Corporate partnership executive jobs in Leicester

Lead a national charity at a pivotal moment of change and make a life‑changing impact for individuals and families affected by rare craniofacial conditions. 

Headlines Craniofacial Support is a UK-based charity providing information, advice and support to individuals and families affected by craniosynostosis and other rare craniofacial conditions.  The charity works closely with professional partners, including the 5 NHS Designated Specialist Craniofacial Units across the UK.

Craniosynostosis is a condition where two or more of the plates in the skull fuse prematurely, requiring medical support from a young age. Around 350 children are born with craniosynostosis each year in the UK.

Established by group of parents in 1993, Headlines now has over 2,500 members.  Within our charity offer we send out regular newsletters and an annual magazine, Headline News.  We also support families to connect through events such as an annual Family Weekend, conferences and Days Out, and provide information through our helpline and access to psychological support.  We have private social media groups and specific groups within our membership who meet regularly including Cranio Dads, Young Persons Network and a Teens Group.

After 8 successful years, our current Director will be retiring in 2026 and we are now seeking an enthusiastic, inspirational and proactive individual to take up the reins.This is a rare opportunity to lead a well-established, respected national charity at an important moment of transition.

Strategic priorities for us, moving forward, include increasing our fundraising activities to ensure sustainability of the charity alongside the smooth running of our core activities in providing support, facilitating research and raising awareness.

Key responsibilities

The Executive Director will hold day-to-day responsibilities, working closely with the Chair and Trustee Board to provide effective leadership and operational management of the charity. Specifically, they will:

• Act as an ambassador for the charity, liaising with members, health professionals and with wider community and provide day-to-day management of Headlines staff and activities, setting objectives in line with the operational plan.
• Ensure compliance with safeguarding, data protection and other legal, statutory and regulatory requirements and responsibilities.
• Work on behalf of and with the Trustees to deliver the charity’s mission, goals, operational plans and long-term strategy,  and act as a positive leader and role model, managing and motivating Headlines staff,
• Ensure effective financial management of Headlines working closely with trustees and the treasurer to ensure financial security and appropriate allocation of funds.
• Manage and enhance the event programme to meet charity objectives, including identifying and meeting members’ priorities and raising awareness of craniofacial conditions.
• Develop opportunities for collaborative working and partnerships with other organisations for the benefit of people with craniosynostosis and rare craniofacial conditions.  This also includes work overseas, predominantly in Europe with our medical and charity partners.
• Oversee communications and marketing activities to raise the profile of Headlines, its work and the needs of its members.
• Identify opportunities for growth, developing projects and keeping policies relevant, to enhance and expand the work of Headlines.
• Be responsible for generating funds through innovative and cost-effective fundraising activities and grant applications to maintain the long-term success of the charity.

Person specification 

Essential criteria

• An understanding of the importance of the charity’s values and priorities.
• Evidence of inclusive, innovative and proactive leadership, with demonstrable experience of fundraising and income generation.
• Excellent organisational and interpersonal skills with experience organising events and activities.
• Experience of successfully managing budgets and developing new and sustainable funding streams.
• Excellent organisational, presentation and communication skills and the ability to write reports for public consumption and for statutory obligations.
• A high level of digital literacy skills with an understanding of online technology and the application of social media.
• Proven track record in managing, leading and motivating staff and volunteers.
• Willingness to operate a hybrid model of working with most work taking place from home, working remotely with stakeholders and across the UK/ internationally for specific events.
• Experience of working within the charity sector, ideally at a management level and/or within  financial management of the charitable sector, with sound knowledge of the relevant legal requirements and regulations applicable to a charitable organisation.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working effectively with a Chair and Board of Trustees.
• Experience of working for a health-related organisation.
• An awareness of the principles of inclusivity, accessibility or experience of working with individuals with visible differences.
• Degree or equivalent.
• Experience of commissioning research and liaising with research bodies.

Other information

Headlines hosts events and fundraising activities throughout the whole of the UK. All Headlines staff are expected to work flexibly to support those activities as required, e.g. attendance at Annual Family Weekend, conferences, member events, supporter receptions and other related scientific meetings and conferences. This may occasionally require travel and overnight stays. In addition, all staff are expected to be self-servicing in terms of administration and basic digital skills. Please note that the list of duties is not exhaustive and additional responsibilities might occasionally arise and the workload can vary across the year

Partnerships and Engagement Manager

As part of our ambition to reach more families and secure the long-term sustainability of services, we are seeking an enthusiastic and proactive Partnerships and Engagement Manager to help expand our client’s profile, build meaningful partnerships, and create new opportunities for support across the South West.

