Community connector support jobs

World Physiotherapy (formerly known as the World Confederation for Physical Therapy) is the sole international organisation for physiotherapy, representing more than 600,000 physiotherapists worldwide through its 128 national/country member organisations. Founded 1951, World Physiotherapy is a registered charitable incorporated organisation in England and Wales (number: 1207425).  We have been in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO) since 1956 and we are committed to advancing the science, standards and practice of physiotherapy and promoting the important contribution of the physiotherapy profession globally in improving health and wellbeing through policy advocacy, education and training, leadership development, health systems and capacity strengthening, research, standard-setting, quality assurance and accreditation.

World Physiotherapy is also a member of the World Rehabilitation Alliance (WRA), a WHO global network of stakeholders whose mission is to support the implementation of the Rehabilitation 2030 Initiative through advocacy activities. It focuses on promoting rehabilitation as an essential health service that is integral to Universal Health Coverage and to the realization of Sustainable Development Goal 3 (“Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”).  Further information about World Physiotherapy can be found on our website.

Consultant opportunity: developing our long-term vision and strategy

Now in its 75th anniversary year, World Physiotherapy is seeking an experienced consultant(s) to co-ordinate the development of its Physio 2040 long-term aspirational vision and a five-year strategic plan (2027-32) that operationalises it.

This is a two-part but interlinked assignment.  Working closely with World Physiotherapy’s member organisations, global leadership, key stakeholders and staff, the successful consultant(s) will deliver an inclusive, evidence-based horizon-scanning and strategy development process, ensuring that our 2040 vision statement and strategic plan are completed ahead of the World Physiotherapy Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico in May 2027.

We are looking for a consultant or team of consultants who can:

• Coordinate and deliver the agreed vision and strategy development process, managing timelines, governance, stakeholder engagement and delivery milestones to ensure that both are completed on time and within budget.
• Facilitate workshops and engagement activities, develop the new strategic framework, support the approval process and help translate our new strategy into organisational priorities and work plans with appropriate reporting, monitoring, evaluation and learning embedded.

Budget

The total budget available for this evaluation is £20k, including all expenses and exclusive of all taxes.  All agreed activities and outputs must be delivered within this budget.

Further details regarding the payment schedule can be found in the World Physiotherapy - Request for Proposals Brief (below).

How to apply

Suitably qualified and experienced consultants interested in submitting a proposal should:

1. Review and consider the World Physiotherapy – Request for Proposals Brief (below).
2. Submit/ upload their proposal, fee/ pricing schedule and any supporting documentation, such as CVs and reference letters in the required format (submission link is included in the brief)
3. The deadline for proposals is on Monday 21 September 2026, 23:59 (UTC) 

Help build a community where everyone belongs.

Join the Renewal Programme as our Community Hub Connector and help create a welcoming, inclusive space where local people can connect, access support and thrive. You'll build trusted relationships with residents, community organisations and faith groups, helping people overcome barriers and become active participants in their community.

You will have a strong understanding of the challenges affecting refugees, asylum seekers and people experiencing homelessness, together with the ability to coordinate day-to-day activities, work collaboratively with volunteers and partners, and contribute positively to the charity's ongoing development.

One morning you might be meeting with a local mosque to develop a new partnership. That afternoon you could be welcoming someone who has recently arrived in the UK, introducing them to activities at the Hub and connecting them with the support they need. No two days are the same—but every day is about helping people feel they belong.

Based at our RenewALL Hub in East Ham, you'll coordinate activities, lead community outreach, support volunteers and work alongside statutory, voluntary and community organisations to create opportunities that improve people's wellbeing and strengthen local communities.

This is a varied and rewarding role for someone who enjoys working directly with people, building partnerships and making a tangible difference. You'll support residents facing a range of challenges, including migration, loneliness, disability, digital exclusion and social isolation, ensuring everyone can access opportunities and services in a way that works for them.

This role is funded by the Mercers' Company, and you will contribute towards delivering the agreed outcomes and objectives of the grant.

You'll join a friendly, supportive team within the Renewal Programme, a respected Newham charity that has been serving local communities for more than 50 years. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and able to thrive. In return, we offer ongoing training and development, an Employee Assistance Programme, generous annual leave and the opportunity to be part of an organisation making a genuine difference every day.

If you're passionate about community development and creating opportunities for people facing disadvantage, we'd love to hear from you.

