Development director jobs in oxford, york

Job description

We’re looking for an enthusiastic Communications and Events Coordinator lead the development and delivery of Khulisa’s communications strategy and key campaigns, designed to engage our supporters, stakeholders, and the wider UK public.

About Khulisa: 

Khulisa, meaning 'nurture' in the Zulu language of South Africa, is an award-winning charity dedicated to providing therapeutic support to young people. We focus on reaching those who are most at risk – young people from deprived communities who are often marginalized, vulnerable to exclusion, and at heightened risk of becoming involved in crime.

Our approach centres on safe, exploratory methods that aim to understand behaviour and experiences often rooted in trauma, abuse, and neglect. We deliver intensive therapeutic programs within educational and community settings, empowering young people to confront the underlying causes of their emotional distress and work toward healing. To create lasting, sustainable change, we also work to establish trauma-informed environments around young people by equipping parents, caregivers, educators, and other professionals with the tools they need to offer effective, supportive care. Currently, our services are active in London and Manchester. 

About the role: 

This role will be a key part of helping to raise awareness of Khulisa’s mission and the issues we address, strengthening support for our programmes. The postholders will also take ownership of planning and delivering all Khulisa events, ensuring they are impactful and well-executed.

• Develop and deliver Khulisa’s Communications and Branding Strategy in line with the strategic plan.
• Lead public engagement campaigns to raise awareness, promote youth voice, and drive participation.
• Plan and manage events, including fundraising and challenge events, from concept to delivery.
• Create and manage digital content across social media, website, newsletters, and other channels.
• Recruit and supervise volunteers to support communications and event-related activities.

For a full list of duties and responsibilities, please see the attached job description below. 

The post holder will be required to work from home permanently but be willing and able to easily travel to various locations across the London and the North West as necessary to fulfill the requirements of the role and to engage with stakeholders and colleagues.

What we're looking for:

1. Abilities/Experiences

• Experience in digital campaigning and digital content creation.
• Experience of planning and delivering events, including fundraising events, liaising with partners, suppliers and colleagues.
• Excellent written, copywriting and editing skills and proven ability to communicate campaigning messages in a compelling, succinct and engaging way.
• Experience creating digital content for a variety of audiences, including experience of using a range of digital software and tools, and knowledge of message testing and optimisation.
• Experience in designing popular, results-oriented and successful campaigns.
• Ability to use design software (such as InDesign, Canva, Photoshop and Illustrator).
• Experience working within a close-knit team in a busy and fast paced working environment.
• Demonstrable ability to plan and prioritise own workload with minimum supervision.
• Ability to buy strongly into strategic objectives and reflect passion for Khulisa’s work with and for young people.
• Experience of using Salesforce or similar CRM system as well as all-in-one marketing platform such as
• Mailchimp to deliver effective long-term public engagement.
• Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends when required.

2. Qualifications

• Relevant qualification in Project Management, Events Management or Communications, or equivalent years of experience.

3. Knowledge/Skills

• Knowledge of relevant software and digital tools to deliver effective long-term public engagement and digital fundraising campaigns.
• Strong knowledge of WordPress or similar website builder.
• Knowledge of best practice in digital fundraising.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: We are actively looking to recruit a diversity of talent. We embrace, respect and value the difference in our employees and believe that we and our work is better for it. We are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive environment that consists of fairness, dignity, and caring for everyone, and one that enables every employee to flourish and realise their potential.

Community Based/Home Working - Hampshire

Permanent, Full Time

Circa £30,000 plus competitive benefits

Do you want to make a difference?

The RAF Benevolent Fund is the leading welfare charity for the RAF. Every year we make a real difference to over 40,000 people who benefit from our services. Working at the Fund is more than sitting at your desk ad in this role you will have the opportunity to be part of our RAF Family.  Alongside helping our beneficiaries, we also get to hang out with Spitfires and Typhoons, take part in a Dambusters bike ride, attend events like Royal Ascot, the Chelsea Flower Show, and the Bomber Command Memorial Service. Every day you will make a difference and play your part in changing the lives of others and helping people in the RAF Family get through the toughest of times.

