VSA is currently seeking to appoint a Community Fundraising Officer to join our Business Development, Marketing and Innovations Team, this will be a Full-time, Permanent post.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone who thrives on building connections, sparking enthusiasm, and making a real difference in their community.
If you’re the kind of person who naturally energises those around you – someone who can walk into a room and instantly engage others with your positivity and passion – then this role could be the perfect fit. We are looking for someone who is sociable, outgoing, and confident, with a genuine interest in people and the power of community.
You’ll be the kind of person who enjoys meeting new people, building lasting relationships, and rallying others around a shared cause. You’ll have the confidence to inspire local groups, schools, universities, and community organisations to become ambassadors for VSA, encouraging them to support our mission and raise vital funds for those in need.
If you’re comfortable speaking to a room full of people, energising students, or sitting down for a coffee with the head of a community group to spark their interest in supporting VSA – this could be the role for you.
Beyond just raising money, you’ll be building a movement – helping us launch a bold, public-facing marketing campaign to inspire people across Aberdeen City and Shire to come together for a common cause. You’ll have the chance to get involved in innovative projects like the expansion of Easter Anguston Farm and our brand-new VSA Nurses initiative, creating real, lasting change.
If this sounds like you – if you’re a natural people person with a big heart, a positive outlook, and a passion for making a difference – then we’d love to hear from you and together, we can make a powerful, positive impact in the communities we serve.
About VSA:
For over 155 years, VSA has been at the heart of the northeast of Scotland, supporting the most vulnerable people in our communities. As one of Scotland’s oldest social care charities, we have a proud legacy of care, compassion, and community support. From mental health services to care for older people, support for children and families, and specialist care for individuals with learning disabilities, VSA has been woven into the fabric of local life for generations.
Today, we remain deeply committed to our founding mission – to enable the people of Aberdeen City and Shire to live the best of lives, whatever their circumstances. However, as society and the needs of our communities evolve, so too must VSA. We are now embarking on an exciting new era of transformation, guided by a bold, five-year strategy that aims to expand our impact beyond our properties and traditional care settings, reaching deeper into the community through innovative new services and partnerships.
About the Business Development, Marketing and Innovation Team:
Central to this transformation is our newly formed Business Development, Marketing and Innovation (BDMI) Team, established just six months ago. This team plays a crucial role in driving the organisation’s strategic vision, building meaningful connections, and generating the revenue needed to sustain our services. The BDMI team is tasked with creating powerful, purpose-driven campaigns that inspire support, engage communities, and secure sustainable funding for VSA’s vital work.
About the Role:
As the Community Fundraising Officer within the BDMI team, you will play a critical part in this journey. Sitting within the Business Development strand, this role is focused on building relationships, generating income, and empowering local groups and individuals to support our mission.
You will be instrumental in delivering a major public-facing marketing campaign designed to connect people to our cause, turning supporters into lifelong advocates. From inspiring schools and youth groups to partnering community organisations, you will be building a movement that reflects the very spirit of VSA – compassion, connection, and community.
You will also be supporting exciting new initiatives like our VSA Nurses programme and the ambitious expansion of Easter Anguston Farm, helping to secure the future of these vital services and ensure they reach as many people as possible.
This is a unique opportunity for someone who thrives on building connections, inspiring action, and making a real, tangible difference in the lives of others. If you’re ready to be part of a team that’s shaping the future of social care in Scotland, this could be the perfect role for you.
Salary: £31,363.25 p.a.
Location: Aberdeen, Castle Street HQ
Hours of work: 35 hours per week
Working pattern: Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
It is expected that work outside these hours will sometimes be required due to the nature of the role. TOIL will be offered for hours worked at weekends or in other exceptional circumstances as agreed in advance by the Director of BDMI.
Please note: you will be required to support the Fundraising Team and the charity at events as and when required. As many activities are held in the evening and at weekends the post will involve some unsocial hours, for which Time Off in Lieu (TOIL) will be given.
Purpose of Job:
- To generate awareness, engagement and income from the communities of Aberdeen and the North East.
