Bereavement support services manager jobs

There has been a Zoe's Place Baby Hospice in Liverpool for more than 30 years, and we have a proud history of caring for babies and young children who have life-limiting and life-threatening conditions. Through the provision of respite, therapies, and bereavement care we are able to support families from across the North West.

Throughout 2026, work will continue on our new, state-of-the-art baby hospice facility in West Derby, which will provide a wider range of support to more families than ever before. It is a genuinely exciting time to be a part of the team.

We are looking for an experienced Corporate Fundraiser with the drive and motivation to make a substantial contribution to the £1.8m of income we need to generate each year to deliver our services. The successful candidate will bring a strong knowledge of fundraising best practice, the flexibility to contibute to a busy multi-disciplinary fundraising and marketing team, and passion for the services we deliver and families we support.

If you think you could be our next Senior Corporate and Major Donor Fundraiser then please submit your up-to-date CV and a covering letter which explains how you fit the job role, why you want to work for us, and a summary of your key skills.

If you would like an informal chat before you make your application, please call the Head of Fundraising.

Closing date is 18th March at 0800.

When parents feel overwhelmed, the right support can change everything.

At Home-Start Warrington & Cheshire, we work alongside families facing isolation, financial pressure, mental health challenges and parenting stress. As our Outreach Worker, you’ll help parents recognise their strengths, rebuild confidence and connect into the right support,  so they can move forward independently.

This isn’t about “fixing” families. It’s about walking beside them.

What you’ll do

You’ll work directly with families to understand what support is right for them, which may include:

• Emotional support to help parents manage challenges
• Encouraging positive routines, play and family connection
• Practical guidance around budgeting, nutrition and home safety
• Supporting parents to access health, education and community services
• Encouraging attendance at groups to reduce isolation and build confidence

You’ll work closely with Health Visitors, nurseries, schools and other professionals to ensure families receive joined-up support. You’ll liaise with referrers, advocate when needed, and help families feel confident engaging with services.

You’ll manage your own caseload while receiving structured supervision and support from your Line Manager.

 About you

You will be:

• Warm, approachable and able to build trust quickly
• Organised and confident managing a varied workload
• Comfortable working independently and as part of a multi-agency team
• Passionate about empowering families rather than creating dependency
• Committed to high standards of safeguarding and professional practice

 Why join Home Start Warrington and Cheshire?

 Because this work makes a visible difference.

You’ll see the impact when:

• A parent attends their first group after weeks of hesitation
• A family feels confident enough to ask for help
• Professionals begin to see meaningful progress

We are committed to equality, fairness and diversity in employment and service delivery. Safeguarding is central to everything we do. All roles are subject to enhanced DBS checks and 2 satisfactory references.

We offer:

• Hybrid working
• Ongoing training and professional development
• Regular supervision and appraisal
• The opportunity to grow within a respected local charity

Occasional evening and weekend work may be required.

If you’re looking for work that genuinely strengthens families and communities — we’d love to hear from you.

Sands is looking to recruit an outstanding and people-focused candidate to lead our Bereavement Support Services Team. This is a high-profile role which is responsible for ensuring that all those approaching Sands for support receive an excellent service that meets their individual needs, that the quality of support provided remains consistently high and all team members are appropriately managed and supported. The role provides an opportunity to make real change by driving the organisational and team strategies to make the support that Sands provides accessible to bereaved families from all backgrounds within the community, as well as groups at higher risk of experiencing stillbirth and neonatal death.

With demonstrable experience of delivering and managing trauma informed bereavement support services and counselling at a strategic level, you will possess an excellent understanding of grief theory and bereavement support and be qualified accordingly. Additionally, you will have experience of working with and providing services for diverse communities and have a good understanding of their specific needs.

As this role will require you to lead a highly motivated and diverse team who are all home-based, you will have excellent people management skills and be able to support your team accordingly. You will have outstanding verbal and written communication skills and be able to develop high quality services which remain responsive to the changing needs of external stakeholders. With excellent relationship building skills, you will demonstrate a high level of empathy in all aspects of your work.