This is a newly created and strategically important role focused on developing new relationships with businesses, community organisations, professional networks, and other stakeholders who share a commitment to improving outcomes for children with disabilities and additional needs.

Position: Partnerships and Engagement Manager

Location: Home-based with regular travel across the South West and attendance at the National Therapy Assessment Centre, Bridgwater.

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Salary: £37,000 - £41,250 per annum

Contract: Permanent

Closing Date: 7th July 2026

About the Role

Through the evidence-based Therapy Programmes and National Therapy Assessment Centre in Bridgwater, the organisation delivers life-changing outcomes for families across the UK. Acting as a key ambassador, you will represent the charity across the region, identifying opportunities to raise awareness, build engagement, and develop partnerships that support this work.

You will help maximise the Therapy Assessment Centre as an engagement hub, encouraging prospective supporters and partners to visit, learn more about the services, and get involved meaningfully.

Working with fundraising, communications, retail, and service delivery teams, you will strengthen regional presence, generate support, increase awareness, and contribute to sustainable income growth through corporate partnerships, Charity of the Year relationships, community engagement, networking, and strategic introductions.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Regional Partnerships & Engagement
• Partnership Development
• Corporate Partnerships & Charity of the Year Opportunities
• Networking, Outreach & Profile Raising
• National Therapy Assessment Centre Engagement
• Income Generation & Opportunity Development
• Collaboration & Organisational Development
• Governance, Compliance & Reporting

You will spend significant time meeting supporters, partners, and stakeholders across the South West. Applicants should therefore be based within the region and comfortable with regular travel, including visits to Bridgwater, as well as attendance at networking, partnership, and engagement events.

About You

While experience within the charity sector or fundraising would be advantageous, it is not essential. We are equally interested in candidates with strong networking, business development, account management, partnership development, sales, marketing, or stakeholder engagement experience. Most importantly, we are looking for someone who enjoys meeting people, building relationships, identifying opportunities, and nurturing partnerships that deliver long-term value.

This role is ideally suited to someone who is self-motivated, confident in representing an organisation externally and passionate about creating connections that make a meaningful difference.

The role offers the opportunity to make a genuine difference to the lives of children and families whilst developing a rewarding career within an ambitious charity. This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the charity’s future, building the relationships, partnerships and profile needed to ensure more children and families can access our life-changing support for years to come.

You will have experience of:

• Relationship development, business development, partnership management, stakeholder engagement, account management, sales, membership development, or income-generating activity.
• Developing new opportunities, partnerships, or strategic relationships.
• Influencing, and relationship-building
• Managing pipelines, opportunities, or stakeholder relationships through to successful outcomes.

You will need to have a full driving licence, access to a vehicle and willingness to travel extensively across the South West.

The charity is an equal opportunities employer and celebrates diversity, committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all employees.

Other roles you may have experience with could include Fundraising, Fundraiser, Fundraising Officer, Business Development Officer, Business Development Executive, Account Manager, Sales, Marketing Officer, Marketing Executive, Partnerships Officer, Engagement Officer.

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client, Not For Profit People. #INDNFP

QuarterFive are delighted to be supporting STEM Learning, a leading educational charity that believes every young person deserves access to high-quality education and career support, regardless of their background. 

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, and as a member of the Senior Management Team, you will lead the organisation's fundraising strategy and team to secure significant, multi-year income from major donors, trusts and foundations and corporates. You’ll be responsible for expanding their funding base, deepening key relationships, and ensuring the organisation has the partnerships and resources to achieve its mission.

Fundraising has developed rapidly in recent years, with investment, board-level commitment and a growing team driving success. With strong foundations in place and a portfolio of high-value partnerships, there is an exciting opportunity to scale their strategic influence and deepen their impact.

We’re looking for a relationship-driven leader who will take an entrepreneurial approach to identifying opportunities for new funds and develop long-term, high-impact partnerships.

This is a hybrid but mostly home-based role, with monthly team meetings and occasional overnight stays at the N.England headquarters, and fortnightly attendance at the London office. All travel costs covered.

