Director of communications jobs

This is a really exciting time to join Money Ready as we continue to shape our Fundraising and Communications Directorate. Following a successful rebrand and merger in 2025, we are continuing to invest in our Fundraising team.

The Fundraising team is a small (7) but mighty team driving fundraising efforts across the UK. The team currently raises over £5m predominantly through multi-year strategic partnerships.

The Senior Development Manager will lead new business through securing new significant partnerships, major donors and maximising commercial opportunities and line manage the New Business Manager.

This role requires strategic vision but also the ability to work as a hands-on member of the team. The person will work closely with Money Ready’s Fundraising & Communications Director, CEO and trustee’s to ensure Money Ready are leveraging contacts, networks and expertise to achieve our ‘Money - A language for life strategy’

About Reading Students’ Union

We are a dynamic, student-focused organisation dedicated to empowering students and enhancing their university experience. Our vision is to be a place for everyone, we inspire and empower students to change the world. Check out our exciting new strategy on LinkedIn!

The Role: Director of Membership Services

Are you ready to make a big impact? We’re looking for an energetic, strategic leader to steer our Membership Engagement Directorate through an exciting period of organisational change.

This is your chance to shape student life, lead passionate teams, and ensure our student-facing services and systems for student democracy are sector leading.

What You’ll Do

Strategic Leadership & Impact

• Set the Direction: Provide clear strategic and operational guidance to managers and teams, aligning priorities with organisational goals

• Drive Collaboration: Foster a culture of teamwork across departments and with elected officers to deliver joined-up services

• Champion Innovation: Identify opportunities to enhance student engagement through data driven creative campaigns, digital platforms, and inclusive activities

• Measure Success: Monitor performance, track KPIs, and report on progress to ensure continuous improvement

• Influence Outcomes: Represent the Membership Engagement Directorate in key meetings, shaping decisions that affect thousands of students

• Build strategic partnerships: Work with the University and external stakeholders to enhance student experience. Raise our profile externally to promote our good work

• Drive membership engagement: Oversee sector leading activities that meet the evolving needs of students

People

• Lead and develop a high-performing team, fostering growth, accountability, and innovation

• Offer practical support for Sabbatical Officers, acting as their key point of contact to help them succeed in their roles, particularly as political leaders

Project Delivery

• Drive equality, inclusivity, relevance, and engagement by overseeing campaigns, projects and events

Compliance & Risk Management

• Operate within charity law, regulatory requirements, and organisational policies

• Safeguard Governance Standards and uphold principles of good governance, transparency, and accountability

• Ensure teams operate safely and within SOPs

• Oversee compliance for activities, societies, communications, and elections

• Act as escalation point for safeguarding or risk concerns

• Monitor systems for governance and student democracy and drive student engagement

About You

Essential

• Senior management experience

• A true innovator and challenger of the status quo

• Strong leadership and people management skills

• Passionate about using data to drive transformation and innovation

• Has significant experience of governance, democracy, free speech and student representation

• Can create high quality strategic and operational plans and lead teams to implement

• Budget management experience

• Expert decision maker

• Strong commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion

• Experience in a charity, education, or student-focused environment

• Expert stakeholder management skills and ability to communicate effectively at all levels with diverse audiences

Desirable

• SU sector experience

Why Join Us?

• Inclusive and supportive team culture

• Flexible working options

• 35 days annual leave including Christmas and Easter closure days

• Professional development opportunities

• Unique working environment in the heart of a vibrant Student’s Union, set on a stunning, green campus.

Ready to make an impact?

Apply today and help us bring our ambitious data strategy to life and transform student life!

Committed to equality, celebrating diversity, and embedding sustainability — building an inclusive workplace and a brighter future for all.

The Membership Engagement & Communications Manager will lead on the planning and delivery of integrated member engagement strategies, events, communications and partnerships that enhance brand visibility, support our five-year business plan and strengthen stakeholder relationships.

You will also support overall Member engagement activities, maintaining voter contact and data accuracy on our CRM system.

This role will require creativity, organisation, stakeholder engagement and a strong ability to deliver results across predominantly B2B environments, whilst working as part of a small but supportive Marketing and Communications team to champion The Fitzrovia Partnership brand.