About Pecan
Pecan tackles poverty in Southwark by restoring dignity, belonging and hope through connected community services that address food insecurity, unemployment and isolation. From food banks and employment support to welcoming community spaces, we combine practical help with emotional and community care, helping people regain confidence, feel hopeful and believe in their potential.

About The Role

The Food Bank Coordinator is responsible for the day-to-day coordination and delivery of Southwark Foodbank, ensuring people experiencing financial hardship can access emergency food with dignity, compassion and respect.

The postholder will coordinate Foodbank sessions, support volunteers, maintain effective operational systems and build positive relationships with clients, referral agencies and community partners. Working closely with the Manager: Financial Resilience & Food Security, they will ensure the Foodbank operates safely, efficiently and to a consistently high standard.

Main Responsibilities:

• Foodbank Operations: Coordinate the day-to-day delivery of Southwark Foodbank sessions, ensuring they are well organised, welcoming and responsive to local needs. Prepare Foodbank sessions by ensuring food, equipment, resources and information are available where required. 

• Volunteer Coordination: Coordinate and support volunteers during Foodbank sessions, ensuring they feel confident, informed and valued. Act as a first point of contact for volunteer enquiries and support volunteer induction and ongoing engagement.

• Client Support & Community Engagement: Provide a welcoming, inclusive and compassionate environment for everyone accessing the Foodbank. Respond to enquiries from clients, referral agencies, supporters and community organisations in a professional and timely manner. 

• Administration, Compliance & Quality: Maintain accurate client, volunteer and service records using organisational databases and systems. Support monitoring, reporting and data collection to demonstrate service performance and impact.

• Cross-Service Collaboration: Work collaboratively with colleagues across Pecan's Food Security services to ensure joined-up support for residents. Provide operational support to Peckham Pantry and other food resilience initiatives during periods of increased demand, staff absence or changing organisational priorities. 

Essential Requirements 

• Experience coordinating or delivering community, customer-facing or volunteer-led services.
• Experience working with volunteers or supporting volunteer teams. 
• Strong organisational and administrative skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a busy operational environment. 
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills. 
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office and database systems. 
• Ability to work independently while contributing positively within a team. 
• Commitment to treating everyone with dignity, compassion and respect. 
• Commitment to Pecan's mission, values and Christian ethos. 

Desirable knowledge/expertise

• Experience within the voluntary or community sector. 
• Experience supporting people experiencing poverty, financial hardship or social disadvatage. 
• Knowledge of safeguarding, food hygiene and health and safety requirements. 
• Experience maintaining monitoring information and service records. 
• Full UK driving licence. 

Please read the Job Description for more information.

Closing Date: Thursday 3rd September 2026, 9am 

Interview Date: Week commencing Monday 7th September 2026, Details TBC 

Start Date: ASAP

The Gloucestershire Infrastructure Collaborative is seeking an experienced freelance Convenor to support an exciting partnership of nine Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations working together to strengthen the sector's role within Gloucestershire's health and wellbeing system.

This is a unique opportunity for an independent facilitator, connector and systems thinker who enjoys working in complexity across organisational boundaries, to build trusted relationships, strengthen collective leadership and help partnerships turn ambition into meaningful action.  The Convenor will build trust, psychological safety and shared purpose, helping the group develop collective leadership, navigate complexity, challenge and learning together.

The role is offered on a freelance basis until March 2028, with a fee of £25,000 inclusive of VAT available. We anticipate the work taking 2-3 days p.c.m. worked flexibly. A travel and expenses budget of up to £3,000 per annum has been allocated.

Motivated to make a difference and connect communities through sport, you'll be a proactive natural connector who thrives on helping others succeed. With effective communication and organisational skills, you'll confidently support grassroots groups and build lasting impact across the East. Join Sported as a Regional Delivery Officer and you could be playing a vital role in the heart of our Field Team.

About the role

As the key contact for Sported groups across Buckinghamshire, Bedford, Essex or Hertfordshire, you'll play a vital role in helping community led organisations grow, become more sustainable and maximise their impact. You'll build effective relationships with these groups, understand their challenges and opportunities, and connect them to the support, resources and funding they need to thrive. This involves welcoming new groups to our network and supporting existing ones to develop.

