Development manager jobs in Cambridge, cambridgeshire
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Fauna & Flora is seeking a highly experienced Programme Development Manager to build excellent donor relationships, support pipeline development and coordinate and develop high-quality and winning concept notes and proposals for government and multilateral donors, with funders such as Defra, FCDO, EU, AFD, and climate and environment multilateral funds etc.
About the Team
The Institutional Funding Team works with the wider organisation to cultivate donor partnerships to generate programme funding to support the delivery of Fauna & Flora’s strategy.
About the Role
This role will support colleagues and partners to engage with and develop high-quality proposal packages for priority donors. The role will coordinate the development and submission of high-quality and donor aligned proposals and reporting. There is a strong capacity development and learning element to this work, and the role will share knowledge, learning and resources across Fauna & Flora to maximise success rate and promote best practice in grant management and donor stewardship.
About You
Experience of working with institutional and government funding sources, be they bilateral and/or multilateral, is essential for this role. You will have proven experience of securing programme funding from government sources, and a good understanding of how institutional donors and funding programmes support the achievement of international targets and government priorities.
You will also have excellent relationship-management and communications skills and be able to develop collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including regional teams, non-governmental partners, and government agencies. You will be diplomatic and persuasive, and your excellent interpersonal skills will enable you to coordinate people and processes to meet timelines. As an excellent team player, you’ll enjoy working in a dynamic and friendly environment.
What We Offer
In return, the role offers the opportunity to work within a ground-breaking and entrepreneurial organisation, at the forefront of global conservation delivering over 130 projects in more than 40 countries. In addition, Fauna & Flora offers a generous pension contribution, attractive annual leave allowance and life insurance. Our offices are located in The David Attenborough Building in central Cambridge, just a few minutes’ walk from glorious historic buildings and museums, the picturesque River Cam, the central market and shopping centre, and a host of cafés and restaurants. Our current hybrid working policy offers partial remote working within the UK, the current expectation for this role is one day per week or one week per month in the office.
Other organisations may call this role Programme Funding Manager; Institutional Funding Manager or Business Development Manager.
Please visit our website and download the job application pack for further details on how to apply
The closing date for applications is 23:59 Sunday, 25 January 2026. Interviews are likely to take place during the first two weeks of February 2026.
This role is not eligible for sponsorship for a Skilled Worker Visa
BIND UK is a specialist team offering expert advice and guidance to organisations that are determined to deliver practical, positive and permanent impact to the UK’s Food Waste Challenge. We believe change is created not by a handful of people doing sustainability perfectly, but by everyone doing a little something. Find out more about our values and purpose here.
About Eat Smart
Eat Smart is a successful primary school educational programme born in the NE of England designed to inspire children and schools to reduce food waste and build sustainable food systems. We deliver engaging resources and learning experiences that empower schools and pupils to have more ownership of their kitchens/dinner halls, improve student wellbeing, and have increased environmental awareness.
Since 2018 Eat Smart has enabled 70 schools in North East England to rescue their food waste by over 25%, equivalent to saving 6,000 meals worth £13,000 per school, per year, and our expansion to other areas of the UK has already begun. With an ever-growing data set and credibility for school food waste prevention, we have increasing potential to affect school food policy and deliver food waste prevention interventions on a national level.
As we expand our delivery across the UK, we are seeking a dynamic and strategic Development Manager to lead the expansion via a franchise model, build partnerships, and oversee the operational excellence of our growing network.
This is a pivotal leadership role focused on scaling the Eat Smart model nationally. The postholder will drive growth by developing regional and national partnerships, securing funding streams, recruiting and onboarding delivery partners, and ensuring quality and impact across all Eat Smart schools and organisations.
You will combine strong operational management with strategic business development — ensuring Eat Smart continues to grow sustainably, aligning with Bind’s aims and values.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Growth & Project Development
- Co-develop and deliver a UK-wide expansion strategy for Eat Smart
- Develop and manage the franchise/licensing model for national delivery partners
- Lead on the recruitment, onboarding, and support of partner organisations to deliver the Eat Smart programme effectively
Funding & Partnership Development
- Identify, establish and nurture partnerships with national and local government agencies, policy makers, school bodies and funders
- Build strategic relationships with relevant education, environment and community organisations
- Research relevant funding opportunities for delivery partners and Bind
- Support delivery partners with the submission of funding applications
UK Network Management & Evaluation
- Co-design/develop the Eat Smart monitoring and evaluation system to monitor KPIs and the environmental and social impact of Eat Smart across the UK
- Lead on the management of the monitoring and evaluation system, supporting delivery partners where necessary
- Create local and national impact reports for Eat Smart and use insights to inform improvement and growth
- Manage the support network of UK delivery partners, ensuring they are able to deliver the programme effectively
- Assist delivery partners with meetings with Local Authorities and catering organisations
Marketing & Communications
- Co-design and lead on delivery of annual Eat Smart conferences
- Represent Eat Smart at events, conferences, and networking opportunities across the UK
- Manage Eat Smart UK social media channels
- Develop digital and print materials to support programme promotion and recruitment
Person Specification
Essential:
- Align with Bind’s values. If you are this, we can teach you the rest!
- Understanding of third sector grant funding landscape and experience in successful bid writing
- Strong project management and organisational skills
- Experience in partnership and stakeholder recruitment and management
- Ability to lead, inspire, and develop teams of partners remotely
- Experience with monitoring, evaluation, and reporting frameworks
- Entrepreneurial mindset with a passion for improving environmental and education outcomes.
- Excellent written and verbal communicator and proficient in IT systems (shared documents, spreadsheets, Zoom/Teams/Meet, social media, website editing and emails)
Desirable:
- Interest in, and awareness of, food waste on a local and global level
- Experience in business development, franchise management, or operational leadership
- Experience working in education, environment or social impact sectors
- Knowledge of primary school systems
- Experience of community engagement in the UK
- Full driving license and access to own vehicle
** A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced Disclosure Check will be required for the post, but a clean DBS certificate is not essential for the role - we will review employees with a criminal record on a case-by-case basis. **
What We Offer
- Opportunity to shape and lead the national growth of an amazing educational programme
- A collaborative, mission-driven environment with real social and environmental impact
- Flexible working arrangements and supportive leadership. Many of our Eat Smart staff choose to work term-time only
- Remote working, with an office in Newcastle's Ouseburn Valley
- Being part of a small and passionate team, who believe in a positive disruptive mission to change the food waste landscape across the UK.
Key Information
- Deadline for all applications is Mon 12th January 2026 at 9am – applications received after this date will not be considered.
- In-person interviews will take place on 21st January 2026 in Newcastle.
- Based in Newcastle’s Ouseburn Valley but this role can be worked remotely/hybrid (some UK-wide travel required incl. a trip to Newcastle minimum monthly)
- Contract: 30-32 hours per week (with the option of increased hours during term-time and reduced hours in school holidays).
- The start date will be end of February 2026, but start dates will be discussed at interview.
- We will contact all applicants as soon as possible to inform them of the status of their application.
To apply, please refer to the attached Job Description and email a CV along with a supporting statement.
Your supporting statement should reflect what makes you a suitable candidate, how you meet the requirements set out in the person specification and any other supporting information relevant to the role.
Jobs with Purpose will be in touch with you regarding your application and any next steps. To arrange a chat about the role, please include your availability and contact details and David Robinson will be in touch with suitable applicants to arrange this.