Development manager jobs in Bristol
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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!
What we're building
Level Water exists to solve a problem that shouldn’t exist: too many disabled children are still missing out on high-quality swimming lessons.
Last year, our swimmers raised over £1m. This year we’ve sold out events in minutes and want to double the fundraising. We’re on the path to exponential growth and we need someone who can help us get there.
We're Level Water, a founder-led charity solving learn-to-swim for disabled children. We're not your typical charity. We own our events and run them like a business. We move fast, test everything, and we're building something that doesn't exist anywhere else. Our events are uniquely profitable, and we reinvest in quality and growth.
We've just brought in a new Fundraising Director, and this Marketing role is a cornerstone of the team we're building. If you want to help define how a modern charity grows and does marketing, this is your chance.
The opportunity
This isn't a "post on social and send a newsletter" role. This is a “build something exceptional, then grow it” role. Marketing is at the heart of our flywheel, which means you’ll be integral to everything we are doing at Level Water.
You'll own marketing strategy and execution across our entire operation: our iconic events, our life-changing swimming programmes, and our reputation as a charity. You'll drive growth, tell stories that matter, and build genuine communities that scale.
You'll have the freedom to experiment. Want to test a new channel? Launch a content series? Build a creator programme? Run paid campaigns that actually convert? Brilliant. Build the business case and let's do it.
You'll work with real impact. Children with disabilities are learning to swim because of us. Families are transformed by our lessons. Volunteers and incredible teachers make it happen. These are stories that deserve to be told brilliantly, and you'll be the one telling them.
This role is 80% growth and 20% impact storytelling, but the two are inseparable. We’re product-led and we launch and test often. Great stories fuel growth. Growth creates more stories. You'll understand that tension and thrive in it.
You'll work closely with our Fundraising Director and CEO to scale marketing as our most powerful growth lever. You'll also manage a network of brilliant freelancers (photographers, videographers, copywriters, designers) to help you execute at the highest level.
And you'll grow with us. We're scaling fast, and we need people who can scale with us.
This is a mission-critical role in driving Level Water's growth. Every event you sell out, every story you tell, every audience you build helps unlock more funded swimming lessons, bringing us closer to a future where every disabled child can have a great swimming lesson with a confident, qualified teacher.
Marketing at Level Water isn’t just about selling events - it’s a core delivery mechanism in our Theory of Change. This role exists to move the levers that unlock more lessons, faster progression, stronger outcomes, and a sustainable income engine that funds it all.
This is the most exciting marketing job in the charity sector for the right person.
What you'll actually do
This role owns marketing as a growth engine. You'll set strategy, drive execution across multiple channels, and be accountable for how marketing translates into event sign-ups, fundraising growth, profile, and impact. You'll work closely with the Fundraising Director to shape priorities, influence decisions, and build something that scales.
Drive growth marketing that converts
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Own end-to-end marketing for our events portfolio: from launch campaigns to sell-out.
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Build and execute multi-channel campaigns across social, email, paid ads, PR, partnerships, and whatever else works.
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Test everything. Audiences, messages, creative, channels. Find what works, double down, and scale it.
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Use data to spot opportunities: which channels are converting? Where are we leaving growth on the table? What could we do differently?
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Manage our digital advertising and paid social strategy with a ruthless focus on ROI.
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Grow our email database and social audiences with intent, not just for vanity metrics.
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Be trusted to repeatedly turn £1 into £5 or £10.
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Define and unleash our audiences: help them share their stories in a way that turns experiences into future sales, and makes everything that Level Water does easier.
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Build and manage our captain and ambassador programmes as genuine growth engines - nurturing relationships, setting expectations, and turning influence into measurable impact.
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Proactively convert interest into action. This includes direct outreach (e.g. picking up the phone to captains, engaging top fundraisers, activating ambassadors) to ensure intent turns into ticket sales and fundraising.
Tell stories that build belief
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Find, shape, and share the stories that show our impact: the children, the families, the teachers, the moments that matter.
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Build and curate a library of content (video, photography, case studies, testimonials) that we can use everywhere.
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Work with freelance photographers and videographers to capture our events and programmes at their best.
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Create content that our supporters, partners, and prospects actually want to engage with, not just content that ticks a box.
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Manage our website (fundraising, events, and programmes pages) to ensure it's always up to date, compelling, and optimised for conversion.
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Ensure our impact reporting to donors is rich with content about our work.
