Head of Funding & Programme Development

Background

Saferworld is an independent international organisation working in partnership with civil society to prevent violent conflict and build safer lives. We work in solidarity with people affected by conflict to improve their safety and sense of security, and we build conditions for peace and justice. We also support with analysis and learning to influence local, national and international policies and practices that help foster lasting peace and justice. Our priority is people – we believe in a world where everyone can lead peaceful, fulfilling lives free from fear and insecurity. We operate on a not-for-profit basis with partners in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, with nine offices across those regions and offices in the UK, USA and Belgium.

We are seeking a strategic and inspiring Head of Funding and Programme Development with a proven ability to lead, motivate, and mobilise resources in a values‑driven environment. This role calls for a leader who is deeply committed to equitable partnerships with communities and organisations in conflict‑affected settings, guiding teams to raise resources effectively while advancing peace and justice outcomes. Grounded in a people‑centred vision of change, you will foster collaboration, champion locally-led approaches, and steer efforts toward resourcing sustainable, community‑driven, and collective visions of peace.

Job purpose

The Head of Funding and Programme Development will be responsible for actively shaping Saferworld’s income profile and driving sustainable resources in alignment with our organisational strategy and change process. The person will seek to refine the flexibility and diversity of sources of income to resource Saferworld’s ambitious peacebuilding objectives and its commitment to strongly centering partners in what we do and how we do it. The post-holder will lead the development and implementation of Saferworld’s funding strategy, in line with Saferworld’s strategic, programmatic, and operational priorities, aiming to diversify and strengthen the quality of our funding base and diversity of donors, nurturing relationships with strategic institutional donors and growing our philanthropic funding.

This position will suit a candidate ready to embrace our values and collective vision, able to accelerate new income streams and help secure greater quality funding. It is an exciting opportunity to play a strategic role in the shaping of the fundraising and resource mobilisation approach taken by Saferworld.

Organisational leadership

• As part of the senior leadership, support a vision for change that is rooted in the voices of people living in conflict and is clear about Saferworld’s role as a peacebuilding organisation in an evolving world.
• Monitor funding trends and identify new and emerging issues of relevance to Saferworld’s work and partnership approaches, and develop collaborative appropriate strategies to address them.
• Play an active role as a senior leader in the organisation, supporting organisation-wide initiatives and role modelling behaviours and approaches aligned to organisational culture and values.
• Influence and inform organisational problem-solving and decision-making, and provide routine strategic risk analysis and management solutions
• In close collaboration with the Senior Operational Team (SOT), ensure funding plans are developed across business units and thematic/regional areas, and appropriate income pipelines attained while quality assurance and active cost recovery are proactively pursued.
• Work closely with the SOT to fully engage them to drive forward fundraising efforts and provide regular reporting for SOT and the Board on fundraising performance.
• Oversee the organisation’s funding and prospects pipeline and produce regular data and analysis to aid key decision-making.
• Represent Saferworld externally with key donors, partners and networks to build strategic relationships and funding opportunities.

Funding and programme design

• Lead the development, implementation and monitoring of Saferworld’s funding strategy, ensuring a balanced, ethical and diverse portfolio of restricted and unrestricted income streams.
• Lead the attainment of quality funding and unrestricted income against agreed targets, overseeing income diversification, including from trusts and foundations, commercial funding, and untapped unrestricted sources of funding.
• Work closely with Saferworld’s Grant Management team to inspire and ensure a proactive, coordinated and strategic approach to donor relationship management and cultivation via donor engagement plans.
• Lead the design of multi-country/thematic proposals and consortia bid development to strengthen partnerships and achieve new ways of resourcing Saferworld’s strategy.
• Model the effective production of major proposals, setting the tone and standards to achieve collaborative and participatory programme design and manage the refinement of internal processes for each stage – from funding opportunity notice through to contract signing.
• Ensure learning uptake from proposal development processes and donor’s feedback, to strengthen our fundraising approach, assess investment efforts, and ensure adaptation.
• Update funding procedures and protocols so they remain relevant and user-friendly and are being applied, including the full implementation of the organisational database and its direct benefits for fundraising.
• Lead the Funding Leadership Team (FLT) to ensure a cross-organisational ownership of and accountability for fundraising efforts.
• Work closely with Directors of Regional Programmes, the Director of Policy, Advocacy, Advisory, and Learning unit, and the Global Grant Managers along the funding cycle, to interconnect programme design, quality implementation and effective compliance. This also involve inputting into advocacy messages to challenge donor practice and performance when needed.

