Chief executive officer jobs in edinburgh, scotland

ABOUT US 

The Woodland Trust is the UK's leading woodland conservation charity and is dedicated to creating a world where trees and woods thrive for both people and nature. Our mission involves engaging and inspiring individuals to contribute toward tackling the nature and climate crisis through the protection, restoration, and creation of essential woodland habitats. 

Join our Online Information Session! We are hosting an Online Information Session with the CEO and interim Director of Fundraising to give candidates an opportunity to learn more about the role and to ask any questions.

The session will last no longer than 45 minutes and will be held at 14:00 on Friday 5 September.
Please register your interest by emailing Charlotte Hines (full details available via our website). 

THE ROLE 

 Due to the retirement of a long-standing executive team member, this newly repurposed Executive Leadership role has a clear focus on our long-term financial sustainability and mission impact. As Executive Director of Fundraising Development, you will lead our strategic partnerships, philanthropy, and major income generation programmes. 

 You’ll be responsible for inspiring significant financial support through trusts, major donors, corporates, legacies, and philanthropic networks. Working closely with the CEO and fellow Executive Directors, you’ll play a key role in shaping and delivering our Strategy to 2030 - ensuring we have the income, influence, and innovation to match our ambition. 

 Protecting and restoring woodlands that have stood for centuries - the crown jewels of the natural world in the UK - and creating the woods of the future, means this role will leave a legacy which will last for generations.  It’s an opportunity to lead with purpose, engage with powerful networks, and literally change the nature of the UK landscape for the better. 

THE CANDIDATE 

We’re looking for a proven senior leader with extensive experience in fundraising, income generation or strategic partnerships - ideally within the not-for-profit sector. 

You’ll bring: 

• Strategic fundraising expertise across major giving, trusts, foundations, corporate partnerships, and philanthropy. 

• Inspiring leadership - able to guide, develop and motivate high-performing teams. 

• Strong external profile - with a track record of building and leveraging influential networks. 

• Collaborative mindset - experienced in working at Executive level, shaping cross-organisational strategy. 

• A personal commitment to nature recovery, equity of access, and environmental impact. 

Most importantly, you’ll be values-led - excited by the potential of this pivotal role to shape lasting change. 

Our Organisational Nature enables us to better understand what it means to be part of the Woodland Trust, empowering us to make an impact, every day. We want you to be able to role model our values; ‘Grow Together’, ‘Focus’, ‘Explore’ and ‘Make it Count’ to ensure each of us plays our part in helping to protect, restore and create our woods and trees. 

Benefits & Wellbeing: Joining our team means you'll be a big part of tackling environmental and climate issues. We take good care of our staff, offering support and training opportunities. We also offer: 

• Enhanced Employer Pension 

• Life Assurance 

• Flexible & Hybrid Working Options 

• Generous Annual Leave (25 days + bank holidays) 

• Annual leave buy and sell 

• Enhanced Parental Pay 

• Employee Assistance Programme 

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: The Woodland Trust embraces diversity and inclusion. We want our team to reflect the UK's diverse community. We support people from all backgrounds to apply, especially those who are under-represented. 

Application Advice: Even if you don't meet every requirement of the role, we would encourage you to apply. Your enthusiasm for the environment and our core values-Grow Together, Explore, Focus and Make it Count-are what matter most.

To maintain fairness and reduce bias during shortlisting, we keep our candidates’ personal details hidden from hiring managers, please help us to maintain your anonymity by removing personal details from your CV prior to submission. 

Apply Now: If you're ready to make a difference and grow with us, send in your application today. We look forward to hearing from you and working together to make a positive impact on our planet. 

1st Interviews will be held via Teams on Friday 3 October 2025 
2nd Stage Interviews will be held in-person at our Grantham Office on Monday 13 October 2025 

Details of both events will be shared with shortlisted candidates prior to each stage. 

About Child’s i Foundation

Child’s i Foundation is a small but mighty social impact organisation that started in Uganda and now has a growing global footprint. We work with communities, caregivers, and individuals with lived experience to co-create and scale sustainable alternatives to institutional care. We address the root causes of family separation and demonstrate that every child belongs in a safe and loving family, not in an orphanage.