Collaboration across departments and consistent communication are critical for success. 

Key Duties and Responsibilities 

Member Engagement 

· Build strong, visible relationships with members across all BID areas. 

· Deliver regular contact and visibility of The Fitzrovia Partnership’s services, events, and opportunities. 

· Escalate business-specific needs to support strategic engagement planning. 

· Maintain accurate CRM records, supporting partnership, ballot, and KPI tracking. 

· Attend and represent The Fitzrovia Partnership at member events and forums. 

· Support planning and execution of engagement events and campaigns. 

· Contribute data and updates to support internal reporting. 

· Assist in delivery of all Member engagement, with a focus on targeted communications and events. 

Communications

· Lead and manage all Member communications, including newsletters and special project communications

· Maintain accurate and up-to-date membership materials for use in member communications.

· Act as brand guardian for all corporate content and visual identity.

· Prepare and deliver executive communications on behalf of senior leaders as needed.

· Regularly and proactively engage with members and external partners to source content, opinions and for external communications.

Event Planning, Delivery and Reporting

· Lead the planning, delivery, promotion and evaluation of Member events.

· Oversee the annual events calendar across the company, website and event listings, ensuring they are in line with company objectives.

· Manage supplier and venue relationships, ensuring events are delivered on time and within budget.

· Collaborate across departments to ensure events align with wider business objectives and advise on requirements as needed.

· Champion quality and branding standards across events.

· Lead on promotion of events and attendee engagement strategies

· Monitor spend to ensure events remain within budget and collect post-event feedback for continuous improvement.

· Lead the reporting on events, evaluating effectiveness against event objectives and company mission.

Team Support and Collaboration 

· Work cross-functionally to integrate member engagement activities into broader initiatives. 

· Share business and member insights to refine engagement strategies and inform cross-team coordination. 

· Provide data to support performance reporting.

Person Specification 

Essential 

· A motivated and enthusiastic self-starter

· At least 3 years’ experience in member engagement, stakeholder engagement or account management.

· Excellent copywriting skills along with an aptitude for proof reading

· Strong communicator with a professional and approachable manner, confident for face to face and remote interactions. 

· Organised and detail-focused; adept at managing multiple priorities. 

· Proactive and flexible; able to work independently and as a team contributor. 

· Responsible and accountable; takes accountability for own workload and timely deliverables of work.

· Proficient in CRM or database systems for data management. 

· Strong interpersonal and collaborative working skills. 

Desirable 

· Analytical and comfortable looking to identify trends in data, with support. 

· Understanding of Member organisations, Member engagement and renewal cycles.

· Experience in business-facing roles. 

How to apply

To apply for this role, please send a maximum 2-page cover letter and your CV.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview the w/c Monday 9 February 2026.

Key info
Closing date: Sunday 14th January 2026 at 23:30. 

Annual salary: £42,400

Hours: 37.5 hours per week (full time)

Contract length: 3 years initially, with contract extension subject to funding

Location: UK based, mainly remote with occasional in person work

The role

TransActual is recruiting a Communications Lead to join our rapidly growing team. You’ll be working alongside our board and Senior Management team to develop and implement a communications strategy across all media channels that supports the accurate representation of TransActual’s work to the wider world and our mission to advocate, empower and inform.

We are looking for someone with strong interpersonal skills both in terms of understanding and responding to underlying questions in a sometimes hostile media environment, identifying the effective ways of proactively and reactively communicating about our advocacy goals, and working closely with our Policy Lead, Director of Operations and for Healthcare, staff team, board and volunteers to achieve that.

Your responsibilities will include, but not be limited to, the creation of a communications strategy, communications processes, protocols and standards, press releasing and liaison, and line management of our communications officer. You will be responsible for forward planning of communications where events are foreseeable and will also be required to enable rapid and sensitive response to unpredictable events and consequent media inquiries.

An in-depth understanding of trans people’s lived experiences and an ongoing commitment to bringing about positive change for all trans people in the UK is absolutely essential for this role. This understanding can come from your own lived experience. You will demonstrate a strong understanding of and commitment to equity, particularly in relation to race equity and disability equity.