A high level of project leadership skills is essential, as is the ability to produce complex statistical reports and analyse data and trends. A thorough understanding of safeguarding in the context of baby loss and a commitment to ensuring excellent practice is also required.

This is a key role at Sands heading up the UK’s leading bereavement support services team for baby loss. It is an opportunity to make real change by driving the organisational and team strategies to reach more people and higher risk groups, through traditional and digital/innovative channels. Leading a dedicated team of around 16 staff you can shape the future of service delivery, and ensure Sands provides support whenever and wherever people need us.

You will work with colleagues and teams across the organisation to ensure best practice is embedded at all key touch points and play a role ensuring that significant events and moments in the year are providing the right support, information and activities.

You will work with the team, Director and CEO to help drive change and best practice in the sector through thought leadership and implementation of best practice.

The Alliance is looking to recruit a Children's Services Manager to join the Children's Services Department to lead our services in the South and South East of England. This role focusses on supporting our settings in this area however, you will need to be available to support settings nationally as required.

Main duties:

• To ensure that Early Years Alliance settings offer outstanding early years care and education and meet the charity’s mission to create better futures for children and families, particularly those of the most disadvantaged.
• Alongside the Children’s Services Director and Children’s Services Managers you will lead the development of our early years settings, championing high quality and creative early years practice.
• To provide skilled leadership to Setting Managers, enabling them to develop their skills and effectively deliver high quality early years. 
• Leading on complex issues including being lead contact for Ofsted, Safeguarding and Personnel Issues.

Benefits:

• 26 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, pro rata for part time employees
• Enhanced sickness pay
• Employer and employee contribution pension scheme
• Birthday leave so you can have a day off for your birthday dedicated to you and your well being
• Enhanced sickness pay and paid bereavement leave
• Regular access to internal and external learning and development opportunities
• A Recruitment Referral Payment Scheme, giving you an introductory payment of up to £300 if someone you have referred to the Alliance takes up a role in the charity.
• Access to our Employee Assistant Programme (EAP), which includes 24/7 helpline access, dedicated managers helpline, confidential counselling sessions delivered by accredited specialists, legal, debt and life management advice, discounts, and wellbeing content plus resources.
• Savings of up to 25% on O2 Refresh Airtime Plan on any new phone or tablets
• A dedicated mental health First Aider to support your mental well being

Essential criteria:

• Level 6 qualification in Early Years or Leadership and Management.
• Extensive experience in early years at a senior level.
• Full and relevant early years qualification.

Hours per week: 35

Weeks per year: 52

What we do

Established in 1996, Carers Leeds is a charity which provides information, advice and support to unpaid adult and parent carers across our city. This includes our Support Line, carers support groups, one to one support and support in hospitals. Some of our services are universal – open to all carers – and some are targeted at specific groups of carers. Our services are provided to communities throughout Leeds.

This role  

 Operational Managers at Carers Leeds play a crucial role in managing a dedicated team and overseeing key areas of our service delivery. The successful candidate will work with other Operational Managers and the Senior Management Team to ensure that the service we deliver is first class.

The postholder will manage a group of Carers Support Workers who provide support and advice to unpaid carers in Leeds. This includes ensuring the smooth running of the support operations and liaising with external partners. They will work with other operational managers to develop our services and to help coordinate our service delivery process.  

The position requires strong leadership skills, confidence in overseeing several different areas of work and the ability to manage change.

We are a highly values driven organisation with a strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Step Forward is seeking an experienced Therapeutic Service Lead to join our multi-disciplinary team supporting young people aged 11–25 with their mental health and emotional wellbeing.

Working closely with the CEO and Operations Manager, the postholder will help shape the strategic direction of the therapeutic service in line with organisational priorities. You will contribute to the smooth, safe, and effective delivery of the therapeutic service, ensuring it remains accessible, responsive, and relevant to local young people.