Purpose of the Role

The Business Development Lead will play a critical role in driving the financial sustainability of Child’s i Foundation. This person will lead efforts to secure new income, grow existing partnerships, and strengthen supporter engagement. This role combines strategy and execution and is ideal for someone with a passion for social justice, a flair for building relationships, and experience in both fundraising and donor communications. The role will report into our Chief Executive Officer. 

Key Responsibilities
Business Development & Income Generation

• Develop and execute the fundraising and income generation strategy across diverse streams including:
  • ​Trusts and Foundations
  • Corporate Partnerships
  • Major Donors
  • Regular Giving
  • Campaigns and Events (UK & Uganda)
  • Track investment in partnership with Finance Manager
• Identify and cultivate new funding opportunities aligned with Child's i mission, values and strategic objectives. 
• Lead proposal writing, donor reporting and relationship management for high-value funders and partners.
• Work closely with the CEO and Board to unlock networks and steward strategic relationships

​Supporter Engagement & Communications

• Oversee supporter care and stewardship, ensuring timely acknowledgements and meaningful engagement.
• Manage and work with the comms team to develop content for digital fundraising platforms (website, social media, and email).
• Guide the comms team to develop compelling supporter journeys and storytelling that reflect the voices of communities we work with.
• Oversee the development of newsletters and donor communications that build long-term loyalty.

Operational Fundraising Management

• Oversee donation processing, database management, and tracking of fundraising KPIs.
• Coordinate with UK and Uganda teams to align messaging, campaigns, and compliance.
• Provide strategic oversight of volunteer-led and community fundraising initiatives.

Team Collaboration & Leadership

• Line manage junior fundraising support if applicable.
• Work collaboratively with programme, comms, finance, and impact teams to ensure donor requirements are met and learning is shared.
• Contribute to organisational learning on ethical fundraising, locally-led development, and shifting power to communities.

Person Specification

Essential

• Proven experience in business development and fundraising (minimum 3 years), ideally in the social impact or NGO sector. 
• Track record of securing income from trusts, foundations, or major donors.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling narratives.
• Strong relationship-building skills, from individual supporters to institutional donors.
• Organised, proactive, and adaptable, able to juggle multiple priorities in a small, fast-moving team.
• Commitment to Child’s i’s values and vision, and to ethical fundraising grounded in dignity and equity.

Desirable

• Experience working in East Africa or with Global South-led organisations.
• Familiarity and confidence with use of CRM systems. We use Beacon. 
• Understanding of child protection, care reform, or community development sectors.

What We Offer

• A chance to make a tangible difference in the lives of children and families.
• Flexible and supportive working environment.
• Opportunity to be part of a globally respected, locally rooted team shaping the future of child care in Africa and beyond
• 25 days of holiday entitlement 
• Contributory Pension

Normal office hours are 9:30am to 5:30pm (with one hour for lunch), but flexibility will be required

We are open to part-time working requests.

Birthrights is the leading authority on the fundamental human rights of women and birthing people during pregnancy and birth and our work has never been more urgent.

We need a strong team-player and self-starter who can respond to all enquiries coming into the advice service and who knows when to seek further support, guidance, or information from the rest of the team.

Our advice and information manager, who works 3 days a week, will retain overall responsibility for the advice service provision, bringing the intelligence themes from the advice service to the wider training and advocacy work of Birthrights. You will be supported by the manager to respond and to confidentially record advice enquiries on two days a week, working directly with the advice and information manager and our Legal Lead on any more challenging enquiries that require a response beyond giving individual advice. For example, Birthrights might write directly to a Trust or raise themes from our advice work with the NMC or the Royal Colleges. You will coordinate your schedule with the existing Advice and Information Officer and Manager to ensure that two team members are available throughout the week, with overlap in working days for collaborative working and team meetings.

You will be an integral part of our team. We have a weekly advice team meeting and monthly team meetings. We use Microsoft Teams messaging and calls to support one another and to communicate throughout the day.

Birthrights is a small but mighty charity, and our reputation will be in your hands. We pride ourselves on our expertise in human rights law, and how it applies to maternity care, and on our empathetic and supportive service. We provide legal information, rather than counselling or legal advice, and we make practical suggestions on how and where to advocate to bring about a swift resolution of a rights-based problem. We signpost to other organisations when enquiries go beyond our core areas of knowledge.

As we continue to build capacity within the team, we are focused not only on meeting current demand, but also on looking ahead — identifying the evolving needs of those who may seek our support, and ensuring our approach remains responsive, impactful, and grounded in rights-based care.