Working closely with colleagues, volunteer consultants and partners, you'll help deliver projects and programmes that strengthens and develops them and creates positive outcomes for people and communities. You'll also contribute to volunteer engagement, partnership development, grant administration and project evaluation, while ensuring accurate records and data are maintained across your area.

 About You

Are you passionate about the power of sport to strengthen communities and change lives? We're looking for someone who is enthusiastic about supporting grassroots organisations, ideally within sport (but please still apply if not in the sport sector), and who shares our commitment to inclusion, equality and positive social change.

You'll be a confident relationship-builder with a proactive, solutions-focused approach and the ability to build trust with a wide range of people. Organised and able to manage competing priorities, you'll be comfortable working independently while contributing to a collaborative remote team. You will  also possessing a working knowledge of Microsoft 365 and have experience of database management. 

Apply to be part of our team

Benefits 

Joining Sported means becoming part of a passionate, supportive team dedicated to ensuring there are opportunities for everyone, improving health and wellbeing, ensuring communities are empowered. We believe in creating a positive environment not only for the people we support, but also for our colleagues. That's why we offer flexible, home-based working, generous annual leave, a pension scheme, wellbeing support, and opportunities to give back through paid volunteering days. With paid study leave, wellbeing days, and ongoing learning and development opportunities, you'll have the support you need to grow professionally while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. At Sported, you'll be part of an organisation where your contribution truly makes a difference.

Act with Integrity. Champion Inclusion. Transform Together. Drive Change.

We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly candidates from ethnically diverse communities, LGBTQ+ communities, disabled people, and those with lived experience of tackling inequality. We believe diverse voices are essential to creating meaningful and lasting change.

Please see the job pack, where you’ll find details of roles and responsibilities, and required skills and experience.

The closing date for this role is 5pm on Friday 11th September

Sported is an equal opportunities employer, and we warmly welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. We particularly encourage applications from ethnically diverse, LGBTQ+ and disabled communities, as well as people with lived experience of tackling inequalities, because we value the insight and strength that diverse voices bring to creating meaningful change.

We want you to feel comfortable and supported throughout the recruitment process. If there is anything we can do to help make the process more accessible for you, please let us know. 

We want every candidate to have the best opportunity to showcase their skills. That's why we use a anonymous recruitment process and provide interview questions in advance, supporting a fair, transparent and inclusive selection process.

Do you believe communities should have a stronger voice in shaping services and opportunities? 💜🩵🩷

Compass Wellbeing CIC is looking for a new Non-Executive Director to join our Board and help ensure community voice, lived experience and partnership working continue to shape our strategy and decisions.

We are a small social enterprise (and subsidiary of East London NHS Foundation Trust) that helps communities thrive by bringing people, organisations and opportunities together, from earlier access to support, to employment and skills, to partnerships that make a real difference locally.

This NED role has a particular focus on strengthening our relationships with voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations.

📍 London (hybrid) | 🕐 c. 1 day/month | 💷 £250/day + expenses | Closing 3 September 2026, 10:00

You don't need previous Board experience. Community leadership, VCFSE sector experience or lived experience relevant to the communities we serve all count. What matters is a genuine commitment to social justice and inclusion, and the confidence to be a constructive, challenging voice in the room.
 

You will be one of the key points of contact for World Physiotherapy membership. The position is instrumental in assisting the smooth running of World Physiotherapy membership services and supporting the work of the membership manager, the regional executive committees, member organisations, and other staff across the full range of functions.

You will use your experience, initiative, confidence, project and organisational skills to provide business support across the organisation and its activities. These include the membership function requirements of the organisation, project support, operational logistics, member services and education activities. This will require liaising with staff, member organisations, board/committee members, and external stakeholders.

You will love working for a growing, values-driven organisation where you can use your skills to support the organisation’s business as usual activities as well as strategic projects working at all levels in the organisation and with key stakeholders.

You thrive in a dynamic, international team where you can implement systems and processes for effective and efficient operations, as well as bring your ideas to specific projects.

