Proposal Writer

**PLEASE NOTE: To apply for this vacancy, please ensure you firstly download a copy of our application form from the documents section below and complete it. Click the 'apply' button and fill out your personal details in the relevant sections. Once you have submitted these you will be asked if you would like to attach any documents. At this stage please submit the completed version of the application form.**

Position: Proposal Writer  

Salary: £37,500 to £41,500 per annum based on experience

Contract: Fixed term maternity cover, up to 12 months.

Reports to: Senior Advisor, Private Philanthropy

Location: Shoreditch, East London (Hybrid Model) 

Key internal relationships: Teams across Major donors, Trust & Foundations, Corporate Partnerships, Comms, UNHCR global, CEO’s office

JOB PURPOSE

UK for UNHCR (UK4U), the UN Refugee Agency's national charity partner, is looking for a Writer. We are a small but high-performing team with big ambitions.

As a team player, you will work with colleagues across Private Partnerships and Philanthropy (PPH), Communications and UNHCR global.

Passionate about the refugee cause and UNHCR’s contribution, you will have prior experience of writing for philanthropic audiences.

This role is integral to the development of the Private Partnerships and Philanthropy (PPH) programme. You will work collaboratively across the PPH team and with international colleagues drawing on a diverse range of content to develop high quality compelling assets which convey our organisational story and priority needs. These assets may be written tailored propositions, investment cases, impact reports, budgets and other creative materials.

WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO  

United Kingdom for UNHCR is the United Nations Refugee Agency’s national charity partner for the United Kingdom. We generate public awareness of the plight of refugees and raise funds to help protect them through UNHCR’s humanitarian operations across the world.

Our supporters include UK private individuals, communities, corporate partners, trusts and foundations. The funds we raise help UNHCR deliver emergency relief such as shelter, medical care and basic supplies to people fleeing conflict and persecution, as well as healthcare, education and livelihoods opportunities for those who remain displaced over the long term.

Nobody chooses to be a refugee, but we can all play a part in their protection, and we want those who work with us to share our values and passion for the cause.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND BELONGING

We strongly value diversity and recognise that it is critical to our success and the cause that we serve. We are committed to providing an inclusive environment for all who work with us and strongly welcome applications from diverse backgrounds, particularly those with lived experience of being a refugee, asylum seeker, internally displaced person, or a stateless person.

UK for UNHCR is proud to have Diversity & Inclusion Working Group. The Diversity & Inclusion Working Group is a group of colleagues focusing on tasks that drive action in the implementation of our D&I Approach.  The group also works to create safe spaces that brings colleagues together for events, discussions and learning experiences that celebrate and support diversity and tackle barriers to inclusion. 

We are also open to flexibility in many ways, including an element of working from home and flexible hours. Please don’t be afraid to speak to us about this at the interview stage, so we can explore what’s possible.

Role Responsibilities  

The role operates primarily as an in-house writing and strategic support function, focused on the organisation’s highest-level donors and priority audiences.

Key responsibilities include:

• Taking the lead on drafting and delivering a bi-annually Philanthropy newsletter for existing donors and selected prospects, strengthening stewardship and positioning UNHCR’s philanthropic offer.
• Supporting the cultivation and stewardship of priority relationships through the development of bespoke, high-quality and strategically aligned concept notes, proposals, cases for support, business cases, and stewardship/impact reports for Corporate partners, Major Donors, Trusts and Philanthropists.
• Producing high value external communications for philanthropists & corporate partners, including CEO comms and timely email updates sharing relevant news and insights.
• Acting as a trusted internal service, working with colleagues to shape clear, consistent, and donor-focused narratives
• Developing trusted relationships with internal stakeholders across Partnerships & Philanthropy and relevant international colleagues to ensure messaging is accurate, aligned consistent, and reflects the supporter’s motivations and interests.
• Remaining flexible and responsive to emergency situations, supporting the development of targeted materials for priority audiences as required.
• Maintaining a bank of high quality, ready-to-use fundraising and stewardship materials to enable rapid response to new opportunities, including summaries of core thematic areas and flagship initiatives.
• Working closely with Communications colleagues to help position UNHCR’s philanthropic ambitions across external channels, including digital and social platforms. This includes occasional content development, reactive writing, and updating sections of the Philanthropy and Partnerships webpage.
• Managing deadlines effectively by setting clear priorities and timelines for drafting, review, approval, and dissemination.
• Staying up to date on issues affecting displaced communities, key campaigns, international priorities, and field-based reporting to ensure credibility and relevance.
• Maintaining strong awareness of organisational priorities and key fundraising moments throughout the year to support donor progression.
• Continuously improving ways of working by reviewing and refining processes, coordination, and core materials.
• Supporting the development of additional fundraising and stewardship materials as required by the line manager.

The above list is not exhaustive, and the post holder may be required to undertake other duties appropriate to the role.

Essential Skills/Knowledge

• Research skills and an ability to digest and distil technical information from a range of sources to produce donor-friendly, compelling, persuasive, and concise copy for a range of specific target audiences.
• Attention to detail and proofreading skills and an ability to give and receive clear and constructive feedback on creative and copy.
• Ability to create content that is well-written, well-designed, and factually reliable Ability to work at speed to respond to new opportunities as they emerge and prioritise accordingly.
• Knowledge of the principles of fundraising from philanthropists and high value donors.
• A flexible approach to managing and prioritising multiple tasks.
• Experience of taking initiative to ensure open and collaborative working.
• Experience of working across a busy team and managing a busy workload.
• Passion and motivation to raise vital funds to support refugees and internally displaced people.

Personal Attributes and Experience

Essential Experience

• Experience of building effective and persuasive cases for support, collaborating with relevant internal teams
• Proven proficiency with design principles and tools (experience of Canva/Adobe suite desirable)
• Experience of developing inspiring and compelling proposals for HNWIs, corporates and/ or trusts. 
• Demonstrable experience of working constructively and collaboratively with colleagues from different teams
• Experience of delivering high quality work with minimum supervision, and the ability to be self-motivated.

Desirable Skills/Experience

• Experience of, or a passionate interest in, the charity sector and the drive to mobilise supporters to stand with refugees
• Experience of working with Trustees and Development Boards
• Experience of using technology and other digital tools to support donor stewardship
• Experience of working in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment

WHY JOIN UNITED KINGDOM FOR UNHCR?

You will be part of a high performing agile team of talented people; all committed to build solidarity and raise funds for refugees and displaced people worldwide. You will be working in a flexible, supportive, and inclusive environment, where your work will be recognised and appraised.

What else?

Wellbeing

• 28 days’ leave per annum plus bank holidays (pro-rata).
• Employee Assistance programme providing 24/7 access to online GP, mental health support and virtual wellbeing.
• Access to 100s of perks with discounts on everyday purchases.
• Office wellness perks.
• Discount on gym memberships.
• Hybrid and Flexible Working.
• Staff socials.

Financial

• Pension scheme with an employer contribution of 8%.
• Non-contributory group life assurance scheme
• Non-contributory Income protection scheme.
• One-off contribution towards homeworking set up.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental, and adoption pay.
• Enhanced sick pay scheme.

Development

• Comprehensive training and continuing development opportunities.
• Individual training budget.

HOW TO APPLY

If you have the relevant skills and the passion to use them to support refugees, please apply by completing our application form which is available in the documents section.   

Closing date: 8th May

Interviews date: Week commencing 18th May

If you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to the application or hiring process that may better facilitate your participation, please contact us. We will make every effort to respond to your request for assistance as soon as possible.

United Kingdom for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is registered with the Charity Commission (England & Wales), charity no. 1183415. It is the UK national partner of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Refugee Agency.