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Use storytelling internally to build shared understanding, momentum and belief across the charity as we scale.
Build our profile and partnerships
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Position Level Water as a leader in accessible swimming and outdoor challenge events.
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Build and leverage relationships with press, influencers, local authorities, and stakeholders.
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Identify partnership and sponsorship opportunities that align with our mission and drive growth.
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Amplify examples of inclusion within our pools, making them known and also making inclusive practice visible.
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Promote our swimming pool partners and recognise their contribution to our work.
Manage, measure, and improve
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Own the marketing budget and get maximum value from every pound spent.
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Manage our freelance network: scope projects, review proposals, and ensure quality work on time and on budget.
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Report regularly on what's working and what's not: campaign performance, audience growth, conversion rates, ROI.
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Stay ahead of the curve: what are the best organisations doing? What can we learn and adapt?
Who we're looking for
We care much more about how you work than where you've worked. You don't need charity sector experience .
People who thrive here have:
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Hustle and drive. You take ownership. You spot opportunities and go after them. You don't wait to be told what to do.
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A commercial approach. You think in terms of audiences, funnels, conversion, and scale. You understand what drives growth and you know how to execute it.
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Copywriting chops. You can really write. Headlines that stop the scroll. Emails people actually read. Stories that land. You know that words matter.
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A data brain. You can look at campaign performance and spot the story. You know that "CTR is up 18%" means something, and you know how to act on it.
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A bias for action. You test things. You move fast. You're comfortable with uncertainty and you learn by doing.
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Creative thinking. You generate ideas. You see opportunities others miss. You're not afraid to try something different.
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Organisation. Strong attention to detail, with the ability to run 12 products, 40 email journeys and 100 web pages without dropping anything.
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An entrepreneurial mindset. You think like an owner. If this were your business, how would you grow it?
Bonus points if:
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You've worked in a startup, scale-up, or high-growth environment.
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You've built audiences from scratch or scaled marketing profitably.
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You've led paid campaigns that actually delivered ROI.
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You've worked across multiple channels and understand how they work together.
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You love being outdoors (swimming, hiking, wild camping, anything that gets you outside).
Why Level Water?
Our values: Bold, Driven, Personal, and Joyful are at the heart of this role. You'll be expected to bring ambition, move with purpose, care deeply about impact, and help create marketing that feels genuinely joyful to be part of.
Bold. This isn't a "follow the playbook" role. We want your ideas. We want you to challenge us. We want you to help us build something better.
Driven. We're growing fast and we need people who can scale with us. If you're ambitious, there's a huge opportunity here.
Personal. We're a small, founder-led team. We move fast, we debate hard, we test everything, and we care deeply about what we do.
Joyful. You'll work on some of the most iconic outdoor swims in the UK. You'll help tell stories that change lives. You'll be part of creating something people remember forever.
Practical details
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Flexible working: remote, hybrid, or (even better) office-based in Tunbridge Wells or Exeter, your choice.
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You'll attend weekend events throughout the summer (with time off in lieu).
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Salary: £30k–£45k depending on experience.
How to apply
We want to hear from you in whatever way best shows us who you are and how you think.
Get creative. It’s a marketing job so sell us on your personality and style. A traditional CV and cover letter? Absolutely fine. A video introduction? Great. A presentation deck? Bring it on. Whatever format helps you shine and show us who you are.
Here's what we'd love to know:
1. How you'd approach marketing growth:
Imagine we want to double sign-ups for one of our summer events (currently sitting at 500 swimmers). Walk us through your approach: which channels would you use, what would your messaging be, how would you measure success, and what would you test first?
2. What excites you about this role:
Tell us why this opportunity appeals to you specifically.
3. Something you're proud of:
Share one thing you've built, grown, or improved. Doesn't have to be in charity or even at work, it could be anything that shows your drive and ability to make things happen.
Before you apply
If you've got questions about the role, the team, or whether this might be right for you, please reach out. I'm Andy Punter, Fundraising Director at Level Water, and I'd genuinely love to chat.
Deadline
20th March 2026
We're excited to meet you. Let's build something brilliant together.
Registered Charity
6 - 10
We equip pools and leisure providers across the UK to deliver specialist swimming lessons for children with disabilities.
Thank you!
Family Education Trust is recruiting a Development Manager to turn evidence-led research into real-world impact for families across the UK. This is a rare opportunity to build a fundraising function from the ground up inside a respected policy organisation - with the autonomy to do it your way.
