Director of Philanthropy
Partnerships
Now is an exciting time to 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
Director of Philanthropy Partnerships
to join our team.
Mercy Ships is a faith-based charity, bringing safe
surgery to people in Africa who have limited access
to healthcare and little or no money to pay for it. For
over 40 years, Mercy Ships has visited more than 55
developing nations. We are passionate to serve those
in need and to leave a lasting impact for the future by
working alongside governments, supporting health
systems and delivering training within the countries we
visit. Our volunteer crew represent our organisation
onboard our two ships through excellence and
diligence. 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, the UK
identifies over 400 professional volunteers
with medical, maritime and many other skills to
crew the world’s largest charitable hospital ships
‘Africa Mercy’ and ‘Global Mercy’, – bringing immediate
relief to thousands of individuals and leaving a
sustainable legacy of hope and healing
in every nation we visit.
Values
Mercy Ships was founded by Don and Deyon Stephens
in 1978, committed Christians with a vision to follow the
model of Jesus, who inspires action and guides us to
imitate God’s heart for those marginalised by poverty
and disease. Mercy Ships is a diverse community
made of people from all walks of life, practically
demonstrating love, integrity and excellence to make a
lasting impact. While not all of our staff are practising
Christians, they all align with and respect the Christian
values that underpin Mercy Ships’ work.
Approximately 90% of the population in sub-Saharan
Africa lacks access to safe and affordable surgical care.
On average, there are only 1.8 beds per 1,000 people,
and nearly 40% of healthcare settings lack hygiene
infrastructure. The need for Mercy Ships is clear – we
strive to provide safe and equitable healthcare for those
who need it most.
Shelley Pigott,
Executive Director, Mercy Ships UK
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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.
Our commitment extends beyond the hospital
ship—we have completed over 1,110 community
development projects, including the reconstruction
of schools, clinics, orphanages, water wells, and
agricultural programmes. These initiatives ensure
sustainable transformation by strengthening local
infrastructure and skills for the future.
Today, we have proudly served across more than
55 of the world’s poorest nations, with two
remarkable hospital ships:
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 it is 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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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
protection within the charity sector is essential.
Hours of Work: Full-time (flexible hybrid - min 2 days
in office per week with occasional additional
meetings in London)
International Travel: International travel is a requirement
of this role
Contract: Permanent
Line Manager: Executive Director
Salary: £68,000 - £75,000 per annum
Direct Reports: Two philanthropy managers,
who manage two philanthropy officers (team of 4).
Benefits:
25 days annual leave + bank holidays, increasing + 1 day
with each year of service, up to 30 days annual leave
Christmas shutdown (from annual leave allowance)
Up to 7% Employer pension contribution
Main Purpose
This is an exciting role leading the Philanthropy Team
as the organisation moves into a new season. Our new
Executive Director, Shelley Pigott has just joined the
team, and we are aligning behind a new and ambitious
strategy. We are energised as an organisation towards
seeing Mercy Ships grow in public profile across the
UK so that we can raise more funds and recruit more
volunteers – providing more opportunities for those in
health poverty across Africa.
Our Philanthropy Team has ambitious targets for growth
in the year ahead. Leading a team with such ambitious
targets will require determination and motivation,
while displaying a core value of ‘together in everything’.
Our aim is to ensure every supporter feels valued and
operates on multiple levels as a partner. Empowering
the team to ideate and achieve their goals will be critical
to success. An understanding of Christian philanthropy,
international development and programme
management will ensure the post holder builds donor
and stakeholder relations effectively.
Being part of the Executive leadership team will require
excellent communication skills, be it in individual donor
meetings, working across global teams or sharing
quarterly results at the Board meeting. The ability
to project calm confidence will be essential when
working with VIPs, patrons and ambassadors. A solid
understanding of governance, compliance and data
The Director of Philanthropy Partnerships leads the team
to fundraise from corporate partners (including those
involved with our highly successful ‘Cargo Day’), Major
Donors, Trusts and Foundations. The post holder will
need to be familiar with these areas of fundraising and
be able to give examples of success. Highly personally
credible, they will also be impeccably organised and show
exceptional levels of gravitas and political nous. They will
be able to build relationships with our largest supporters
and inspire them to do even more but will also know
the right moment to stand back and empower others to
step up. They will be attuned to the philanthropic market
and highly entrepreneurial in seeking out and closing
transformative gifts to support our ships
and our operations.