Duties and key responsibilities

Operational support

1. Liaising with member organisations, regions, specialty groups and networks as required by the membership manager and other staff.
2. Technical and logistical support across all operations for any meetings and webinars.
3. Work with relevant staff to ensure that activities are set up on Teamwork® (project management software) and support their ongoing management.
4. Ensure the CRM (Salesforce) is updated with relevant organisational and individual contacts and interactions.
5. Management of membership queries

Administrative support to the membership manager, regional executive committees and specialty groups, and those representing World Physiotherapy on defined activities or events

1. Scheduling of all regional executive committee meetings and supporting other meetings and webinars both via teleconference and face-to-face.
2. Drafting forms and surveys using Microsoft Forms and SurveyMonkey
3. Other project areas: work with the membership manager to carry out activity analysis
4. Provide day-to-day administrative support for World Physiotherapy’s membership activities and services.
5. Assess ways to improve project management and outcomes.
6. Provide general project support and carry out any other tasks requested by the manager.

Person specification

The membership support officer must have experience in project support and organisational administration. They must be highly organised, self-motivated and able to demonstrate initiative in managing complex and competing demands from different sources.

It is expected that the individual will ideally have a good first degree, or relevant experience gained across a range of comparable settings, preferably with additional experience or qualifications in project management and/or business administration. Experience of working with senior staff and committees is essential.

The individual must have a legal right to work in the UK.

Attributes

Essential:

• advanced computer literacy skills and competency with Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Surveymonkey, Salesforce, Teams, and Zoom.
• strong communication skills (in a cross cultural/professional environment)
• the ability to multi-task, prioritise and manage own workloads
• cultural awareness and sensitivity
• tact and discretion for dealing with confidential information

It is expected that the person appointed will have:

• a minimum of two years in a relevant work environment
• demonstrable ability to organise and prioritise own workload effectively
• experience of meeting planning including webinars
• experience gained working with teams and individuals across time zones internationally
• delivered a variety of business support and office services
• an efficient and well organised working style

Desirable:

• understanding of the physiotherapy profession
• ability to speak an additional language such as French, Spanish, Portuguese or Arabic

Candidates with relevant experience who meet the above attributes will be invited for an initial interview, which may be followed by a technical interview and skills test.

We can’t fix issues like poverty, inequality, health and climate change alone. We are fully conscious of the scale of the challenge that faces the country and the urgent need to respond. That’s why the School for Social Entrepreneurs exists, to empower and equip people with entrepreneurial ideas and solutions to grow the social economy. The social economy is a movement of organisations and enterprises that prioritise people and planet. Together, we are committed to tackling the greatest social and environmental challenges of our time.This is a new and exciting role at a significant time of growth for the School for Social Entrepreneurs. In the coming year. we are developing new programmes, working with leaders who are developing small community led social and environmental projects as well as leading larger charities and social businesses developing social investment and housing solutions.

We’re not a traditional funder. Our grants tend to be small, but they punch above their weight, helping social and environmental entrepreneurs take the next step to grow their organisations. Our grants run alongside learning programmes, challenging and supporting leaders. We’re innovative in how we do this, through both traditional and enterprise grants. We lead on Match Trading™, a grant that challenges leaders to grow their trading income, and we are working on further grants innovations.

You will work with our Grants Team, Project Co-ordinators and Assessment Lead to develop and support grant management across a range of programmes. Your role will be to lead on specific programmes, including supporting assessment, onboarding and grant management. You will ensure that grantees are fully supported to manage their grants and ensure that grant management is compliant, auditable, efficient, and timely. You will support the development of grant policies and processes, writing grant paperwork and documentation, overseeing payments, and reporting to the wider Programmes Team and others about our work.

You don’t need to have managed grants before, but you do need to have a good understanding of a wide range enterprises and charities, gained through experience of training, business consultancy or development support. You will have a good understanding of business models, legal structures and financial systems that social and environmental organisations and community run and owned businesses may use. You will need to understand social enterprise finances, be able to read accounts, budgets, cashflows and have a good knowledge of social enterprise income streams.

We need someone who understands how hard it is to start up and grow social and environmental enterprises and can support people from diverse backgrounds in managing their grant, finances and growing their business.

Are you up for the challenge?

Interviews: Friday 18th and Friday 25th September (online)

The purpose of this role is to lead the design and delivery of learning programmes that help social entrepreneurs create lasting impact. You’ll take direct responsibility for facilitating cohorts as well as leading 1-2-1 coaching and diagnostics, and delivering Action Learning Sets, SSE’s long-standing peer-coaching method (training provided). You’ll hold accountability for the quality of programmes allocated to you. You’ll work alongside our learning facilitators and our learning and enterprise development managers to ensure every programme stays true to our action learning approach.