We particularly welcome and encourage applications from trans people, Black People and People of Colour, neurodivergent people and disabled people.

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People – Associate Director of Performance Marketing
Location: Hybrid working with some travel to Hearing Dogs offices in either Buckinghamshire or East Yorkshire.
Salary: £65-70,000 per annum.
Contract: Permanent, full-time hours. 

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, whose mission is build confidence, companionship and connection for people with hearing loss, is seeking a talented Associate Director of Performance Marketing to drive marketing activities that will help them expand their reach, mobilise support and build understanding and awareness.

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People has been creating life-changing partnerships between hearing dogs and deaf recipients since 1982. As well as acting as an ear to their partners and alerting them to sounds, the charity’s clever and expertly trained dogs help deaf people to live life with confidence and independence, whilst providing love, companionship and emotional support. This is coupled with the provision of emotional and practical support services for anyone with hearing loss.

Following on from a strategic review, the charity is now entering an exciting period of growth and expanding their Individual Giving Directorate, to enable them to transform many more lives across the UK.

Playing a pivotal role in supporting this growth, the Associate Director of Performance Marketing is a newly created and influential position with significant scope to shape how Hearing Dogs grows their supporter base, sustains their supporter and volunteer community and attracts more people to their services through impactful digital and multi-channel marketing. The postholder will lead marketing activity that is insight-led and audience focused to ensure that each campaign strengthens connection, builds loyalty and generates sustainable income. This includes being responsible for growing the charity’s flagship Puppy Sponsorship programme to increase value and volume, establishing a legacy marketing programme and identifying opportunities for cross-selling and deeper engagement across all products.  

The ideal candidate will be a senior strategic leader responsible for driving individual giving growth and supporter retention through digital and multi-channel marketing. You will have a strong commercial, income generation and digital background, you will lead marketing that is insight led and have a deep understanding of how AI technologies can help the charity enhance performance. Advanced skills in using data, analytics and audience insight to shape strategy, optimise campaigns and measure impact will be essential, alongside strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to inspire and develop high-performing teams. Finally, you will have excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills at a senior level.

This is an exciting opportunity to help Hearing Dogs shape their future with the flexibility of hybrid working remotely and spending time at Hearing Dogs’ stunning offices, with friendly and passionate staff and their four-legged friends.

If you want to lead the pack and help deaf people live well with hearing loss Please download our Candidate Pack for further information [PDF], which includes details on how to apply.

Closing date: Monday 26th January, 9.00 am. 

About SCEC

SCEC was founded over twenty years ago to provide learning enrichment opportunities to primary school children in disadvantaged communities in south London. Together with our partners, several leading independent schools, we currently operate four schemes in math, literacy, science and art. Children learn through fun, engaging group activities like science experiments, storytelling and mathematical treasure hunts, all taught by qualified teachers with added support from student mentors. Through the schemes, children explore their curiosity, build knowledge and develop their confidence as learners.

Your Role

The Scheme Director is a newly created role that will be pivotal in helping SCEC extend its reach. Reporting to the Board of Trustees, you will help SCEC design and implement an expansion programme as well as coordinating the delivery of the existing schemes via our school partners. You will also serve as a trusted partner to the Board in the administration of the charity.

Similar to a COO, this role straddles the operational and the strategic. We are looking for a confident communicator and relationship builder who can work across varied stakeholder groups. You will have project management experience that can be applied to challenges like process design and change management. You should be able to grasp the big picture and have an eye for the details needed to deliver successful outcomes.  This is an exciting opportunity for the right candidate to join SCEC on a transformational journey working with excellent learning partners and established leaders to improve educational outcomes for children.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee scheme operations including pupil recruitment, enrolment and attendance to ensure the smooth running of schemes and maximum impact
• Promote the charity to prospective partners and donors
• Support the Board in developing, implementing and monitoring an expansion programme
• Monitor and report on scheme performance and impact
• Prepare and manage budgets and disbursement of funds 
• Build and maintain systems and processes to support scheme operations, compliance and monitoring

Key Qualities

• Passionate about making a difference in the lives of children
• Demonstrated success in developing and implementing strategic plans to achieve organisational goals
• Track record of effectively managing programmes and services, including programme development, implementation, and evaluation
• Committed to working collaboratively to build strong relationships with business partners and colleagues and proactively engaging stakeholders when making decisions
• Self-motivated and highly organised, you have a strong sense of initiative and take a hands-on approach to planning and administration

Child Protection

SCEC is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. This is the responsibility of the whole organisation (trustees and staff).  An enhanced DBS Disclosure is required for this role.

