Director of communications jobs in hackney, greater london

About SPANA

SPANA (The Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad) is the global charity for the working animals of the world. Since our foundation in 1923, we have worked where they work, to support the welfare of working animals, including horses, donkeys, mules, oxen, dogs and camels.

About this role

As Head of Digital Engagement you will lead SPANA’s digital presence across web, email, social and emerging platforms – ensuring the organisation’s voice, brand and mission are powerfully communicated to global audiences. You will also provide strategic direction and hands-on leadership to the digital team, fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration and excellence to maximise impact and drive growth. 

This exciting role is responsible for shaping and delivering a compelling and consistent digital experience that drives awareness, deepens engagement and supports organisational priorities in communications, advocacy and income generation. You will play a central role in delivering SPANA’s strategic ambitions through innovative, data-informed digital approaches. 

Contract, location and salary

This is a full-time (34.5 hours per week), permanent role with a salary of approximately £55,000 per annum subject to skills and experience. This role is UK based, and candidates must have the current right to work in the UK. SPANA staff work remotely, attending our London office once or twice a month (or more if preferred). 

SPANA offers benefits to staff including a health care cash plan with Medicash, and generous pension scheme with SPANA contributing 10% if the employee contributes at least 5%.

Full details and how to apply

Please review the job description for full details including a person specification. The deadline for applications is 23:59 BST on Sunday 21 September 2025.

The Fundraising Support Officer will be supporting both Special Events and Community Fundraising.  You will be the go-to person for administrative and logistical support, keeping projects on track, ensuring communications reach our supporters and volunteers on time, and managing key event platforms. Your work will play a vital part in raising funds that drive life-changing research for children.

What You’ll Do

• Provide day-to-day administrative and logistical support across fundraising projects.
• Manage silent auction platforms for high-profile events, liaising with donors and uploading product details.
• Support communications with donors, bidders, and event supporters.
• Coordinate supporter journeys and promotions using digital mailing platform.
• Handle supporter care enquiries and maintain accurate records on Raiser’s Edge CRM.
• Work collaboratively across the organisation to ensure a great supporter experience.

You will be working from home in this role, but you must reside in the UK.

Applications should be by CV with a supporting statement showing how you meet the skills and experience in the person specification.  You are encouraged to apply as soon as possible as applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis and we will close the role before the closing date should a suitable applicant be found. If you have not heard from us by 12 September, then unfortunately you have not been shortlisted.

First interviews will be held w/c 15 September 2025.

Benefits include 25 days annual leave pro rata (inclusive of three days closure between 27 and 31 December) and a Group Flexible Retirement Plan.

Head of Philanthropy
Permanent
Full time (34.5 hours) 
Split between home and our London Office 
£80,000 - £88,000

About us:

At Macmillan you'll find talented people working together to do whatever it takes to support people living with cancer. We're going all out to find even better ways to help even more people who need our support. Our values are at the heart of who we are and everything we do, inspiring our thinking and guiding our actions.

About the role:

Are you a strategic and inspiring fundraising leader ready to drive transformational change? 

Macmillan Cancer Support is seeking a visionary Head of Philanthropy to lead a step-change in income generation. You’ll build deep, strategic relationships with high-net-worth individuals, trusts and foundations, and lead a talented team of 10 fundraisers (including 2 direct reports) to deliver our current £5 million annual target. 

With a bold ambition to grow our philanthropy income to £20 million annually by 2030, you’ll develop and deliver a high-impact strategy that places philanthropy at the heart of Macmillan’s mission. Working closely with our Director of Corporate Partnerships & Philanthropy, you’ll shape the future of our philanthropic work and inspire a culture of excellence and innovation. 

What you’ll be doing: 

• Leading the development of a sector-leading philanthropy strategy. 

• Inspiring and empowering your team through growth and transformation. 

• Building a world-class stewardship programme that connects supporters to impact. 

• Cultivating new relationships and unlocking transformational gifts. 

• Collaborating across the organisation to create compelling funding propositions. 

What we’re looking for: 

• Proven success in securing £1m+ gifts and leading multi-million-pound appeals. 

