Direct Marketing Manager, European New Donors

International Fund for Animal Welfare - ifaw; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 46,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

An international charity organization is seeking a Direct Marketing Manager to lead donor acquisition and reactivation efforts across multiple European markets. The successful candidate will oversee direct mail and face-to-face fundraising campaigns, collaborate with internal teams, and ensure effective execution of strategies aimed at engaging new and lapsed supporters. This role requires strong leadership, project management skills, and a passion for nonprofit work. The hiring range in the UK is £46,000-£55,000 per year.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of direct marketing experience, preferably within a nonprofit context.
• Strong leadership and organizational skills with effective time management.
• Proven success managing cross-functional teams and executing projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead all facets of direct mail donor acquisition and reactivation.
• Support direct response TV campaigns to amplify direct mail results.
• Develop and implement acquisition strategies to grow donor file size.

Skills

Direct marketing experience

Leadership skills

Project management

Communication skills

Donor engagement

Education

Bachelor’s degree in marketing or related field

Job description

This position can be based in London, UK; Washington, DC, US; Yarmouth, MA, US

Staff work a hybrid schedule with 2 days/week in the office

Reporting to the Director of New Donor Engagement, the Direct Marketing Manager leads IFAW’s international new donor acquisition and global reactivation efforts. This role oversees the strategy and execution of IFAW’s direct mail and face-to-face fundraising for four European markets: Germany, France, UK and The Netherlands. This role also designs and executes strategies to re-engage long lapsed supporters in all markets. Collaborate with the digital acquisition team to amplify results and leverage the strategies to attract new donors and reactivate lapsed donors. The manager collaborates with internal teams and external vendors to ensure campaigns are delivered effectively and in alignment with organizational goals.

Role and Responsibilities

• Lead all facets of direct mail new donor acquisition and reactivation programs, including strategic planning, budget oversight, creative strategy, vendor management, and process optimization.
• Support and participate in direct response TV campaigns and leverage that strategy to amplify results in direct mail and face to face channels.
• Develop and implement country-specific acquisition and reactivation strategies to maintain or grow donor file size in alignment with departmental goals.
• Conduct in-market research and stay informed on emerging donor acquisition methods and trends.
• Collaborate with Direct Marketing Directors to ensure newly acquired and reactivated donors align with overall fundraising goals and audience segmentation strategies.
• Oversee vendors and internal colleagues to ensure acquisition and reactivation campaigns are executed accurately, efficiently, and on schedule.
• Apply direct marketing principles, fundraising strategies, and analytical insights to design and optimize acquisition and reactivation campaigns.
• Research, identify, and recommend acquisition and reactivation test plans that support innovation, cost efficiency, and departmental growth objectives.
• Contribute to the development and management of the annual budget and three-year projections, ensuring alignment with strategic fundraising priorities.
• Deliver timely and accurate monthly forecast updates to the Director of New Donor Engagement, accompanied by a clear narrative outlining key performance trends, strategic adjustments, and changes impacting acquisition and reactivation campaigns.
• Review vendor contracts to ensure compliance with legal standards and alignment with organizational policies, fundraising ethics, and operational expectations. Ensure that vendors operate within contractual agreements.
• Lead the vendor selection process by issuing bids, evaluating proposals, and managing onboarding to ensure alignment with organizational standards and campaign goals.

Qualifications and Education Requirements

• 5+ years of direct marketing experience, preferably within a nonprofit or fundraising context
• Strong leadership and organizational skills, with a track record of self-motivation, effective time management, and team development
• Proven success managing cross-functional teams and external vendors to execute complex projects on schedule and within scope
• Exceptional communication abilities, both written and verbal, with a focus on clarity, persuasion, and donor engagement
• Demonstrated ability to meet and exceed fundraising goals, with a solid understanding of donor acquisition and retention strategies
• Global marketing exposure or international campaign experience is highly desirable
• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business administration, communications, or a relevant experience preferred

At IFAW, we aim to create and foster a workforce that reflects and contributes to the diverse, global community in which we work to improve the lives of both animals and people. We are dedicated to fostering justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion so we actively encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds.

Hiring range in the UK is 46,000-55,000 GBP

Hiring range in the US is 68,000-84,000 USD