Senior Officer – Philanthropy

ABOUT FRANKFURT ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY

We are an international conservation organization dedicated to preserving wildlife and ecosystems in protected and outstanding wilderness areas. FZS is active in biodiversity-rich regions in Central and Eastern Europe, East Africa, Central and South America, and Southeast Asia. Wherever national parks and wilderness areas need support, we work closely with local communities, conservation authorities, park administrations, and other NGOs.

ABOUT THE ROLE

• Are you looking to create real, measurable impact rather than just supporting projects?
• Do you want to build lasting relationships with the most influential donors – from international foundations and family offices to high-net-worth individuals?
• With your ideas, strategic vision, and people skills, do you want to ensure that visionary conservation projects not only become possible but grow and thrive?

Then we warmly invite you to join the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS).

As Senior Officer, Philanthropy you will be responsible for designing and implementing tailored fundraising strategies for major donors and philanthropic partners – from HNWI/UHNWI and family offices to large foundations. Your focus will be on Germany, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. With your commitment, you will foster long-term support for our projects and help shape innovative, impact-oriented funding approaches.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Development & Relationship Management:

• Identify, analyze, and segment potential major donors and philanthropic partners
• Build, maintain, and further develop long-term relationships, including next-gen philanthropy, with a focus on value-based engagement, impact transparency, and sustainable commitment
• Develop and present tailored funding offers, impact investment, and engagement models

Networking & Positioning:

• Position FZS within the philanthropic ecosystem (e.g., thought leadership, panels, events focused on donor engagement)
• Actively maintain national and international networks
• Monitor and analyze relevant trends in wealth succession, next-gen philanthropy, impact investing, and digital communication to ensure continuous development

Operational Implementation & Communication:

• Prepare compelling, target group-oriented funding applications, pitch documents, project proposals, and impact reports
• Organize and participate in investor circles, philanthropy retreats, and exclusive events
• Develop and implement digital tools, formats, and reporting to increase transparency, impact, and individualization in major donor communications

Analysis, Monitoring & Financial Planning:

• Continuously analyze fundraising activities, derive optimizations, and define and implement suitable KPIs
• Use CRM and digital tools to manage major donor relationships
• Responsible for segment, annual, and budget planning as well as revenue forecasts

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• University degree in nonprofit management, business administration, communications, social sciences, or a comparable field
• Several years of experience in strategic fundraising and philanthropy, ideally in an international or European HNWI/foundation environment
• Confident in dealing with (U)HNWI, family offices, and philanthropic foundations
• In-depth knowledge of the philanthropic landscape, including next-gen philanthropy, wealth succession, and impact investing
• Practical experience with digital tools for CRM, donation management, and impact reporting
• Excellent communication skills, high empathy, and confident appearance at C-level
• Experience in developing compelling concepts, funding applications, and proposals
• Entrepreneurial thinking, self-motivation, and clear results orientation
• Fluent in German and English; additional languages are an advantage

WHAT FZS OFFERS

• A meaningful role where you can make a real difference – with plenty of creative freedom and clear responsibility
• A committed, interdisciplinary team and a corporate culture based on collaboration and appreciation
• Varied projects and the opportunity to work closely with different departments
• Plenty of room for initiative, professional development, and flexible working arrangements – including the option for remote work
• Flat hierarchies, short decision-making processes, and an environment where good ideas quickly have an impact
• A workplace close to fascinating wildlife – you can spend your lunch break at the zoo
• Attractive benefits such as a job ticket, company pension scheme, and capital-forming benefits
• 30 vacation days plus additional days off on December 24 and 31 for a restful break

APPOINTMENT TERMS

Location: Frankfurt, Germany. Candidates must have the right to work in Germany

Salary: Competitive

Contract length: Two (02) years

HOW TO APPLY

Closing date: 9th November 2025

To apply please click ‘Apply Now’ above

Candidates are kindly asked to submit a CV of no more than four (04) pages and a cover letter, preferably in MS Word. All application documents (cover letter and CV) should be submitted in English.

Should you require access to information in a different format to facilitate your application please contact us via [email protected]

Please name your files as follows:

FirstName_Surname_CV_FZS_SPO

FirstName_Surname_CL_FZS_SPO

Red Sea takes our responsibility towards protecting your personal data very seriously. The data you provide is processed in line with relevant data protection legislation. For the purposes of this recruitment, and as defined under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Red Sea is defined as the Data Controller.

Red Sea is committed to meeting the standards set out in our Equality and Diversity statement, acting in line with the UK Equalities Act 2010 and building an accurate picture of the make-up of the workforce in encouraging equality and diversity.