It doesn’t matter how long someone served or when. If they were part of the RAF, they and their family are part of our RAF Family. We will always be here to support them when they need it most.

Join the RAF Family and play your part in making a difference.

Do you want to play a part in what we do?

People are at the heart of what we do. Together we:

· Help reduce social isolation and loneliness among veterans. 

· We support ill or injured men and women to have a safe place to call home, a home that meets their specific needs.

· We fund youth services on stations to provide clubs and activities for the children of serving personnel who move every few years.

· We provide grants to help with the cost of living. But this is just a few of the ways we help.

We are seeking an individual to raise awareness of the Fund’s welfare offer amongst social welfare agencies across the West Midlands but also, crucially, to help address the issue of social isolation and feelings of loneliness experienced by some members of the RAF Family.

The post holder will be working with socially isolated individuals to identify meaningfully enriching opportunities to reduce feelings of loneliness, some of whom may have complex and challenging welfare needs, to develop actions plans and coordinate support to overcome any barriers preventing successful connection into these enriching opportunities, assisting them by identifying appropriate support from within the RAF Benevolent Fund and the wider statutory and military charity sector.

The successful candidate will have experience of working in a social welfare role supporting individuals, have strong people and relationship-building skills, as well as empathy with or understanding of the issues affecting the Armed Forces community. Individuals with a social prescribing or working aged veteran support background are encouraged to apply.

This is a community-based position working from home but covering Hampshire, Wiltshire and West Sussex, delivering both remote and face to face support. The candidate must have their own vehicle to use to travel around these regions.  Occasional travel to London will be required.  The successful candidate for this role will need to be Enhanced DBS checked and prove they have the right to work in the UK.

To apply, please click on this link and send your CV, together with a cover letter detailing why you believe you are suitable for this role, providing examples of how you meet the job profile when you apply through our recruitment portal.

The closing date for applications is Tuesday 29th July 2025, 5.00pm.  Interviews will be held on Week commencing 4th August 2025.

A copy of the Fund’s Candidate Privacy Notice can be found on our website. As an equal opportunities employer, the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership. The Fund takes safeguarding seriously, and appropriate background checks will be completed. You can find out more about our commitment to safeguarding on our website. The RAF Benevolent Fund follows Safer Recruitment practices as it strives to ensure that everyone who comes into contact with the Fund will be protected from harm. The successful candidate for this role will need to be Enhanced DBS checked and prove they have the right to work in the UK. We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join the Fund.

The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund is a Registered Charity (No. 1081009).

About Charity Right

We are a focused and passionate international food charity on a mission to free people from the devastating effects of hunger. Since our founding, we have provided over 40 million meals across 7 countries, serving those who need it most with dignity and care.

Our Mission

We believe that no child should go to school hungry. Our single-cause focus allows us to be exceptionally effective at what we do best: providing nutritious school meals that keep children in classrooms and give them the opportunity to break free from poverty through education.

About the Role

We are seeking a strategic and experienced Head of Fundraising & Events to lead the development and growth of a high-performing department focused on generating income through national and international challenge events and corporate partnerships. 
 
This is a senior leadership role with full responsibility for designing the fundraising and events strategy, building the structure and team to deliver it, and ensuring scalable, sustainable growth. You will shape the long-term direction of the department, ensure the right people and processes are in place, and play a key role in supporting the organisation’s broader income generation goals — including supporting the CEO with major donor stewardship. 
 
While the department’s primary focus is income growth through challenge events and corporate partnerships, the role also includes oversight of a small number of legacy community events and relationships ensuring continuity and reputational stewardship. 
 