For more information, please see the attached Job Description below

Our mission is to foster community-led green space management through collaboration, advocacy, and education.  We believe that green open spaces can be better sustained by empowering communities and our existing network numbers 150 plus members throughout Birmingham. As our Operations Director, you will direct and control the ongoing operations of Birmingham Open Spaces Forum (BOSF), to achieve the strategic and business performance objectives required by the Trustees. 

Role: Head of Communications, Marketing, & Digital

Location:Home-based, with regular attendance (at least monthly) of meetings in London.

Salary:£45-50,000 depending on experience

Type: Permanent, full time (37.5  hours per week) or flexible to at
least 0.8 FTE

Responsible to: Director of Fundraising & Communications

Responsible for: Digital Marketing Manager, Communications & Engagement Manager, Communications Administrator (indirectly), Podcast Manager (indirectly)

Benefits: Flexible working arrangements, 28 days of annual leave (FTE pro rata for part-time) + 1 day for your birthday, pension scheme and Employee Assistance Programme

About the role

Every five minutes, someone, somewhere in the world is told that they have MS. There are currently 2.9 million people in the world living with MS. When you’re diagnosed with MS, in just seconds, the future that you saw for yourself and your loved ones has been shattered. A diagnosis often comes at a time when you’re in the prime of your life, when you should be planning your future, not facing a lifetime of uncertainty. Knowing you have MS can feel incredibly isolating and lonely.

Overcoming MS is here to provide hope: through lifestyle changes, backed by scientific research, a full and healthy life with MS is possible.

Could you be the person that helps us get this message of hope through to thousands of people diagnosed each year, their families and friends? Overcoming MS is at a crucial point in our strategy, where we are ready to significantly expand our reach and let everyone affected by MS know about the support that is available for them to live well. We are ready to own the lifestyle and MS space, to offer hope, positivity and choices to all, and we’re looking for the right person to drive awareness of our brand profile as well as the wider importance of healthy lifestyle and MS.

Job summary:

The Head of Communications, Marketing & Digital is responsible for shaping, delivering, and evaluating the charity’s communications, brand, digital engagement, and marketing activity.

Reporting to the Director of Fundraising & Communications, the postholder plays a pivotal role in growing the charity’s profile, strengthening engagement, and ensuring all communication channels, platforms and content are effective, accessible, and aligned with organisational goals.

In a small charity, this is both a strategic and hands-on role, requiring creativity, strong digital skills, excellent communication, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Key responsibilities and duties:

1. Communications & brand

• Lead the delivery of the charity’s communications strategy to increase visibility, trust and engagement.
• Manage and protect the charity’s brand, ensuring consistency of messaging, tone, and visual identity.
• Oversee and produce high-quality content for website, newsletters, reports, blogs, case studies, and information materials.
• Support the Director in developing campaigns that unite messaging, fundraising, marketing, and advocacy.

2. Marketing & supporter engagement

• Lead marketing activity to grow audiences, increase engagement, increase participation in our services, and support fundraising objectives.
• Work closely with colleagues to create compelling campaign assets, supporter journeys, and integrated marketing plans.
• Develop marketing materials, key messages, and digital assets that support awareness, engagement, service numbers and income growth.

3. Digital leadership

• Oversee the charity’s digital ecosystem, including website, email marketing, social media and CRM integrations.
• Ensure digital content is accessible, user-focused, streamlined and optimised for engagement and conversion.
• Fully review website development and maintenance, including UX improvements, analytics, SEO, and content.
• Oversee data-led insights and dashboards to measure digital performance and inform decision-making.

