Head of Fundraising and Development

Position description

The International Science Council (ISC) is seeking a strategic and results-driven Head of Fundraising and Development to lead our income generation efforts and secure the future of the global voice for science.

Location: Paris, France. The incumbent is expected to live in the Paris area and should be prepared to conduct regular world-wide travel.
Deadline for applications: 15 March 2026, 23:59 UTC.
Contract type: 18-month full-time fixed-term contract (contrat à durée déterminée, CDD) with the possibility of extension.
Salary: Dependent on the experience and qualifications of the candidate. The employee is entitled to compensation equal to 10% of the total gross salary earned during the contract (unless the contract becomes permanent).
Annual leave: 49 days off per year, consisting of 25 days of statutory paid leave and 24 additional days under the Réduction du Temps de Travail (RTT) system (compensatory time off for working a 39-hour workweek).
Other benefits: Meal vouchers (tickets restaurant), 50% of the cost of the travel card for travelling to and from work (“Pass Navigo”), possibility to work remotely on a limited basis.
Work authorization: Applicants must hold a valid French work permit or be a national of an EU member state. The ISC cannot provide visa sponsorship for non-EU applicants.
Line management: The Head of Fundraising and Development will report to the CEO.

About the role

We are seeking a proactive Head of Fundraising and Development to build and execute a tailored fundraising architecture for the International Science Council. This is both a technical and strategic position for a professional who understands the global philanthropic and research funding landscapes and can open doors to sustainable partnerships.

The successful candidate will be responsible for identifying opportunities and nurturing relationships with donors and other funders, and strategizing with the ISC leadership and secretariat to turn organizational ambition into funded reality.

Key areas of responsibility

• Strategic growth: Design and coordinate a multi-year income generation strategy to diversify the Council’s funding base;
• Prospecting: Map and target foundations, corporate partners, national and international science funders and agencies that align with the ISC’s mission;
• Relationship management: Actively cultivate and manage relationships, including among philanthropic organizations, the ISC membership and other stakeholders;
• Proposal leadership: Work closely with the ISC secretariat to draft compelling, high-impact proposals and cases for support.

Qualifications, knowledge & experience

Required

• Six to eight years of experience in income generation with a history of securing high value grants or partnerships;
• Background in philanthropic or corporate partnerships;
• A demonstrated approach to strategic, long-term fundraising and business planning;
• Excellent written and verbal communication in English, with the ability to translate science ideas into donor value with ease and precision;
• Experience working with international stakeholders and/or multilateral organizations;
• Experience with customer relationship management software;
• Networking in high value funding and development environments.

Desirable

• Experience with other forms of fundraising and income generation e.g. institutional grants, impact investing, crowdfunding;
• Working knowledge of French or other languages;
• Familiarity with the global science landscape and/or the global science-policy landscape, or a background in science.

Application instructions

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