We are committed to supporting women and birthing people to access care that respects their rights. Our support includes advocating when those rights are at risk and providing clear pathways for escalation when human rights are breached.

At the same time, we view our advice service as a vital driver of wider systemic change — both within individual NHS trusts and across the maternity system as a whole. Through this work, we aim to highlight patterns, push for accountability, and contribute to building a more just and equitable maternity system.

As the service continues to grow and evolve, we may be able to offer additional hours in the future — and we would welcome your interest in being part of that journey.

It's an exciting time to join us. In 2023 we celebrated 10 years as a small charity, keeping the lived experience of women and birthing people at the heart of everything we do. We continue to champion a human rights framework in maternity care and for human rights law to underpin the regulation of maternity care. You will be one of several new staff, working under a strong board, a new 10 year strategy and a new Chief Executive.

Charity Support Officer 

Location: Remote, with regular meetings in London, applicants must be based in or around London 

Salary: £27,700 - £29,000 per year 

Contract: Full-time with opportunities to work flexibly over 4 days 

Reporting to: CEO 

About AWN 

All Ways Network (AWN) is a UK-registered charity dedicated to empowering non-profits that support diverse Muslim communities across the UK, particularly those with an annual income under £1 million towards becoming fundable. 
 
We provide grassroots organisations with vital services from bid-writing and application reviews to webinars, training, and tailored charity support. This helps them access funding, strengthen governance, build capacity, and adopt best practices in a challenging funding landscape. 
 
Committed to equitable grant-making and a stronger civil society, AWN champions the vision of: “Thriving non-profits empowering Muslim communities to enrich UK society.” 

Role Overview: Knowledge in grant-funding, capacity building, organisational support

We are seeking a proactive and collaborative Charity Support Officer to help deliver AWN’s mission. You will be the first point of contact for grassroots charities, supporting them to strengthen their organisations and improve their chances of securing grant funding by offering practical guidance, signposting, and building trusted relationships that help them grow in confidence and resilience. The role includes helping organisations strengthen governance and compliance, sharing information on grant-funding opportunities, and supporting them to identify challenges and develop practical solutions.
 
The non-profits you will support work across a wide range of areas for example: women, health and wellbeing, youth, homelessness and poverty, family services, sports, faith groups, crime and gangs, prisoners and ex-offenders, refugees and asylum seekers, drug addiction, older people and rehabilitation, and many more. 
 
Bringing a strong awareness of the barriers facing small charities particularly Muslim-led groups, will be key to helping them build long-term sustainability and impact. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Act as the first point of contact for charities and community groups, managing a varied caseload and balancing priorities. 

• Carry out needs assessments to understand organisations strengths, challenges, and funding needs, and develop clear action plans. 

• Provide tailored support, including health checks on governance, compliance, finances, and funding readiness, offering recommendations and signposting to specialist services (e.g., Cranfield Trust, CVS, Charity Excellence etc). 

• Advise on funding opportunities, strategy, and application readiness, with referrals to bid-writing support where needed. 

• Deliver workshops, webinars, events, and one-to-one sessions to build skills, knowledge, and confidence of UK grassroots organisations. 

• Work collaboratively with organisations and AWN colleagues (including via the triage and referral system) to identify challenges and develop practical, sustainable solutions. 

• Build and maintain strong relationships with charities, funders, and sector partners across the voluntary, public, and charity sectors. 

• Represent AWN at external events, conferences, and meetings, helping to organise and deliver events linked to your work. 

• Keep accurate records on the CRM, gather feedback, write case studies, and contribute to monitoring, evaluation, and service development. 

• Support AWN’s communications by contributing updates for the website and social media. 

What We’re Looking For 

We’re looking for someone who is approachable, empathetic, and motivated to make a difference. You’ll have a natural ability to listen, build trust, and meet people where they are, while offering constructive and practical support. Patience, curiosity, and cultural awareness will help you understand the diverse realities of grassroots charities and the communities they serve. 
 
Alongside these personal qualities, you’ll bring a good understanding of the charity sector and the challenges facing small non-profits across the UK, for UK Muslim-led organisations. You’ll have exceptional knowledge of governance, compliance, and funding pathways, and the confidence to guide organisations towards growth, resilience, and long-term impact. 