• Influential leadership and a passion for Macmillan’s cause. 

• Effective commercial acumen and experience managing budgets of £5m+. 

• Confidence in engaging with senior stakeholders and donors. 

Why join us? 

This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of philanthropy at one of the UK’s most respected charities. You’ll be part of a dynamic, inclusive and ambitious team, working to deliver real impact for people living with cancer. 

In return, we offer a range of benefits including:

• 25 days holiday plus flexible bank holiday options, increasing by 1 day every year of service up to 30 days 
• Pension matched up to 7.5%
• 120+ learning and development offers, with access to external professional qualifications
• Flexible working patterns, such as compressed hours, flexibility to work earlier or later around our core working hours of 10am-4pm
• Holiday buying and selling scheme, life insurance, free wills, retail discounts and much more

Recruitment Process
Application deadline: 1st Sept 2025
First interview dates: Mid-Sept 2025 (TBC)

To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for this role, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed.

Are you passionate about youth work with leadership experience? We are looking for a Director of Youth Work to provide effective leadership and strategic direction for the Youth Work team within FAST London. The Director of Youth Work will sit in the Leadership Team, working in collaboration with the CEO and managers to ensure FAST’s overall strategic objectives and desired outcomes are met.

Who we are

FAST London (FAST) is a Christian youth charity based on the Patmore Estate focused on supporting 10–19-year-olds from deprived backgrounds in Battersea and South Lambeth. Our mission is to help young people succeed by creating safe spaces and providing diversionary and inspiring activities that develop resilience and inspire hope in efforts to achieve this. We build relationships with young people by engaging with them in environments where they feel most comfortable whilst doing activities they love. Once relationships are developed, we work with young people and stakeholders to overcome challenges and unlock potential.We also provide opportunities for young people to explore the Christian faith as we believe it transforms lives. We serve people without regard to their religion or ethnic background.

Context for this role

This is a pivotal moment for FAST as the need for our work has expanded due to more young people falling into poverty and struggling in schools. Whilst capacity is a challenge with 60% cut in public youth programmes over the last decade (YMCA 2020). We are still growing strong and are able to work with 300 young people annually. However, our desire is to continue this work of establishing and growing a healthy youth organisation that provides excellent & vibrant youth work that makes a difference to young people’s lives and produces healthy staff that are equipped and empowered to do the job they love. Therefore, the need to grow our team is quite pressing. We are in search for someone with experience leading youth work and developing a healthy organisation who can help strengthen our work here in very significant ways, with a particular gifting in thinking strategically and working hard to get results.

We would love to hear from you if you:

Qualities and Attributes

• Are a committed Christian who loves young people with a heart for the most vulnerable and hard-to-reach
• Have excellent interpersonal and communication skills that inspire confidence and develop a culture of excellence.
• Are strategic thinker, with an ability to grasp detail and translate ideas into strategies and deliverable outcomes.
• Are highly organised, adaptable, problem solver with a focus on results.
• Can think systematically with knowledge of systems and governance of systems

Experience

• Have experience of working in senior leadership in an organisation and a track record of driving strategic vision to reality
• Can deliver frontline youth work in group sessions as well as one-to-one mentoring- experience delivering football projects is ideal
• Have experience in project and/or operations management and a track record for developing the systems, quality assurance and management that support organisational excellence;
• Have experience of managing Safeguarding and Risk within an organisation.
• Have experience of strategic project design, development and evaluation
• Have experience in finance and managing budgets

This post is subject to an occupational requirement that the holder is a practising Christian under Part 1 of Schedule 9 to the Equality Act 2010.

Are you a creative communicator with a passion for global education and international development? As the UK-based Fundraising and Communications Officer for United World Schools, you will play a crucial role in bridging global program activity and American donor engagement, through effective communication.

Based in London and working closely with both the Global Communications team and the US Executive Director, you will adapt real-time updates from the field into compelling, US-tailored content for digital platforms, social media, campaigns, donor materials, and events.

You’ll bring a keen understanding of audience preferences and storytelling strategies that resonate across borders.

