Senior Resource Development Officer

EMBL - European Molecular Biology Laboratory

Heidelberg, Germany

Staff Category: Staff Member 
Contract Duration: 3 years 
Grading: Commensurate with experience and qualifications 
Closing Date: 29 September 2013 
Reference number: HD_00379

Job Description

The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) is one of the highest ranked scientific research organisations in the world. The Headquarters Laboratory is located in Heidelberg (Germany), with additional sites in Grenoble (France), Hamburg (Germany), Hinxton (UK) and Monterotondo (Italy). 

EMBL’s Office of Resource Development (ORD) raises private support for priority projects from individuals, foundations and companies. 

The Senior Resource Development Officer will carry a prospect portfolio for which he/she is solely responsible. He/she will lead and/or support all cultivation and stewardship activities associated with his/her prospects and will actively support all of ORD”s shared activities such as event staffing, conceptualization of fundraising events and programs, communications, marketing etc. He/she will take special care to serve all of EMBL’s outstations with a clearly defined focus on major gift fundraising. The post holder reports to the Head of Resource Development. 

Main duties and responsibilities include:

• Communicate EMBL’s Case for Support and the strategic importance of its fundraising projects;
• Cooperate with expert scientists and project leaders to ensure that fundraising projects are prepared and executed professionally;
• Cooperate with the prospect researcher on identifying and researching major gift prospects in Germany, Europe and beyond (individuals, foundations, companies, organisations);
• Develop individual contact strategies for prospects;
• Meet and cultivate prospects;
• Involve EMBL’s strong alumni network in fundraising activities;
• Manage cultivation and stewardship events for major donors and prospects;
• Cooperate with the prospect researcher and the assistant on maintaining EMBL’s fundraising database.

Qualifications and Experience

Applicants must be able to demonstrate experience and success in fundraising, ideally in the academic/scientific sector. They must be able to self-sufficiently take on the duties and responsibilities described above. 

The following qualifications and skills are required:

• Min. 5 years of professional experience in a relevant European context;
• Meaningful experience with successful major gift fundraising;
• Familiarity with techniques of major donor identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship;
• Track record of working directly or indirectly with high-level philanthropic donors;
• Excellent interpersonal skills;
• Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills;
• Experience in preparing persuasive letters, proposals, reports and presentations;
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information professionally;
• Relevant university degree;
• Excellent command of both written and spoken German (preferably native speaker) and English; good command of an additional European language is desirable;
• Experience living and working in Germany is desirable;
• Training in a life science discipline is not required, but beneficial;
• Established network of contacts is not required, but beneficial.

Application Instructions

Please apply online through www.embl.org/jobs.

Additional Information

EMBL is an inclusive, equal opportunity employer offering attractive conditions and benefits appropriate to an international research organisation. 

Due to the special status of EMBL as an intergovernmental organization, the candidate will not require a working visa. 

Please note that appointments on fixed term contracts can be renewed, depending on circumstances at the time of the review.