Key Responsibilities

· Be part of the Senior Management team alongside the CEO and Operations Manager and have a key role in the strategic direction of the Therapeutic service

· Co-ordinate the development and day-to-day management of the Therapeutic Service

· Support and line manage a small team including the Senior Counsellor and additional Counsellors & Wellbeing Workers

· Act as joint Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

· Work with the Senior Counsellor to help support honorary counsellors

· Manage a small caseload of clients, including assessments for newly referred young people

· Manage allocations of clients to staff and volunteers

· Ensure monitoring and evaluation systems capture the impact of our therapeutic interventions

About You

 · A recognised qualification in Counselling or Psychotherapy

· Professional accreditation, or working towards it

· Minimum 5 years’ experience working with young people aged 11-25 years, including at least 3 years of providing post qualification 1:1 counselling support to young people in an organisational setting

· Experience as a team leader or as part of a management team

· Strong understanding of safeguarding principles and experience in managing safeguarding concerns

· A demonstrated commitment to supporting young people

· Confidence delivering evidence-based therapies across short-, medium-, and long-term interventions

· Experience supporting young people with a wide range of presenting issues, including: Anxiety, depression, bereavement, trauma, abuse, identity and relationships

· Ability to work independently and collaboratively within multi-agency teams

· Commitment to embracing diversity and supporting young people in Tower Hamlets

Working with Step Forward

We pride ourselves on providing inclusive, flexible, professional and young people friendly counselling and wellbeing support services.  We provide services both in our own purpose built centre and also on an outreach basis in schools and community/ youth settings. 

As Step Forward is a small charity our multi-disciplinary team work closely together to provide a holistic support service to young people. We expect all members of the team to take part in activities which help ensure the smooth running of the organisation and help us to reach organisational objectives.

Why Join Us

Work in a small, dedicated organisation where your expertise directly influences children and young people’s lives. Join a passionate and reflective  team of staff and volunteers who embrace and uphold our organisational ethos and values to ensure we are: Inclusive, Warm, Empowering, Inspirational and Innovative.

Other terms/benefits include:

· 35 hour (FTE) working week

· Generous holiday allowance -28 days per year plus bank holidays (FTE)

· Organisational closure for 3 days between Christmas and new years

· Employer pension contribution of 5%

· Access to enhanced sick leave after probation

· Ongoing learning and development opportunities

· Enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption leave and pay

· Hybrid and remote working potential where organisational requirements allow

Job Title: West London Family Support Worker 

Salary: £25,353.06

Team: Family Support Team

Hours: 30

Location: Based at Shooting Star House (Hampton), This role will be working across sites and in the community

About Shooting Star Children’s Hospices

We have an exciting opportunity to join our Family Support Team at Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.

Shooting Star Children’s Hospices provides specialist care and support to families who have a baby, child or young person with a life-limiting condition, or whose child has died. Rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission, our teams support families across Surrey, north-west London and south-west London from diagnosis to end of life and throughout bereavement with a range of nursing, practical, emotional and medical care.

About the role

Family Support Workers (FSW) are the frontline of our care. Each FSW holds a caseload of end-of-life and bereaved families. They get to know their families, and check-in regularly with phone calls and home visits and can provide enhanced emotional support where required through more regular contact and interventions. Our FSWs tell families about the many services they can access at Shooting Star, assess their needs and make recommendations to our multi-disciplinary team. They  support families of different ethnicities and families living in poverty, helping our service be as accessible as possible.

Our FSWs work closely with our Therapists, Counsellors, Social Workers, Transition Team and our Care Events Team. Weekly MDT meetings bring the team together to think of ways to help families in crisis. The work is varied and creative, taking place at the hospices, in family homes and hospitals, allowing the support to be where the families need it. Our Family Support Workers are hugely appreciated by the families we support.