Key Responsibilities: 

Strategic Leadership & Department Building 

• Develop and lead the overall strategy for the Fundraising & Events department in line with the organisation’s income growth objectives. 
• Design and build a departmental structure capable of delivering scalable fundraising through events and partnerships. 
• Recruit, lead, and manage a high-performing team, ensuring clarity of roles, effective delegation, and strong performance management. 
• Establish systems, workflows, and processes that support growth, quality, and consistency across all fundraising activity. 
• Set and monitor departmental KPIs, targets, and budgets, reporting regularly to the CEO and Senior Leadership Team.

Challenge Events Programme 

• Oversee the strategic growth and diversification of the organisation’s challenge events portfolio, building on successful formats and expanding into new areas. 
• Provide leadership and oversight of event planning, delivery, and evaluation — ensuring the team has the tools and capabilities to execute effectively. 
• Identify and guide strategic partnerships with external groups and communities that can support participant growth and event reach. 

Corporate Fundraising 

• Design and implement a new corporate fundraising strategy
• Lead the identification and prioritisation of strategic corporate opportunities. 
• Guide the creation of partnership models, engagement materials, and stewardship plans, supporting the team in execution. 
• Develop the necessary infrastructure (e.g. pipeline management, prospecting systems) for long-term corporate fundraising success. 

Major Donor Support 

• Act as a senior partner to the CEO in managing and stewarding major donors. 
• Ensure the department provides the research, briefing, and coordination required to support a best-in-class major donor experience. 

Legacy Community Fundraising 

• Provide oversight and continuity for a limited number of legacy community events, ensuring they are delivered with appropriate resource and quality. 
• Work with the Fundraising & Events Manager to assess the future viability of these events and how they may integrate with or exit from the broader fundraising strategy. 
• Maintain key relationships with mosque and school partners to preserve goodwill and support transitional planning. 

Team Leadership 

• Line manage the Fundraising & Events Manager, providing coaching, strategic direction, and performance support. 
• Ensure the team structure remains fit for purpose as event formats, income goals, and capacity evolve. 
• Delegate operational oversight of individual events and activities while maintaining accountability for departmental outcomes. 

Cross-Organisational Leadership 

• Represent fundraising and events at the senior leadership level, contributing to organisational strategy and decision-making. 
• Foster a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement across teams. 
• Uphold high standards of integrity, professionalism, and alignment with the charity’s values and mission. 

Essential Skills and Experience

• Significant experience in a senior fundraising or income generation role, including designing and delivering strategy at a departmental level.
• Strong track record of building and leading high-performing teams. 
• Experience growing and managing challenge events or mass participation programmes, either directly or through team leadership. 
• Proven ability to develop income streams, including events and corporate fundraising, from inception to sustainability. 
• Commercially minded, with strong strategic planning and budget management skills. 
• Excellent relationship-building skills and comfort engaging at senior/executive levels. 
• High levels of initiative, resilience, and the ability to lead in a remote-first environment. 

Desirable 

• Experience supporting major donor programmes or working in close partnership with a CEO or Director-level fundraiser. 
• Familiarity with charity CRMs and performance reporting tools. 
• Experience working within a faith-informed or values-driven organisation. 

Working Culture: 
We are a remote-first organisation. This role offers flexibility in working hours and location, with occasional UK travel required for key events and team meetings. You’ll be part of a purpose-driven leadership team committed to creativity, integrity, and delivering real-world impact.

Employment Type: Permanent, Full-Time 
Location: Remote Working
Reports to: CEO
Salary: £48,000 – £54,000, dependent on experience

Remote position with some preference for London UK, Freetown Sierra Leone, Cape Town South Africa or Nairobi Kenya

SCOPE OF WORK

1. Grantmaking Due Diligence & Onboarding

• Coordinate the collection, review, and secure storage of due diligence documentation from prospective grantees.

• Assist with risk screening checks and internal reviews in alignment with Purposeful’s grantmaking policies.

• Prepare grantee onboarding documentation, including grant agreements and orientation materials.