As Head of Fundraising, you will:

• Lead on fundraising strategy with major donors, trusts and foundations and corporates, focusing on driving  new funder engagement and developing long-term, high-impact partnerships
• Secure high-value, multi-year funding partnerships with major donors, trusts and foundations and corporates, achieving six-figure and above income targets
• Manage, develop and inspire a team of five, fostering a proactive, collaborative, innovative and high-performing culture
• Build and maintain a strong, diversified pipeline of new and repeat funders aligned to organisational priorities and ethical fundraising principles
• Engage senior stakeholders including the CEO, Chair, Trustees and senior partners to unlock networks and open opportunities
• Work closely with programme and delivery teams to create compelling funding propositions and ensure excellent stewardship and impactful reporting
• Represent the organisation at senior-level networking events, conferences and sector forums, influencing decision-makers and strengthening brand positioning

Essential skills and experience:

• Success in securing and growing income from a range of sources, including HNWIs and trusts and foundations — delivering six-figure and multi-year partnerships
• Skilled relationship builder with experience developing and stewarding complex, multifaceted partnerships that deliver mutual value and long-term impact
• Strong managerial skills to empower teams and support their professional development and enjoyment in their role
• Strategic business developer with the ability to build and maintain a strong pipeline of funding opportunities, identifying, cultivating, and converting prospects to meet fundraising targets
• Entrepreneurial and proactive, with a strong sense of ownership and the confidence to identify, shape, and present compelling cases for support
• Collaborative and influential, experienced in working across matrix structures and with remote or cross-functional teams to achieve shared goals, ensuring alignment and effective delivery
• Highly skilled communicator, comfortable presenting to diverse audiences and tailoring messages to inspire and engage at all levels
• Strong networker, eager to represent the organisation at events and conferences, identifying new opportunities, and staying informed on market trends and developments in the philanthropic and corporate partnership landscape

Desirable, but not essential:

• An understanding and general knowledge of the education landscape in the UK
• Experience of establishing or maintaining a Fellowship programme

Employee benefits include:

• 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Up to 15% employer pension contributions 
• Private health care via Benenden Health plus Healthcare Cash Plan and Dental Plan
• Annual salary review
• Electric Car Benefit Scheme

Our client is a federated charity made up of a national organisation and more than 170 local organisations supporting families in communities across the UK. United by a shared purpose and values, each local organisation is rooted in its community and able to respond to the needs of local families. This unique model combines national reach with deep local knowledge, enabling our client to create lasting change for families while remaining connected to the communities it serves. They are now looking to hire a Director of Fundraising and External Affairs and Prospectus is leading the search.

Director of Fundraising and External Affairs
Permanent
£82,000
Remote with regular travel to meetings with donors, for events and to the central office in Leicester
Closing: Sunday 28 June 2026

The organisation is seeking an experienced and strategic leader to drive fundraising, communications and external affairs across the organisation. Reporting as a member of the Executive Team, the postholder will lead high-performing teams with clear accountability for income growth, supporter engagement and organisational profile. With responsibility for trusts and foundations, major donors, corporate partnerships, individual giving, communications and external affairs, you will grow and diversify income, build influential partnerships and strengthen the organisation’s position as a leading voice for families and children across the UK..

The selected candidate will have a strong track record of securing six and seven-figure gifts, building long-term partnerships, delivering sustainable income growth and leading high-performing teams. You will be a self-starter, a clear strategic thinker, and a pace-setter within an organisation growing and making enormous impact. An exceptional communicator and relationship-builder, you will be comfortable engaging and influencing funders, policymakers, trustees and senior stakeholders, bringing the credibility, resilience and vision needed to operate at Executive level.

At Prospectus we invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you with your application. We welcome candidates from a diverse range of backgrounds. Please let us know if we can help you with the application process in any way. We are more than happy to make any reasonable adjustments to enable all interested candidates to apply. If you have any disability and would like assistance with completing an application please contact Ryan Burdock or Jessica Stoddart at Prospectus.

If you are interested in applying to this leadership position, please submit your CV and a covering letter in the first instance. Should your experience be suitable, we will send you the full job description and will arrange for a call and/or meeting to brief you on the role. You’ll then have all the information you need to formally apply. We are looking forward to connecting with you soon.

 

At More Partnership, we are fundraising consultants – and more. We support organisations of all sizes, across education, health, arts and culture, charities, international development and beyond, on every step of their philanthropic journey. That means helping leadership, fundraisers and other professionals to understand the opportunity, set direction, tell their story, or review performance. We believe great partnerships lead to life-changing outcomes, so we go beyond what's expected of us to help organisations realise their vision. At the end of a project, our clients tell us they have more confidence, momentum, and a clear way forward.