The ambition of our strategy is to ensure every family affected by a life-limiting condition, or the sudden death of a child, has access to the specialist care that they need. Day to day duties are:

• Being the on-site duty FSW, welcoming families on site, monitoring email inboxes and answering the Family Support Line.
• Helping with support groups and family events
• Providing on the spot emotional support, sometimes in a crisis where a calm and supportive response is required.
• Visiting newly bereaved families in their homes.
• Supporting families staying at our Christopher’s hospice (booked stays and end of life).
• Attending various locations over the course of a week: hospice, hospital, family homes.
• Building connections with families from different backgrounds, delivering culturally sensitive care.
• Helping safeguard families at risk of harm.
• Acting as an ambassador for Shooting Star’s Specialist Bereavement Service, supporting other care team members with their learning and delivery of the bereavement pathway, and continually seeking ways to improve what we offer families.

The post holder will need to have a UK driving license.

The hours are predominantly worked 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Once a month, the FSW will work a weekend day (with advance notice). This is in place of a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday that week.

About you

This role requires experience of working with children and families who have experienced hardship, or those with complex needs. You should have a calm, positive manner, conveying empathy whilst maintaining professional boundaries. We are looking for someone passionate about supporting children and families.

Please see the attached job description for more information about this opportunity at Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.

What we offer

In return you will receive a competitive salary along with a range of benefits, which include:

Pension scheme

• NHS Pension Scheme (for eligible employees) or our stakeholder pension scheme, with up to 7% employer contributions
  
  Annual leave

• 27 days plus Bank Holidays rising with length of service
• 2 weeks paid sabbatical leave after 5, 10 and 15 years’ service
  
  Contractual benefits

• Generous sick pay scheme
• Enhanced maternity, adoption, and paternity leave pay
• Flexible working arrangements
• Death in service benefits
• Reimbursed professional membership fees
• Eye care
• Employee referral scheme
• Blue Light discount card
  
  Health and wellbeing

• Employee Assistance Programme
• Occupational Health
• Mindfulness sessions
• Cycle to work scheme
• Mental Health First Aiders

Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all our staff to share this commitment. Also, we are committed to equal opportunities and consider all applicants to be in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Employment is subject to receipt of satisfactory references and a DBS check.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

Shooting Star Children’s Hospices is committed to inclusion and diversity in everything we do. We know that getting things right is critical for us to live our organisation’s values: Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Diversity and Excellence.

We are always trying to improve our way of working to be more inclusive and equal. Our vision is for Shooting Star Children’s Hospices to be a place where people of all backgrounds, groups and communities feel welcomed to work and volunteer.

Anticipated Start Date: 06/04/2026

Community Development & Health Programme Manager - to cover Maternity Leave

Full Time - 37 hrs per week (largely office/community based with some limited work at home permitted)

Salary range - £41,363 - £47,513 per annum, dependant on qualification, skills & previous experience

Fixed term for 12-months covering a period of maternity leave

Based Newhaven with some travel to outreach and delivery locations across E. Sussex

You will be an experienced people, project, and services manager with a track record and flair for developing and delivering community-based services to contract, and which meet identified community needs, in a consistently high quality way. With strong financial acumen and the ability to develop and monitor budgets, you will analyse and explain variances, manage complex and time-limited funding streams, and collaborate regularly with the finance team. The role also involves developing and supporting project staff in effective budget management.

With responsibility for the strategic development of the community development & health work area; which incorporates community infrastructure support & development, youth & families, environmental and active travel initiatives; you will lead, direct & support a multi-disciplinary team who manage the contracts, services and day-to-day delivery of this broad work area.

Skilled at managing relationships with existing funders and commissioners, you will broker new partnerships, write bids and collaborate on funding tenders, ensuring sustained funding for services which support people with complex challenges in our communities. With excellent organisation, communication, finance and project management skills, you will demonstrate sensitivity to the ambitions of this work area and to SCDA’s vision.