4. Media & public relations

• Build media relationships and respond to press requests in coordination with the Director.
• Draft press releases, statements, Q&As, and key messages for external audiences.
• Support reactive and crisis communications, ensuring timely, accurate responses and reputational protection.

5. Internal communication & collaboration

• Support effective internal communication, ensuring staff team, Program Facilitators and volunteers are informed and engaged.
• Work collaboratively across teams to gather stories, insights, and content that bring the charity’s work to life.
• Provide guidance and support to colleagues on communications, brand, and digital best practice.

6. Other

• Manage agency and supplier relationships where relevant.
• Stay informed about sector trends and emerging tools that could benefit the charity.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential experience

• Significant experience in communications, marketing and digital roles, preferably within a charity or mission-driven organisation.
• Proven track record of developing and delivering digital and communications content across multiple platforms to multiple audiences.
• Experience managing websites, CRM systems, email marketing tools, and social media channels.
• Demonstrable experience in audience engagement, digital analytics, and campaign performance measurement.
• Experience in managing a brand profile across different audiences and different products, ensuring consistency and authority over time.
• Hands-on experience creating accessible and compelling written, visual, and digital content.
• Experience working with agencies, freelancers, or creative suppliers.

Essential skills & competencies

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft clear, compelling messages.
• Creative, strategic thinker with the ability to translate ideas into practical delivery.
• Highly organised, able to manage multiple deadlines, and comfortable working independently in a small team.
• Strong attention to detail with a commitment to quality and accuracy.
• Strong understanding of brand management and visual communication.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of fundraising, communications, GDPR, safeguarding, accessibility and other standards.

Personal attributes

• Passionate about the charity’s mission and values.
• Collaborative, positive, and comfortable working closely with colleagues across the organisation.
• Proactive problem solver who brings ideas and embraces innovation.
• Adaptable and resilient in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Commitment to inclusivity, accessibility, and ethical communication.
• Excellent standard of written and spoken English and ability to communicate effectively with a range of people from diverse backgrounds.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Fully committed to Overcoming MS’s values.

Director of Finance and IT
London (Camden) | Hybrid working
Salary £90,000
Full time (37.5 hours) or 4 days per week considered

Thomson Foundation is an independent, globally respected organisation with over 60 years’ experience supporting free, ethical and trusted journalism around the world. At a time when reliable information has never mattered more, Thomson’s work is both impactful and deeply values-driven.

They are now seeking a Director of Finance and IT to join the senior leadership team at an exciting point in the organisation’s evolution.

This is a rare opportunity for a senior finance leader who enjoys combining strategic leadership while also being able to provide hands on support. You will work closely with the CEO, Board and senior colleagues to shape future strategy, while also getting into the detail to understand how things work today and where they can be improved tomorrow.

You will thrive in this role if you enjoy making your mark: strengthening systems, improving automation, streamlining processes and building robust, proportionate controls that suit a small, international organisation. This is not a role where you sit at arm’s length from the detail – you will be curious, practical and comfortable rolling up your sleeves, whether that’s reviewing processes, posting journals, improving reporting or driving smarter use of technology.

Alongside financial leadership, you will oversee IT, risk, compliance and governance across the Thomson Group, working with outsourced providers and internal colleagues to ensure systems are secure, efficient and fit for purpose. You will play a key role in delivering the Finance and Technology Transformation Plan, helping the organisation operate more effectively and sustainably as it continues to grow and adapt.

Thomson has a small, welcoming team and a collaborative, non-hierarchical culture. You will be joining an organisation where people are trusted, ideas are welcomed and impact really matters. The role is based in Camden, with hybrid working two days per week in the office.

This role will suit someone who is:
• equally comfortable thinking strategically and working hands on
• motivated by improving systems, automation and ways of working
• curious, detail-oriented and happy to implement change
• values-led and excited by working in a mission-driven, international charity

If you are looking for a senior leadership role where you can genuinely influence, improve and help shape the future of a highly respected organisation, this is an outstanding opportunity.

How to Apply

For more information, please contact Rosemary Pini at Allen Lane who is supporting on this role and happy to answer any questions.