This is a part-time, highly collaborative role ideal for someone with previous communications experience in an international setting who thrives in a cross-cultural, fast-paced environment.

Person Specification- Essential Skills & Experience

• Established experience in marketing or communications
• Proven ability to write for social media, email, and websites with clarity and impact
• Understanding of digital media trends
• Experience collaborating across departments and geographies
• Strong organisational skills and digital literacy (CMS, email platforms, content scheduling tools)
• A genuine passion for education, equity, and sustainable development

Why Apply?

This is a rare opportunity to work at the intersection of global impact and targeted donor engagement, ensuring vital education programming continues to thrive in some of the world’s most underserved communities.

By helping UWS USA tell its story in powerful, culturally relevant ways, you’ll directly support fundraising efforts that change the lives of thousands of children.

• Location: London (Hybrid – 1-2 days in the London office (Whitechapel, E1)
• Hours: Part-time (25 hours per week), permanent
• Salary: £28,000 - £32,000 (pro rata), depending on experience
• Closing Date: Rolling, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, please apply now to avoid disappointment

Apply now for more information or an informal chat about the role.

As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp™, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.

Established in 1997, Jigsaw4u provide a range of services for children, young people, families and vulnerable adults experiencing complex social and emotional difficulties across South West London. Jigsaw4u has experienced considerable growth and development over the past several years. Jigsaw4u’s Board of Trustees and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) have recognised the need for dedicated staffing resource to hold the day-to-day responsibility for the service management function as part of our Senior Leadership Team (SLT).

As a member of our SLT, you will help to deliver and shape and the organisation’s vision and strategy. It will be your responsibility to ensure that Jigsaw4u’s services achieve their goals, meet their strategic objectives and achieve our growth targets while being delivered to Jigsaw4u’s exceptionally high standards.

Under the direction of the CEO, the postholder’s areas of responsibility will be to:

• Line Manage the Service Managers, ensuring that their teams are high performing, reporting and data collection is of a high standard and relationships with funders and other stakeholders are outstanding.
• Ensure that the structure of all Jigsaw4u services are optimised to allow for growth and support staff and volunteers (including trainee counsellors/therapists) to develop key skills.
• Maintain knowledge and awareness of best practice within the charitable sector (and other sectors where relevant), to inform and update Jigsaw4u so that we take advantage of the latest approaches to change, innovation and development which can have a positive impact on our beneficiaries lives.
• Work proactively and collaboratively to identify innovation and business improvement within the SLT to define and agree Target Operating Models and oversee implementation and ongoing review. Use insight, evaluation and analysis to continually inform and refine practice.
• Play a full part in the development of the SLT and deputise for the CEO as required. Work closely with the Service Management Team to develop and deliver an outstanding approach to people management, building a learning culture that delivers high quality, extensive support enabling people to achieve their best as a team.
• Represent Jigsaw4u at formal meetings with funders and other stakeholders and through submission of reports and data requests. Establish new, and strengthen existing, external relationships to promote Jigsaw4u’s profile, influence and reputation.
• Ensure compliance with relevant statutory and regulatory requirements, and adherence to relevant professional codes and standards of good practice.
• Support the CEO in funding and tender applications
• Support the CEO and fundraising team in generating income

As a member of the SLT you will be expected, with training and support, to take an active part in supporting the whole organisation. Experience and aptitude to provide calm leadership and a supportive problem-solving approach to practical problems and judgements involving risk is necessary.

Salary: £80,000–£90,000 WTE (4 days a week preferable)
Location: Hybrid (Central London office with flexible working)
Closing date: 7th September
Contact: Rosemary Pini, Allen Lane  

An opportunity to shape a better future for children across the UK.

Thrive at Five is seeking a strategic and hands-on Finance Director to join the organisation at an exciting time of growth. With programmes now live in Stoke-on-Trent, Redcar and Cleveland, and Middlesbrough—and a new site expected to launch in Scotland later this year—this is a pivotal role supporting national expansion and long-term impact.

As a national charity, Thrive at Five helps children in their early years build strong foundations for life and learning. Working in some of the UK’s most disadvantaged communities, the charity empowers parents and carers while enabling collaborative, place-based action across local systems of support. This work is already making a difference, with early progress recognised in Parliament and featured in recent government initiatives.

