Bequest Officer based in Sydney office

Job Title:     
Bequest Officer

Location:      
Sydney

Hours:          
Full time – 37.5hrs

Pay:       
Negotiable subject to experience

Purpose of position

The Forever Wild bequest program is designed to build revenue for the long-term funding and success of WildCountry, The Wilderness Society’s continent-wide vision and strategy to revolutionise conservation in Australia.  Forever Wild aims to educate and inform supporters of the need to have a Will and to encourage them to include a gift or bequest to TWS.

The Bequest Officer’s role is to build strong relationships with supporters, in particular benefactors – through activities including visitation, events, direct mail, telephone calls and campaign updates. The Bequest Officer is also responsible for the promotion of the Forever Wild bequest group and identification of bequest prospects.

This position works closely with a small bequests team and reports to the National Bequest Manager, who is based in Hobart.

We are seeking a person with a caring, confident and sensitive approach with excellent interpersonal skills. Previous fundraising experience is preferred but not essential. However the successful applicant will have experience in a service role or marketing position and have high ethical standards. A commitment to the environment is essential. 

Primary Tasks and Responsibilities

• Nurture existing benefactors including regular visitation
• Identify and develop positive relationships with potential benefactors
• Handle bequest enquiries from supporters and solicitors
• Coordinate and attend events
• Documentation and reporting of all communications
• Liaison with and promotion of bequest program to Public and State Trustees and solicitors

Essential Selection Criteria

• Well-developed communication and interpersonal skills
• High attention to detail and an ability to prioritise projects and manage time
• Demonstrated event management skills
• Demonstrated maturity and high ethical standards in dealing with sensitive financial and confidential matters, as well as experience in relating sensitively to people of all ages, financial and social backgrounds
• Demonstrated public speaking ability
• Experience using Microsoft Word and Excel

Key Attributes

• High level of initiative
• Self-motivated and ability to set and achieve goals and targets
• Flexibility, enthusiasm and a willingness to learn
• Willingness to travel regularly
• Sense of humour

Desirable

• Experience in fundraising and donor/customer relations
• Knowledge of fundraising databases
• Drivers licence and car

Accountabilities

• Reports to the National Bequest Manager
• Submit a monthly report to the National Fundraising Manager

To apply, please address the selection criteria and forward along with your resume to gaye.french@wilderness.org.au

Training will be provided.

Applications close Friday 17 October 2008.

For more information please contact:

Gaye French
National Bequest Manager
gaye.french@wilderness.org.au
GPO Box 716
HOBART  TAS   7001
PH:  (03) 62701 1778 or 0428 377 164

The Wilderness Society (TWS) is a not for profit conservation organisation whose principal purpose is to protect, promote and restore wilderness and natural processes for the survival and ongoing evolution of life on Earth.

TWS was established in 1976 to help protect the Franklin River in Tasmania and has since played an important role in many of Australia’s most important and effective conservation campaigns including the protection of the Daintree, Shelburne Bay, Kakadu, and the forests of south eastern Australia. In recent years we have successfully campaigned for new laws to control land clearing and to protect wild rivers in Queensland.

TWS works with Indigenous Traditional Owners (TOs) and acknowledges prior rights to land when seeking conservation goals. TWS has a national commitment to support TOs around the country as the primary conservation managers of their homelands and as key participants in a national conservation strategy, and has developed an Indigenous Conservation Program to support this work. Recent success includes working with Chuulangun Aboriginal Corporation to create the first Indigenous Protected Area on Cape York, and the first Aboriginal National Parks in Queensland, jointly managed by TOs and the Qld Government.
TWS Queensland (TWSQ) is actively working towards the protection, promotion and restoration of Queensland’s great wild places, including the magnificent tropical wilderness of Cape York Peninsula.

TWS Organisational Purpose
To protect, promote and restore wilderness and natural processes across Australia for the survival and ongoing evolution of life on Earth.

TWS Organisational Values

1.    Passion for our purpose
2.    The power of people to make change
3.    Organisational independence and integrity
4.    Compassion
5.    Commitment to success in protecting the environment

TWS is an equal opportunity employer that places great importance on principles of non-violence and consensus decision-making.