Please apply by sending CV and supporting statement before 1st February

Head of Fundraising (internally known as Head of Income Generation)

Build Up is a youth-led charity that designs and builds public spaces, supporting young people aged 10-25 years old to shape their local area. We’re looking for a Head of Income Generation to drive our fundraising strategy and secure significant investment for our youth-led projects.

The Role

This is an exciting new position in our team, created to help build our case for investment, tell our story and harness the support of new audiences. You’ll shape priorities, diversify income, and build lasting funder relationships – while writing compelling bids that win investment. With consultancy support on communications and evaluation, you’ll have the tools to make a powerful case for our work.

Who You Are

You’ll have a proven track record in leading fundraising strategy, securing charitable investment and writing successful grants. Alongside trusts and foundations, you’ll bring experience across other income streams (like corporates or major donors). You’ll balance strategy with delivery, thrive under pressure, and be excited by funding young people’s ideas. Because our model is unique, we need someone who can turn our distinctive approach into clear, inspiring narratives that unlock new opportunities.

About Build Up

Build Up works to build the power of young people to shape where they live, and to change who can make decisions about London. We support young people to design and build public spaces, equipping young people with the tools and agency to have ownership over their neighbourhoods.

Our approach is unique – and it works. Young people gain skills, leadership and power over decisions that affect them, while local communities benefit from genuinely inclusive spaces designed by and for local residents.

Why Join Us

At Build Up, your work has a visible, lasting and personal impact. You’ll lead strategy, enjoy flexibility and support, and join a small, passionate team where your ideas genuinely shape the organisation’s future.

Key Details

This role is available on a 3 OR 4 day a week contract, subject to candidate preference.

Salary: £48,700 - 54,000 (pro rata, depending on experience) + 8% employer pension contribution
Full / part-time: 3 days (22.5 hrs) or 4 days (30 hrs) per week
Work pattern: Flexible
Holiday: 32 days plus public holidays (pro rata)
Location: Hybrid – at least 1 day per week in our office
Contract: 2 years (with potential to extend)
Start date: March / April 2026 (flexible)

To Apply

For more information and to apply, please visit our website.

Applications close Sunday 18th January 2026.

#fundraising #fundraising manager #head of fundraising #fundraising lead #fundraising director #director of fundraising #fundraiser #youth-led fundraising #project fundraising #unrestricted fundraising #fundraising strategy

Located in the historic town of St Andrews, St Leonards is one of Scotland’s leading independent schools, recently named Scottish Independent Secondary School of the Year for Academic Excellence 2026 by The Sunday Times. It is a vibrant, co-educational boarding and day community with a true international outlook.

Approaching its 150th Anniversary in 2027, the School is preparing to launch the most ambitious fundraising campaign in its history. This is a career-defining opportunity for an exceptional professional to drive this initiative, instilling a culture of philanthropy that will secure the future of St Leonards for generations to come.

Reporting directly to the Head, this post will be targeted with generating £500k+ of revenue and will demand both exceptional relationship building skills and technical fundraising expertise. The successful candidate will have freedom to innovate and make a tangible difference and be able to engage prospective donors and the wider highly supportive Seniors (Alumni) community. You will protect the School’s reputation by conducting thorough due diligence on donors and ensuring full compliance with OSCR regulations.

You will be responsible for the School’s capital and strategic fundraising initiatives supported by the Alumni and Development Officer and will work with the supportive, mission-driven Executive Team and Board of Governors to develop and implement these.

To be successful you will be educated to degree level and have knowledge and experience in previous roles where you have developed a demonstrable track record of devising and implementing multi-year fundraising strategies which have allowed you to personally secure 5 and 6 figure gifts from individuals, trusts or foundations. You will possess the financial and legal expertise to structure complex gifts and bring them to completion.

More information on the responsibilities of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required of candidates can be found in the Candidate Pack.

St Leonards is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to a satisfactory PVG check.

Director of Retail

When registering to this job board you will be redirected to the online application form. Please ensure that this is completed in full in order that your application can be reviewed.

About the Role

We are seeking an outstanding Director of Retail to lead one of Sense’s most significant income-generating operations. This is a critical executive leadership role, responsible for the strategic direction, performance, and future resilience of 108 charity shops, employing over 300 staff and generating £15m annual turnover.