About the role
You will build and lead FET's income growth function, securing near-term unrestricted income while developing durable fundraising capacity. Your core focus is establishing a new major donor and mid-value programme and delivering a high-performing trusts and foundations pipeline.
We have streamlined administrative responsibilities so you can concentrate on what matters: income growth and donor relationships. You will work closely with our Communications Manager, who produces copy and assets for your fundraising brief.
What we are looking for
We need someone with recent, hands-on fundraising experience in a mission-led organisation who has built income, not just maintained it. Experience building a major donor pipeline is essential, along with trusts and foundations competence. You must have genuine personal alignment with FET's mission and established public positions on family policy.
The details
Salary: Up to £40,000, with flexibility for an exceptional candidate Location: Home-based, with UK travel as required Contract: Full-time, permanent Hours: 37.5 per week Annual leave: 25 days plus bank holidays Pension: 5% employer contribution via salary sacrifice Closing date: 9am Monday 16 March 2026
How to apply
Please read the full job description and person specification (attached) and send a CV and covering letter by 9am Monday 16 March 2026. Your covering letter should explain how you meet the essential criteria set out in the person specification.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Community Zakat Development Manager (UK Islamic Charity)
Location / Salary / Contract
UK-wide (home-based) | £30,000 - £35,000 | Fixed term (24 months, with a view to permanent) | Travel required across the UK.
The Opportunity
Civitas Charity recruitment is delighted to be working with UK-wide Muslim charity expanding a localised Zakat distribution model nationwide. In this role, you will build and support a network of Community Zakat Partners, primarily masjids and faith-based community centres/groups, ensuring each partnership is values-led, compliant and effective.
Key Responsibilities
Identify, engage and support prospective Community Zakat Partners, with a focus on masjids and faith-based community organisations.
Lead partner onboarding, agreements and due diligence, working closely with Quality Assurance and Finance colleagues.
Act as the primary point of contact for partners, providing guidance, problem-solving support and clear, timely communication.
Maintain oversight of partnership performance, compliance and risk, coordinating reviews, monitoring and any required audits.
Oversee partner reporting to capture outcomes, data and case studies, contributing to internal learning and impact reporting.
Line manage the Community Zakat Grants Officer, setting objectives and supporting development across the network.
The Candidate
Minimum three years’ experience in partnership or stakeholder management, ideally within the charity, community or public sector.
Proven ability to manage agreements and deliver against objectives, with strong governance, compliance and reporting discipline.
Excellent relationship-building, communication and negotiation skills; confident engaging senior volunteers and faith leaders.
Experience supervising or line managing staff, with a collaborative and accountable approach.
Desirable: experience working with Muslim communities and an understanding of Zakat in a UK context.
Applicants can be based anywhere in England; a full UK driving licence and willingness to travel nationally (car driver) are essential.
How to Apply
If you are keen, please apply directly or contact Syed at Civitas for further info. Deadline is the 20th March 2026. Interviews expected: week commencing 2 April 2026. A DBS application will be required for the successful candidate.
Thank you!
JOIN OUR WORK TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES TO THRIVE
We are looking for an ambitious and Wellbeing and Learning Development Manager to lead two of our flagship wellbeing and employment projects, aimed at supporting purposeful activity, health and wellbeing. You will provide expert leadership and support to a small team, creating a culture that best supports our friendly community-based services. You’ll have an excellent eye for systems and structure, understand the importance of person-centred services and be able to spot and capitalise on development opportunities, from partnerships to funding. You’ll be passionate about reducing health inequalities and community work. You’ll believe in the power of partnership working to deliver the best outcomes for our community.
ABOUT US
Southmead Development Trust is a Bristol-based charity made up of staff, volunteers, and residents working together to keep power in our community. We work alongside local people and partners to improve health, wellbeing, employment, and local pride — while tackling social isolation and bringing investment into the area.
Guided by residents, our vision is a thriving and healthy community. We provide the support, spaces, and services our community needs through our two well-loved sites: the Greenway Centre and Southmead Adventure Playground (The Ranch). These venues host a wide range of activities including wellbeing services, youth and play sessions, fitness classes, community groups, and local celebrations.
We’re proud to be a Disability Confident employer and welcome applications from everyone. We’re committed to building a team that reflects the diversity of our community. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process or in the workplace, just let us know — we’ll do our best to support you.