We are looking for people to join our team who have the qualities and skills we feel would most benefit our service users; professionalism, empathy, kindness and understanding. In return, we recognise people want to work in a supportive environment with friendly colleagues. We offer a flexible approach to delivery where possible, annual leave of 23 days per year pro rata plus bank holidays and sick pay from the start (increasing with service), additional sick pay for necessary operations and recovery, a pension scheme, bereavement leave, and managers who are available to you… plus a day off for your birthday!

Based Newhaven with travel across E. Sussex, car driver and owner preferred as many delivery locations are rural and not served well by public transport. Post subject to DBS check.

Closing date:  5pm Sunday 22nd March 2026

1st stage interviews: 1st April 2026 in Newhaven

For the job description and to apply, please visit our website.

You may think that you’re not a 100% match to what we’re looking for, but we recognise that some skills and experience may be transferable rather than an exact match. If you’re unsure about whether to apply, please do contact the HR team and we would be happy to arrange an informal discussion with the recruiting manager.

Our volunteers are at the heart of the support we provide to children, young people and families, and we are looking for a Volunteer Co-ordinator to help ensure they feel supported, connected and valued.
This is a flexible, part-time role within a small, caring charity where your work will make a real difference.

About Guy’s Gift
Guy’s Gift supports bereaved children and young people across Coventry and Warwickshire. Our work is rooted in compassion, respect and the belief that every child deserves understanding and support during difficult times.

Our volunteers play a vital role in delivering this support, and we are now looking for a Volunteer Co-ordinator to help ensure our volunteer programme runs smoothly and positively.

About the Role
This is a hands-on, practical volunteer co-ordination role supporting our team of around 25–30 volunteers. Working closely with the Operations Manager, you will help co-ordinate volunteer recruitment and induction, maintain accurate records, and act as a key point of contact for volunteers.

You will be part of a small, supportive team where collaboration and flexibility are key. This role does not include line management or strategic responsibility but plays an important part in ensuring volunteers feel supported and informed.

Key Responsibilities

• Co-ordinating volunteer recruitment, induction and ongoing support

• Maintaining accurate and secure volunteer records

• Acting as a point of contact for volunteer queries and support needs

• Ensuring volunteer documentation (including DBS where required) is completed

• Supporting volunteer engagement and communication

• Providing updates on volunteer activity

About You
We are looking for someone who is:

• Organised and able to prioritise effectively within part-time hours

• A confident communicator with strong interpersonal skills

• Experienced in supporting volunteers or working in a co-ordination role

• Comfortable working independently while being part of a small team

• Committed to safeguarding, equality and inclusion

Experience of working with children and young people or in the voluntary sector would be welcomed but is not essential.

Safeguarding
Guy’s Gift is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. This role is subject to satisfactory references and a DBS check appropriate to the role.

We follow Safer Recruitment practives, and as such a full application form is required for application for post. Please find full application pack on the Guy's Gift website.

Why Join Us?
This is an opportunity to join a small, supportive organisation where your contribution will have a genuine impact on volunteers and the families we support. You’ll be working in a role that offers flexibility, purpose and the chance to be part of a compassionate team.

#Volunteer Co-ordination    #Volunteer Co-ordinator    #Volunteer Engagement   #Volunteer Coordinator   #Volunteering Coordinator     #Volutneering Engagement     #Volunteer Engagement Strategy

Purpose of the role

To deliver the Day One Casework bedside model to patients, or those closest to them, impacted by serious or multiple injuries which could result in life changing consequences, such as disability or death, within James Cook University Hospital, providing support on some of the wards (such as rehabilitation), on-site clinics and other settings (e.g. rehabilitation centres). 

Have a visible physical presence within the Trust, becoming embedded into clinical teams focussing on major trauma pathways, facilitating outpatient and in-person legal clinics.

Key Responsibilites

The post holder’s primary duties and responsibilities are as follows: 

• Work closely, and in partnership, with NHS clinical staff and relevant community and voluntary sector organisations, to address the needs of patients, and those closest to them, affected by serious and life-changing injury. 