Reporting directly to the Chief Finance & Commercial Officer, you will lead a national retail team and play a pivotal role in ensuring Sense’s long-term financial sustainability. You will drive innovation, commercial excellence, and operational effectiveness - building a modern, resilient retail model that supports Sense’s mission and responds to a fast-changing retail landscape.

This is a hybrid role, working between home and our site in Crayford. There will also be regular travel to our charity shops across the UK.

Key Objectives

• Develop and deliver a national retail strategy that drives sustainable income growth across physical shops and e-commerce.
• Lead digital and operational innovation to improve efficiency, enhance customer experience, and maximise profitability.
• Build strong strategic partnerships to extend reach, visibility, and income.
• Champion sector-leading retail practice, ensuring Sense remains competitive, agile, and future-focused.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide inspirational leadership to a high-performing national retail team of staff and volunteers, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Drive retail performance using data-led insights to identify opportunities, manage risk, and deliver results.
• Strengthen and diversify income streams, including expanding and optimising e-commerce.
• Lead financial planning and performance management, ensuring delivery of income targets and strong return on investment.
• Optimise the retail property portfolio to ensure value for money, profitability, and estate sustainability.
• Lead scenario planning and build operational resilience to respond effectively to market changes.
• Ensure robust governance, compliance, and risk management across all retail operations.
• Strengthen community engagement and deliver a consistent, high-quality customer experience across all retail locations.
• Represent Sense Retail externally, building influence with sector bodies, partners, and stakeholders.
• Embed sustainability and social responsibility into retail practices, supporting Sense’s commitment to addressing the climate crisis.

About You

You will be a strategic, values-driven retail leader with the credibility and experience to operate at executive level.

You will bring:

• Proven success in a senior retail leadership role within a large multi-site charity, public sector body, or comparable organisation.
• A strong track record of driving income growth, innovation, and transformation.
• Experience leading large, geographically dispersed teams through change.
• Deep knowledge of charity retail governance, regulation, and best practice.
• Strong financial acumen, with experience managing significant budgets and using performance analytics to inform decisions.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, including experience presenting to executive teams and boards.
• A clear commitment to equity, inclusion, and the rights of disabled people.
• Resilience, adaptability, and the ability to lead calmly and confidently in a complex environment.

To apply

Please use the link below to complete your application. Managers will use your application to shortlist candidates for interview; in relation to the Personal Specification. Therefore, it is very important you complete this section thoroughly.  We would recommend that you read the job description and person specification before applying.

Please note to avoid disappointment, we advise you to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close posts at any time.

No agency submissions please: any submissions without prior authorisation from the Sense Recruitment Team will be treated as our own and as such no fee will be payable.

Sense is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable children and adults and expects all employees to share this commitment. Therefore, all offers of employment, where appropriate, are subject to a DBS check; level dependent on the nature of the role.

For this role we particularly welcome applications from candidates from underrepresented ethnic minority backgrounds and candidates with disabilities. Sense is committed to equality of opportunity, and to promoting and celebrating the diversity of staff, volunteers and the people we work with. Everyone's contribution is valued and we ensure they're given the opportunity to realise their potential. We welcome applications from talented people from all sections of the community who share our values and belief that no one, no matter how complex their disabilities, should be isolated, left out, or unable to fulfil their potential. 

Head of Development and Communications

Job Description

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

£46,200 - £50,200 per annum FTE

The Head of Development and Communications plays a pivotal role in driving In2scienceUK’s mission to change lives by opening doors to STEM degrees and careers for young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds. 

As a senior leader, you will shape and deliver a bold, integrated development and communications strategy that brings our mission to life, tells powerful stories of change, and inspires confidence and commitment from donors, partners, and key stakeholders that unlocks new opportunities for innovation and expansion.

In this role, you will manage a small, high-performing team and oversee the creation of compelling narratives and effective engagement strategies that inspire donors, partners, alumni, and key stakeholders, supporting a resilient and diversified income portfolio.

