Overview
We are seeking an experienced, high-performing Challenge Events Lead to drive forward a flagship portfolio of challenge fundraising events with strategic control, operational excellence and a deep sense of ownership.
This is a senior delivery role, accountable for all aspects of planning, executing and evaluating complex fundraising events across Guy’s & St Thomas’ Foundation, Evelina London Children’s Charity, and Guy’s Cancer Charity. This position requires someone who can operate independently, manage high-value partnerships, oversee delivery risks, and influence cross-functional teams with credibility.
You will be expected to take initiative, lead relationships and processes without supervision, and support junior colleagues in upholding the highest operational standards. A key element of this role is working closely with the Events Fundraising Co-ordinator to ensure seamless delivery — offering guidance and support across all operational touchpoints, while also benefiting from their delivery support in return.
About us
Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charity, Guy’s Cancer Charity and Evelina London Children’s Charity are part of Guy’s & St Thomas’ Foundation. Our collective mission is to build the foundations of a healthier society.
As part of our team, you will work alongside talented people from a mix of personal and professional backgrounds. We are a Living Wage employer and support flexible working, part-time roles and job shares. Though our ambitions are serious, this is a friendly place to work with lots of opportunities to meet and socialise with colleagues. We believe there is immense power in diversity and aim to recruit and nurture talent who think and act differently.
There is more information about working with us on our website, where you can read about:•
- how we approach recruitment
- our team, culture and values
- the benefits of working with us
- and our approach to diversity, equity & inclusion, health & wellbeing, and learning & development
Overall Purpose of the role
The Challenge Events lead plays a critical role within the fundraising team, combining strategic oversight with a hands-on commitment to delivery excellence. At a time of organisational transformation and ambitious long-term growth, this role is central to building the operational foundations and supporter experiences that will enable our 10-year vision to succeed.
This role will provide clear direction and structure to the planning and execution of our event portfolio, while remaining close to the operational detail — streamlining processes, refining supporter journeys, and driving performance through data, insight and continuous improvement.
This role is responsible for setting high standards across everything from partnership engagement to on-the-day execution. It requires someone who is comfortable working autonomously, leading high-value relationships with professionalism and precision, and bringing creative thinking to how we engage and retain our event supporters.
The Challenge Events Lead will also guide and support the Events Fundraising Co-ordinator, working in close partnership to deliver exceptional stewardship across the supporter lifecycle and elevate every touchpoint — from first sign-up to post-event celebration.
This is a key opportunity for an experienced event professional to shape the future of events at Guy’s & St Thomas’ Foundation and play a leading role in how we build supporter loyalty, scale income, and strengthen our presence in third-party partnerships.
Key Responsibilities
- Independently lead the planning, delivery, and evaluation of a portfolio of flagship challenge events — including the London Marathon, London Landmarks Half, Brighton Marathon, Ultra Challenges and other third-party partnerships — ensuring a high standard of execution and supporter experience.
- Drive and manage Charity of the Year pipelines and partnerships, contributing to long-term income growth and brand visibility through strategic relationship-building and high-profile placement.
- Act as the strategic lead and primary relationship manager for key external partners (e.g. London Marathon Events, delivery agencies), safeguarding supporter experience, brand integrity and value across all touchpoints.
- Oversee console and registration systems, ensuring a smooth and seamless experience for participants from sign-up through to post-event engagement, while proactively identifying areas for optimisation.
- Develop and manage detailed event budgets, including forecasting, tracking, reconciliation, and net income reporting — with a clear place allocation strategy that aligns with ROI, supporter demand, and market trends.
- Lead on portfolio-level financial accountability, using budget performance, participation data and market insight to inform decisions around where to invest, expand, or strategically scale back — ensuring resources are directed where they’ll deliver the strongest return and long-term value.
- Lead on supporter acquisition strategy across owned and paid channels — including ballot management, grassroots marketing, and behavioural communications — to ensure high-quality leads, strong retention and long-term supporter engagement.
- Provide operational oversight, guidance and mentorship to the Events Fundraising Co-ordinator, ensuring clarity of roles, consistency of delivery, and strong compliance across all areas of shared responsibility.
- Collaborate on planning and execution of end-to-end stewardship journeys — from registration to celebration — ensuring data-led, insight-driven improvements and meaningful supporter experiences at every stage.
Work environment
- The post holder should expect to:
- Work in a hybrid hot desk environment, generally working 2 days a week in the London office and three from home.
- Be responsible for the input and maintenance of databases and files relevant to the post requirements.
- Will occasionally be required to attend events in the evening and at weekends.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
This role requires significant, hands-on operational experience. Applicants will need to demonstrate clear evidence of independently managing event budgets, leading on strategy and logistics, and owning high-level external partnerships.