• Operate a case management approach to individuals, assessing and identifying needs, putting support in place including signposting, making referrals and direct support. 

• Provide consistency in assessment of all patients and their loved ones, irrespective of injury cause, age, status, giving access to the earliest possible specialist legal advice which supports rehabilitation and NHS cost recovery. 

• Maintain detailed case records, including accurate records of activity and intervention, using Day One’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, capturing and storing data in line with Day One policies and procedures and regulatory requirements. 

• Contributing towards report writing through the writing case studies and narrative to support data collection. 

• Implement processes and procedures to collect patient and family feedback and contribute to ongoing monitoring and evaluation of Day One services through providing relevant information, case studies and reports. 

• Deliver awareness raising presentations to clinical colleagues and departments. 

• Organise and facilitate outpatient and in person legal clinic drop-in sessions. 

• Build awareness of the role and charity’s purpose through building strong and effective relationships across the regional major trauma network, ensuring those who need it have access to Day One support. 

• Work closely with local authority, statutory and voluntary organisations to provide patient and family support and advocacy. 

• Help establish other support mechanisms once a person is no longer within the hospital setting, supporting the patient discharge process in conjunction with leadership from NHS staff. 

• Identify and support the recruitment and supervision of Day One volunteers, where appropriate. 

• Work closely in partnership with our Peer Support Service, focussed on promoting awareness and uptake within the region. 

• Work closely with the wider team on performance, quality, safety and effectiveness of all services, ensuring appropriate safeguarding policies are followed. 

• Work closely with our Fundraising and Communications team, supporting national activity, as well as regional initiatives to raise awareness and fundraise. 

• Be prepared to travel across the region and, on occasion, to other sites and national meetings as required. 

• Willingness to undertake continuous development and training for the role, including mandatory Day One and NHS Trust specific training. 

• Participate in external clinical supervision and monthly caseworker reflective practice to sessions to effectively explore and uphold professional boundaries within a safe, structure and supportive environment.

To work closely with those impacted by serious and life-changing injury, taking referrals and carrying out initial assessments of need, expertly navigating, signposting and putting services in place in the immediate aftermath of major trauma, including talking about and facilitating timely access to legal support to aid rehabilitation.

To establish and develop relationships with key stakeholders to promote Day One and address the needs of those affected by serious and life-changing injury. 

To work as part of the wider Day One Service’s team and organisation, taking responsibility for own record keeping and data collection in line with regulatory requirements. 

Please find the recruitment pack attached for full details.

How to apply 

Please upload your CV, and cover letter, no longer than two pages, demonstrating how you meet the criteria and outlining why you’re interested in the role. 

Closing date: Sunday 1st March 2026 
First stage virtual interviews: Week commencing 9th March 2026 
Second stage in-person interviews: Week commencing 16th March 2026 

Established in 1997, Jigsaw4u provide a range of services for children, young people and families experiencing complex social and emotional difficulties in SW London.

Jigsaw4u is a rewarding place to work with a supportive team environment.  Working for us offers the chance to make a real difference to the lives of children, young people and families.

We are seeking a proactive HR Operations Manager to join our Management Team.  This key role oversees HR and operational management, ensuring that our people, systems and processes support high-quality, impactful services.   

Jigsaw4u’s HR Operations Manager will oversee the day-to-day HR and operational management functions, supporting staff wellbeing, organisational development, compliance and high-quality service delivery.  This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a values-driven environment and is passionate about helping a charity maximise its positive impact on local communities.

Please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification attached for full details.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and interviews may take place before the closing date.  We therefore encourage early applications, as the vacancy may close prior to the advertised deadline

****looking for Kent based****

As a Client Support Advisor at LASAG, you will be one of the frontline points of contact for
individuals affected by asbestos-related illness. You will provide compassionate,
knowledgeable, and practical support—via phone, email, and in-person—to patients,
families, and carers. Your work will help ease their journey, signpost them to appropriate
services, and ensure they feel supported and heard.

