Development director jobs in East of england

Director of Development

National Literacy Trust
Hybrid working with regular attendance in London
£90,000 per annum | Permanent | Full Time (35 hours per week)

Closing Date: Tuesday 1 September 2026

Charity People is delighted to be partnering with the National Literacy Trust to recruit an exceptional Director of Development.
This is an incredible opportunity to join the organisation at such a pivotal moment in its growth. Reporting directly to the CEO and sitting on the Senior Management Team, the Director of Development will lead an established and high-performing fundraising function responsible for generating approximately £17m in annual income, while driving the next phase of growth and strengthening unrestricted income.

We're looking for an ambitious, entrepreneurial fundraising leader who combines strategic vision and practical delivery. The successful candidate will be proactive and highly engaged, leading from the front to secure transformational partnerships, inspire teams and help shape the organisation's future.

About National Literacy Trust
The National Literacy Trust empowers children, young people and adults from disadvantaged communities with the literacy skills they need to thrive.
Working across schools, communities, prisons and workplaces, the organisation is the UK's leading authority on literacy. Its work is underpinned by robust research, powerful partnerships and an unwavering commitment to tackling the link between poverty and low literacy.
Following a period of significant growth, the charity is now seeking a new Director of Development to build on strong foundations, identify new opportunities, and lead an ambitious fundraising strategy that will expand impact and sustainability for years to come.

About the Role
As Director of Development, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for the charity's fundraising and development activity.
You will inherit an impressive portfolio of corporate, trust and statutory supporters, whilst also being tasked with identifying new opportunities for growth, diversification and innovation.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading and delivering the National Literacy Trust's fundraising strategy and income growth plans
• Driving the acquisition and stewardship of major corporate partnerships, trusts, foundations and major donors
• Working closely with the CEO and senior colleagues to position the organisation for new funding opportunities
• Strengthening unrestricted income and expanding the charity's supporter base
• Leading, motivating and developing a talented fundraising team
• Building relationships with influential supporters, partners, senior business leaders and trustees
• Ensuring robust pipeline management, forecasting and income planning
• Acting as an inspiring ambassador for the organisation externally and internally

This is a high-profile leadership role offering significant scope to shape strategy, culture and long-term organisational success. 

About You
We're keen to hear from ambitious fundraising leaders who bring a strong track record of delivering sustainable income growth and building high-value relationships.
You will likely bring:

• Significant senior fundraising leadership experience
• A demonstrable track record of securing and growing high-value income
• Experience leading corporate partnerships and strategic fundraising programmes
• Strong commercial awareness and an entrepreneurial approach to identifying opportunities
• The ability to inspire, motivate and develop high-performing teams
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills
• Experience working with senior leaders, trustees and external partners
• A hands-on leadership style, balancing strategic thinking with practical delivery

Most importantly, you'll be someone who relishes building momentum, thrives in ambitious environments and is excited by the opportunity to help transform lives through literacy.

How to Apply
To express your interest, please send your CV to Philippa.
Should your experience align with the requirements of the role, a member of the Charity People team will be in touch to arrange an initial conversation, discuss the opportunity in more detail and explain the full application process.

Key Dates

• Closing Date: Tuesday 1 September 2026
• First Round Interviews (online): Week commencing 7 September 2026
• Second Round Interviews (in person): Week commencing 14 September 2026

Charity People is a forward-thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We are committed to presenting opportunities to candidates irrespective of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation because we believe diverse teams create stronger organisations and greater impact.

Hughes Hall is one of the largest constituent Colleges of the University of Cambridge: progressive, international and egalitarian, with a distinctive commitment to putting learning and research at the service of wider society.

As Hughes Hall looks ahead to its 150th anniversary in 2035, the College is entering a period of major transformation. With a highly international student body, a growing global alumni community and ambitious plans across education, impact and the estate, Hughes Hall seeks to reimagine what a Cambridge College can be: outward-looking, inclusive, and connected to the challenges of the wider world.

