Director of Development and Communications

About Us

GOAL has responded to the world’s major humanitarian crises since its founding in 1977, working with vulnerable communities in 14 countries across the globe with a dedicated team of personnel. While GOAL continues to be an agile first-responder to humanitarian crises, it is also committed to working with vulnerable communities to help them survive crises and support them on the road to recovery.

Job Purpose

GOAL is seeking a highly experienced and motivated executive fundraising professional to join our team as Director of Development & Communications. This is a critical role in the organisation and requires a leader with a proven track record in fundraising across public, corporate, legacy, major gifts, trusts and foundations.

The role operates at executive level and is responsible for organisational income generation, external communications, brand and reputation. You’ll be accountable for the development and delivery of an integrated fundraising and external communications strategy that supports GOAL’s sustainability, visibility and public trust.

Reporting directly to the CEO, the role is part of the Senior leadership Team (SLT) and contributes directly to organisation-wide strategic planning, risk management, income and reputational resilience, while providing executive leadership to the Fundraising and Communications function

**Please note closing date for applications is Friday 27th Feb at 4pm**

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership:

• Lead the development and delivery of an integrated Fundraising and Communication strategy, together with Programmes & Advocacy, positioning GOAL effectively with donors, partners, media, and the wider public
• Maximize fundraising efforts across various channels and income streams.
• Advise GOAL on income generation, donor engagement, and fundraising best practice. Anticipate sector trends and embed innovation into organisational strategy
• Lead a team of professional fundraisers to reach ambitious annual targets, growing organisational income year on year.
• Provide strategic advisory support to GOAL USA to support their income generation and fundraising targets

Operational leadership & People Management:

• Monitor and assess the team's performance, providing constructive feedback and support.
• Support and develop team members, while achieving success at individual and team level.
• Build organisational capability in fundraising and communications through mentoring and developing future leaders.
  
  

Diversification of Income & Portfolio Oversight:

• Oversee public, corporate, legacy, major gifts, and trusts and foundations fundraising to ensuring a diverse income stream.
• Lead efforts in direct marketing and individual giving fundraising, optimising donor engagement strategies.
• Ensure compliance with ethical, regulatory, and governance requirements across all fundraising activities.
• Develop and execute digital fundraising strategies, harnessing the power of online channels to engage donors effectively.
  
  

Executive Accountability

• Hold executive accountability for organisational income growth (outside institutional donors), funding sustainability, and diversification strategy
• Lead organisational income forecasting (outside institutional donors), scenario planning, and income risk mitigation in collaboration with the CEO and SMT
• Contribute to organisation-wide strategic planning, annual business planning, and performance review as an SLT member
• Support CEO with all internal communications.

External Communications, Brand & Reputation 

• Provide executive leadership for GOAL’s external communications strategy, including brand positioning, public messaging, media engagement, and reputation management.
• Oversee the integration of fundraising, marketing, digital and external communications to ensure consistent, compelling and values-aligned messaging
• Act as a senior organisational spokesperson as required, representing GOAL externally to media, donors, partners and the public
• Ensure digital fundraising and communications strategies are aligned with broader external positioning and audience engagement objectives

Relationship Building & Representation. 

• Foster strong relationships with key stakeholders, including the Head of Communications, CEO, and other relevant departments.
• Integrate fundraising and communications strategy into overall organisational strategy
• Lead Board-level engagement on income strategy, fundraising performance, and reputational risk
• Provide strategic advice and reporting to the Board and relevant sub-committees.
• Develop and present pitches on a wide range of programmes, issues, fundraising appeals to a diverse audience to raise funds.
• Act as an executive representative of the organisation with donors, corporate partners, and strategic stakeholders

Governance & Risk

• Identify, assess, and manage organisational risks related to unrestricted income, donor compliance, reputation, and external communications
• Ensure governance, sector ethical standards, and compliance obligations are met across all fundraising and communications activities
• Exercise delegated executive authority for strategic and financial decisions within approved organisational frameworks

Experience Required

• Significant fundraising experience in a similar Senior leadership role, ideally across public, corporate, legacy, major gifts, trusts and foundations fundraising in the Irish non-profit sector
• Experience leading external communications, brand positioning, or public engagement at organisational level
• Demonstrated experience operating at executive or SMT level, contributing to organisational strategy, governance and risk management.
• A proven track record in achieving and exceeding ambitious fundraising targets.
• Strong experience in direct marketing and individual giving fundraising.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of digital fundraising and communications.
• Exceptional leadership and people management skills.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.

**GOAL offers staff flexible working with our hybrid model, we require our HQ employees to work 2 days per week from our office in Dun Laoghaire, Dublin**

 We strongly encourage you to apply even if you do not meet every single requirement listed.  At GOAL we welcome people of all abilities and want to ensure that our hiring and interview process meets the needs of all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation to make your application or interview experience a great one, please just contact our Recruitment Team at recruitment.hq@goal.ie  

GOAL commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:
GOAL is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to building an inclusive environment for all employees. We foster an inclusive culture where all voices are heard and valued, we are particularly eager to receive applications from women (and other underrepresented groups). We know that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. All employees share in the responsibility for fulfilling GOAL’s commitment to equal employment opportunity and equal treatment. GOAL does not discriminate against any employee or volunteer; or any applicant for employment or volunteering on the basis of age, gender identity, ancestry, political opinion, civil status, medical condition, ethnic background, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.

Accountability within GOAL
A commitment to GOAL values and GOAL’s integrity framework is critical to working with GOAL. Any candidate offered a job with GOAL will be expected to adhere to the following key areas of accountability: 1) Comply with GOAL’s policies and procedures with respect to safeguarding, code of conduct, health and safety, confidentiality, do no harm principles and unacceptable behaviour protocols; 2) Report any concerns about the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult or any wrongdoings within our programming area; 3) Report any concerns about inappropriate behaviour of a GOAL staff or partner.

Safeguarding
Children and vulnerable adults who come into contact with GOAL as a result of our activities must be safeguarded to the maximum possible extent from deliberate or inadvertent actions and failings that place them at risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, injury and any other harm. One of the ways that GOAL shows this on-going commitment to safeguarding is to include rigorous background and reference checks in the selection process for all candidates.

General Terms and Conditions
This Job Description only serves as a guide for the position available. GOAL reserves the right to change this document.