ABOUT YOU
· 3+ years experience in a role supporting holistic wellbeing, employability or health
· Experience leading a team
· Experience developing cross sector partnerships for joint aims including facilitating meetings and information sharing
· Experience contributing to fundraising applications or business cases
· Understanding of the importance of employability and the connection with health and wellbeing
· Interested in health system change to support prevention and community-based models of working
· Project management experience, including programming, reporting, budgeting, evaluation
· Excellent working knowledge and understanding of managing safeguarding issues and ensuring best practice for service delivery
· Proactive and creative, with an aptitude for building relationships and problem solving
· Understanding of equalities and health inequalities
· An understanding of the complexity that may affect the participants of our services
· Good inter-personal skills with the ability to relate to others and build strong relationships
· Most importantly, you embody our values of:
· Positivity – Integrity – Excellence – Welcoming – Entrepreneurial
ABOUT THE ROLE
You will be key part of our Wellbeing and Communities directorate, offering vital support and strategic direction to our Learning and Wellbeing team to achieve our vision and meet funder requirements and coordinating the development of a new partnership aimed at improving health and wellbeing for people across North and West Bristol. You will lead a team that combines wellbeing and health and employment support, as well as offering support and synergy to other teams in the directorate. This role will ensure support for wider social issues, such as debt, housing, family and health barriers faced to engage with employment and learning opportunities.
You will work closely with our Senior Wellbeing and Learning Coach to develop interventions to improve confidence, physical and mental health and employment prospects.
You will work closely with our Wellbeing and Communities Development Manager to ensure synergy between our wellbeing teams and develop our service offer.
DETAILS:
Location: Greenway Centre, Bristol, BS10
Contract: Permanent
Salary: £35, 455 - £36, 887 (with pending cost of living rise in April 2026)
Hours: fulltime, 37 hours per week
Reports to: Wellbeing and Communities Development Manager
Holiday: 33 days annual leave pro rata (inclusive of Bank Holidays), occupational pension, free membership to Greenway Gym and classes.
Sick Pay: 4 weeks over rolling year, pro rata
Training & Development Opportunities: All mandatory training and job specific training offered, e.g. First Aid, Safeguarding, Motivational Interviewing, Management and Leadership, Trauma Informed Practice and Reflective Practice.
Pension Contribution: Nest Pension Scheme, combined 7% (employer 3%, employee 4% as standard)
Benefits: free membership to Greenway Gym and classes, cycle to work scheme, cafe discount.
Sick Pay: 4 weeks at full pay over rolling year, pro rata
Pension Contribution: Nest Pension Scheme, combined 7% (employer 3%, employee 4% as standard)
Interview process: if you are successful in the shortlisting stage, you will be invited to an in person interview. This will consist of a series of questions, short presentation on your vision for the role and an admin task.
Deadline: 9am, Wednesday 4th March
RESPONSIBILITIES
Key Responsibilities:
Leadership and Partnerships
· To develop and contribute to forums and partnerships that support the growth of our work in North Bristol, including working closely with health partners (community health, Primary Care and acute services) and the learning and employment sectors to develop collaborative services.
· To oversee the Learning and Wellbeing Service and activities, ensuring they meet funder requirements, targets, and quality standards, and are safe, effective and well-managed, including oversight of reporting and budgets and providing leadership and guidance to the Senior Coach.
· To support the development and delivery of the Healthy Ageing Research Project and Community Consortium, working closely with the CEO and Wellbeing and Communities Development Manager.
· To deputise for the Wellbeing and Communities Development Manager at relevant meetings and support the ongoing development of the Communities and Wellbeing team to meet Southmead Development Trust’s strategic objectives.
· To embed community development principles across all work, including strength-based approaches, participant involvement, engagement, and the nurturing of volunteers to help build a resilient community.
· To ensure the safe and effective delivery of activities, interventions and services, including oversight of risk assessments, safeguarding processes, data recording and quality assurance, in collaboration with the Wellbeing and Communities Development Manager.
· To work alongside research partners to develop effective methods for evidencing the impact and effectiveness of interventions, activities and services.
Team Leadership and Line Management
· To lead and inspire the team to create a positive and collaborative culture.
· Coordinate, manage and supervise our Learning and Wellbeing team, and other practitioners as appropriate.
· To provide proactive performance management of staff via the Trusts’ processes, to include but not limited to, holding monthly one-to-one meetings, establishing development opportunities and training.