We are seeking an experienced and ambitious individual to lead the College’s fundraising and alumni operation as Development Director. Reporting to the President, Sir Laurie Bristow, the postholder will be a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, and will lead a small development office. They will lead a major anniversary campaign, expected to raise in the region of £30–50m over the next decade to support scholarships, transformational capital projects and wider social impact.

The post holder will likely be a senior development professional with a proven track record of securing major gifts. They will have first-hand experience leading, or being instrumental in, major campaigns. They will be prepared to travel in the UK and internationally to cultivate prospective donors and stakeholders.

Strong candidates will be energetic, confident communicators and relationship builders, able to act as a warm, credible and energetic ambassador for Hughes Hall. They will combine strategic judgement with a hands-on approach, be able to speak and inspire an audience, and to lead a successful team.

This is a mission-critical appointment at an exciting moment for Hughes Hall. It is a rare opportunity to design and lead the first major philanthropic campaign in Hughes Hall’s history, and to help shape the College’s future as it approaches its 150th anniversary. The College has strong foundations, clear ambition and significant philanthropic potential; this is a distinctive opportunity for someone who shares Hughes Hall’s ethos to help shape the future of a unique Cambridge institution.

To apply for this vacancy, please visit the website via the apply button. The closing date for this role is 15th September 2026.

The Director of Growth, Impact and Partnerships will provide strategic leadership for growth, partnerships, engagement and impact across Ormiston Families.

As a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, the postholder will help turn strategy into action by building strong partnerships, growing sustainable income, strengthening organisational influence and ensuring the organisation has the relationships, reputation, resources and insight needed to increase its reach, deepen its impact and deliver its long-term ambitions. 

The postholder will also play a central role in delivering Ormiston Families' organisational change journey, helping us grow well. They will work across Purpose, People, Process and Performance, helping to shape a more connected, insight-led and sustainable organisation by embedding strategic planning, organisational learning, performance measurement and continuous improvement into how the charity operates, grows and creates impact. 

The main duties of this role include: 

• Setting and delivering an ambitious, evidence-informed strategy for income growth, engagement and impact.
• Supporting the delivery of the organisation's Purpose, People, Process and Performance agenda, ensuring growth, engagement, impact and partnerships contribute to organisational effectiveness and long-term sustainability. 
• Championing the development of organisational insight, performance measures and impact reporting that support strategic decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Representing Ormiston Families externally, building credibility, influence and strategic relationships with key stakeholders, partners, commissioners, funders and sector leaders.
• Leading the directorate to deliver annual income targets, long-term growth plans and high-quality supporter experiences.
• Developing existing income streams and identify new opportunities, products, partnerships and channels.
• Building and influencing strategic partnerships across the charity, public, education, health, community and commercial sectors to increase impact, reach and sustainability
• Overseeing integrated marketing and communications activity that builds awareness, reputation and engagement. 
• Ensuring Ormiston Families’ story is told with clarity, warmth and impact, grounded in the experiences of children, young people and families.
• Leading organisational impact measurement, evaluation and learning, ensuring insight is embedded in planning, delivery and decision-making. 
• Promoting a culture of innovation, learning, inclusion and continuous improvement. 
• Providing robust performance reporting, forecasting and analysis to the CEO, SLT, committees and Board of Trustees.

Benefits include:

•           Competitive salary, benchmarked for a senior charity leadership role.

•           Flexible and hybrid working arrangements, supporting balance and effectiveness.

•           Generous annual leave and family-friendly policies.

•           Pension contribution and employee support offer.

•           Opportunities for professional development, learning and leadership growth.

•           The chance to help shape the future of a values-led organisation making a lasting difference for children, young people and families. 

Location: This is a hybrid role, offering a flexible combination of home working and attendance at our central office.

Salary: £85,000 gross per annum.

To apply, please submit your cover letter detailing how you meet the criteria (no more than 2 pages) and CV.