People

• Model leadership in line with Saferworld values.
• Line-manage the Funding and Programme Development team and foster a team environment where staff feel empowered, take responsibility and are accountable, to achieve organisational objectives.
• Ensure the Funding and Programme Development Team facilitates strong participatory programme design and proposal development with partners and staff, embedding our organisational values and principles.
• Support theFunding and Programme Development Team to work closely with key staff with programmatic and learning responsibilities and expertise across the organisation, grounding programme development and proposals in internal and external learning and findings from evaluations.
• Foster a collaborative working environment where the Funding and Programme Development Team feels part of the wider organisation in terms of purpose and mission through peer support and shared learning.
• Take responsibility for the consultation, communication and implementation of organisational decisions as they affect the Funding and Programme Development Team under their responsibility.
• Ensure the implementation of organisational policies and their compliance, as well as good financial stewardship.

Saferworld is committed to providing a safe trusted environment that safeguards our staff, partners and communities. Our organisational integrity is derived from the values and principles that underpin and guide our work.

Key working relationships:

• Director of Finance and Operations – to regularly review fundraising pipeline and committed income, cost recovery levels and monitor trends,
• Regional Directors –to proactively discuss programme design/cross-regional proposals and approaches to funding proposals. To discuss and monitor income pipeline and donor engagement plans.
• Director of Policy, Advocacy, Advisory, and Learning–to proactively discuss programme design and approaches to funding proposals. To discuss and monitor income pipeline and donor engagement plans.
• Senior Operations Team – maintain close working relationships with the SOT at the strategic level and the Board of Trustees as required.
• Grant Management Team – work closely with the Global Grant Managers to ensure all bid applications are aligned with donor requirements and there is a smooth transfer from funding to grant management.
• Country/Regional Programme and Thematic Leads – to proactively discuss donor engagement, funding opportunities, programme design and cross-organisational proposals.
• Core Function Leads – maintain regular contact with core function leads, such as Communications, People, Operations, and promote collaborative working across all parts of the organisation
• External Stakeholders – maintain and establish good working relationships with key donors, commercial partners and peer organisations.

Scope and accountability:

Decision-making and limits of authority

• Ensure protocols are in place to guide fundraising decision-making
• Facilitate decision-making around strategic funding issues, and take relevant decisions

Financial resources

• Oversee the Funding and Programme Development Team budget

Other resources

People management

• Line-manage direct reports and consultants as required
• Provide coaching and mentoring support to the team

Legal, regulatory and compliance responsibility

• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation (e.g..data protection) in pursuit of funding opportunities
• Maintain and update relevant funding protocols and policies (e.g.. gift aid, ethical funding policy) to ensure organisation-wide fundraising compliance, including storage of data.
• Ensure compliance with our IDEAS strategy and Safeguarding policies and procedures.

Person specification

Knowledge, qualifications and experience

• Proven leadership experience at senior management level in the funding space, with a track record in developing and implementing funding strategies raising income through a range of donors from individuals to institutions to trusts and foundations, achieving high value contracts and grants of seven figures.
• Strong experience leading complex participatory programme design, including developing complex budgets and monitoring frameworks, and writing proposals.
• Experience of coordinating programme development processes with multiple teams and partners to ensure a collaborative and inclusive approach.
• Proven track record of successfully motivating, mentoring and managing a team and working with that team to think laterally and explore contemporary approaches to fundraising in multiple areas.
• A track record in confidently developing networks, building alliances and nurturing ideas and relationships with individuals, new collaborators and funders – including avenues for income generation
• Strong understanding of key political, development and humanitarian trends and debates, particularly linked to peacebuilding, development, human rights, governance, and security and justice.
• A sound knowledge of the UK’s civil society/charity regulatory requirements and an understanding of the current international aid, peacebuilding and human rights funding environment.
• Experience of working and/or living in conflict-affected contexts (desirable).
• Understanding of peacebuilding and conflict prevention (desirable).

Skills and abilities

• Excellent leadership and management skills, including strategic planning and business development.
• Able to provide sound and effective financial and compliance advice; demonstrates good financial stewardship.
• A creative and proactive approach to all areas of work and a commitment to delivering high quality work;
• Proven ability to set priorities, whilst working under pressure.
• Proven ability to move between being hands-on (active involvement in proposal writing) and hands-off (non-intervention).
• Willing and able to adjust to multiple demands and shifting priorities, and to demonstrate flexibility and adaptability.
• High-level communication skills, including experience of communicating effectively across cultures and with diverse audiences, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to use creativity to solve problems and overcome obstacles to achieve goals.
• Sensitive to context, environments, and local dynamics that drive conflict, division.
• Understanding of the power imbalances that may be reflected in programme design and budgeting, and a strong commitment to inclusive process and to shifting power and resources to partners.
• Experience of building successful partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.

Personal qualities

• Commitment to the vision, mission and values of Saferworld, including respecting and valuing equality and diversity, and understanding of how this applies to one’s own area of work.
• Commitment to and compliance with Saferworld’s safeguarding principles and code of conduct.
• Able to lead by example, role model leadership qualities, and create a safe and respectful environment for all staff.
• Commitment to one’s own continuing personal and professional development.