At the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, affectionately known as ‘the Perkins’, we exist to help people live healthier, longer lives. Our researchers are at the forefront of medical discovery – but it’s the passion, innovation, and dedication of our award-winning fundraising team that ensures this life-changing work continues.
The 2023 FIA National Fundraising Team of the Year is hiring! And we’re looking for a rather special individual to manage a team of incredible individuals who look after our amazing individual donors.
We’re on the hunt for a seasoned people manager who is authentic, sympathetic and intuitive. Someone who is ready to lead a talented, self-sufficient team driven by honouring our donors’ wishes and providing them with memorable moments – every time.
About this role
The person we are looking for must be a fundraiser at heart. You will oversee three areas – Individual Giving, Community Fundraising and Gifts is Wills. You need to be super organised and a self-starter. Your goal is to bring our research stories to life to inspire people to take action and stay connected.
You don’t need to be a data scientist but a keen eye and curious mind for trends and patterns is a big tick. You don’t have to be a storyteller but understanding that people give to people is imperative to sharing impact.
Our team is creative, fun, driven and stable. Our motto is “Medical Research with heart and wit.” We work with an in-agency model which means, if we can do it ourselves – we will. This makes us agile, innovative and award winning.
Once you find your feet, you will have room to innovate and inspire. We’re looking for someone with the skills and imagination to make this role your own while bringing your team along for the ride.
To be successful in this role, you’ll have:
- Senior-managerial experience preferably in the not-for-profit sector
- Demonstrable experience in developing and implementing successful fundraising strategies across direct mail, community fundraising and digital channels to significantly increase income.
- Strong analytical skills and confidence interpreting fundraising data to inform decisions.
- Experience leading teams, managing budgets and communicating with executive leadership and Boards.
- The ability to identify and seize new fundraising opportunities and innovate existing practices to adapt to changing fundraising landscapes.
- Familiarity with CRMs (we use Salesforce but this isn’t essential) and digital fundraising platforms (e.g. Raisely, Funraisin) is a plus.
- Commitment to the FIA Code and ethical fundraising
- A deep respect for donors and their impact on our cause
If you really want to stand out, tell us about your:
- Creativity and innovation in campaigns – we want someone who’s led from the front, not just signed off on agency work.
- Personal philosophy of donor care – our donors are precious and we respect their wishes at all times.
- Collaborative, curious, and resilient personality – someone who can juggle projects, motivate the team, and power through challenges.
If this sounds like the right fit, we can offer you:
- Flexible working options – a hybrid working model and adaptable start/finish times
- A supportive and passionate team
- The opportunity to make a positive impact in a community-focused organisation with global reach
- The ability to salary package up to $18,550 annually, meaning you can legitimately pay less tax and increase your tax-home pay
- Generous leave benefits, including:
- 3 days paid extra leave at the end of the year
- up to 16 weeks paid parental leave
- 2 days of paid cultural and community engagement leave
Are you ready to make a difference?
Please review this position description for more details.
To apply, please submit your cover letter addressing the selection criteria and your resume. Only applications submitted via Seek will be considered.
Applications close on 17 August 2025, however we’ll begin interviewing as soon as we hear from the right people so be quick!
Enquiries can be directed to Olivia Swales, Talent Advisor or call on (08) 6151 0754.