Essential Experience
- A minimum of 3 years’ experience independently delivering large-scale fundraising events, with full responsibility for logistics, budgeting, and strategic outcomes.
- Strong track record in supplier management, live event delivery, and compliance — including health & safety, risk assessments, and insurance.
- Proven success managing high-value relationships with third-party organisers (e.g. London Marathon Events), including negotiating terms and ensuring delivery excellence.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and manage ambitious budgets, including forecasting, reforecasting, reporting and cost-efficiency tracking.
- Deep knowledge of event marketing and acquisition strategies — including ballot processes, audience segmentation, targeting, and grassroots recruitment.
- Experience designing and delivering multi-channel stewardship journeys, with a clear understanding of behavioural communications across email, SMS, WhatsApp, phone and face-to-face touchpoints — and how these influence retention, satisfaction and performance.
Personal Attributes
- Strategic and delivery-focused — able to set direction and manage detail with equal confidence.
- Highly accountable and self-driven — delivers results independently and takes full ownership of responsibilities.
- Committed to excellence, with a constant drive to improve systems, processes, and supporter experience.
- Collaborative and generous with knowledge — supports, mentors, and uplifts junior colleagues while maintaining clear boundaries of responsibility.
- Calm and composed under pressure — especially during live delivery or partner-facing moments.
- Insight-led and data-aware — uses evidence to inform decisions and adapt strategies intelligently.
- A strong and credible communicator — able to build confidence with a wide range of stakeholders, including senior leaders, suppliers and volunteers.
- Creative and solution-oriented — always looking for ways to improve value and elevate the supporter experience.
- Deeply motivated by delivering meaningful, memorable experiences for supporters.
- Adaptable and resilient — thrives in changing environments and supports others through organisational shifts.
Benefits
- Up to 12% employer pension contributions
- Annual personal development budget
- Annual health and wellbeing personal allowance
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, and parental leave pay accessible without length of service requirements.
- Health and wellbeing programme that offers optional free yearly health check-ups.
- Support for healthy eating via fruit bowls and onsite lunch facilities.
- Agile working, flexible hours, and supportive IT kit.
- Shower facilities and bike lock area.
- Generous annual leave (27 days + bank holidays)
- Subsidies for glasses
- Employee Assistance Programme
Registered Charity 
21 - 50
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Overview:
This role sits within a vibrant and ambitious fundraising team spanning major giving, trusts and foundations, prospect research, individual giving, community, events, legacies, innovation, and supporter experience. Together, we work to raise vital income for our three hospitals, helping them continue their life-changing work.
As Owned Events Lead, you will play a key role in developing and delivering a portfolio of our in-house fundraising events — from flagship campaigns like the St Thomas’ Abseil and Steps for Evelina, to new concepts we’re planning to pilot in the coming years. This is an exciting opportunity for a creative, hands-on event professional to shape original products, build memorable supporter experiences, and drive long-term income growth.
You'll be joining a forward-thinking team at a time of strategic growth, with the chance to make a tangible difference to how we engage supporters and grow our owned event programme for the future.
About us
Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charity, Guy’s Cancer Charity and Evelina London Children’s Charity are part of Guy’s & St Thomas’ Foundation. Our collective mission is to build the foundations of a healthier society.
As part of our team, you will work alongside talented people from a mix of personal and professional backgrounds. We are a Living Wage employer and support flexible working, part-time roles and job shares. Though our ambitions are serious, this is a friendly place to work with lots of opportunities to meet and socialise with colleagues. We believe there is immense power in diversity and aim to recruit and nurture talent who think and act differently.
There is more information about working with us on our website, where you can read about:
• how we approach recruitment
• our team, culture and values
• the benefits of working with us and our approach to diversity, equity & inclusion, health & wellbeing, and learning & development
Overall purpose of the role
The Owned Events Lead plays a pivotal role in shaping and delivering Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charity’s evolving portfolio of owned and virtual fundraising events — a strategically important area of growth for the organisation.
Working as part of a dynamic and cross-functional fundraising team, this role leads on the planning, execution and scaling of original event products — from large-scale mass participation experiences like the St Thomas’ Abseil, to creative, insight-driven virtual campaigns and supporter-led challenges. It’s a diverse, hands-on portfolio that brings together live delivery, digital innovation and product development.
With a clear focus on income growth, audience engagement and supporter experience, the role blends operational expertise, creativity, and entrepreneurial thinking. You’ll work closely with teams across fundraising, supporter experience, digital, innovation and comms to pilot new ideas, improve performance, and build events that inspire action and loyalty.
This is a delivery-focused role requiring end-to-end event management experience — from logistics, safety and supplier coordination, to data-led decision-making, budget ownership and multi-channel stewardship. It’s an exciting opportunity for someone who thrives on building things from scratch and wants to make a real and lasting impact on how we connect with our supporters.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the development and delivery of a portfolio of owned and virtual fundraising events — from concept through to post-event evaluation — ensuring operational excellence, creativity, and supporter satisfaction.