The Role

The Finance Director will provide strategic financial leadership across the charity, supporting its mission through robust financial management, long-term planning, and operational oversight. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the postholder will work closely with the CEO, trustees, and place-based programme teams to ensure the organisation remains sustainable, agile, and mission-driven.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading financial strategy, planning, and forecasting
• Overseeing financial operations, systems, and compliance
• Managing restricted and unrestricted funds, budgets, audits, and risk
• Providing high-quality financial reporting to the Board and Finance & Risk Committee
• Supporting fundraising through effective bid modelling and financial insight
• Line-managing and developing finance team members

This is a hybrid role based in Central London (currently Victoria), with flexibility and occasional travel to programme locations.

The Person

Thrive at Five is looking for a qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA) with significant experience at Finance Director or senior finance leadership level—ideally within the charity or not-for-profit sector.

The ideal candidate will bring:

• A strong understanding of charity finance, including SORP and fund accounting
• Experience of strategic financial planning and risk management
• A collaborative, solutions-focused mindset with excellent interpersonal skills
• The ability to influence at senior levels and build effective cross-functional relationships
• A commitment to Thrive at Five’s mission and values, and a willingness to roll up their sleeves in a growing, fast-paced organisation

Why Join Thrive at Five?

• Purpose-led work: Help give every child the best start in life
• Growth opportunity: Join a high-profile, ambitious charity on a national trajectory
• Flexible working: Hybrid model with supportive culture and work-life balance
• Influence and impact: Be part of a close-knit leadership team shaping strategy and systems
• Professional development: Thrive at Five supports continuous learning and personal growth

How to Apply

To apply, please send a CV and supporting statement.

For a confidential conversation about the role, please contact:
Rosemary Pini, Business Managerfrom Allen Lane

Are you looking for a role that really matters? Are you passionate about gender equality and ending world hunger sustainably? If yes, this could be the role for you!

Role: Country Director
Reports to: The Board of Trustees
Hours: Full-time
Location: UK based with frequent travel to London

Who we are…

We’re The Hunger Project UK. Nice to meet you. We’re a UK registered charity committed to the sustainable end of world hunger. Our vision is a world without hunger.

Our mission is to end hunger and poverty by pioneering sustainable, grassroots, women-centered strategies and advocating for their widespread adoption in countries throughout the world. We are reaching an estimated 12.8M people around the world through 10,000 partner communities and 2,200 project sites.

Our programs are based on an innovative, holistic approach, which empower women and men living in rural communities to become agents of their own development and make sustainable progress in hunger and poverty reduction.
Our team is all around the world…from our programme countries, to our partner countries such as Australia, the Netherlands, Canada and more; with our global Head Office in New York City, US. We are all industrious, passionate, and committed; a mighty force of changemakers living around the world.

Here in the UK, we work in collaboration with our global colleagues, to raise funds for our overseas programmes and amplify the voices of those affected by hunger. We are a small but awesome team in our global scheme of things. We have big ambitions to grow and scale our fundraising efforts significantly over the next three years. So, if you’re up for the challenge.... come and join us.

What we need…

We are looking for an experienced fundraiser keen to step in and lead our efforts to scale our fundraising here in the UK. You will be a hands-on leader, getting stuck into everything from fundraising to operations, while ensuring impeccable financial sustainability.

The ideal candidate would have more than 5 years leadership experience (with a sales, marketing, or fundraising background), ideally in international development, but a background in charity is not essential. You’ll have managed a team and worked collaboratively with a Board in a previous role.

We’re looking for someone who is happy learning from our partner and programme countries and maximising limited resources, to have big impact. We’ve laid strong foundations; we now need you to get us in front of philanthropists, corporates, trusts and more!