We are partners in purpose, and since April 2020, equal owners of our firm. Every team member has an equal vote on key strategic decisions, a share in our success, and a responsibility to drive us forward. We are a virtual firm, networked across Europe, America, Africa, Australasia, and beyond, with a head office in Scotland. We currently have 22 employees and an active community of 15 associates, enabled by an internal team covering business development, finance, operations, and IT.

We now seek to appoint new Consulting Partners at our most senior level to join our employee-owned firm and help shape the next phase of our growth and impact. This is an opportunity for experienced and credible leaders to bring their expertise into a consultancy environment that combines strategic thinking, practical delivery and deep client partnership.

Working alongside colleagues across our community, Consulting Partners will operate as trusted advisors to senior leaders within complex institutions, contributing to high-value client work while also helping to generate new opportunities and strengthen the firm’s long-term success. Alongside client delivery, all Partners play an active role in the leadership, culture and development of More Partnership, contributing to the shared responsibility and sense of ownership that defines our community.

The successful candidates will bring significant experience within fundraising, advancement or related strategic leadership roles, alongside the judgement, credibility and intellectual flexibility to operate effectively across a wide range of client contexts. You will demonstrate strong commercial awareness and relationship-building skills, with the ability to develop trusted partnerships that lead naturally to meaningful work and long-term impact. You will combine strategic insight with a practical, grounded approach, communicating complex ideas with clarity and confidence while remaining collaborative, curious and values-led in the way you work. Above all, you will be motivated by the opportunity to help ambitious organisations achieve meaningful change, while contributing actively to a purpose-driven, employee-owned firm committed to advancing great ambitions.

This role is available full-time, but we welcome applications from those who would prefer to work part-time – at a minimum of 0.6FTE based on the requirements of the role. We are open to candidates from a range of professional backgrounds who can demonstrate the capabilities and mindset needed to drive More’s success.

Our most senior Consulting Partners are currently paid from £100k to £125k, dependent on experience and potential for high performance. 

We actively encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented in our community.

The deadline for applications is 5pm on Weds 17th June

Information about how we process the personal data of those who contact us about this opportunity is contained in the application pack.

Foundation for Jewish Heritage

Head of Development

£60,000

Remote but with access to London for a weekly meeting one day per week

Full-time

Permanent

The Foundation for Jewish Heritage is the UK’s only dedicated organisation focused on preserving and activating Jewish built heritage as a catalyst for education, culture, memory and community renewal.

Over the past decade, the Foundation has grown from a small specialist charity into a recognised leader in the field of Jewish built heritage. It has secured major support for nationally significant projects, including a £6 million flagship heritage project supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Welsh Government, Garfield Weston, Wolfson and Rothschild.

The Foundation is now entering an important new phase. Alongside major project delivery, it is taking on a wider UK role, supporting communities and historic synagogues across the country, including places such as Liverpool, Bradford, Leicester, Brighton and Merthyr Tydfil. It is also developing European partnerships, particularly in countries such as Poland and Germany, and strengthening relationships with North American and Canadian supporters.

The Foundation’s work is about more than saving buildings. Historic synagogues and heritage sites are gateways into the stories of Jewish life, identity, migration, civic contribution and cultural memory. They offer a powerful way of engaging Jewish and wider audiences with the richness and complexity of Jewish history in Britain and across Europe.

The Foundation has reached a point where its fundraising structure needs to match the scale of its ambition.

Until now, much of the fundraising has been led directly by the Chief Executive, supported by trustees, consultants and external bid writers. This has delivered significant success, particularly around major heritage projects and institutional funders. However, the organisation now needs a more structured, proactive and relationship-led fundraising function.

The Head of Development will work closely with the Chief Executive, trustees and a new Fundraising Committee to broaden the donor base, strengthen major relationships, develop new income streams, and ensure that the Foundation is no longer dependent on a small number of individuals or on the Chief Executive holding most fundraising relationships personally.

This is not simply a fundraising support post. It is a strategic development role for someone who can combine relationship building, major donor fundraising, compelling written communication, careful stewardship and long-term pipeline management.

The successful candidate will help turn the Foundation’s growing profile into sustained philanthropic support.

