Individual Giving Officer
Immediate start
Values
Mercy Ships was founded in 1978 by Don and Deyon
Stephens, two committed Christians who had a vision to
follow the model of Jesus by showing love and mercy to
people marginalised by poverty and disease.
Mercy Ships is a diverse community made of people
from all walks of life. While not all of our staff are
Christian, we align with and respect the values that
underpin Mercy Ships’ work: love, integrity, and
excellence.
In sub-Saharan Africa, nine out of ten people can’t
access safe surgery. The need for Mercy Ships is
clear – we strive to provide safe healthcare for those
who need it most.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Shelley Pigott,
Executive Director, Mercy Ships UK
Now is an exciting time to join Mercy Ships UK.
With a growing supporter base, a talented
staff team and ambitious targets to reach over the
next five years, we are looking for a talented
Individual Giving Officer to join our team.
Mercy Ships is a Christian charity, bringing free, safe
surgery to people across sub-Saharan Africa. For more
than 45 years, Mercy Ships has visited more than 55
developing nations. We are passionate about serving
those in need and leaving a lasting impact for the
future by working alongside governments, supporting
healthcare systems and delivering training within the
countries we visit. Our volunteer crew bring expert care
on board our two hospital ships. Sixteen Mercy Ships
offices around the world collaborate on fundraising,
recruitment and public relations.
Mercy Ships UK
The UK currently raises circa £9 million a year to
support Mercy Ships’ operations, benefiting from a
diverse base of committed funders and partners.
As well as providing financial resources for surgeries,
healthcare, education and local partnerships.
Mercy Ships UK recruits over 400 professional
volunteers with medical, maritime and many other skills
to crew the world’s largest charitable hospital ships –
the Global Mercy and the Africa Mercy – bringing direct
medical care to thousands of individuals and leaving a
sustainable legacy of hope and healing
in every nation we visit.
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Our Mission
Mercy Ships follows the 2,000 year-old model
of Jesus, bringing hope and healing to the
world’s forgotten poor.
Our Vision
Mercy Ships uses hospital ships to transform
individuals and partner with nations.
Our Values
Following the model of Jesus, we seek to:
Love God
Love and serve others
Be people of integrity
Strive for excellence in all we say and do
M E R C Y S H I P S A P P O I N T M E N T B R I E F
Impact
Since 1978, Mercy Ships has brought hope and healing
to more than 2.88 million people through free,
life-changing healthcare and training. Our volunteer
professionals have performed over 122,000 surgical
procedures and provided more than 556,900 dental
procedures to those in desperate need. Alongside
this, we have trained more than 55,500 local
professionals in their area of expertise, equipping
them to go on and impact over 252,000 others within
their own communities.
Mercy Ships has proudly served across more than
55 of the world’s poorest nations. Today, we have
two remarkable hospital ships in service:
The Global Mercy: the world’s largest civilian
hospital ship, featuring 6 state-of-the-art operating
theatres, 199 patient beds, the capacity for 640 crew,
and a gross tonnage of 37,856.
The Africa Mercy: with 5 fully equipped operating
theatres, 85 patient beds, space for 470 crew, and a
gross tonnage of 16,572.
Together, these ships represent a unique and powerful
force for good, bringing hope, healing, and lasting
change to those who need it most.
Our work
Mariama’s story
Mariama is a lively and healthy baby, but a severe facial
cleft strained her joyful smile. This facial cleft affected
7-month-old Mariama’s lip and nose, making it difficult
for her to eat and causing her parents to worry about
their child’s future.
Since paediatric services capable of treating baby
Mariama’s condition were not available near the family,
local doctors directed her father to Senegal’s capital city
in hopes of finding help.
It was there that he heard about a hospital ship capable
of providing healing for his little girl.
Soon after, Mariama received an operation onboard
the Africa Mercy that repaired her cleft lip. After surgery,
Mariama and her family stayed at the HOPE Centre,
where her mother learned how to make nutritional baby
formula and learned about the importance of nutrition
for her child. Now, Mariama is home with her family,
happy and healthy!
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M E R C Y S H I P S A P P O I N T M E N T B R I E F
History of
Mercy Ships
Founded in 1978 by Don and
Deyon Stephens, Mercy Ships
has worked in more than 55
countries, providing services
valued at more than £1.3 billion.
By improving healthcare delivery in
every country visited, Mercy Ships
is working to eradicate the diseases
of poverty. Mercy Ships follows the
model of Jesus by “bringing hope
and healing to the forgotten poor”,
helping people of any faith or none.
Mercy Ships delivers a customised
five-year partnership model with
every country we are invited to
support. Relationships are built
with the national government
and ministry of health, so that the
specific needs of each country are
met; we work to strengthen the
country’s healthcare systems and
drive policy change.
The aim is to tackle the root causes
of the problems rather than just the
consequences.
