Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.
The Department
Mercy Corpsโ Development Team in Europe drives and supports strategies for restricted, unrestricted and flexible funds and brand profile raising in the UK and mainland Europe. The team is a crucial and integrated component of the organisationโs global resource development efforts. The team concentrates on four primary revenue streams - Corporate Partnerships, Foundation Partnerships, High Impact Philanthropy and Direct Marketing.
The Position (General Position Summary)
The Direct Marketing Manager is responsible for managing the Direct Marketing team to deliver Mercy Corpsโ online and offline fundraising strategy to increase revenue (unrestricted and flexible donations) by growing and diversifying Mercy Corpsโ supporter base in the UK. The Direct Marketing Manager will support the team in developing and executing effective direct marketing tactics that include strategic acquisition efforts to expand our supporter base. They will deliver compelling and integrated online and offline campaigns aimed at maximizing revenue, increasing audience reach, and enhancing audience engagement and diversification. In addition to planned campaigns, they will orchestrate emergency appeals in response to crises and bolster the legacy program. The role also encompasses ensuring the delivery of first-class supporter stewardship journeys that articulate the impact of our work and drive donor retention
The Direct Marketing Manager will bring a combination of strategic thinking, creative flair, and strong analytical skills. They will be adept at developing fundraising strategies, identifying target audiences, planning and executing campaigns and analysing performance metrics to optimise fundraising outcomes. Additionally, they will have the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and manage resources efficiently.
Essential Responsibilities
Strategy: Responsible for delivering the direct marketing fundraising strategy aligned with Mercy Corpsโ goals, objectives and brand guidelines. This includes setting targets, identifying target audiences, and selecting appropriate channels and tactics to reach and engage potential donors, drive acquisition, and ensure retention. They will ensure to stay ahead of trends and development in the sector, seeking moments for testing and innovation.
Overseeing Campaign Planning and Execution: Oversee the planning, implementation and monitoring of direct marketing campaigns to generate unrestricted and flexible funding. This involves creating compelling fundraising messages, coordinating with creative and communications teams for the development of marketing materials, managing the production and distribution of campaign materials (such as direct mail, email, social media ads, etc.), and ensuring campaigns are executed on time and within budget; whilst ensuring an appropriate level of alignment and coordination with the U.S. Marketing Team and integrated planning with the wider Development Team in Europe.
Donor Acquisition and Retention: Identifying and implementing strategies to acquire new donors, as well as retaining and nurturing existing ones. This may include conducting market research, segmenting donor databases, developing targeted acquisition campaigns and implementing donor stewardship initiatives to enhance donor loyalty and lifetime value.
Emergency Appeals: Manage the Emergency Appeal plan for Direct Marketing and be responsible for its implementation, ensuring information is disseminated and all responsibilities understood across the team. Responsible for timely, effective and coordinated responses to worldwide events using effective appeal strategies to maximise income generation potential. In the event of an emergency or critical operational need, this role will incur some nonstandard working hours, including but not limited to evenings, weekends, and public holidays. The Direct Marketing Manager must be prepared to respond and adapt to such requirements to ensure the continuity of essential operations.
Performance Analysis: Responsible for analysing campaign performance and evaluating the effectiveness of various fundraising channels and tactics, providing regular reports to senior management in coordination with DevOps team. This involves monitoring key metrics, such as response rates, conversion rates, average gift size and return on investment (ROI). Based on the analysis, make data-driven recommendations to optimise future campaigns and improve overall fundraising outcomes.
Budgeting and Financial Management: Supporting budgeting and forecasting on income and expenditure, tracking invoices and expenses and ensuring cost-effective allocation of resources to maximise fundraising results (without holding direct fiscal responsibility).
Team Management: Responsible for managing the Direct Marketing Team. This involves recruitment and onboarding, providing guidance and support, setting goals and expectations, conducting performance evaluations and fostering a collaborative and results-oriented work environment.
Compliance and Ethical Standards: The Direct Marketing Manager must ensure that all fundraising activities comply with relevant laws, regulations and ethical standards. This includes adhering to data protection and privacy regulations, maintaining accurate donor records and upholding ethical fundraising practices. They will regularly input into the departmental Record of Processing Activities (RoPA) and risk register.
Representation: Represent Mercy Corps to a wide range of external stakeholders, including marketing agencies, external suppliers and other partners in a professional manner to maintain effective relationships.
Supervisory Responsibility
Senior Fundraising Officer
Individual Giving Officer
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Senior Direct of Development Europe
Works Directly With: Development Team Europe
Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
Minimum Qualifications & Transferable Skills
ยท At least six yearsโ experience in offline and online fundraising (may be weighted in either direction but must have skillset to manage both).
ยท Demonstrable leadership and management skills โ able to set and prioritise goals, targets and workload for themselves and others.
ยท A demonstrable track record of managing and delivering income generation from high performing direct marketing campaigns across online and offline channels and experience of delivering effective stewardship journeys.
ยท Possess a clear understanding of budgeting and financial management principles to effectively liaise with Senior Manager.
ยท Significant experience of running results, analysis and decision-making based on findings.
ยท Knowledge of using CRM databases, Raisers Edge would be advantageous.
ยท Working knowledge of UK charity law and data protection, Chartered Institute of Fundraising best practice and HMRC Gift Aid regulations.
Success Factors
ยท Passion for Mercy Corpsโ mission.
ยท High level of motivation, creativeness and professionalism.
ยท Collaborative attitude and ability to work in partnership with others to deliver objectives.
ยท Excellent communication skills (both written and verbal).
ยท Detail-oriented multi-tasker, with excellent organisational skills.
ยท Able to build and maintain effective internal and external relationships.
ยท The ability to work under pressure, to tight deadlines, and across multiple projects
ยท Proactive and solutions-based attitude.
ยท An exposure to, and interest in, international development issues is important, along with a demonstrable understanding of fundraising priorities for international non-profits based in the UK.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
This position is based in UK, Edinburgh or London and selected candidate can expect to travel internationally up to 10% of time. MCE team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours and when deployed in a field posting or on a short term assignment or trip to country offices. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures and values at all times and in all Mercy Corps locations.
Ongoing Learning
In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the worldโs most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.
We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.
We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.