Founded in 1989, the Heart Research Institute (HRI) is an internationally recognised leader in cardiovascular research, dedicated to advancing science that saves lives. Cardiovascular disease remains the world’s biggest killer. It encompasses more than heart attacks, extending to stroke, blood vessel disease, peripheral artery disease, and a wide range of other vascular conditions. Our purpose is simple: to give people more time. More time to live well. More time with the people they love.

HRI is seeking an experienced Events and Fundraising Specialist to join the Philanthropy team. Reporting to the Head of Brand and Communications, this is a broad and high-impact role that will own the end-to-end delivery of the Institute's donor and science events, develop and grow its community fundraising capabilities, and contribute to the marketing and communications activity that builds awareness and generates philanthropic pipeline. Working alongside the Communications Manager and Digital Marketing Specialist, this role is an integral part of a small, high-performing team that supports philanthropy, science and operations.

About you:

You're an experienced events professional with 3–5 years in events management and fundraising. You may be an events executive ready to take the next step, or someone who has been doing it all in a smaller organisation and is looking for more scope and structure. You're highly organised, calm under pressure, and comfortable managing everything from a venue contract to a run sheet to a post-event donor follow-up. You will have NFP experience and understand how to set up and run a community fundraising initiative.

Core responsibilities:

• Event management – Lead end-to-end delivery of HRI's events calendar including donor engagement events, scientific launches, consumer programs, research showcases and community events. Work directly with HRI's scientists and researchers to plan and deliver major scientific events, managing logistics, suppliers, run sheets and on-the-day operations.
• Events marketing – Working with the Digital Marketing Specialist and Communications Manager, execute integrated campaigns across digital and offline channels to drive registrations and attendance. Lead all event collateral including invitations, programs, signage and digital assets, and manage merchandise sourcing and inventory.
• Community fundraising – Design and build HRI's community fundraising program from the ground up. Recruit, steward and support fundraisers to maximise their impact and integrate community activity into the broader philanthropic pipeline.
• Budget and reporting – Own the events budget including forecasts, tracking expenditure and reconciling actuals. Produce regular reporting on events performance including attendance, revenue, costs and ROI.

What we offer:

• A friendly, flexible and productive team environment
• A small and experienced marketing team
• Real work life balance
• Hybrid working with select days to WFH
• A convenient location in Newtown
• Generous not-for-profit salary packaging benefits

Skills:

• 3-5 years’ experience in events management, with demonstrated end-to-end delivery of fundraising or major events
• Experience in or exposure to community fundraising, peer-to-peer campaigns or third-party fundraising programs
• Strong financial management skills including budget ownership, reconciliation and ROI reporting
• Excellent project management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple events simultaneously
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Experience working with a CRM or fundraising database (e.g. D365, Funraisin)
• Strong stakeholder management skills

Desirable:

• Experience working in a scientific or medical organisation

We are expecting a high volume of application for this role. Please apply as soon as possible, as this job ad will close once we have received a sufficient response of relevant applications. Due to the volume of applications expected, only shortlisted candidates may be contacted.

Eligibility: To apply for this position you must hold full Australian work rights.

For more information about The Heart Research Institute, please visit our website www.hri.org.au.

The Heart Research Institute supports Equal Employment Opportunity.

We value diversity and encourage applications from women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, Māori and Pasifika peoples, people with disability, LGBTQI individuals and applicants of diverse cultures and ages. 

We are committed to the safety and wellbeing of our employees and affiliates, and our community. Whoever you are, you are welcome at HRI.

If you have a disability and need support to submit your application, please email [email protected] using the subject line: Events and Fundraising Specialist enquiry via EthicalJobs.