Can you enrol people in a vision, get people taking action, mobilise funds and get things moving? If yes, you’re our person!
This role is for you if:

• You have a deep and genuine desire to make the world a better place and are passionate about gender equality and a world without hunger.
• You are truly collaborative and would rather follow existing guidance, than re-invent the wheel and work in silos.
• You have experience working with philanthropists and/or trusts and foundations, as these are two key audiences for us to scale.
• You can keep your eye on the big picture, but aren’t afraid to roll up your sleeves and get the minutiae done.
• You’re a safe and steady pair of hands.
• You have impeccable written and spoken communication skills and are great at getting people on board with your vision.
• You’re a people person and brilliant networker, with a contacts book the envy of most! 

Executive Director (4 Day Work Week)

For over 30 years, The Women's Budget Group (WBG) has influenced UK policy through rigorous gendered economic analysis. Our work is cited in Parliament, the media, and by campaigners across civil society. We’re proud of our collaborative culture, our commitment to intersectional feminism, and our track record of impact—from budget assessments to grassroots training.

We are now seeking a visionary Executive Director to lead our nationally respected feminist economics organisation into its next chapter. If you're passionate about social justice, thrive at the intersection of research, policy and activism, and want to reshape how the economy works—and for whom, we would love to hear from you.

As Executive Director, you will:

• Lead strategy and organisational development with integrity and care
• Interpret macro-economic concepts to develop, articulate and defend advocacy positions. (Independently and alongside subject matter experts.)
• Represent WBG to senior stakeholders across government, media, and civil society
• Oversee research, communications, training, and impact measurement
• Drive fundraising and ensure financial sustainability
• Foster a high-performing, inclusive team culture

We are seeking a strategic thinker with vision and drive who holds a collaborative, inclusive and empowering leadership style. You will be able to demonstrate high integrity, resilience and adaptability, and perform comfortably in ambiguity and complexity. Seeing beyond immediate outputs towards longer-term systems change.

You will:

• Be committed to women’s rights and equality, understanding how intersecting inequalities affect different women
• Hold recent, demonstrable experience engaging with macroeconomic issues
• Possess either some qualification in Economics, or clear evidence of equivalent professional expertise.
• Hold experience in a senior leadership policy, research, advocacy, or campaigning role
• Thrive in communicating an organisation's mission across all mediums, including public speaking and live media interviews
• Excel in building trusted relationships with the likes of government, civil society, academia and grassroots movements
• Possess robust financial acumen, with experience overseeing budgets, ensuring sustainability, and cultivating and stewarding funding relationships

We welcome candidates from all backgrounds, especially those whose lived experience reflects the structural inequalities we seek to address. Job shares and flexible working arrangements are strongly encouraged.

How to apply

WBG is partnering with Doing Good Recruitment on this appointment. The full job pack can be found attached and also on their jobs page.

If you require any adjustments to the recruitment process, please do let them know; we’re committed to making this process inclusive and accessible.

To help us monitor how we’re doing and identify any barriers in our recruitment process, we invite all applicants to complete the Equal Opportunities Monitoring form found on Doing Good Recruitment’s application page.

Interviews commence late September/early October

WCCM seeks to appoint an experienced, highly motivated, talented, resourceful, emotionally intelligent and hardworking Senior Finance Manager to manage finance and governance across our international office in London and our Retreat Centre based in Bonnevaux. Working with the Executive Director and Trustees, and with the support of a small, dedicated team, you will lead on WCCM’s financial strategy and planning, ensuring compliance with statutory and non-statutory bodies, working to maximise income and automate processes. You will also have responsibility for core organisational support functions such as HR, GDPR and Health and Safety. You will have significant experience in finance roles, with knowledge and experience of UK charity finance, and operational support functions. Occasional trips to France. Interest in Christian Meditation/Spirituality an advantage.

Since 1990, Public Law Project has held power to account through key legal challenges. PLP’s recent work, delivered in close collaboration with its brilliant clients and partners, includes challenging the government’s Rwanda immigration policy, securing justice for the Windrush generation, and scrutinising the use of AI in public decision-making.

Our work is highly respected and deeply valued across the legal and social justice sectors. To continue tackling the most pressing legal injustices of our time, we need you to increase our reach and engagement with our key audiences (including policy makers, the legal community and civil society organisations), amplifying our influence and impact. 