- To develop opportunities for local fundraising and/or offer support and stewardship to those choosing to raise money for VSA.
- To build relationships that lead to long-term engagement with the work of VSA as supporters, volunteers and advocates.
- To promote, maximise income from and where appropriate assist in the management of ‘in aid of’ events.
- Ensure the best possible experience for those communities and individuals who choose to support VSA as donor or volunteer.
Main Duties/Responsibilities:
Delivery of core role requirements:
- Develop and deliver a coordinated strategic approach to the engagement of communities and individuals with the work of VSA, fostering a commitment to offer their time, money or voice.
- Build visibility of VSA leading to lasting relationships with schools, diverse community groups, faith communities and interest/hobby-driven networks.
- Build a suite and calendar of ‘in aid of’ events and activities, such as sport or leisure-based activities, with supporting materials that local individuals or groups can easily choose as their fundraising contribution to VSA.
- Create new, appealing community fundraising activities and opportunities to appeal to new audiences and supporters.
- Develop a cross-organisation volunteering programme with a variety of opportunities to support VSA through either fundraising, skills or advocacy. Build a team of trusted volunteers who can run agreed local events directly.
- Ensure the best possible experience for all those who support VSA, through delivery of a coherent supporter journey.
- Ensure regular high-quality verbal or written communication with supporters, liaison with other members of the BDMI team as appropriate, accurate record-keeping on Salesforce and Monday.com, processing of registrations and payments and timely thank-yous and/or recognition for their efforts.
- Provide briefings or reports for the Director of BDMI, CEO, EMT, SMT or fundraising committee as directed by the Director of BDMI.
Compliance
- Adhere to the highest standards of fundraising best practice ensuring compliance with OSCR and the fundraising code of practice.
- Ensure that all activities comply with GDPR/ PECR legislation.
General
- Carry out other tasks that may be within the scope of the post to ensure the effective delivery and development of the service.
- Support the BDMI team and other colleagues in collective commitment to achievement of team and organisational goals.
- Support and/or attend team or charity at events when required by the Director of BDMI.
Qualifications/Training/Education:
Essential:
- Able to demonstrate suitable experience and examples of achievements relevant to the role
Desirable:
- Educated to Secondary Highers/A Level or relevant equivalent professional qualification
- Ability to evidence further development and/or CPD in a relevant discipline
Experience:
Essential:
- Proven experience of community-based event management
- Proven experience of managing and achieving six-figure budgets and targets
- Demonstrable relevant experience of project management, CRM systems and supporter stewardship
- Demonstrable relevant experience of building community-based relationships and networks
- Proven experience of working in a result-orientated environment
- Proven ability to cultivate and maintain professional relationships
- Understand how to maximise income raised at events including gift aid
- Strong administration skills
Desirable:
- Experience of working in or with not-for-profit sector organisations
- Experience of working in or with Health and Social Care organisations, or within one of VSA’s core service provision areas
- Familiarity with Microsoft Office, Salesforce, Monday.com, Breezy, Just Giving and similar platforms
Key Skills/Aptitudes:
Essential:
- Ability to establish and maintain positive relationships with a wide range of people
- Ability to present to large audiences
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills and an ability to communicate with people of all levels of seniority and from all backgrounds and experience.
- Ability to manage a number of, at times, conflicting priorities
- Ability to communicate clarity of expectations
- Decisiveness in decision-making and its communication
- Excellent project-management and organisational skills
Desirable:
- Working within a complex organisation
Personal Qualities:
Essential:
- Empathy with VSA’s vision, mission and values
- Passionate and people and about VSA
- Able to work with minimum supervision
- Creative and a problem solver
- Flexible and cooperative
- Resilience
- Can work to deadlines
- Can work proactively and on own initiative, while remaining an embedded, cooperative team member, committed to team goals.
- Willingness to learn new skills
- Attention to detail
Desirable:
- Empathy with the needs of those in the social care system
- Empathy with the working context of all colleagues within VSA
Other Job Requirements:
- Ability to work flexibly
- Subject to PVG/Basic Disclosure check
- Due to the nature of the role you must have a valid driving license and own transport