Senior Philanthropy Executive

Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect); Willoughby City Council; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Salary packaging

Professional Learning

End-of-trip facilities near Chatswood

Employee referral incentives

Fitness Passport

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Aspect, part of Autism Spectrum Australia, invites applications for a Senior Philanthropy Executive to grow Trusts & Foundations funding and secure major philanthropic investment to support autistic people and their families. You will manage the full grants lifecycle, develop compelling proposals, report to funders and build enduring relationships across education, adult services, research and marketing.

This 18‑month parental leave contract is full‑time with a competitive salary package and

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in philanthropy, Trusts & Foundations, major giving, grant writing or relationship management.
• Strong knowledge of the philanthropic landscape, current trends and funding opportunities.
• Proven track record of generating, retaining and growing income through long-term relationships.
• Exceptional written communication and the ability to develop compelling proposals and cases for support.
• Commercial and strategic acumen to translate priorities into funding opportunities.
• Experience with CRM systems, preferably Salesforce.
• Genuine passion for social change and the disability sector.

Responsibilities

• Manage the full grants lifecycle from opportunity identification to reporting.
• Develop compelling proposals and manage submissions to funders.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with trusts, foundations, government bodies and philanthropic partners.
• Collaborate with education, adult services, research, marketing and finance teams to connect funder priorities with initiatives.

Skills

Fundraising strategy

Grant writing

Relationship management

CRM systems Salesforce

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

Aspect is one of Australia’s largest autism-specific service providers, with one of the biggest autism-specific school programs in the world. A not‑for‑profit organisation, we work in partnership with people of all ages on the autism spectrum, and their families to deliver evidence‑informed solutions that are person‑centred, family‑focused and customer driven.

At Aspect we recognise a different brilliant®, where we seek to understand, engage and celebrate the strengths, interests and aspiration of people on the autism spectrum.

The Opportunity

This is an opportunity for a Senior Philanthropy Executive to use your philanthropy, fundraising and relationship‑building expertise to secure significant investment from trusts, foundations, government departments and philanthropic organisations — funding initiatives that can change lives and create better opportunities for the Autistic community for generations to come.

Reporting to the Relationship and Philanthropy Manager, you'll grow Aspect's Trusts & Foundations portfolio and drive sustainable philanthropic income aligned to our strategic priorities.

Managing the full grants lifecycle, you'll identify funding opportunities, develop compelling proposals, manage submissions and reporting, and build strong relationships with funders. Working closely with teams across education, adult services, research, marketing, finance and fundraising, you'll connect funder priorities with initiatives that create meaningful impact for Autistic people and their families.

This is a full time, 18 month parental leave contract through to April 2028, offering the opportunity to take ownership of an established portfolio and make a significant impact during a pivotal period of growth. Competitive salary package including superannuation and salary packaging benefits. Salary will be discussed with shortlisted candidates.

About you:

We value diverse experiences and perspectives. If your background is not an exact match but you believe you could make a meaningful contribution to Aspect, we encourage you to apply.

We're looking for someone who can bring many of the following skills and experience:

• Demonstrated experience in philanthropy, Trusts & Foundations, major giving, grant writing or relationship management.
• Strong knowledge of the philanthropic landscape, including current trends, best practice and emerging funding opportunities.
• A proven track record of generating, retaining and growing income through strong, long‑term relationships.
• Exceptional written communication skills and the ability to develop compelling proposals, presentations and cases for support.
• Commercial and strategic acumen, with the ability to understand organisational priorities and translate them into compelling funding opportunities.
• Experience working with CRM systems, preferably Salesforce.
• A genuine passion for social change and the disability sector.

At Aspect, you’ll be part of an organisation that is making a genuine difference in the lives of autistic people and their families. You’ll have the opportunity to use your philanthropy expertise to help fund work that has a lasting impact — while working alongside passionate people who are committed to creating a more inclusive world.

We’re curious, courageous, collaborative and caring. We challenge the status quo, speak up, work together and treat people with kindness, understanding and respect.

We offer:

• Professional Learning opportunities for career advancement
• Salary packaging options to increase your take‑home pay
• Hybrid working arrangements
• Modern workspace with end-of-trip facilities, close to Chatswood train and metro station
• Employee referral incentives
• Discounted membership to fitness facilities through Fitness Passport
• Confidential Employee Assistance Program for employees and their families

Aspect is committed to increasing the number of Autistic staff and providing an inclusive workplace where everyone can feel that they belong. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds including, but not limited to, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, neurodivergent people, people with a disability, the LGBTQIA+ community and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, to apply. We have a range of universal strategies to meet the needs of different people in our hiring processes, and are happy to individualise these.