Development lead jobs in Birmingham

Location: Flexible with home working option. Regular travel to London. 

Grade: Grade 6 - £44,323.14 pa

Contract: 12 months fixed contract

Hours: 35 (flexible working considered) 

Closing date: Thursday 7th May 2026 at 11:30pm

Do you have proven experience of developing products to take to market, possibly in a fundraising environment, plus great leadership skills and a real appetite for innovation? Then join Shelter as a Innovation Lead and you could soon be playing a key role within our Product Development & Innovation team.

About the role

The role will involve leading the development and continuous improvement of an audience-led innovation framework, designed to grow committed giving and drive income. You will act as the subject matter expert, partnering with senior leaders across Income Generation teams to deliver best in class products aligned with strategic goals, while leading horizon scanning and deliver test and learn trials to establish the potential for innovation projects.

You’ll champion a collaborative matrix working culture within Fundraising and across the organisation and co-create KPI frameworks that enable rapid learning and scaling and use data-driven insights to shape inclusive, high impact products. Alongside overseeing budgets, building robust business cases and supporting long-term financial planning. You will also guide team performance and embed a culture of continuous improvement and innovation across the organisation. 

About you

We’re looking for a confident and adaptable leader who thrives in a fast-paced, evolving environment and brings strong management experience with the ability to motivate and develop others. You’ll have a proven track record of taking products to market (ideally within fundraising), combined with excellent collaboration, influencing and negotiation skills. Comfortable working in a matrix structure, you’ll be skilled at leading and embedding change, taking calculated risks, and staying ahead of emerging trends through proactive horizon scanning. Above all, you’ll bring a growth mindset and a commitment to continuous improvement, helping drive innovation and high performance across teams.

Apply to be part of our team and be the change you want to see in society.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.

Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support and legal services. And we campaign to make sure that, one day, no one will have to turn to us for help. We’re here so no one has to fight bad housing or homelessness on their own.

We are happy to talk about flexible working, personal growth, and to promote a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.

About the team

The Product Development & Innovation Team sits within Fundraising Enablement, the function that connects and accelerates all income-generating activity across the organisation. Acting as both strategic partners and innovation drivers, the team works closely with income generation teams to ensure products are insight-led, audience-focused and aligned to strategic priorities, while also leading a forward-thinking innovation agenda that explores new income streams and develops high-value opportunities beyond the existing portfolio.

How to apply 

Please click ‘Apply for Job’ below. You are required to submit your work history and a supporting statement. Please provide specific examples of how you meet the criteria in the 'About you' section of this advert, following the STAR format, and ensure you demonstrate how you address the behaviours below throughout your responses:

• We prioritise diversity and have an inclusive and open mindset
• We enable decision-making
• We create change aligned to our strategy

Any applications submitted without a supporting statement will not be considered.

About Shelter

Home is a human right. It’s our foundation and where we thrive. Yet everyday millions of people are being devastated by the housing emergency.

We exist to defend the right to a safe home. Because home is everything.

We need ambitious, passionate people to join us. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. To win this fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, equitable and transparent. We are committed to combating racism both within and outside Shelter. We welcome you on our journey to becoming truly anti-racist.

Safeguarding statement

Safeguarding is everyone's business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies.

Shelter does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.