- Deliver large-scale in-person events such as the St Thomas’ Abseil, including venue and supplier coordination, safety planning, risk management, insurance, and on-the-day execution.
- Develop and grow virtual fundraising products, such as Steps For Evelina, drawing on insight, testing and digital best practice to create scalable, supporter-led experiences.
- Lead cross-functional project teams and working groups — aligning stakeholders across digital, supporter experience, innovation, comms and fundraising to deliver shared outcomes.
- Manage event budgets end to end — including forecasting, reforecasting, reconciliation and performance analysis — and use financial insight to inform decisions on where to invest, scale or refine.
- Lead on supporter acquisition for owned products, including paid digital campaigns (PPC, social), segmentation strategies, audience targeting and grassroots recruitment.
- Create and implement behavioural, insight-led supporter journeys — driving engagement and long-term value through personalised, multi-channel communications.
- Produce and maintain risk assessments, permits and compliance documentation, ensuring safe and well-managed delivery across all owned events.
- Build strong, collaborative relationships with internal teams, suppliers, venues and agencies to ensure delivery is aligned, effective and on brand.
- Monitor KPIs and use performance data, feedback and market trends to evaluate success, inform future development and drive continuous improvement.
Work environment
- The post holder should expect to:
- Work in a hybrid hot desk environment, generally working 2 days a week in the London office and three from home.
- Be responsible for the input and maintenance of databases and files relevant to the post requirements.
- Will occasionally be required to attend events in the evening and at weekends.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
- Experience
- At least 3 years’ experience delivering owned, public-facing or virtual fundraising events, with full responsibility for planning, delivery, compliance, and performance.
- Strong track record in hands-on event delivery, including supplier and venue management, live production, logistics, and on-the-day coordination.
- Experience developing and implementing risk assessments, permits, insurances and health & safety documentation.
- Demonstrated success in launching new fundraising products — from concept through to live delivery — using innovation frameworks or test-and-learn methodology.
- Knowledge of digital acquisition, including PPC, paid social and segmentation strategies for events.
- Proven ability to lead cross-team project groups and manage external partners, contractors or agencies.
- Experience managing detailed budgets, with strong financial accountability and performance tracking.
- Expert in live event planning, delivery, and documentation — including compliance, health & safety and supplier contracts.
- Strong understanding of virtual fundraising best practices and digital supporter engagement.
- Confident using audience insight and supporter data to drive product development and communications.
- Clear grasp of behavioural communications and how to apply them across email, WhatsApp, SMS and face-to-face.
- Skilled project manager with the ability to juggle multiple workstreams, deadlines and priorities.
- Collaborative, solutions-focused, and able to build strong relationships across teams.
- Familiarity with fundraising regulations, GDPR, and Facebook Fundraising platforms is desirable.
Personal Attributes
- Strategic and delivery-focused — equally comfortable shaping the vision and getting stuck into delivery.
- Entrepreneurial and innovative — thrives on building new things and improving existing ones.
- Proactive and accountable — takes ownership and drives progress without needing close oversight.
- Calm and composed under pressure — especially during live delivery or external stakeholder engagement.
- Highly organised and detail-oriented — ensures everything is well documented, planned and communicated.
- Passionate about delivering exceptional supporter experiences and meaningful fundraising moments.
- Adaptable and resilient — thrives in a fast-moving environment and embraces change with a positive mindset.
Benefits
- Up to 12% employer pension contributions
- Annual personal development budget
- Annual health and wellbeing personal allowance
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, and parental leave pay accessible without length of service requirements.
- Health and wellbeing programme that offers optional free yearly health check-ups.
- Support for healthy eating via fruit bowls and onsite lunch facilities.
- Agile working, flexible hours, and supportive IT kit.
- Shower facilities and bike lock area.
- Generous annual leave (27 days + bank holidays)
- Subsidies for glasses
- Employee Assistance Programme
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Using Anonymous Recruitment
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Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Oxford Hospitals Charity is looking for a talented and creative fundraiser to lead on growing income from individuals. You will join a wider Fundraising team of eight people and play a key role in developing exciting activities; encouraging new support to grow our existing supporter base and inspire our loyal supporters to continue giving.
You will use your experience to help the charity maximise our fundraising by designing engaging and intentional multi-channel donor journeys. You will lead on making donor specific fundraising asks and delivering exemplary donor care to maximise lifetime value. You will work with colleagues to analyse past performance and trends to identify new opportunities and make data driven decisions about future strategy.
Previous applicants need not apply.
Please submit your CV and a cover letter outlining why you are suitable for the position.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.