As SSE deepens its focus on commercial acumen and scale-up support, you’ll help make sure that direction reaches every cohort you work with — keeping your programmes as sharp, practical and impactful as everything else we do. You’ll bring your own commercial awareness to how you facilitate, and build relationships with contributors, speakers and specialists who can bring real-world commercial expertise into the room for your cohorts.

You’ll succeed in this role if you believe in what social entrepreneurship can achieve and want to support social ventures to grow and create more impact in their communities and beyond.

START are recruiting for an Operations Manager.

Job Title: Operations Manager
Location: Salford
Employer: START
Hours: 4 Days per week (28 hours) worked across Monday to Friday, specific work pattern to be agreed, with flexibility required)
Salary Band: £33,860 - £40,000 FTE (£27,088 - £32,000 per annum actual for 28 hours per week)
Contract Type: Permanent
Pension: 5% employer contribution
Annual Leave: 30 days plus statutory holidays (pro rata for part-time staff)

About Us

START is a Salford based mental health charity, of over 30 years, that uses creativity, connection and recovery interventions to help improve people's lives.

Job Overview

We are looking for an experienced, proactive and highly organised Operations Manager to join our Senior Leadership Team. This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of START by ensuring the organisation operates safely, efficiently and in line with best practice.

Core Responsibilities

As Operations Manager, you will oversee the day-to-day operational management of the charity, leading on health and safety, facilities management, information governance, H.R, organisational policies and procedures, and the continuous improvement of our operational systems. You will also manage operational staff, lead key organisational projects and work collaboratively with colleagues, trustees, partners and external contractors to support the delivery of our strategic objectives.

This varied and rewarding role requires a confident leader with excellent organisational, communication and problem-solving skills, who can manage multiple priorities while maintaining high standards of compliance and service delivery. You will be passionate about creating efficient systems, fostering a positive working environment and ensuring the organisation remains compliant with relevant legislation and best practice.

Additional Information

If you are an experienced operational leader who thrives on driving improvement, building strong relationships and supporting an organisation that makes a real difference in people's lives, we'd love to hear from you.

Closing date for receiving applications will be Tuesday 25th August 2026 at 12 noon.

Interested?

If you believe you have the right skills and experience to join our exemplar charity, please apply in writing with an up to date CV and a supporting statement which outlines your suitability for the role in line with the attached person specification. It will be sent automatically to us. 

START are committed to equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. With this in mind, we welcome applications irrespective of age, disability, race, religion and belief, gender identity, sex or sexual orientation

No agencies please.

Social entrepreneurs scaling their ventures face a specific set of challenges including income generation, hiring, governance, hard calls about growth and risk, all alongside scaling their social impact. We’re recruiting learning and enterprise development managers who’ve lived that journey themselves, to bring first-hand credibility and challenge directly to the entrepreneurs on our scale-up and scale-up-plus programmes.

You’ll hold ownership of SSE’s scale-up approach, shaping our learning content on strategy, profitability and the systems that hold a growing venture together – grounded in what actually works, not just what’s written down. Facilitation sits at the heart of this role. You’ll design and deliver learning programmes and group sessions for cohorts of entrepreneurs as well as leading 1-2-1 coaching and diagnostics, and delivering Action Learning Sets, SSE’s long-standing peer-coaching method (training provided).

We’re looking for people who’ve founded or led a VCSE with an annual turnover of £100,000 or more and held financial accountability such as statutory reporting to the Charity Commission and, where relevant, Companies House, reporting to a board or funders, and making hard calls about growth, income and risk.

You’ll succeed in this role if you believe in what social entrepreneurship can achieve and want to turn your experience into supporting social ventures to scale and create more impact in their communities and beyond

For nearly 20 years, Lively Minds has been proving that parents are the sleeping giants of early childhood development. With strong evidence and a national scale proof point in Ghana, we have shown that parent powered approaches delivered through government systems can transform children's lives at scale.

We are now at a pivotal moment. We have the evidence, the model and the momentum, and we need the funding, profile and influence to match our ambition. This is a rare opportunity to lead income generation and external voice for an award winning NGO entering an exciting new phase of growth. You will lead our fundraising strategy and direct engagement with Funders ensuring that we maximise all funding opportunities as we continue our strategic evolution. You will also shape a compelling external narrative that will help position Lively Minds as the definitive partner for governments strengthening their early childhood development systems.