· To lead team meetings and ensure all practitioners have access to reflective practice and appropriate training
Systems and Marketing
· To work with SDT colleagues and others to improve systems and processes to best support services and other contractual obligations
· To be a key advocate for Beacon database
· To work alongside SDTs Communications Manager to ensure that our services and activities are known and understood by residents of Southmead and North Bristol
Relationship Development, Fundraising New Opportunities
· Build relationships with external agencies, organisations and stakeholders to best support staff and participants and develop new opportunities for delivery and collaborative working.
· Coordinate the Learning and Wellbeing steering group meeting, gathering feedback, advice and ideas to continually improve the service
· Work with teams across Southmead Development Trust to develop engagement and volunteering opportunities for participants.
· Produce content, with the support of the communications team, for social media, mail shots and other channels, to promote and celebrate our wellbeing and learning work
· To develop external funding bids and proposals to sustain and expand our programmes, working with colleagues from the Senior Leadership Team and across the Trust; supporting other income generating activities including supporting the development of tender responses to sustain health and wellbeing initiatives
General Responsibilities
All staff at Southmead Development Trust are expected to:
· Follow all Trust policies, procedures, and safeguarding requirements.
· Model our values: Positivity, Integrity, Excellence, Welcoming, Entrepreneurial.
· Work proactively, use initiative, and collaborate well with colleagues and the community.
· Maintain confidentiality, data protection standards, and a safe, inclusive environment.
· Take part in training, development, staff meetings and occasional evening/weekend work when required.
· Carry out any other reasonable duties to support the organisation.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
ESSENTIAL
· Passion, empathy and desire to support residents to lead healthier and happier lives through holistic, person‑centred, community‑based models.
· Experience of successfully developing and delivering community‑based wellbeing, health or employment services/interventions.
· Track record of developing proposals and securing funding for new wellbeing or health interventions.
· Experience implementing project plans, managing budgets, producing reports and meeting deadlines, and performance managing contracts or projects
· Experience of implementing systems and processes to improve service delivery and evidence.
· Experience of outreach, engagement and working directly with residents to shape and inform services.
· Excellent people management skills with proven experience of supporting, motivating and managing staff and volunteers.
· Experience implementing monitoring and evaluation systems and reporting to funders/stakeholders.
· Experience working holistically with people in 1‑2‑1 or group settings and achieving change.
· Excellent interpersonal, relationship‑building and communication skills with a range of stakeholders and diverse communities.
· Excellent IT skills including Word, Excel, email, web research and presentations.
· Understanding of health inequalities, complexity and barriers to employment/learning, and knowledge of community‑based interventions.
· Highly motivated with the ability to creatively problem‑solve.
· Capacity to work under pressure and adapt to changing workloads.
· Commitment to continual professional development and a personal drive for excellence.
· A flexible team player able to work collaboratively and adapt to changing needs.
· Ability to act as a positive role model and remain calm under pressure.
· Commitment to the charitable objectives and values of Southmead Development Trust.
· Willingness and ability to work outside normal office hours and across multiple sites when required.
· Flexibility to travel locally and work outside core hours as part of service delivery.
DESIRABLE
· Relevant employment, health or wellbeing qualification.
· Management and/or leadership qualification.
· Proven track record of working successfully with partner agencies (health, employment, GPs, NHS, VCSE partners) to deliver measurable outcomes.
· Up‑to‑date knowledge of public health, NHS service developments and funding sources.
· Knowledge of Southmead, North Bristol or similar communities and the issues facing residents.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
AHF is seeking an England Development Manager (Heritage Revival Fund) to co‑lead our core grants and advisory programme across England. This role has been created following the recent announcement of significant new investment, which will support the expansion of the Heritage Revival Fund through to 2030. This investment will enable AHF, in partnership with DCMS and Historic England, to provide grants to hundreds of communities across England, helping them bring neglected historic buildings back into use.
Ideally based in southern or central England with focus on southern half of the country. The postholder will work jointly with the current England Development Manager (HRF), who will focus on the northern half of England. Together, they will oversee activity and workflow across the whole country. The role also includes joint management of the England grants team (who work remotely) and programme budget, working flexibly and collaboratively to ensure the successful delivery of AHF’s core programme.
We are looking for a candidate with strong experience across the key responsibilities of the role, including team management, programme budget oversight, and reporting. Ideally, they will bring a proven track record of leadership within the heritage or charitable sector. Candidates must have strong numerical and financial skills, excellent attention to detail, confidence using common IT and Office systems, and the ability to work collaboratively as part of a team.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.