Development manager jobs

Senior Development Manager (Philanthropy & Partnerships

Contract Type This is a full time (37.5 hours per week) permanent role, however we welcome applications for flexible working

Salary: £40,814

About Us

Norwich Theatre is one of the leading arts organisations in the UK and the largest in the East of England, encompassing the historic Theatre Royal, the creative hub Stage Two, and the intimate mid-scale Playhouse. We present, produce and co-create a vibrant programme of live performance and creative engagement activities to entertain, enrich and inspire audiences of all ages and backgrounds, and we work with national and international partners to ensure we bring the very best theatre to our region.

We are an independent not-for-profit charity with no regular public funding, and rely on a share of ticket sales, one-off grants, fundraising/membership schemes and other commercial activities to deliver the work we do both on stage and in communities.

About the role

The Senior Manager (Philanthropy & Partnerships) will provide strategic management for Norwich Theatre’s high-value income generation, spearheading the development, expansion and stewardship of corporate partnerships, corporate membership, major donor relationships, legacy giving and other transformational fundraising programmes.

This pivotal role will shape and deliver organisational strategies that secure substantial philanthropic and partnership income, cultivate senior-level relationships, and ensure long-term financial sustainability in alignment with Norwich Theatre’s vision and strategic priorities.

About you

You will have proven experience in managing stakeholder and supporter relationships, together with a track record of cultivating and stewarding high-value supporters, clients or partners.

An excellent negotiator, with strong planning and prioritisation skills, you will be highly collaborative, people focussed and proactive.

We offer

A good salary, 25 days holiday, plus public holidays, plus your birthday off, together with an inclusive culture focussed on wellbeing and happiness. We have a commitment to personal and professional development, discounts on a range of on food, drink and theatre tickets and access to My Discounts, employee discount scheme, offering savings on retail, gyms, travel, utilities and more.

About the Role

2026 marks 100 years since Gunnersbury Park was opened as a public park, and Gunnersbury Museum and Park Development Trust are looking to hire a freelance development manager to help us make the most of our centenary year. 

We are looking for an experienced development professional to join our team on a freelance basis as part of an Arts Council funded project. This role will be a real opportunity to become embedded in an organisation at the beginning of a transformative period, as we focus our energies on raising awareness of the great work of GMPDT.

The successful candidate will lead GMPDT towards increased financial resilience by identifying new funding opportunities and managing the development of a new fundraising campaign.

They will work with staff and volunteers to develop a ‘project bank’ of fundable projects across the Museum and Park and identify appropriate funding streams for each.

They will also identify one key project to launch Gunnersbury’s first fundraising campaign, working with freelancers/subcontractors to create supporting materials for the chosen campaign.

About You

Experience

• Experience of fundraising and donor engagement in museum/heritage sector and/or environmental sector
• Proven ability to create and deliver successful fundraising campaigns
• Experience of writing compelling cause messaging, or managing the delivery of cause messaging
• Experience of working with small organisations
• Experienced in CRM databases including Beacon
• Confident in managing projects to tight deadlines
• Extensive knowledge of grant writing and reporting
• Experience in writing and producing impact reports

Skills:

• Self-starter with the confidence to work alone as well as within a small, busy team
• Excellent communication skills to reach a wide range of audiences
• A strong leader and trainer of others
• Comfortable working with a wide range of colleagues and stakeholders
• Creative thinker with new ideas for donor engagement and fundraising campaigns.
• Attention to de reporting requirements and compliance for successful grants.

Key Responsibilities

• Audit the existing fundraising/development functions of the organisation, and identify any gaps or missed opportunities
• Working with the Project Board hold workshops with staff and volunteers to develop a ‘project bank’ of fundable ideas, which will include detail of the ideas, potential funding sources and timeline for completion
• Develop new cause messaging, and help to foster a culture of identifying key stories to share with our audiences
• Work with the project team to identify a single project to anchor a new fundraising campaign
• Develop a suite of digital and print content to support the fundraising campaign, and train existing team on the best way to deliver messaging around the campaign
• Report regularly to the project board on the progress of the work stream, and identify any project delivery risks

Development Manager - Major Gifts

Location: Kingston upon Thames (Hybrid working - minimum 2-3 days on campus)
Salary: £45,025 per annum
Contract: Full-time, Permanent
Closing Date: midday Friday 16 January 2026
Interviews in person: TBC 28 or 29 Jan 2026

Help to shape the future of philanthropy and alumni engagement at Kingston University.

