.
Development Strategy & Income Generation
● Oversee the delivery and refinement of the fundraising strategy to meet Blue
Ventures’ growth objectives across restricted and unrestricted income.
● Map fundraising needs across the Blue Ventures regions and departments, linking
strategic priorities and the operating plan to a fundraising plan.
● Maintain accurate income forecasts and provide regular progress reports to ensure
transparency and accountability. Support the ELT for quarterly reporting to the
board.
● Ensure adherence to Blue Ventures’ ethical fundraising policy and data protection
requirements.
Proposal Development & Grant Management
● Lead a high-performing team in developing and submitting proposals that align with
Blue Ventures’ strategy.

● Ensure consistency between narratives in proposals, strategic communications, and
global events to build synergy across the organisation’s communications channels.
● Collaborate with department leads and regional directors to ensure new proposals
evolve based on the priorities, learning, and evidence of impact that the program
delivers over time.
● Oversee grant management, smooth communication flow across teams for
reporting, and practical knowledge management across the fundraising team.
● Use and evolve the CRM system to ensure accurate record-keeping, grant tracking,
critical analysis, and insights that can improve performance.
Leadership & Management
● Lead and manage the development team, forming a cohesive and collaborative
culture.
● Invest in team capacity and capability by providing mentorship, training, and
professional development opportunities.
● Be an active member of the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to organisational
strategy and decision-making.
● Support the board of trustees in understanding the donor landscape, implementing
the fundraising strategy, and progressing against targets.

Skills, experiences and Behaviours
Skills and Experience
● Demonstrated experience in fundraising, donor stewardship, and major gift
solicitation, especially with U.S.-based philanthropy and high-net-worth individuals.
● Exceptional leadership and team management skills, with experience managing
remote teams across multiple time zones.
● Comfortable balancing competing priorities while ensuring delivery in a fast-paced,
results-driven environment.
● Excellent attention to detail and knowledge management skills, including managing
processes and information through CRM systems.
● Ability to travel internationally as and when required.
● Commitment to Blue Ventures’ mission and values.
● Fluency in English and exceptional written and oral communication skills are
essential.
Behaviours
Demonstration of all of BV’s Leadership Competency behaviours, with a particular
focus (for this role) on:

● You can demonstrate the power to influence by demonstrating a
commitment to our values, belief in the mission, and achievement of things
many did not think possible.

● Through your communications and actions, you advocate for DEI, including
building diverse and inclusive teams, treating everyone with care and
respect, and showing them that they are valued and their views are
considered in my decision-making.
● You listen to feedback, always assuming good intent, and use it to reflect on
your behaviours actively and how they impact others so you can improve
and be the best leader you can be
● You understand what you need to create an environment that enables you
to maintain well-being, and you share insights with your manager so they can
support you in prioritising these.
● You take care of my team and regularly communicate and discuss the
importance of well-being with them; you are not afraid to share insights into
your well-being.
● You take positive risks and make difficult decisions which may require you to
step out of your comfort zone.
● You are an advocate for change. You create unity around a shared vision and
show gratitude and recognition for celebrating others’ successes.
● You recognise and harness the knowledge and skills others bring to achieve
organisational goals. You are a good listener, asking open questions to
increase your understanding of others’ perspectives and build awareness
and trust.

You will be a great fit if:
● You have a strategic mindset and orientation toward outcomes, continuous
improvement, and learning.
● You demonstrate a strong bias for action and are comfortable with uncertainty; you
are motivated to move forward, make decisions, and finalise details quickly once
information is available.
● You’re a natural relationship builder with a proven ability to work collaboratively. You
demonstrate professional curiosity, team-building skills, and facilitation skills. You
enjoy collaboration and are genuinely interested in learning from and developing
others.
● You’re a people person who takes pride in building a productive and engaging
workplace for staff at all levels and from varied backgrounds.
● You are a passionate professional who combines strong leadership skills, patience,
and a humble approach.
● You’re trustworthy in managing sensitive situations and information, are discrete
and professional, and possess excellent judgment.
We encourage applications from all individuals regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion or
sexual orientation and evaluate all candidates based on merit. We welcome candidates from countries
where Blue Ventures operates. We offer a supportive environment for professional development and a
competitive salary.
Gender equality and equity are key priorities for Blue Ventures and its mission to secure more
sustainable fisheries management and conservation for communities. It is the responsibility of all
employees to ensure that equal opportunities are available and accessible for all and that no one is

excluded or further discriminated against due to the multiple identities they may hold, including sex,
gender, age, ethnic origin, disability, religion or belief, socio-economic status or geographical location.
Blue Ventures is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young and vulnerable people
and expects all staff members to share this commitment. We take a zero-tolerance approach to anyone
who contravenes our safeguarding and protection policies. All candidates will be asked questions on
safeguarding and child protection.
BV’s policies and procedures address any conduct that prevents the promotion of equality and equity.
We encourage all colleagues, partners, trustees, and communities to report violations through our
reporting platform here.
This job description details the primary duties and responsibilities of the position. However, team
members must show flexibility in their approach to work and be willing to undertake other reasonably
allocated tasks that are not part of their job description.
We are a mission-driven organisation, and senior staff, in particular, are expected to show a willingness
to adapt to unexpected changes that come with growth. This may include occasional work whenever or
wherever the manager requests it. When any task becomes a regular part of someone’s responsibilities,
the job description will be updated in consultation with the team member.
Application process
Applicants should apply online via Blue Ventures’ website by 30th April 2025. Please note
that applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Assessment Stages
The assessment process will involve the following stages:
● Screening to discuss exposure to key responsibilities.
● Panel Interviews, also known as the focused interview, check on the ability to
achieve results.
● Informal conversations with prospective colleagues to discuss ways of working.

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