The Role

Reporting to the Communications & Engagement Director, this is an exciting role focused on supporting and building PLP’s external profile and audience engagement. You’ll be responsible for: building relationships with journalists and securing media coverage, day-to-day content creation and the development of our digital channels. You’ll work closely with colleagues across the organisation, as well as partners and clients, to ensure our communications are timely, inclusive, and impactful.

This is an exciting time to join the team. You would be communicating PLP’s work at a time when many of the issues we work on – from immigration to AI – have never been more salient. You would be joining us after we’ve launched our bold new strategy, which envisages a strategic role for external communications. You would be part of an exciting creative process to refresh our visual identity and narrative.

We’re looking for someone who is: 

• A creative storyteller: You will have strong news judgement and storytelling ability and will enjoy translating complex legal and policy issues into compelling content that engages and inspires
• A collaborative colleague: You will enjoy working across teams with colleagues at all levels and with external partners and clients
• Organised and determined: You are an excellent project manager who enjoys developing plans and putting them into action
• Committed to Equity: You resonate with PLP’s commitment to understand and address the effects of discrimination in all our work, both external and internal.

If you’re ready to take up this vital role, we’d love to hear from you! 

As part of our commitment to recruit fairly we use anonymised-selection processes until interview, offer additional interview opportunities to the highest-scoring candidates from under-represented communities, and use ‘tie-breaker’ provisions at all stages of our selection process.

Executive Director, DIVA Charitable Trust

About DIVA 

DIVA Charitable Trust is committed to elevating, celebrating, and supporting LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people everywhere. Our goal is to be a stage for talent, a mirror that reflects our community in all its diversity, and a megaphone, amplifying our movement in its work to create a fairer, more just world for all LGBTQIA+ people. Through this work, we believe we can contribute to shaping a world that is better for everyone.

Following an exciting year in which we registered as a charity after more than 30 years serving our community, we are looking to appoint an Executive Director who can work with our talented team of staff and trustees to grow and nurture DIVA at a critical time for LGBTQIA+ women and non binary people.​​

Job description

The Executive Director is an externally facing role, responsible for growing DIVA’s income, partnerships, and impact. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and dynamic leader to build on our iconic brand and deliver for LGBTQIA+ women and non binary people in the UK and globally.

A key aspect of the role will be to continue growing DIVA’s network of partners, corporate sponsors, and donors. The ED will work with the Board of Trustees to drive the future strategy and lead a small editorial and design team.

Core Responsibilities

·Act as the public face of DIVA, and support the wider team (including Board, Patrons, and colleagues) to represent DIVA to key audiences.

·Work with the Board to set and deliver the strategy for DIVA Charitable Trust and be accountable for ensuring its implementation and the appropriate governance of the charity.

·Lead on fundraising for DIVA Charitable Trust, growing our sponsorship and partnership income and establishing new charitable donation and grant-based funding streams.

·Oversee the planning and delivery of Lesbian Visibility Week, continuing to grow its global reach, and work with the team to develop new flagship projects.

·Oversee the delivery of an engaging, high quality and creative magazine in both print and digital formats, and develop a marketing strategy to increase magazine sales

·Manage the DIVA team and oversee operations at DIVA Charitable Trust, including leading on the financial strategy and business plan.

Person Specification / Attributes

The successful candidate will be a talented leader with a strong track record in fundraising and partnership development and experience of building high performing teams.

Essential skills and experience

·Demonstrable track record of raising significant income from a variety of sources

·Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills

·Demonstrable track record of providing motivational and influential leadership and in representing a high-profile organisation and issues

·Good understanding of financial accounting and budgeting in the charity sector

·Strategic and innovative thinking

Desirable but not essential

·Experience of working in or with the LGBTQIA+ movement

·Experience of working in media or communications 

ABOUT US

The Woodland Trust is the UK's leading woodland conservation charity and is dedicated to creating a world where trees and woods thrive for both people and nature. Our mission involves engaging and inspiring individuals to contribute toward tackling the nature and climate crisis through the protection, restoration, and creation of essential woodland habitats. 

Join our Online Information Session! We are hosting an Online Information Session with the CEO and existing Director of Brand and Communications (Supporter Mobilisation) to give candidates an opportunity to learn more about the role and to ask any questions.