Main Responsibilities
Operationalise the three-year strategy,
with realistic stretch targets.
Target growth areas that are aligned with
Mercy Ships’ values.
Identify and correct underperforming areas.
Build strong engagement within the maritime
and medical sectors.
Develop a prospect pipeline, mapping stakeholder
and donor relationships.
Work with the Individual Giving Team to develop a
stewardship journey for mid-level donors to increase
their giving capacity, where they can give more.
Develop a personal caseload of donors
capable of giving +£100K, over the next three
years, building relationships with them and
co-ordinating their solicitation and stewardship.
Develop an exceptional donor stewardship journey
for all donors stewarded in the Philanthropy
Partnerships Team.
Oversee the development of a major donor events
programme, suitable for engaging donors on their
journey with Mercy Ships.
Develop the strategy to incorporate multi-year giving
and legacies across the team.
Be an inspiring, caring and supportive team leader,
managing a high-performing, high morale group
of fundraisers.
Work closely with the Executive Director to identify
key influencers and supporters, to build a strong
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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
group of high-calibre ambassadors.
Build effective relationships to collaborate with
colleagues and counterparts in other international
offices towards the shared ambitions for Mercy Ships.
Set targets and personal development goals
with the team.
Have a working knowledge of GDPR and the
Fundraising Regulator to ensure compliance.
Other
Work collaboratively and communicate effectively
across the Mercy Ships team, including with other
global offices and delivery partners.
Contribute effectively within the Executive
Leadership Team, role model strong leadership within
the organisation and be open and willing to be on a
continuously improving leadership journey.
Actively follow Mercy Ships UK policies.
Maintain confidentiality in all areas of work at Mercy
Ships UK and International.
Occasional evening and weekend work may be
required, as well as international travel.
Other duties within the scope, spirit and purpose of
the job as requested by the Executive Director.
As duties and responsibilities change,
the job description will be reviewed and
amended in consultation with the post holder.
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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
Proven
experience
Background in fundraising or
international development.
Formal qualifications are
welcome but not essential.
Strong background in leadership with the
Overseen global events.
charity sector.
Operating within an environment of
ambitious growth.
Experience with programme
development.
Worked within International
Leading a team of highly proficient experts
development.
to achieve stretch targets.
Worked for a global, federated
Securing seven-figure gifts and provided
excellent relationship management.
Managing ambassadors and patrons.
organisation.
Escorted donors on
international visits.
Legacy management.
Skills and
abilities
Confident communication skills across all
levels and audience size.
Familiarity with Gift aid, GDPR,
probate and fundraising regulator.
Strong understanding of fundraising
Developed dashboards and ability
to spot trends in data.
Developed processes to
integrate systems.
Produced and hosted hybrid
events and virtual conferences.
compliance and governance.
Ability to identify problems and calmly
presents systemic solutions.
Strong line management with ability to
empower through accountability.
Strong understanding of Sustainable
Development Goals.
An ambitious and driven innovator, seeking
at new opportunities for income growth.
Competent at networking and
representing a global brand at public
and high-profile events.
Sensitive diplomacy, with an ability to
understand the cultural nuances of a
global organisation.
Strong leadership skills.
06
Person Specification
Attribute
Essential
Desirable
Personal
qualities
Confident, calm and professional even
Transparent and able to be
when under pressure.
vulnerable .
Embraces feedback to aid continual
improvement.
Flexible, approachable and positive.
Strong interpersonal skills, understanding
the need for team, and valuing different
disciplines and backgrounds.
Ability to maintain confidentiality.
Committed to continuing professional
development.
Alignment to/respect of the Christian
values of Mercy Ships.
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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
How to apply
to join us in transforming lives:
Please send a CV and cover letter detailing your
relevant experience and why you want to work for
Mercy Ships to:
Firas.ElDib@prospect-us.co.uk
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and
the vacancy will remain open until the position is filled.
Salary : £68,000-£75,000 (D.O.E)
Don’t delay applying as we screen applications on
receipt and reserve the right to close early.
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.
Hope.
Healing.
Transforming Lives.
Registered Charity No: 1053055. Registered Charity in Scotland No. SC039743.
Company No: 3147724 (England and Wales)