Essential Criteria 

• 3+ years’ experience within the UK charity sector (domestic, not solely international). 

• Strong understanding of charity governance, compliance, and the UK funding and grant-making landscape. 

• Insight into the needs and challenges of small and grassroots non-profits, with awareness of the systemic barriers affecting Muslim-led organisations. 

• Experience supporting or advising charities, community groups, or local networks to build capacity and resilience. 

• Ability to work collaboratively with organisations, offering constructive and practical guidance. 

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with confidence in public speaking and engaging a wide range of stakeholders. 

• Strong organisational and administrative skills with attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities. 

• Demonstrated ability to work independently, take initiative, and adapt in a fast-paced environment.  

• Comfortable working autonomously and as part of a small team, with minimal supervision. 

• Confident using technology to deliver support and manage work effectively, including CRM systems, Microsoft Teams, and other digital tools. 

• Experience in one or more of the following areas: 
  - Community engagement and outreach 
  - Event or project coordination (online and in-person) 
  - Delivering presentations, workshops, or training sessions 
  - Monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities 

Recruitment Process 

Interviews will take place early October 2025. 

The process will include two stages: one online and one in-person (to be held in the City of London). 

Exact dates will be confirmed before the application deadline. 

Job title: Senior Supporter Engagement Officer

Responsible to: Fundraising Operations Manager

Salary: £30,900 FTE pro rata (£20,085 actual)

Hours of work: Part time (0.65FTE/22.75 hours per week). Exact days/times to be agreed upon appointment. We consider flexible working requests

Annual leave: 30 days with 8 additional Bank Holidays pro rata

Location: Remote - location is flexible with option to be home based anywhere in the UK. Hybrid/office based also available (head office is in Bristol)

Closing date: 15th September - midday

About Action for ME

Action for ME is the only charity in the UK providing support, including healthcare, to people of all ages affected by ME. The charity was founded by Sue Finlay in 1987 and since then has been taking holistic approach so we can make an impact on multiple fronts - from amplifying the voices of people affected by ME in Government and leading on breakthrough research, to providing "lifeline" support and unique healthcare services on a daily basis.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), sometimes referred to and diagnosed as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), is a chronic, fluctuating disease, causing symptoms such as post-exertional malaise (PEM), sleep problems, problems with thinking and memory (brain fog), pain and crushing fatigue. There are an estimated 1.3 million people living with ME or ME-like symptoms, including PEM, in the UK alone.

Even in its so-called mildest form, ME can have a significant impact on an individual’s life, and not just on their health. A lack of understanding and awareness about ME means patients can experience disbelief, and even discrimination, from friends, family, health and social care professionals, employers and teachers.

For the first time there is an increased awareness of post viral illness because of the Covid -19 pandemic. After decades of neglect this offers Action for ME an opportunity to accelerate our work for people with ME in a way we have never been able to do before. The intent of everything we do is to pursue positive impact for the lives, rights, and futures of people affected by ME.

Job purpose

This role will deliver an exceptional supporter experience to our donors, building and maintaining strong relationships with our supporters. Working closely with other members of the fundraising and communications teams, you will deliver our supporter journey, maintain regular communication with donors and be an integral part of our fundraising campaigns and appeals.

Key duties

• Work with the Fundraising Operations Manager to deliver our supporter journey, engaging current and prospective donors with our work and giving them an excellent experience of supporting Action for ME.
• Be responsible for creating the methods that ensure each supporter relationship is maximised, increasing retention rates for a growing supporter base. As such you will be required to engage with supporters so that they feel valued, and relationships can be developed further for the benefit of the charity.
• Lead on thanking donors, including making phone calls to donors as part of stewardship.
• Work closely with the Fundraising Operations Manager and the team to support the growth of income streams, including but not limited to, individual giving, Gift Aid, legacies, trading, community fundraising and membership.
• Work with the communications team on the delivery of digital communications, including social media and e-communications for a diverse range of audiences.
• Play a key role in fundraising appeals and campaigns including our yearly Big Give Christmas Challenge, Summer Appeal, Thanking Campaign and any other fundraising initiative or project as directed by the Fundraising Operations Manager or Director of Fundraising.
• Ensure excellent supporter care and maintenance of accurate database records.
• Create inspiring donor communications, including stories and impact from our wider work (support & healthcare services, research and policy work)
• Work closely with the Philanthropy Manager to identify potential major donors.
• Develop innovative and creative ways of widening our supporter base and increasing donations.