Mercy Ships UK (a key member of the
Mercy Ships global partnership) was
founded in 1996. We run the
two largest charity hospital ships
in the world: the Global Mercy
and the Africa Mercy.
Behaviours
We put beneficiaries first
Our performance impacts lives, so we
strive for the very best results.
We are open to challenge
We challenge current norms, ideate,
create and develop.
We expect the best
We consistently seek the best in
and for others.
Together in everything
We are a relationally-driven team.
Effective interaction
We communicate with clarity
and purpose.
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Mid-Level Donor Stewardship
Build and maintain relationships with mid-level donors,
ensuring they receive a personalised and
engaging experience.
Assist with cultivation activities such as tailored
communications, events, and impact reporting.
Track and report on mid-level pipeline activity and
stewardship engagement.
Data & Reporting
Work with the fundraising and data teams to segment
audiences and track campaign performance.
Report on legacy pipeline and supporter engagement
metrics to measure success and inform future strategy.
Collaboration & Team Support
Support the finance and fundraising teams with any
legacy-related income administration.
Support the Individual Giving Manager with mid-level
and retention campaigns when required.
Work closely with the Communications team to create
campaign collateral, and other messaging and
marketing aspects.
Enhance the supporter journey work for key
audiences with the rest of the Individual Giving Team.
M E R C Y S H I P S A P P O I N T M E N T B R I E F
Role Description
Main Workbase: 12 Meadway Court, Stevenage SG1 2EF
Contract: Permanent, full time (37.5 hours a week)
with hybrid working.
Line Manager: Individual Giving Manager
Salary: £29,000-£35,000 (DOE)
Benefits:
25 days annual leave + bank holidays, increasing + 1 day
with each year of service, up to 30 days annual leave
Up to 7% employer pension contribution
Travel and training loans
Free parking onsite
Main Purpose
The role supports the Individual Giving team by leading
the day-to-day delivery of legacy stewardship, supporter
journeys, and mid-level donor care. By strengthening
supporter relationships, it enables the Individual Giving
Manager to concentrate on acquisition and retention
campaigns.
Main Responsibilities
Legacy Marketing & Promotion
Support the implementation of the organisation’s
Legacy Marketing Plan across digital, print, and
internal communications.
Coordinate the production of legacy marketing
materials and campaigns.
Work with agencies/suppliers to deliver high-quality
creative and communications.
Act as the main point of contact for legacy enquiries,
providing sensitive, tailored responses.
Maintain accurate records of legacy pledgers and
enquiries in the CRM.
Track and report on legacy pipeline activity and
stewardship engagement.
Attend Legacy events and represent Mercy Ships UK.
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M E R C Y S H I P S A P P O I N T M E N T B R I E F
Person Specification
Attribute
Essential
Desirable
Education/
qualification
Formal qualifications are welcome but
not essential.
Proven
experience
Experience in individual giving and legacy
Understanding of individual giving
fundraising.
and supporter journeys.
Strong communication and relationship
Knowledge of CRM databases and
management skills.
supporter segmentation.
Excellent organisational skills, able to
Knowledge of digital marketing
manage multiple priorities.
tools, like Pardot.
Ability to work collaboratively across teams.
A positive, intuitive learner with a
willingness to take initiative and a practical,
can-do approach.
Skills and
abilities
Excellent communication skills.
Ability to balance multiple priorities
while remaining delivery focused.
Good administrative skills and
knowledge of Microsoft packages.
An understanding of charities.
Capacity to learn new systems,
tools, and applications.
Personal
qualities
Compassionate and empathetic approach
when dealing with sensitive conversations
(especially around legacies).
A good awareness and passion for
international development and
healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa.
Honesty, integrity and a passion to
serve others.
An eye for detail.
Creative and innovative, with a passion for
driving brand awareness.
Calm and professional under pressure.
Adaptable and positive approach.
A solutions-focused approach.
Commitment to building knowledge and
skills to enhance performance.
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M E R C Y S H I P S A P P O I N T M E N T B R I E F
M E R C Y S H I P S A P P O I N T M E N T B R I E F
M E R C Y S H I P S A P P O I N T M E N T B R I E F
Equal opportunities
Mercy Ships UK is an equal opportunities employer.
We welcome applications from all individuals and
value diversity in our workforce.
DBS check
Candidates will be asked to declare any ‘unspent
convictions.’ Further information can be found here.
Eligible roles may require a Disclosure Barring Service
(DBS) check.
How to apply
to join us in transforming lives:
Please send your CV and cover letter detailing your
relevant experience and why you want to work for
Mercy Ships to:
careers@mercyships.org.uk
Salary : £29,000-£35,000 (DOE)
Don’t delay applying as we screen applications on
receipt and reserve the right to close early.
Hope.
Healing.
Transforming Lives.
Registered Charity No: 1053055. Registered Charity in Scotland No. SC039743.
Company No: 3147724 (England and Wales)