Kaiwhakatere Rangahau | Head of Strategic Partnerships and Growth

You will have expertise in designing and delivering plans for major donor engagement, membership loyalty and growth, commercial and philanthropic sponsorships and partnerships, and bequests.  Your experience in generating ‘for impact’ investments and networks across the giving and financial sectors will help the Society to sustain financial resilience.

This role will also help the Society to publicly promote the breadth and value of our work, and the many benefits our programmes deliver to individuals, groups and communities.

Pūtake tūranga | What you will do

In this broad and dynamic role, you will:

• Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive revenue diversification and growth programme, working closely with the CEO and executive leadership team.
• Develop and implement associated annual plans to grow revenue from individual giving, corporate and philanthropic sponsorships, partnership co-funding, and financial and legal sector collaborations.
• Secure and manage commercial sponsorships and strategic partnerships, negotiating agreements that align with organisational values and maximise mutual benefit.
• Scope and implement major a major donor strategy and associated action plan, including developing structured donor pipelines, donor journeys and stewardship frameworks to enhance donor loyalty and long-term giving.
• Develop and implement a membership strategy and associated action plan to engage and leverage the Society’s membership base to grow giving across multiple membership types.
• Oversee the planning, execution, and evaluation of marketing campaigns, fundraising appeals and events, ensuring initiatives are strategically aligned and deliver measurable outcomes.
• Develop and sustain relationships with regular donors, strategic partners, corporate sponsors, philanthropists, co-funders and impact investment leads in the financial and legal sector.
• Contribute to organisational strategic planning, support revenue forecasting, and deliver 
  insights on donor trends, sector trends, and income growth and diversification opportunities.
• Build an ethical, balanced and sustainable portfolio of regular givers in support of Society activities.
• Develop marketing materials and associated communications to ensure external revenue-diversification messaging reflects broader organisational goals, priorities and language.

Ngā pukēnga me te wheako | What you will bring

Essential skills and experience:

• At least 5 years' experience in a similar role with demonstrated uplift in revenue secured.
• Demonstrated expertise in fundraising, major donor engagement, strategic partnership development, sponsorships, and co-funding generation.
• Demonstrated experience in building and leveraging financial, legal and investment sector collaborations to grow revenue from bequests, living wills and impact-led giving mechanisms.
• Demonstrated experience in successful action plan development, programme management and project leadership.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to produce clear, engaging financial and project summaries, including high-level dashboards for a diverse range of audiences.
• Experience working with and reporting to senior leaders and boards.
• A commitment to work in alignment with the principles, spirit, and intent of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
• Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgement in escalating any issues when necessary.
• A collaborative working style and ability to engage positively with stakeholders at all levels and contribute to a positive team culture. 

Desirable skills and experience:

• A tertiary qualification in marketing, social-good or impact investment, financial management, business management, or other relevant degree.
• Experience in using Artificial Intelligence-based tools appropriately and ethically to support the development of dashboard reporting and/or to deliver up-to-date donor engagement and revenue pipeline monitoring and insights.
• Proficiency in te reo Māori me ōna tikanga.

Te Mahi | Job Description

This is a full-time permanent position based in Thorndon, Wellington. We are open to considering part-time roles (e.g. 0.8 – 0.9 FTE) for the right applicant.  The role is primarily office-based but the Society supports flexible working arrangements.  The role reports to the Director of External Engagement.

The current midpoint of the salary range is $139,450 which is reviewed and adjusted annually in line with movements of the Stats NZ Labour Cost Index. The full salary range is 85-115% of the midpoint, with starting salary up to the midpoint, depending on skills and experience.

View full position description. 

Mō Te Apārangi | About Us

The Royal Society Te Apārangi is an independent, not-for-profit organisation with a vision for Aotearoa New Zealand to be guided and inspired by science and research. The Society grows pathways of knowledge to enable science and research to be shared for the benefit of all.

Whakaurua | Apply 

Please submit a CV and covering letter (no more than 4 pages combined) to hr@royalsociety.org.nz by midday, Friday 3 July 2026.

You must be a New Zealand citizen or resident currently eligible to work in New Zealand.

He pātai – questions? 

We welcome enquiries from interested candidates. For more information or to arrange a confidential conversation with the CEO or Director, External Engagement, please contact hr@royalsociety.org.nz