If you are an exceptional fundraiser and communicator who is equally comfortable in a strategic conversation and writing a winning proposal, we would love to hear from you.

Read the full advert and apply below. Closing date: 3rd September 2026.

About Lively Minds

Lively Minds is an award-winning NGO with nearly 20 years of experience designing, testing and scaling early childhood development (ECD) solutions across the Global South. Our core idea is simple but radical: parents are the sleeping giants of ECD. Governments and donors have long overlooked parents, assuming that poverty and low literacy make them unable or unwilling to support their childrenʼs development. We have spent two decades proving otherwise. With RCT-backed evidence and a national-scale proof point in Ghana, we have demonstrated that parent-powered approaches, delivered through government systems, can achieve meaningful child development outcomes at scale.

Our 2026–2028 strategy marks a pivotal shift. Having demonstrated what is possible, we are now helping pioneer an innovative model of country-led sustainable scale. Rather than delivering programmes ourselves, we provide lean, time-limited technical advisory support to governments to help them integrate parent-powered ECD into their own systems, budgets and institutions. We are currently working with the governments of Ghana, Uganda, Oromia state (Ethiopia) and The Gambia in 2026, growing to six or more country engagements by 2028. Our ambition is to catalyse a sector-wide shift, positioning Lively Minds as the definitive partner for governments seeking to strengthen their ECD systems.

Our scale strategy rests on three interdependent pillars: fixed-term Technical Advisory partnerships with governments; the development of a modular radio model simple and affordable enough for governments to adopt and fund independently; and an advocacy and sector influence agenda designed to make parent-powered ECD the norm globally.

Purpose of the Role

Lively Minds is at a critical inflection point. We have the evidence, the model and the momentum. We now need the funding, profile and sector influence to match our ambition. The Director of Fundraising and Communications is a priority hire, created to provide the dedicated, experienced leadership that this moment demands.

The Director will own and drive Lively Mindsʼ income generation, building new funder relationships, managing and deepening existing ones, and ensuring the organisation has the pipeline, discipline and quality of engagement to meet and exceed its fundraising targets. Working in close partnership with the Founding CEO, who retains ownership of a small number of long-standing strategic relationships, the Director will take primary responsibility for securing the funding that makes the 2026–2028 strategy deliverable, and that opens the door to greater scale beyond it. We need to raise approximately £3.4m over the next 3 years to deliver our strategy. But our ambition is to exceed that target so we can support additional governments.

Alongside fundraising, the Director will provide strategic leadership to Lively Mindsʼ communications and advocacy work, ensuring that the organisationʼs external voice is compelling and that we are building credibility in the spaces where funding decisions are made. The Director will lead and provide strategic coherence to a small but outward-facing team, including Head of Partnerships and Advocacy Lead who are active on the international stage. Lively Minds is committed to thought-leadership and active external engagement, but equally committed to ensuring that communications resource is deployed with discipline and rigour. The Director will set a clear strategic filter for where the organisation shows up, what it publishes and who it engages: prioritising focus and quality over volume, and always asking whether external activity is building the relationships and reputation that ultimately drive income and/or systems change.

Lively Minds is a dispersed, remote organisation. The Directorʼs team the Advocacy Lead, Development Manager and Communications Officer - are internationally distributed. The ability to lead, develop and maintain high standards across a dispersed team is essential. The role requires regular travel to international conferences and events.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy & Income Generation

• Own and deliver the multi-year fundraising strategy with clear priorities, targets, income streams and a disciplined pipeline to support the 2026–2028 strategy and future scale
• Steward existing funder relationships, turning strong partnerships into long-term supporters, advocates and connectors to new funding opportunities.
• Lead the shift towards Big Bet and catalytic funding, personally cultivating and negotiating high-value, multi-year partnerships and positioning Lively Minds for system-level scale
• Maintain a high standard of fundraising quality, pipeline management and forecasting, while coaching the team to produce compelling, sophisticated fundraising materials
•  Build and continuously strengthen a diverse funding pipeline, identifying emerging opportunities, new funding markets and strategic partnerships that reduce concentration risk and support long-term financial sustainability