Kingston University is an incredible place to work. For over 125 years, we've been shaping student futures through academic excellence and forward-thinking teaching. Our recent TEF Gold rating reflects our commitment to delivering outstanding education and research. Through our ambitious Town House Strategy, we're embedding a progressive new model of education and driving innovation through partnerships with businesses, communities, and organisations.

The Development, Alumni Relations and Engagement (DARE) team plays a vital role in delivering these ambitions. With a global alumni community of over 270,000, we foster meaningful relationships that drive philanthropic support, unlock partnerships, and enhance the University's reputation and reach.

The Role

As Development Manager - Major Gifts, you will be a senior member of the DARE team, responsible for generating philanthropic income to meet ambitious annual targets. Reporting to the Head of Major Gifts, you will:

• Manage a portfolio of high-value donors (individuals, trusts & foundations, corporates), personally soliciting gifts of £10,000+.
• Support the pipeline of mid-level prospects and help develop ultra-high-net-worth individuals for transformative gifts.
• Deliver against KPIs and income targets, contributing to our goal of growing major giving from £450,000 annually to £1 million within three years.
• Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders and academic leaders, producing compelling proposals and leading donor engagement.

This is a dynamic, outward-facing role requiring excellent relationship-building skills, strategic thinking, and a passion for the impact of fundraising in higher education.

About You

You will be an experienced and driven fundraiser with:

• A proven track record of securing and stewarding four-figure and above gifts.
• Strong influencing and communication skills, with confidence engaging high-profile individuals.
• Experience managing a varied portfolio and achieving ambitious KPIs.
• A collaborative approach and the ability to work across a complex organisation.

Experience in higher education or the charity sector is desirable, but not essential.

Why Join Us?

• Hybrid working (minimum 2-3 days on campus).
• A supportive, ambitious team committed to innovation and impact.
• The opportunity to make a lasting difference to students and the University community.

We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and are committed to building an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.

Apply now and bring your expertise, passion, and authentic self to Kingston University.
Please share a copy of your profile or CV with Philippa at Charity People as the first step.

Benefits include:

* Generous holiday entitlement of 35 days (from entry at all levels), in addition to bank holidays

* Three 'meeting free' weeks each year to create space for reflection and time to plan for the period ahead

* Flexible working - we can consider and accommodate various work patterns

* Family-friendly policies that support the needs of our employees

* Exceptional professional development opportunities

Key Details
- Location: Kingston upon Thames (Hybrid working, 2-3 days/week on campus)
- Closing Date: midday on Friday 16 Jan
- Interview Date: in person provisionally 28 or 29 Jan

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 evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.

Role outline and purpose

The Development Manager – Trusts & Foundations is responsible for delivering new relationships with a wide spectrum of Trusts and Foundations to grow our portfolio of high value funding partners. Responsible for developing compelling propositions and applications that drive transformational funding for our strategic programmes of work, maximising income generation, though prospecting, cultivating and securing funding to deliver against our strategic objectives and ambitious income targets.

This role is part of the Together with Trussell programme, the goal of which is to build stronger connections with our supporters, partners and donors in order to increase funding, campaigning, and other forms of support for our work. As a member of an enabling programme, this role is focused on the successful delivery of the Together with Trussell programme outcomes, which underpin and enable the outcomes of our 5 external programmes - together contributing to the fulfilment of our long term vision of a UK without the need for food banks.

Role responsibilities

· Work with the Programme Funding team to deliver our income generation strategy, meeting income targets based on long term financial forecasts, by proactively developing new opportunities, propositions and relationships with a wide variety of Trusts and Foundations – including corporate foundations, family trusts and institutional trusts.

· Proactively identify, develop and nurture relationships with potential funders to maximise fundraising potential.

· Work alongside the High Value Partnerships team to ensure new funders are onboarded and handed over to account management and supporting with compelling propositions to uplift and retain their support.