Other duties

• To attend and contribute constructively to team meetings and other meetings as required.
• Supervise fundraising volunteers as required.
• Occasional attendance at fundraising events.
• To positively promote the work and activities of Action for ME at all times.
• To contribute to the team’s overall strategy, ongoing workplan and annual planning.
• To undertake any other reasonable activity in line with the responsibilities of the post as requested by the Fundraising Operations Manager, Director of Fundraising or the Chief Executive.
• Act as an advocate for the Charity and its work.

Person specification

Experience and knowledge

• Minimum 2 years previous fundraising experience
• Demonstrable skills in stewarding supporters and donors.
• Experience using Microsoft Excel for work, including basic excel functions, basic formulas and list tools.
• Experience of using a CRM database, preferably Raiser’s Edge
• Proven experience of effective donor stewardship approaches

Skills and Behaviours

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including creating engaging donor communications
• Ability to work methodically, managing and prioritising a varied workload.
• Ability to use own initiative, work independently and to work well in a remote team.
• An understanding of data protection including UK GDPR related to fundraising
• An understanding of ME, the impact on people affected by it and associated current political, health, policy and social issues (desirable).

Attitudes and values

• Enthusiasm
• Integrity
• Resilient

Key competencies

• Effective communicator
• Results driven
• Attention to detail

To be part of the team responsible for the administration of the multi-million-pound response mode funding programme for discovery cancer research.

Reporting to the Research Funding Manager, to assist with the processing of funding applications, their review by external experts and the charity’s Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), the administration and financial management of the resulting awards.

About the role and what we’re looking for

What will you be doing?

· Supporting applicants from all over the world to bring us their new ideas in cancer research by providing guidance in a timely manner. You’ll receive and process discovery cancer research funding applications, ensuring validity and completeness.  

· Leading on the expert peer review process. You’ll identify appropriate expert reviewers to ensure that the charity receives high quality, independent review advice to inform funding decisions.

· Managing funded grants. You’ll build relationships with grantholders and process change requests to best serve the science of our funded awards.

· Working with partner organisations.  You’ll collaborate with our research partners to manage co-funded projects as well as providing funding information for internal and external purposes. 

· Demonstrating our values. As a Curestarter, you’ll demonstrate our values every day - curious, united, real, entrepreneurial and spirited – as you help bring about our vision that no life is cut short by cancer.

What are we looking for?

· With a higher degree in a biomedical related field, you have excellent scientific understanding of molecular and cell biology as well as a broad knowledge of cancer research.

· You have a good understanding of research funding processes, particularly peer review and conflicts of interest.

· You’re a collaborative person who works respectfully in a diverse team of experts to deliver work that makes an impact.

· As a detailed planner and organiser, you thrive on deadlines and feel confident prioritising your time across multiple, concurrent projects.

WHO WE ARE

Animal Equality is an international animal protection organisation working with society, governments and companies to end cruelty to farmed animals. Animal Equality has offices in the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Brazil and India.

Animal Equality releases investigative materials captured from inside factory farms and slaughterhouses, exposing the conditions that farmed animals face around the world. We publish our findings on television, in newspapers and online. We routinely secure mainstream media coverage, including on the BBC, ITV, Sky News, The Times, The Guardian, The New York Times and many more.

Animal Equality also advocates for political change. Our current campaigns include a UK ban on foie gras imports, increased enforcement of existing animal protection laws, legal protections for farmed fish, and Government subsidies for transitioning towards a plant-based food system.

We focus on farmed animals because of the scale and severity of the issue. More than a billion animals are confined and killed for human consumption every year in the UK. Farmed animals also often suffer in some of the worst ways: pigs typically endure painful mutilations, many chickens die of heart attacks, fish are confined in underwater cages, and some farmed animals are victims of deliberate abuse and neglect. But the problem is solvable! By utilising effective campaigning strategies, Animal Equality is having an impact for animals around the world and building a future where all animals are respected and protected and are no longer exploited for human consumption.