Handle incoming enquiries via LASAG helpline (phone, email) in a timely and
empathetic manner.
 Provide emotional support and active listening.
 Signpost clients to relevant services such as support groups, benefit advice, legal /
compensation services, and medical professionals.
 Maintain accurate records of client interactions, safeguarding confidentiality and
adhering to data protection policies.
 Help organise and deliver support group sessions (both virtual and in-person) and
other LASAG-led activities.
 Collaborate with nurses, trustees, volunteers, and partner organisations to ensure
continuity of care.
 Support with outreach efforts (e.g., community events, awareness campaigns) to raise
awareness of LASAG’s services.
 Contribute to continuous improvement by providing feedback on service delivery,
identifying gaps, and helping to develop best practices.

Edward's Trust is seeking a values-led Chief Executive to build on recent stabilisation and lead the charity into its next phase of sustainable impact.

This is a rare opportunity to lead a respected bereavement charity supporting parents, children and young people across the West Midlands.

Edward's Trust provides specialist counselling and holistic wellbeing support to families experiencing profound and often complex grief. Our work is rooted in compassion, integrity and a deep respect for the individuality of every person we support.

We are now looking for a Chief Executive who can combine emotional intelligence with strategic clarity and hands-on leadership. Working closely with a committed Board and skilled staff team, the successful candidate will guide the organisation confidently through a challenging funding landscape while protecting the quality and integrity of our services.

This is a senior, visible role with real autonomy and influence. Key priorities include strengthening income resilience, leading income generation activity, nurturing partnerships, and embedding a shared strategic direction across the organisation. The role requires a leader who is comfortable holding complexity and uncertainty, and who understands the responsibility of working within emotionally demanding services.

We welcome applications from experienced leaders within the charity, health or social care sectors, as well as those ready to step into a Chief Executive role. Flexible and part-time working arrangements are welcomed, including 0.8 FTE.

Full details, including the role profile, priorities and how to apply are available in the recruitment pack.

Job Purpose

This role sits at the heart of Operation Smile UK’s five-year strategy to deliver transformational growth across all income streams. As Retention Fundraising Lead, you will be instrumental in delivering on three of the four core strategic priorities:

1. Build Regular Giving – retain and maximise value from the regular giving base

2. Drive All Donors to Legacy – ensure donors experience best-in-class stewardship, increasing their loyalty to the charity with an objective of feeding into legacy and long-term giving goals.

3. Maximise Growth Through Digital Fundraising Integration – leading the expansion and optimisation of digital growth for all existing supporters.

The Retention Lead is responsible for delivering Operation Smile UK’s strategic individual giving retention and legacy marketing programme. This role is key to driving income growth from our existing donors from the point of recruitment, maximising value and minimising attrition from the regular giving pool and generating and retaining legacy actions and prospects.

You will lead on the strategy, planning, delivery and evaluation of retention campaigns, with full accountability for managing significant budgets, agency partnerships and performance metrics.

You will support the development of the Legacy strategy, be instrumental in planning legacy activity and delivering legacy marketing for the existing supporter base across all income streams and methods of support, from Partnerships, Volunteers and public fundraisers.

This is a senior, hands-on role suited to an experienced Individual giving fundraiser with strong commercial acumen and a data-driven mindset.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Campaign Leadership

• Develop and implement the retention strategy, aligned with income targets and supporter growth objectives.
• Lead on the planning and delivery of campaigns across cash, donor stewardship, legacy prospecting and stewardship, welcome, conversion, reactivation and upgrade appeals.
• Lead on strategic development of the cultivation journey to ensure Operation Smile maximise growth through digital channels.
• Monitor and report on campaign performance, providing insight-driven recommendations to optimise results.
• Drive testing and innovation to expand existing approaches and introduce new ones within acceptable risk and return parameters.