About GSG Impact 

GSG Impact is a global network of National Partners working to build impact economies that mobilise capital for measurable social and environmental impact. Through its network spanning more than 48 countries, GSG Impact works with governments, investors, regulators, development finance institutions, and ecosystem actors to strengthen the enabling conditions for impact-oriented economies, where capital flows to create positive social and environmental outcomes. 

Position Summary 

The Head of Fundraising will lead GSG Impact’s fundraising function at a critical stage of organisational growth and income diversification. The role is responsible for delivering GSG Impact's fundraising strategy, supporting the achievement of annual income targets of approximately £3 million per year, converting strategic priorities into fundable propositions, and building the systems, processes, relationships, and team capabilities required to secure sustainable long-term funding.

Working closely with the Chief of Engagement and Strategic Partnerships, senior leadership, fundraising team, Trustees, and National Partners, the Head of Fundraising will oversee the development of a diversified funding portfolio and will be responsible for building and managing a robust fundraising pipeline, strengthening donor stewardship, improving cost recovery, and ensuring fundraising activity is aligned with organisational priorities and financial sustainability goals.

This role requires a proactive fundraiser who can originate opportunities, open senior relationships, develop compelling narratives, lead complex proposal processes, and create a culture of shared fundraising responsibility across the organization.

Key Responsibilities 

Business development, Prospecting and Pipeline Conversion

Build and maintain a prioritized list of top institutional, philanthropic, bilateral, multilateral, DFI, corporate, and family-office, and high-net-worth prospects aligned with GSG Impact's strategic priorities.

Proactively identify, research, qualify, and cultivate new prospects, with a particular focus on funders aligned with impact economies, domestic capital mobilisation, climate adaptation and resilience, impact transparency, policy reform, investment vehicles, and emerging markets.

Develop and manage a rolling pipeline of high-quality funding opportunities, moving prospects from initial identification through cultivation, concept development, proposal submission, negotiation, and grant close in collaboration with programme staff and National Partners.

Translate GSG Impact’s strategy into compelling fundable propositions, including unrestricted/core support, restricted programme grants, regional funding, National Partner support, and special initiatives.

Personally lead the development and conversion of the highest-value opportunities, especially prospects requiring senior-level cultivation.

Identify and develop new revenue opportunities, strategic partnerships, and funding models that support GSG Impact's long-term sustainability and income diversification

Proposal Development and Grant Acquisition

Lead the development of high-quality funding proposals, concept notes, and donor engagement materials.

Ensure strategic alignment of all proposals with organisational priorities and donor interests.

Ensure all proposal budgets meet or exceed GSG Impact's cost-recovery targets

Set and ensure implementation of standards for proposal quality, narrative framing, and budget methodology across the fundraising team

Donor Management and Stewardship

Support the Chief of Engagement and Partnerships with relationship management of GSG Impact's most significant donors and strategic prospects

Lead the annual stewardship strategy, ensuring renewal and growth of key funding relationships

Oversee narrative and financial reporting, ensuring high quality, consistency, and timeliness

Functional Leadership

Manage the fundraising team, providing coaching, oversight, performance management, and professional development

Ensure compliance with Fundraising Regulator, GDPR, and relevant UK legislation

In collaboration with colleagues across the organisation monitor and update the information in CRM for fundraising contacts and other relevant information.

Implement strong financial tracking, reporting, and forecasting processes

Foster a culture of fundraising responsibility across GSG Impact teams

Innovation & Growth

Identify new funding opportunities and diversify income streams

Explore digital fundraising and emerging trends

Drive continuous improvement in fundraising performance, effectiveness and operational excellence.

External Representation

The Head of Fundraising plays a key role in relationship management with GSG Impact's most significant funders and prospects. They represent the organization at key sector events and convenings as delegated by the Chief of Engagement and Partnerships.

Qualifications

Demonstrable track record of originating new donor relationships and converting them into six- or seven-figure grants.

Experience in building prospect pipelines from a limited starting base.

Strong understanding of institutional philanthropy, bilateral and multilateral funding, DFIs, and/or impact investing funders.

Proven ability to develop fundable propositions from complex, technical, organisational strategies, including on policy, systems-change, market-building, or ecosystem-development initiatives

Experience working directly with CEOs, Boards, Trustees, or senior principals on donor cultivation.

Strong commercial discipline: pipeline management, probability weighting, forecasting, and cost recovery.

Ability to write or lead the development of high-quality proposals under tight timelines.

