Head of Supporter Engagement

About the role

The Head of Supporter Engagement leads Dogs Trust Ireland’s largest sustainable income portfolio for an 18‑month fixed‑term period. Reporting to the Group Head of Fundraising & Development, this senior leader drives strategy, income performance and supporter growth across regular giving, digital fundraising and other individual giving channels.

Key responsibilities

• Define and execute the Supporter Engagement strategy, setting clear targets for regular giving, digital fundraising, legacy marketing, direct mail and retail.
• Own income, expenditure and performance metrics, using robust forecasting and evidence‑based investment decisions.
• Lead donor acquisition, retention, upgrade, reactivation and cross‑sell initiatives to maximise lifetime value.
• Provide expert leadership for the Regular Giving programme, improving recruitment quality, reducing attrition and growing average gift size.
• Drive digital fundraising growth through paid acquisition, audience segmentation, conversion optimisation, testing frameworks and ROI measurement.
• Integrate digital, telemarketing, direct mail and legacy journeys with the CX team to ensure a consistent, donor‑centred experience.
• Lead, develop and performance‑manage a multi‑disciplinary team of managers, specialist fundraisers, digital staff, agencies and contractors.

Required profile

• Proven senior expertise in regular giving and digital fundraising at scale.
• Demonstrated accountability for significant income targets and measurable supporter acquisition and retention growth.
• Successful experience leading managers and specialist teams in a charitable or non‑profit environment.
• Strong strategic thinking, data‑driven decision making and ability to deliver long‑term income growth.

Required skills