Budget Ownership & Performance Monitoring

• Take full responsibility for retention and legacy budget management, income forecasting and cost control.
• Set, monitor, and evaluate key performance indicators (KPIs), reporting against ROI, value and response, retention and conversion metrics and long-term value across all supporter groups channels.
• Collaborate with the Senior Database Manager and the Director of Data and Technology to develop and maintain performance dashboards (e.g., Power BI) and support strategic data analysis, including both short term and long-term channel performance evaluation.

Line Management

• Provide day-to-day leadership and support to the Retention team, ensuring clarity of objectives, effective workload management, and professional development opportunities.
• Conduct regular 1:1s, annual appraisals, and performance reviews for direct reports, supporting their growth and accountability.
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive team culture, encouraging innovation, learning, and high standards of delivery.
• Provide strategic and operational direction to external agencies or freelancers working on retention projects.

Agency & Partner Management

• Manage day-to-day relationships with external fundraising and creative partners.
• Lead on the relationship with the external fulfilment agency working with multiple internal stakeholders to ensure an effective partnership is in place.
• Lead briefings, content sourcing, agent training, stakeholder approvals, and quality assurance processes.
• Negotiate contracts and hold suppliers accountable for delivery and performance.

Cross-Team and Market Integration

• Represent the retention and legacy programme in cross-functional planning meetings and contribute to a unified team culture focused on strategic delivery.
• Work closely with the Acquisition and Digital lead to deliver a seamless supporter journey from point of recruitment to donor communications.
• Work closely with the Philanthropy Manager to develop and manage the pipeline of HV/Major donors.
• Work closely with the Legacy administrator, Philanthropy Manager and Volunteer Manager to develop the legacy pipeline.
• Work closely to ensure all digital communications are aligned and support the retention strategy
• Act as a key liaison with colleagues across Operation Smile global markets, sharing insights and exploring opportunities to align strategy, co-develop creative, or pilot cross-market initiatives.

Compliance, Risk & Best Practice

• Ensure all campaigns meet legal, ethical and data protection requirements (e.g., GDPR, Fundraising Regulator).
• Act as a key contributor to organisational risk assessments relating to income performance and supplier performance.
• Keep up to date with sector trends, innovations and benchmarks to maintain best practice.

Person specification

Essential Experience

• Extensive experience (ideally 5+ years) in Individual Giving, Legacy or fundraising acquisition roles.
• Proven success delivering multi-channel (including digital) retention campaigns for both cash, legacy and regular giving donors with strong ROI.
• Experience managing external agencies and suppliers to high performance standards.
• Strong background in regular giving retention.
• Demonstrable experience managing and reporting on retention budgets.

Skills & Attributes

• Strategic thinker with excellent campaign planning and execution skills.
• Highly numerate and confident using data for decision-making and optimisation.
• Strong project and stakeholder management abilities.
• Proactive, self-starting approach with high levels of ownership and accountability.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, able to represent the organisation externally.

Desirable

• Understanding of retention and supporter journey optimisation.
• Familiarity with CRM, Dot digital and data system Donorfy.
• Experience with Power BI or other reporting tools.

First-round interviews are set for the week of 9th March 2026. We strongly encourage early applications.

Disability Confident Committed Employer

We're a Disability Confident Committed employer, so we guarantee an interview to any disabled applicant who meets the minimum requirements for the job.

At Operation Smile UK, we value individuals based on their performance and potential. We're dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace that supports everyone's needs. We're happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the application and employment process, and we particularly welcome applications from diverse backgrounds.

If you need this document in a different format, require any adjustments, or need help with your application, please contact us (further details contained within the job description).

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Operation Smile UK knows fundraising could better reflect the diverse backgrounds and experiences of the people the charity sector supports. If you don’t meet every requirement but believe your transferable skills align with the role, we encourage you to contact us for a conversation. 

We want our team to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve, offering equal opportunities to everyone, regardless of, age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

We celebrate diversity and encourage you to bring your authentic self to Operation Smile UK. We are committed to supporting all applicants and ensuring a fair hiring process. All appointments will be made solely on merit, and we are happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.