GCN has an exciting opportunity for a Commercial & Fundraising executive. The purpose of this role is to generate sustainable revenue streams through community engagement and fundraising. The role holder will be results-oriented, creative and have a passion for developing long-term relationships. The Commercial & Fundraising Executive will connect to businesses and build relationships, demonstrating why advertising through Ireland’s LGBTQ+ media and partnering with GCN is advantageous for their brands, and identify funding and fundraising opportunities.

If you’re a team player with an interest in community leadership and enjoy taking on ambitious challenges, this role is for you!

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING

• Selling across platforms with a specific focus on revenue generation through print and digital channels, fostering sponsorship opportunities.
• Reviewing and working on expanding GCN’s digital offering, ensuring we remain relevant and up to date with the latest technologies and platforms. This will include leading GCN’s presence and strategy on LinkedIn, creating bespoke content to foster corporate connections, funding and business opportunities.
• Fostering sustainable and authentic relationships with clients and brands to create meaningful partnerships with other organisations, brands and businesses (community and commercial) to ensure revenue diversification.
• Supporting existing and new clients, providing guidance on the best advertising plan, based on their budget and business needs, and assisting them creatively on how best to speak to GCN’s audience. This includes assistance with practices and creatives for display ads, social media and campaigns.
• The role holder will be the lead researcher in seeking funding opportunities through grant applications for the organisation, and in collaboration with the Manager and NXF Board.
• With responsibility for the day-to-day sales and fundraising operations, including managing a CRM database, you will strive for success in achieving regular, ambitious targets as well as setting deadlines for GCN and its commercial partners.
• Working on The GALAS, Ireland’s LGBTQ+ Awards, by securing sponsorships, developing and delivering the rollout of various announcements online and ensuring all deliverables are met for partners and sponsors. 
• Managing sponsorship opportunities for GCN fundraising events and, when applicable, curating prizes for raffles and similar initiatives.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation to maximise fundraising income and nurture a supportive fundraising culture.

In addition, you will be responsible for:

• Collating and submitting all relevant materials for records, including post-campaign reports for clients & partners.
• Supporting the monthly reconciliation process with the finance team.
• Maintaining online fundraising platforms and associated communication tools.
• Maintaining and updating GCN’s client database.
• Generating an accurate revenue forecast based on commercial activity and ensuring that the GCN Manager is supported in managing the day-to-day opex.

BENEFITS
By working with GCN, you’ll make a difference to the LGBTQ+ community in Ireland. You will also gain hands-on experience in sales, building relationships & exciting partnerships, and managing budgets & targets, with the scope to introduce new initiatives. As GCN’s Commercial & Fundraising Executive, you will also be in regular contact with other media reps, NGOs, state-sponsored funding agencies and media/creative agencies, giving you invaluable access to market-leading connections across Ireland. In addition, revenue generation through sales is complemented through an incentivised bonus structure.

REQUIREMENTS

• Ability Skills: Computer Literacy (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Creativity, Sales/Marketing
• Competency Skills: Collaboration, Initiative, Management, Networking, Communications, and Interpersonal Skills.
• Additional Skills: Excellent spoken & written English, Proficient in Google Ad Manager and CRM.
• Manage time effectively and balance multiple work demands, working to tight deadlines and meeting targets within budget.

GCN is Ireland’s longest-running free LGBTQ+ media organisation and a vital resource to inform, educate, platform and connect the community, telling our stories and advocate for a more equal society. Enriched by historical cultural significance, GCN operates at an exciting intersection of traditional and new media. The successful candidate for this role will need to demonstrate a passion and be innovatively inclined towards media sales, the GCN brand and our community. Whilst previous experience is advantageous, we provide full on-the-job training and are interested in hearing from those with a passion for driving sales and fostering genuine relationships

Please apply to hr@gcn.ie with a cover letter and CV. The deadline for applications is 12 noon on Friday, May 30th.

GCN is a trading name of the National LGBT Federation CLG, a registered charity. Charity Number: 20034580.

GCN define diversity as valuing everyone as an individual – we appreciate all our employees, volunteers, readers, contributors, and clients as people. Harnessing these differences creates a productive environment in which everybody feels valued, where their talents are fully utilised and organisational and personal goals are met.
We are committed to employment practices that promote diversity and inclusion in employment regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sex, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity status, race, religion, or belief.
Please note we reserve the right to close or extend this position depending on application numbers. Therefore, we would urge candidates to apply as soon as possible.