Competencies

Alignment with GSG Impact mission and values

Proven fundraising track record in international development, impact investment, philanthropy  or social sector

Strategic thinking and fundraising planning

Senior donor relationship management

Team leadership and coaching

Strong written communication and proposal development

Budget and cost-recovery literacy

Collaborative working style

How to apply

Please send your CV and a covering letter of no more than two pages outlining how your skills and experience meet the essential criteria for this role.

The deadline for applications is 5pm on 22 June 2026.

We are committed to equality and diversity of opportunity and positively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. All applicants will also be asked to complete a short equality and diversity monitoring form, which is held separately from your application and plays no part in shortlisting decisions.

Role Overview:
The Talent Set is delighted to assist with the recruitment of a Challenge and Virtual Events Manager. This vital role focuses on developing innovative, engaging events that generate sustainable income, fostering new partnerships, and enhancing supporter engagement within the charity sector.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with senior stakeholders to develop and implement strategic plans that maximise income from challenge and virtual events.
• Design and execute multi-channel marketing campaigns to boost participation and fundraising outcomes.
• Cultivate relationships with participants, supporters, and external partners through newsletters, online groups, and event coordination.
• Manage the delivery of existing events and conceptualise new ones to increase fundraising potential.
• Lead and supervise up to three team members, ensuring deadlines, budgets, and quality standards are met.
• Analyse processes and implement improvements to optimise event efficiency and effectiveness.
• Maintain accurate financial records, producing reports to support decision-making and target tracking.
• Ensure all activities comply with policies, legal requirements, and best practice standards, including data protection and fundraising regulations.
• Foster collaboration across teams to identify new fundraising opportunities and maximise income streams.
• Undertake additional duties supporting the organisation’s fundraising objectives and sustainable growth.

Person Specification:

• Proven experience in delivering and marketing large-scale events to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrable history of using insight to develop and evaluate new fundraising products and initiatives.
• Skilled in project planning, target setting, and achieving outcomes, both financial and non-financial.
• Strong relationship-building capabilities with internal teams and external partners.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, with high attention to detail.
• Knowledge of fundraising regulations, charity law, GDPR, and supporter data management.
• Creative thinker with adaptability to changing priorities and environment.
• Effective leadership and team management abilities.
• Strong organisational skills, capable of managing multiple projects simultaneously.

What’s on Offer:

• Salary: £35,900
• Location: Remote (UK based)
• Contract: Until April 2027

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). We aim to get back to all successful candidates within 48 working hours.

Commitment to Diversity:
The Talent Set are committed to diverse and inclusive recruitment practices, ensuring equal opportunities for all applicants regardless of race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, disability, or age. We actively encourage applications from a wide range of backgrounds and are always happy to make reasonable adjustments to ensure a fair recruitment process.

About Adolescent Health Study

The Adolescent Health Study (AHS) is an ambitious new UKRI-funded initiative to establish a prospective, longitudinal population study that will generate a globally leading open science data platform and research resource. AHS aims to recruit at least 100,000 young people aged eight to 18 years from across the UK and to follow their mental and physical health and wellbeing over at least 10 years. It plans to collect data through questions and measures; to obtain bio-samples for a wide range of genomic and other high-throughput assays; and to capture linked data relevant to health and wellbeing from participants’ health, education and other administrative records. Recruitment will take place mainly through schools. There will be a strong emphasis on engaging with and involving young people, schools, parents and other relevant stakeholders in the design and delivery of the study, as well as on including young people that represent as wide as possible a range of backgrounds, experiences and characteristics. AHS will focus on enabling a wide range of research, including studies of the critical biological and social developments that occur during the transition from childhood to adulthood and the determinants of both mental and physical health and wellbeing in adolescents and young adults.

Purpose of the post

 The Procurement Lead is responsible for developing and delivering a robust procurement and commercial strategy that ensures value for money, compliance with Procurement Act 2023 regulations in line with AHS being primarily public funded and supports AHS study and operational objectives. The role will lead on sourcing, contracting, supplier management, and commercial governance, ensuring ethical, transparent, and efficient use of public funds.

Main responsibilities

Procurement Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and implement a procurement and commercial strategy aligned with organisational goals and funding requirements.
• Lead procurement planning across research programmes, operations, and corporate services.
• Act as a subject matter expert on public procurement policy and best practice.
• Drive continuous improvement in procurement processes, systems, and capability.