· Provide line management support to the Development Officer – Trusts.

· Collaborate with our marketing and content teams to ensure we can communicate the impact of our high value supporters on our mission.

Person Specification

Technical skills and minimum knowledge:

· High value fundraising experience, preferably including raising funds from Trusts and Foundations, delivering strategic partnerships, or applicable commercial background.

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to analyse data and budgets and use CRM software.

· Ability to establish credibility quickly with a range of stakeholders, with the influencing and clear communication skills.

· Able to manage multiple projects and relationships, communicate priorities and identify and resolve conflict.

Behaviours and competencies:

· Exemplify Trussell values and demonstrate a commitment to inclusive behaviour and leadership.

· Able to think strategically to identify synergies, linking programmatic activity with funder motivations.

· Comfortable working in a fast paced, high performing and highly relational organisation, combining problem solving with collaborative interpersonal skills.

· A confident communicator and presenter, diplomatic, effective at building rapport, and able to approach challenges with positivity and high energy.

Key Stakeholders

· Head of Programme Funding and team

· Partnership Development Team

· Potential Partners and Funders

· Programme Teams

Job Title: Community Centre Manager 

Location / Salary / Contract:

Location: Southwark
Salary: £45,000-£49,000 per annum
Contract: Permanent, Full-time (37 hours per week, with some evening and weekend work)

The Opportunity:

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and dynamic Community Centre Manager to lead the operations, programming, and partnership development of a vibrant community space serving both residents and the wider neighbourhood. This is a hands-on role suited to an energetic and organised individual who thrives on community engagement, service excellence, and creating meaningful opportunities for older adults and intergenerational groups. You will play a central role in developing and managing programmes that enhance wellbeing, build community connections, and promote inclusion within an elderly residential care setting.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage all community centre spaces, ensuring they are well-presented, welcoming, and fully utilised.
• Oversee the programming and scheduling of diverse activities that support organisational goals and community engagement.
• Lead on income generation through effective room hire management and budget oversight.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with voluntary, statutory, and business organisations to enhance programme delivery.
• Supervise and support staff, volunteers, and casual workers to deliver high-quality services and activities.
• Ensure compliance with Health and Safety, Fire Safety, and Safeguarding requirement

The Candidate:

You will be a proactive and empathetic leader with experience managing community facilities or similar public-facing spaces. With excellent organisational, financial, and communication skills, you will have the ability to balance community priorities with commercial needs. You should have a solid understanding of health and safety compliance, staff supervision, and partnership development. A passion for creating inclusive and engaging environments for older people and the wider community is essential.

How to Apply:

If the above role sounds interesting and you feel like you meet the criteria, please apply immediately. Early applications are encouraged as we reserve the right to close this vacancy prior to the stated closing date.

We are recruiting three Funding Strategy Development Managers, two Permanent roles and one Fixed-term for 12 months. Please state clearly in your supporting statement if you wish to be considered for the Fixed Term or Permanent role

This is an exciting opportunity to join the National Lottery Community Fund’s, Funding Strategy, Innovation and UK Directorate at a key moment in the delivery of our strategy. If you are up for playing a central role in a new team, which will be vital in enabling the Fund to deliver for communities in the years ahead, then this role could be for you.

We are approaching the midpoint of implementation of our strategy “It starts with community”. Over the last few years our funding portfolios in each of the nations of the UK and corporate functions have worked hard to embed the strategic ambitions we set ourselves. We are looking to take stock of our progress, understand how a changing world may impact our work and explore how we can grow our ambition to address the issues that will impact communities over the years ahead. Building on what we have achieved so far, we want to make greater progress including:

• Ensuring the fund has a thorough and live understanding of its collective response to the strategy, where our successes are and where there are opportunities to go further.
• Supporting our senior management team to come together to understand and explore our progress and shape the strategic direction for the organisation together
• Supporting greater engagement and collaboration between funding portfolios to enable sharing and learning, to build a better collective understanding of our missions and commitments and grow our impact
• ​Delivering ambitious and impactful projects to address common opportunities and challenges, for example to support the embedding of partnership working across the Fund, or to respond to the challenges and opportunities presented by new technologies.
• Supporting ongoing strategy development, including horizon scanning to maintain a collective picture of key developments related to our missions, cross cutting commitments and wider factors impacting communities.