Animal Equality UK’s current key campaigns include:

• Strengthening enforcement of animal protection laws.
• Halting the expansion of Scotland’s salmon farming industry.
• Achieving a ban on foie gras imports.
• Securing species-specific slaughter legislation for fish.
• Inspiring the public to eat plants, not animals.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are seeking a talented storyteller and strategic communicator to join our busy, dynamic, and focused team of professional activists as a Copywriting Coordinator. With a natural flair for persuasive writing and a background in direct response marketing, you will craft powerful narratives that expose the reality of animal farming, inspire action, and mobilise financial support for our life-saving mission.

You will be responsible for creating compelling content across print and digital platforms – from fundraising appeals and newsletters to blogs, campaign pages, and supporter journeys. Combining creativity with analytical rigour, you will ensure every piece of copy both engages hearts and delivers measurable results. You will proudly champion Animal Equality’s tone of voice, supporting fellow team members to apply our messaging to their copy.

This is a pivotal role in growing Animal Equality UK’s reach, deepening supporter relationships, and driving the income we need to achieve lasting change for farmed animals.

The Copywriting Coordinator will report to the Executive Director and work closely with team members across our UK and international teams.

JOB DESCRIPTION

• Be a brand champion: Develop engaging, accurate, and impactful copy that embodies Animal Equality’s tone and mission, sharing the experiences of farmed animals with donors and potential supporters.
• Deliver multi-channel content: Produce persuasive copy for appeals, newsletters, websites, campaign pages, blogs, magazines, impact reports, and petitions, ensuring timely and budget-conscious delivery.
• Support fundraising growth: Write powerful long-form and short-form content that motivates supporters to give and meaningfully engage with our work, enabling Animal Equality to expand our impact for animals.
• Content planning: Work with Campaigns, Marketing, and Communications teams to align content with upcoming exposés and campaign actions, ensuring maximum reach and supporter engagement.
• Collaborate with the team: Synthesise complex briefs into digestible, engaging, and emotive content while collaborating with team members to ensure Animal Equality’s content reaches its full potential through amplification, SEO, and multi-channel repurposing.
• Engage supporters: Lead focus groups and supporter calls to understand motivations and feedback, tailoring communications to strengthen loyalty and impact. Ensure communications are tailored to supporters’ needs, motivations, and advocacy journeys.
• Stay topical and creative: Monitor trends and news stories relevant to animal protection, responding quickly with fresh content that connects to our campaigns.
• Data-driven optimisation: Track, test, and analyse the performance of Animal Equality’s copy (open rates, click-throughs, donations, etc.), producing regular reports and using insights to refine future content.
• Represent Animal Equality’s culture: Support Animal Equality’s life-saving work by producing high-quality output, embracing and representing the organisation’s culture principles proudly at all times, and supporting our philanthropic efforts.
• Take on ad-hoc tasks, as requested by your line manager.

ABOUT YOU

You are a forward-thinking communicator with exceptional writing skills and a passion for advocating for animals with impact. You thrive in a fast-paced environment, balancing resilience and creativity with strategic and data-led decision-making. You are self-motivated, organised, and able to multitask, working on several briefs simultaneously.

You actively seek constructive feedback and use it to continuously improve your work. You show ownership and a growth mindset that is focused on improving the world for farmed animals. Knowledge of farmed animal issues and alignment with Animal Equality’s mission is a must, as is professionalism, adaptability, and discretion.

You must have a minimum of three years’ experience in copywriting or a directly related field, with a proven ability to design and deliver content for successful fundraising. Experience of Pardot, Grav and/or WordPress is a plus.

You will be based remotely in the UK. In addition to monthly meet-ups, some travel within the UK may be required for demonstrations, meetings, and events. While not common, occasional evening or weekend work may be necessary to support campaigning activities. Any additional hours worked and agreed with your Manager can be reclaimed as TOIL.

BENEFITS

• Holiday entitlement equal to 33 days per year (including standard public holidays).
• Personalised employee assistance programme (EAP): An Animal Equality-funded benefit that offers employees confidential counselling and advice on a wide range of work and personal issues. The programme offers several services, such as a 24/7 confidential helpline and expert cognitive behavioural therapy.
• Flexible hours, with the option to start between 8am and 10am and finish between 4pm and 6pm.
• Able Futures Support: The service is a nine-month, practical and confidential support service for employees whose circumstances or mental health may impact their wellbeing or work. Employees can work with a mental health professional to deepen their understanding of how their mental health may impact them and build coping skills and resilience to thrive at work.
• Yearly stipend to access learning and development resources to help employees further grow their personal and professional skills.
• A free vegan lunch every month at the Animal Equality monthly meetups.