Tendering and Contract Management

• Oversee end-to-end procurement processes including tendering, evaluation, and contract award.
• Ensure compliance with UK public procurement regulations (e.g., Procurement Act and associated guidance).
• Draft, review, and negotiate complex contracts, including research, clinical, and grant-related agreements.
• Manage contract lifecycle including performance monitoring, renewals, and extensions.

Commercial Governance & Compliance

• Establish and maintain procurement policies, procedures, and governance frameworks.
• Ensure all procurement activities meet audit, transparency, and reporting requirements for public funding.
• Identify and mitigate commercial risks across supplier engagements.
• Support internal and external audit processes.

Supplier & Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain strategic supplier relationships, ensuring high performance and innovation.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders (research teams, finance, legal) to understand needs and deliver value-driven procurement solutions.
• Work with external stakeholders including funders, partners and strategic advisors to develop optimum outcomes
• Provide commercial advice and guidance to senior leadership and project teams.
• Promote sustainable and ethical sourcing practices.

Financial & Value Management

• Deliver value for money through effective sourcing and negotiation strategies.
• Monitor procurement spend and identify cost-saving or efficiency opportunities.
• Contribute to budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes.
• Ensure funding is used appropriately, ethically and in line with public funding requirements.

Knowledge, skills and experience

Essential

Professional qualification in procurement or supply chain e.g., CIPS Level 5 or equivalent

Degree or comparable experience in business, finance, law, or related field.

Proven track record of managing complex procurement exercises and contracts.

Experience in procurement or commercial roles within regulated procurement environments, specifically those classed as a public authority

1. Strong understanding of UK public procurement regulations and best practice.
2. Commercial acumen with strong negotiation and contract management skills.
3. Experience of drafting and reviewing heads of terms and commercial agreements.
4. Knowledge of intellectual property (IP) considerations in research contracts.
5. Strong experience in supplier and stakeholder management.
6. Excellent analytical, financial, and problem-solving abilities.
7. Strong communication and influencing skills across all levels of an organisation.
8. Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities effectively.

Desirable

1. CIPS Level 6 or equivalent
2. Membership of a professional body (e.g., MCIPS or FCIPS).
3. Experience managing high-value and complex contracts, including collaborative or partnership agreements
4. Experience in procurement or commercial roles within charity and/or research sectors
5. Detailed understanding of intellectual property (IP) considerations in research contracts.
6. Detailed knowledge of the UK Procurement Act (or Public Contracts Regulations 2015 historically) and transitions between them.
7. Experience of drafting and reviewing heads of terms and commercial agreements.
8. Understanding of subsidy control, state aid, or funding compliance frameworks.
9. Ability to analyse procurement data and generate insights using tools such as Excel, Power BI, or similar.
10. Experience leading organisational change or transformation programmes in procurement.
11. Ability to build procurement capability across a non-procurement stakeholder base.

Dimensions

• This is a full-time role, 37.5 hours per week, offered initially as an 18-month fixed-term contract with potential route to permanency.
• Flexible working across several geographical locations in the UK.  Travel may be required to AHS locations and partner organisations.
• AHS is a national organisation, and our activities take place across the UK.

Application Process

All candidates are required to complete the application form which can be found when clicking 'Apply Now' via Charity Job.

Please refer to the ‘How to Apply’ section of the downloadable application form.

Please note that only applications submitted directly to Gravitate HR will be accepted for this position.

The closing date for applications is 11:00pm on Sunday 12th July 2026.

Interviews are currently expected to take place on Wednesday 20th and Thursday 21st August 2026.

Equal Opportunities Policy Statement

AHS is an equal opportunities employer, and as such aims to treat all employees, consultants and applicants fairly. It is our policy to provide employment equality to all, irrespective of:

• Gender, including gender reassignment
• Marital or civil partnership status
• Having or not having dependants
• Religion or belief
• Race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins)
• Disability
• Sexual orientation
• Age

We are opposed to all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination.  All job applicants and employees who work for us will be treated fairly and will not be unfairly discriminated against on any of the above grounds. Decisions about recruitment and selection, promotion, training or any other benefit will be made objectively and without unlawful discrimination. 

Values

It is an exciting time for the Adolescent Health Study (AHS) as we establish our senior leadership team and begin to plan the pilot studies. As the senior executive team evolves, the AHS values will be grounded in inclusivity, integrity, accountability, and collaboration.