• Track submission of required onboarding documents (e.g., bank forms, MoUs, safeguarding policies).

• Monitor and keep track of the grants due for payment.

• Respond to grantee and applicant inquiries and proactively update them on the status of their grant awards.

2. Grant Compliance & Documentation

• Monitor compliance status of all active grants, flagging outstanding requirements and follow-up needs.

• Ensure that compliance-related deadlines (e.g. reporting dates, grant conditions) are met and documented.

• Maintain clean, well-organised, and accessible digital grant files, using existing tools or systems (e.g., Google Drive, Netsuite, Salesforce, etc.) to ease retrieval and generation of reports.

• Support internal checks to ensure that funds are disbursed in line with compliance protocols and funding agreements.

3. Finance Coordination

• Liaise with the finance team to prepare and verify payment documents, banking instructions, and payment schedules.

• Support alignment between grant budgets and payment disbursements.

• Track the movement of funds across grants, ensuring appropriate documentation is in place for each transaction.

4. Donor & Internal Reporting

• Assist in preparing compliance-related sections of donor reports and internal grantmaking summaries.

• Track reporting obligations by donor or partner, and ensure all documentation is collected and filed on time, including any relevant country-specific compliance requirements.

5. Audit & Policy Support

• Prepare documentation for internal and external audits, including sampling, document summaries, and data extractions.

• Assist in developing and maintaining internal tools (templates, checklists, trackers) related to grant compliance.

• Contribute to ongoing improvements in Purposeful’s compliance systems, bringing in lessons learned and audit feedback, and emerging regulatory or legal considerations relevant to our work.

The vacancy

We are seeking to appoint one lay member to sit on our GOC Council.

About the GOC

We are the regulator for the optical professions in the UK. Our purpose is to protect the public by promoting high standards of education, performance and conduct.  For more information about us please visit our website:optical. org.

About the Council

The role of Council is to lead on the GOC’s mission to protect the public by upholding high standards in eye care services.  The Council is composed of six lay members (including the Chair) and six registrant members (i.e. registered optometrists and dispensing opticians).  At least one member of the Council must work wholly or mainly in each of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.  One Council member acts as a Senior Council Member whose role is to carry out the Chair’s appraisal as well as provide a sounding board for the Chair and serve as an intermediary for Council members, Executive and stakeholders as necessary. 

The successful candidate will contribute to Council by exercising oversight, ensuring effective corporate governance, and making high-level policy decisions. They will be able to operate strategically and impartially; listen, communicate, and influence effectively; exercise judgment; and inspire confidence and support amongst our stakeholders. 

Remuneration and time commitment

Council members are remunerated in accordance with our member fees policy (£13,962 per annum plus reasonable travel and subsistence expenses).  The member fee includes time for reading and preparation.

The appointed member will be expected to commit approximately 2-3 days per month.  Meetings will usually take place via MS Teams but may on occasion be held at the GOC Offices at Level 29, One Canada Square, London, E14 5AA. There are occasional online catch-up meetings - these are currently scheduled on a Tuesday evening every 6-8 weeks, from 5.30pm – 6.30pm.

How to apply:

Please email the the following to appointment@optical. org

· your CV outlining your employment history, any relevant voluntary work, public service or other experience; together with any relevant professional, academic or vocational qualifications;

· the application form, stating how your experience matches the criteria for the vacancy you are applying for; and

· complete the EDI monitoring form linked in the candidate pack (this is an online form and does not need to be included in the email with your CV and application form).

APPLICATION DEADLINE:  midnight on Sunday 10 August 2025.

Online interviews will be held on between Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 October 2025.

If you have any questions, please email them to appointment@optical. org and we will aim to respond to you within 48 hours. 

We welcome applications from individuals who are disabled and from diverse ethnic backgrounds as these are currently under-represented on our council and committees.

We strive to be as diverse as the public we protect and welcome applications from everyone, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, maternity and geographical locations outside of London.