The session will last no longer than 45 minutes and will be held at 15:30 on Monday 1st September. 

THE ROLE 

We are looking for an experienced, visionary leader to join our Executive Leadership Team as Executive Director of Supporter Mobilisation. This is a newly refocused position, shaped with the future in mind, and designed to deepen the public’s relationship with trees and woods.  We are fighting for the health of people and the planet with every tree. 

You will be at the helm of our strategy to engage millions-inspiring action, growing income, and strengthening our brand. Leading a talented and passionate team, you’ll develop bold, integrated campaigns that move hearts and minds. You’ll oversee communications, digital and community fundraising, membership,  and our high-profile campaigns and Trees for All programme that builds public awareness and inspires a mass movement of support for our cause. 

Working closely with the CEO and fellow Executive Directors, you’ll also play a key role in shaping the strategic direction of the Trust and ensuring alignment across our work, people, and values.  Helping the Trust protect and restore woodlands that have stood for centuries - the crown jewels of the natural world in the UK - and create the woods of the future, means this role will leave a legacy which will last for generations.  It’s an opportunity to lead with purpose, engage and inspire others, and literally change the nature of the UK landscape for the better. 

THE CANDIDATE 

We are looking for a senior leader with a track record in large-scale communications, supporter engagement and mobilisation, or fundraising. You’ll have a strong understanding of how to use inspiring stories, quality data, and digital innovation to move people to action-and how to build momentum around a mission. 

You’ll bring strategic insight and a collaborative spirit, with the gravitas to influence at the highest levels and the heart to connect with people from all walks of life - helping us to bring trees and woods to all. 

Just as important as your skills is your alignment with our cause. You’ll be values-led - passionate about our cause and excited by the potential of this pivotal role to shape lasting change. 

Our Organisational Nature enables us to better understand what it means to be part of the Woodland Trust, empowering us to make an impact, every day. We want you to be able to role model our values; ‘Grow Together’, ‘Focus’, ‘Explore’ and ‘Make it Count’ to ensure each of us plays our part in helping to protect, restore and create our woods and trees. 

Benefits & Wellbeing: Joining our team means you'll be a big part of tackling environmental and climate issues. We take good care of our staff, offering support and training opportunities. We also offer: 

• Enhanced Employer Pension 

• Life Assurance 

• Flexible & Hybrid Working Options 

• Generous Annual Leave (25 days + bank holidays) 

• Annual leave buy and sell 

• Enhanced Parental Pay 

• Employee Assistance Programme 

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: The Woodland Trust embraces diversity and inclusion. We want our team to reflect the UK's diverse community. We support people from all backgrounds to apply, especially those who are under-represented. 

Application Advice: Even if you don't meet every requirement of the role, we would encourage you to apply. Your enthusiasm for the environment and our core values-Grow Together, Explore, Focus and Make it Count-are what matter most.

To maintain fairness and reduce bias during shortlisting, we keep our candidates’ personal details hidden from hiring managers, please help us to maintain your anonymity by removing personal details from your CV prior to submission. 

Apply Now: If you're ready to make a difference and grow with us, send in your application today. We look forward to hearing from you and working together to make a positive impact on our planet. 

1st Stage Interviews will be held via Teams on Wednesday 8 October 2025.
2nd Stage Interviews will be held in-person at our Grantham Office on Tuesday 14 October 2025 

Details of both events will be shared with shortlisted candidates prior to each stage. 

About you

You’re entrepreneurial, independent, and driven. You treat your work like it’s your own business - spotting opportunities, testing ideas, and chasing results.

If you’re a traditional charity fundraiser, this probably isn’t for you. But if you’re excited by risk, growth, and pace - keep reading.

Over the past three years, we’ve bought and scaled swim events, turned others down, failed fast, and doubled our unrestricted income. We want someone who’s up for that kind of journey over the next three years too.

You’re as comfortable pitching to a corporate partner as you are writing fundraising copy, tweaking button text, or building a forecast. You can move between detail and vision, instinct and data, phone calls and spreadsheets.