Communications, Brand & Advocacy

• Own and deliver Lively Mindsʼ communications and marketing strategy, balancing visibility and sector influence with the need to strengthen fundraising and systems-change objectives
• Partner closely with the CEO to shape and steward a coherent external narrative, brand and messaging framework across all audiences and channels
• Oversee high-quality core communications and fundraising materials, including cases for support, pitch decks, website content, proposals and donor reports
• Provide strategic communications expertise to Advocacy, Partnerships and MEL, ensuring evidence and learning are translated into compelling narratives and consistent external messaging
• Lead efforts to strengthen Lively Mindsʼ profile and thought leadership in the ECD sector, identifying opportunities for strategic media, events, publications and external platforms that reinforce its positioning and influence

Organizational Leadership&TeamDevelopment

• Contribute actively to SMT and organisational strategy, bringing funder intelligence, external perspective and communications expertise to strategic decision-making.
• Work closely with Finance and MEL to align fundraising targets, forecasting, budgets and evidence, ensuring proposals are credible, accurately costed and evidence-led
• Act as the organisationʼs communications subject matter expert, providing guidance and challenge to ensure high-quality, consistent external communications
• Lead and develop the Advocacy Lead, Development Manager and Communications Officer, fostering a team culture of quality, accountability, strategic clarity and continuous improvement
• Build strong cross-organisational collaboration, ensuring teams understand how fundraising, communications, advocacy and evidence work together to advance Lively Mindsʼ strategic priorities

Person Specification

Essential Experience & Skills

• 10+ years of significant senior-level fundraising experience within international development, education, philanthropy or a comparable sector
• Proven track record of securing major grants from foundations, institutional donors and high-net-worth individuals, alongside demonstrated experience securing or meaningfully progressing large-scale, catalytic funding from Big Bet philanthropy programmes such as the Audacious Project, Skoll Foundation or comparable funders. A strong understanding of what these funders look for and how to position an organisation compellingly within their processes is essential
• Exceptional fundraising writing skills, with the ability to personally develop compelling cases for support, funding proposals, award applications and pitch decks tailored to sophisticated impact funders. This is a hands-on role requiring both strong writing capability and the ability to coach others to consistently produce high-quality fundraising content
• Experienced in developing and owning a marketing and communications strategy, with a strong understanding of how to balance organisational visibility, thought leadership and sector influence with coherence, strategic focus and income generation
• Demonstrated ability to work closely with a Founding CEO to shape and steward the organisationʼs external narrative and brand. Comfortable working in a founder-led environment, providing expertise and constructive challenge while ensuring the organisation maintains a clear, consistent and coherent external voice

Desirable Experience

• Experienced fundraising for a technical advisory, systems change or government-facing organisation
• Knowledge of the ECD, education or early childhood sector and its funding landscape
• Familiarity with the Big Bang Philanthropy network or equivalent impact-focused funder communities
• Experience working alongside advocacy and partnerships teams, providing communications expertise and strategic coherence to their external activity
• Familiarity with the funding landscape for organisations operating in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Experience working remotely across multiple countries and effectively collaborating with cross-cultural teams

Behaviours & Ways of Working

• A doer, equally comfortable in strategic conversations and writing a funding proposal
• Sets a high bar for quality and clarity in all external communications and holds it consistently
• Builds a strong, trust-based partnership with the Founding CEO, provides honest challenge and operates effectively within a founder-led dynamic without losing their own voice or judgement
• Collaborative and cross-organisational. Invests in strong relationships with programme, MEL and finance colleagues, understanding that the best fundraising is grounded in organisational reality
• Calm and focused under pressure - able to manage competing priorities and maintain quality when the stakes are high

What We Offer

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• 25 days annual leave
• Health insurance
• Pension contribution
• Generous learning and development budget
• Flexible, remote working

Application Instruction

Interested candidates are encouraged to read the Job Description carefully before applying to ensure they understand the role and meet the required criteria.

To apply, please complete the pre-screening questions and submit your updated CV

PLEASE NOTE - Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Timeline

Closing Date: 3rd September 2026

Our Stance

Lively Minds operates a strict Safeguarding Policy and is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of children and vulnerable people. As part of our recruitment process, the suitability of successful candidates will be verified through appropriate background checks including professional references and police checks.

Lively Minds is fully committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and to providing equal opportunities throughout our recruitment process. We want this commitment to be reflected in the diversity of the people who work for us, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, experiences and perspectives.

We are committed to ensuring that recruitment decisions are based on merit, skills, experience and suitability for the role, and that all candidates are treated fairly and with respect throughout the recruitment process.