Your day will be a blend of strategic thinking, stakeholder engagement, and practical execution, with plenty of opportunities to collaborate, influence, and drive change across the Fund. You will be one of two permanent managers in a small new team led by the Head of Strategy Development.

As this is a new team roles and responsibilities will be defined as the Team comes together. However, responsibilities may include:

• Drafting Senior Management Team (SMT) and Board reports on strategy implementation to update on progress and promote discussions on areas for development.
• Monitoring of funding portfolio strategy development and delivery activity, including maintaining regular engagement with portfolio representatives.
• Reviewing progress reports, identifying risks and issues and shaping recommendations to meet challenges and opportunities to go further in meeting strategic ambitions.
• Working closely with the Fund’s Governance Team to ensure the appropriate use of governance fora to provide oversight of strategy implementation and development work and maintaining an effective forward look of key priorities.
• Leading on engagement with key corporate functions, such as analytical, communications, legal and Human Resources, to support alignment with strategic ambitions.
• Engaging with funding teams across the Fund to support strong alignment between strategic ambition and operational realities.
• Leading discreet projects to explore emerging shared opportunities and challenges, undertaking desk research, engaging internal and external stakeholders and shaping proposals.
• Identifying opportunities for further alignment, internal partnerships and new ways of working.

Interview Details:

• Interview Date: TBC - 22 and 23 of January
• Format: Virtual
• Location: UK-Wide

Location: We have a hybrid approach to working, work pattern and location will be agreed with the successful candidate. The role can be based at any of our UK offices, these are Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Exeter, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Newcastle and Newtown.

Briefing session: We will be hosting a briefing session to further outline the role and answer questions on the following date: 15 December 2025, 3:15- 4:00pm. To register or ask any questions about the recruitment process, please contact the recruitment team.

​How to apply:

Upload your CV in word format and write a supporting statement (1000 words) with the following criteria, we will use this to score your application.

Essential criteria:

• Experience of working with civil society, either working in a civil society organisation or in a supporting function (e.g. in a funding, consultancy or policy making body) with a strong understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the sector.
• Experience of managing competing priorities to ensure successful delivery of key pieces of work.
• Strong collaboration skills, able to work with a range of people at different levels within an organisation to shape plans and projects that reflect the interests of the organisation.
• Strong external engagement skills, able to proactively identify a range of relevant stakeholders, build and maintain relationships, and draw on knowledge and expertise to inform proposals and projects.
• Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to draw on data and qualitative evidence to understand complex topics and shape evidence led proposals. 
• Strong communication skills, able to present complex topics clearly using a range of communication tools, in particular, able to write clear and succinct formal papers for senior leaders. 
• Strong project management skills, able to use a range of tools to set out clear and timely delivery plans, identifying appropriate milestones, risks and issues.

Desirable criteria:

• Experience of working in a policy or strategy team, helping to set direction for an organisation or major programme of work

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion 

Communities in the UK come in all shapes and sizes. National Lottery funding is for everyone – therefore, we are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and we work hard to ensure our funding reaches where it is needed.  

We also believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. That’s why The National Lottery Community Fund is committed to being an inclusive employer and a great place to work. We recognise and celebrate the fact that our people come from diverse backgrounds. We positively welcome applications from people from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities or longstanding health conditions, people who are LGBTQ+, and people from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds, as well as people of all ages. 

As a Disability Confident Employer, we take a proactive approach in making reasonable adjustments, if needed, throughout the recruitment process and during employment. (This can be related to a physical and mental health condition).

The charity is rapidly scaling up, recently doubling its annual support to £6 million. Degrees has partnered with leading climate change funders and research partners including the Quadrature Climate Foundation, Open Philanthropy, Crankstart, Navigation Fund, Outlier Projects, LAD Climate Fund and UK Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA). Transparency of funding is essential to our work. We do not accept support from anonymous donors or funding from the fossil fuel industry. Fundraising for the organisation has been led by the Founder and CEO, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Chief of Staff, and the Chair of the Trustees with the support of an experienced Senior Philanthropy Advisor.