You know how to deepen supporter journeys, grow fundraising per head, and develop new income streams. Bonus points if you like outdoor swimming.

About us

We’re a Founder-led charity working to solve learn-to-swim for disabled children - and we aim to do that in the next ten years.

We’ve grown our impact 5x in the past three years and now raise over £1m in unrestricted income annually through our swim events. Our events attract 5,000 swimmers and 3,000 fundraisers, and we own and operate some of the UK’s most iconic outdoor swims - including the Dart10k and Bantham Swoosh - alongside a growing series of 24-hour relays in lakes and lidos.

We’re small, ambitious, and fast-moving. Strategy and delivery happen side by side. We work on multiple projects, test constantly, and keep things flexible and responsive. You’ll need to thrive in that environment to enjoy the role.

The role

We’re all driven, and you’ll need to be too - this is a fast-paced, ambitious environment with lots of learning and change.

We’re looking for a strategic, creative Head of Fundraising to lead our next phase of growth.

Your first focus will be stewarding our 3,000 fundraisers - overseeing segmented email journeys, managing a £40k prizing fund, and improving supporter care through deeper, more personal touchpoints. That might mean calls, events, or just finding ways to help people feel more connected to their impact.

Beyond that, you'll help us develop and test new income streams - from matched giving and regular giving, to sponsorships, repeat fundraising, and post-event conversion. You'll also play a key role in evolving our Challenge Events portfolio across in-person, virtual, and blended formats.

This role requires someone with a strong track record in fundraising growth, a test-and-learn mindset, and the ambition to build something big.

Core Responsibilities

• Strategy Development and Implementation
• Develop and execute a fundraising strategy aligned with the charity's objectives.
• Identify and cultivate new fundraising opportunities to diversify income streams.
• Defining our fundraising growth strategies, specifically around our event series.

Community and Events Fundraising

• Oversee the planning and execution of community fundraising initiatives, specifically with our event fundraisers.
• Engage and mobilise volunteers and supporters for fundraising activities.

Fundraiser Care

• Customer Lifetime value / retention / regular giving.
• Build and maintain relationships with donors, ensuring effective stewardship.
• Develop and implement donor retention strategies to increase long-term support and regular giving.

Trusts and Foundations

• Working closely with our Head of Programmes to oversee our bids process, working with specialists and utilising learnings from previous years.
• Deepen strong relationships with grant-making bodies and ensure compliance with grant requirements.

Corporate Partnerships

• Manage and develop corporate partnerships and event sponsorships. 
• Develop tailored proposals and pitches to attract corporate support.

Team Leadership

• Lead, inspire, and manage a small fundraising team, fostering a culture of high performance and collaboration.
• Provide mentorship and professional development opportunities for team members for both fundraising and marketing.

Monitoring and Reporting

• Track and report on fundraising performance against targets.
• Provide regular updates to the Senior Leadership Team. 

Qualifications and Experience

• Proven experience in a senior fundraising role.
• Proven experience working on fundraising events and event fundraising.
• Demonstrable success in developing and implementing successful fundraising strategies.
• Strong track record of securing major gifts, grant funding and/or corporate partnerships.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage and inspire a wide range of stakeholders.
• Experience in digital fundraising and leveraging social media platforms.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.

Optional / Ideal Responsibilities

Marketing & Comms

• Developing Level Water’s marketing and communications strategy
• Leading strategy implementation and ensuring that we’re representing our Programmes work and impact work in the best possible way to our different groups of stakeholders. 

Digital Fundraising

• Leverage digital platforms, advertising and social media to enhance fundraising.
• Implement innovative online fundraising campaigns and initiatives.

Event growth and innovation

• Understanding the mass participation event landscape and its opportunities, ideally within the swimming sector but other sports experience very welcome.

Personal Attributes

• Passionate about the mission and values of Level Water.
• Strategic thinker with a results-oriented approach.
• Creative and innovative mindset.
• Resilient and adaptable, with a positive attitude.
• High level of integrity and commitment to ethical fundraising practices.

Please send a CV and Cover Letter (which can be a 2-3 minute video) to apply.