APPLY NOW

For more information and to apply, please visit our vacancies page.

Closing date: 5.00pm on Friday 19th September 2025.

Shape the future of the voice of the rare condition community.

Genetic Alliance UK is looking for an exceptional Director of Engagement and Impact to transform how we connect with our 220+ member organisations, communicate our mission, and foster a thriving, supportive team culture.

If you’re a strategic leader with a gift for building relationships, crafting compelling messages, and creating positive change, this is your opportunity to make a lasting difference for the 3.5 million people in the UK affected by genetic, rare and undiagnosed conditions. 

Director of Engagement and Impact
Salary: £55,167 – £63,654 (with new starters usually starting at the lower end of the range)
Location: Home-based, UK (occasional travel required)
Contract: Permanent, full-time (35 hours per week) with applications for up to 28 hours per week considered.
Closing date: 09:00 on Monday 22 Sept 2025 

About Genetic Alliance UK
Genetic Alliance UK is the national charity working to improve the lives of the 3.5 million people in the UK affected by genetic, rare and undiagnosed conditions. We are an alliance of over 220 charities and support groups, bringing together patient voices to campaign for timely diagnosis, better care, and improved access to treatments. We host Rare Disease UK and SWAN UK, and lead national activity for Rare Disease Day.

About the role
This is a new senior leadership position designed to strengthen our membership engagement, amplify our communications impact, and support a positive, collaborative working culture.

As part of our Senior Management Team, you will:

• Lead and develop our approach to engaging and supporting our diverse membership.

• Provide strategic oversight for all communications, ensuring our messages are clear, consistent and impactful across multiple audiences.

• Champion and embed systems for staff performance, development and wellbeing, ensuring our culture is inclusive, supportive, and sustainable.

You will oversee the Head of Membership and Communications, the Communications and Engagement Manager (SWAN UK), and two new posts (Communications Officer and Project Support Officer). You will also provide operational oversight of SWAN UK, and work closely with the Policy, Public Affairs and Research teams to maximise impact.

About you
We are looking for a strategic leader who combines a talent for building relationships with outstanding communication skills. You will bring experience of leading teams, delivering organisational change, and working effectively with diverse stakeholders. You will be comfortable navigating the needs of a membership organisation, and passionate about making a tangible difference for people living with rare conditions.

What we offer

• Generous pension (5% employer, 3% employee)

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays and full office closure over Christmas/New Year

• Flexible, home-based working with occasional UK travel. 

• The opportunity to lead work that has a direct and lasting impact for people affected by rare conditions

Role Overview

The Talent Set are delighted to partner with our client on a fantastic Head of Fundraising Strategy role.

We are seeking an experienced and strategic leader to join this social welfare charity, with a focus on developing and implementing a fundraising strategy that drives growth and sustainability. As Head of Fundraising Strategy, you will be responsible for leading a team to deliver high-impact fundraising initiatives, working closely with the Director of Fundraising, Communications and Policy to ensure the ambition and interests of the directorate are represented in the new organisational strategy.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy that aligns with the organisation's vision and goals
• Lead a team to deliver high-impact fundraising initiatives, including research, planning, and execution
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure alignment and effective communication
• Analyse data and market trends to inform fundraising strategies and drive performance
• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including donors, sponsors, and partners
• Manage complex funding arrangements

Person Specification:

• Extensive experience in fundraising, with a deep understanding of different forms of fundraising and the opportunities that exist for a values-driven organisation
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to lead complex, cross-organisational initiatives
• High financial literacy and experience of complex funding arrangements
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

What’s on Offer:

Salary:£60,000
Working set up: Remote with occasional travel to London, 4 days per week 
Contract Length: 12 months 
 

How to Apply:

To apply, please submit your CV demonstrating your suitability for this role by clicking the 'apply now' button (please do not apply via email). 

Commitment to Diversity:

The Talent Set are committed to diverse and inclusive recruitment practices, ensuring equal opportunities for all applicants regardless of race, sexual orientation, disability, age, or gender. We actively encourage applications from a wide range of backgrounds and are always happy to make reasonable adjustments to ensure a fair recruitment process.