We now seek a full-time team member to build on this base. Reporting to the COO, and working closely with senior staff and the Chair, the Development Manager will support high‑performing fundraising that secures multi‑year, diversified funding. He / she will also introduce robust processes for pipeline management and donor stewardship and manage the complete donor lifecycle (from identification to cultivation to solicitation and stewardship) of a portfolio of top prospects. The post holder will receive initial onboarding support from the Senior Philanthropy Advisor. As fundraising grows, the team may expand in the future.

Initial priorities include expansion beyond the current donor pool, with a strong push to identify and engage new funders, and putting in place the systems (CRM, reporting cadence, key performance indicators) to support growth at scale.

As this is a new role, responsibilities are expected to evolve but some key items will include: 

Strategy & planning 

• Work with the CEO, Chief of Staff, COO, Senior Philanthropy Advisor, programme staff and the Chair of the Trustees to help develop and implement a multi-year fundraising strategy aligned with organisational objectives;

Pipeline development & new opportunities 

• Manage the fundraising pipeline, guiding the ongoing fundraising activities of senior staff and the Chair;
• Research and identify new funding opportunities from trusts and foundations, government funders, and multilateral donors in the development and climate sectors on an ongoing basis;
• Reach out to networks of donor advisors and established relationships for referrals;
• Initiate and manage contact with funding opportunities; 

Grant writing 

• Draft and coordinate the preparation and submission of grant proposals;

Donor stewardship & reporting

• Maintain excellent relations with existing funders by keeping them informed on charity and sector updates, inviting them to events, and ensuring the delivery of annual reports and notices;
• Ensure and manage ongoing formal grant reporting on behalf of the organisation;

Events & engagement 

• Often working with partners, plan and deliver fundraising events for existing and potential funders, particularly in the UK and US;
• Manage invitation lists, track attendance and ensure bespoke follow–up to attendees;
• Assist in the design of events that will inspire and engage funders while involving Southern experts in the Degrees research community;
• Coordinate all fundraising outreach and related programming for the Degrees Global Forum (a conference to be held in 2027); 

Processes, systems & administration

• Create and implement structured processes across the entire fundraising and donor lifecycle;
• Develop and track KPIs, providing regular reports to senior staff and the Trustees;
• Be responsible for fundraising data, contacts and administrative records.

Derbyshire Cricket Foundation (DCF) is the Governing Body for recreational cricket in Derbyshire, delivering services in support of the cricket community across the county.  It is one of 39 County Cricket Boards/Foundations in England & Wales and works in partnership with a number of key stakeholders to develop the recreational game locally in line with the strategy developed by the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB). We have an ambition to inspire a generation to say, “Cricket is a game for me”.  The DCF is also a registered charity that aims to improve well-being and provide opportunities for diverse communities across the County through cricket. The Business Development Manager will develop and leverage local partnerships with sponsors, stakeholders, and funding bodies to support these aims.

The primary work location for the Business Development Manager will be at the County Ground, Nottingham Road, Derby, but the role will require travel on a regular basis as the role will be proactive in engaging stakeholders across Derbyshire in support of the DCF strategy and business plan. The position provides an opportunity, for Business Development Manager to work flexibly, and this is likely to include the occasional requirement to participate in some evening and weekend commitments.

Purpose and Focus of the Role

We are seeking an experienced Business Development Manager with excellent relationship management skills to help develop and sustainably grow the impact of our business by identifying and securing new investment to support the delivery of DCF programmes and activity. This will include working with existing corporate and charity partners, and establishing new relationships with Corporate sponsors, individual donors, and Trusts & Foundations.

You will develop and use stewardship tools to guide donors and partnerships through their giving journey, including cultivation plans, proposals, and reports. You will be involved in sourcing and presenting tailored information, making appropriate financial and non-financial requests. The responsibilities of the Business Development Manager will include:

• Fundraising Strategy & Implementation
• High Value Relationship Management
• Corporate Partnerships
• Trusts & Foundations
• Profile & Impact
• Leadership & Management
• Governance & Compliance