Donor Relationship Specialist

JobsCloseBy Editorial Insights

Donor Relationship Specialist at Hato Hone St John in Auckland is a full-time onsite role focused on building and enriching relationships with high value donors, contributing to a national High Value Donor Relationship Plan, coordinating communications, supporter events, and timely updates on impact. The ideal candidate combines exceptional relationship-building, reliability, discretion, adaptability, strong organisational skills, and tech savvy with Excel, PowerPoint, and a CRM. A fundraising background is desirable but not essential, so highlight transferable donor or client relationship experience. Apply by 17 July 2026 with concrete examples of stewardship and impact, and contact Helen Rayner at 0800 ST JOHN for a confidential discussion. Emphasise cultural alignment and willingness to learn new systems.

Company Description

Ko wai mātou - About us:

Hato Hone St John has been serving New Zealanders since 1885. Today, our 11,000-strong team of kaimahi and volunteer works across Aotearoa to enhance the health and wellbeing of our communities. From responding to 111 calls to supporting people to stay healthy through our mahi in health education, access, and monitoring, we are making life-changing differences every day.

Job Description

He aha te tūranga - About the role: 

Reporting to the Fundraising Manager North, you'll be at the heart of creating exceptional donor experiences that reflect Hato Hone St John's commitment to world-class service. Every interaction matters, and you'll ensure the details that make each donor's journey truly special are taken care of.

You'll play a vital role in building and enriching lasting relationships with our donors, supporting the development of a national High Value Donor Relationship Plan to achieve annual revenue targets. Working closely with the wider fundraising team, as well as fleet, finance, and ambulance operations, you'll ensure donors receive timely and meaningful updates on the impact of their contributions.

Understanding that every donor journey is unique, you'll align donor requests and priorities with Hato Hone St John's funding needs, creating meaningful, long-term partnerships that support our life-saving work. With a proactive and creative mindset, you'll actively seek out new opportunities to engage with donors, designing innovative touchpoints and experiences that deepen their connection to our work.

Key responsibilities include:

• Develop strategic relationships – Assist in creating a national High Value Donor Relationship Plan that strengthens connections with our most valued supporters
• Nurture and inspire – Build genuine relationships with donors through effective relationship management and thoughtful stewardship activities
• Bring the strategy to life – Support implementation of the annual plan by contributing to communications, coordinating supporter events and dedication ceremonies, and actively participating in broader fundraising planning with a donor-first mindset
• Create meaningful engagement – Proactively identify and develop new opportunities to connect with donors through innovative events, experiences, and communications that strengthen their relationship with Hato Hone St John
• Enable seamless experiences – Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure smooth delivery of information and timely donor updates
• Maintain excellence – Ensure timely and accurate reporting and database management, always maintaining up-to-date donor records

Qualifications

Ko wai koe - About you:

To be successful in the role, you will have:

• Exceptional relationship-building skills – You naturally connect with people and have outstanding communication abilities (written and verbal) with active listening skills. Whether you've worked in customer service, account management, hospitality, sales, or client relations, you know how to make people feel valued and heard
• A track record of going above and beyond – You take ownership of issues and see them through to resolution. Experience in handling enquiries, managing relationships, or delivering excellent service in any customer-facing role will set you up for success in devivering outstanding donor satisfaction and securing long-term support
• Genuine care and professionalism – You bring warmth, empathy, and the ability to build trust naturally. If you've excelled in roles requiring discretion, relationship management, or supporting VIP/high-value clients or customers, these skills translate directly to donor stewardship
• Adaptability and smart prioritisation – You're comfortable juggling competing priorities and can pivot when needed. Experience in fast-paced environments where you've managed multiple stakeholders or projects will serve you well
• Strong organisational capabilities – You have excellent time management skills and keep track of details that matter. If you've coordinated events, managed schedules, or kept complex projects on track, you'll feel right at home
• Confidence with technology – You're comfortable with Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint (creating reports and presentations), and can learn new systems quickly. Experience with any CRM or database system (like Salesforce, but others are equally valuable) demonstrates the technical aptitude we're looking for
• Relationship management experience – Fundraising background is desirable (experience specifically with donors is a bonus, but not essential), however other experience building and maintaining relationships with key clients, members, supporters, or high-value customers is highly valued.

Additional Information

Me pēhea te tuku tono - How to apply

Click “I’m interested” before applications close on 17th July 2026

For further information please contact Helen Rayner, Recruitment Advisor on 0800 ST JOHN for a confidential discussion.
At Hato Hone St John, we embrace diversity, welcoming everyone to bring their authentic selves to work. We value unique perspectives, fostering inclusivity to better serve our communities, and we’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone belongs.

E pōhiritia nei e mātou, te whānau o Hato Hone St John, ngā rerekētanga o ia tāngata ki te haramai.  E āwhinatia e mātou I ngā whakaaro rerekē, kia mahi pai I roto I ngā hāpori katoa.  Ko tā mātou nei haepapa, kia hanga tētahi āhuru mōwai mā tatou, kia mahi haumaru ai.

If you need accommodations for accessibility, please reach out to the recruiter listed for equitable participation in our recruitment process

Research shows that women and people from under-represented groups are less likely to apply for roles when their experience doesn’t match the job description perfectly. If you’re excited and think you have what it takes, we want to hear from you! Even if your experience doesn’t align 100%. Please apply or contact the recruitment advisor listed on the advertisement for a kōrero.