Working closely with programme teams, you will ensure that development and communications activity amplifies the impact of existing programmes, while identifying and developing new opportunities that deliver meaningful outcomes for young people across the UK.

You will drive the development of strategic partnerships and funding relationships to expand the reach and influence of In2science’s work. Combining strategic vision with operational expertise, you will take a proactive, entrepreneurial approach to growth, shaping how the organisation connects with its audiences, builds its reputation, and communicates the impact of its work in support of long-term strategic goals.

The position allocates approxiamtely 80% of time to development and fundraisng activities and 20% to oversight of the organisations communications function.

In2scienceUK operates on a remote basis, with necessary UK-wide travel for partner and funder meetings, events, and staff co-working days. 

Direct Reports

Development Team: Development Manager, Development Officer, External Fundraising Consultancy.

Comms Team : Senior Communications Officer.

Responsibilities 

Development

Approxaimately 80% of the role will be dedicated to development and fundraising activities.

• To collaborate with the senior leadership team and trustees in setting organisational strategy and building strategic partnerships to support In2science’s vision for 2026 and beyond.

• Lead on planning, implementation and delivery of segmented fundraising and stewardship campaigns across programmes and audiences with a 2026 income target of £1.5m. 

• Lead and manage a diverse fundraising portfolio, including corporate partnerships, trusts and foundations, research grants (e.g., UKRI), government funding, and individual giving.

• To lead a small but effective development team, including an external fundraising contractor to build upon our success to date to achieve funding targets and foster strategic relationships with funding and delivery partners.

• Budget and resource all aspects of development and communications, including engaging with external contractors to maximise our output and upskill our teams.

• Work closely with the Head of Operations to oversee our CRM, ensuring accurate pipeline reporting and forecasting, as well as utilising the system for tailored stewardship opportunities.

• Work closely with our programmes team to ensure that deliverables are met and in line with our mission and objectives.

• Explore opportunities for partnership to launch new programmes and initiatives, working with the Data and Impact manager to use national data to ensure we deliver the greatest possible impact to those most in need.

Communications

Approximately 20% of your role will be committed to oversight of our communication function.

• Oversee the organisation’s external communications, ensuring all messaging is on-brand, reflects our values, meets high standards, and effectively tells the story of our impact on young people.

• Oversee resourcing of the communications function, balancing 70% development and brand engagement with 30% programme-focused activity.

• Identify opportunities to maximise brand presence through strategic partnerships, policy engagement, and media activity.

• Work closely with the SMT and Trustees to respond to media, speaking, and event requests, ensuring consistent and impactful messaging.

• Ensure digital and web platforms effectively showcase our impact and support compelling storytelling.

• Manage the Senior Communications Officer to deliver campaigns that drive organisational growth and engagement with donors, partners, volunteers, and beneficiaries.

Governance

• To work with the SMT, CEO, and Trustees to ensure strong charity governance, including leading the Growth Subcommittee and preparing reports for quarterly board meetings.

• Identify organisation-wide opportunities to streamline and improve performance across the organisation.

• Working with SMT and trustees to ensure charity compliance. Including the charity commission, funding regulator, ICO.

• Identify and manage organisational/operational risk and ensure that all measures are in place to mitigate this.

As duties and responsibilities change, the job description will be reviewed and amended in consultation with the post holder. The postholder will carry out any other duties that are within the scope, spirit and purpose of the job as requested by the line manager. All staff must undertake all mandatory training, checks and compliance as instructed by the organisation.

Person Specification

Essential:

• Three years experience of leading a development team to generate a seven-figure annual income from a diverse range of donors, ideally in a charitable organisation.

• A passionate advocate for social mobility in STEM.

• An inspiring leader who can inspire and collaborate across the organisation to achieve our collective goals.

• Knowledge of all streams of fundraising, with direct experience in at least two of the following: corporate fundraising, trust and foundations, research grants e.g. UKRI, government grants or individual giving (incl. high-net worth donors).

• A target driven individual with a proven track record of personal six-figure income generation and achieving or exceeding personal targets.

• Excellent relationship management skills to steward existing and potential partners and donors.

• Experience of line management including developing personal development plans and setting KPIs.

• Proven experience of managing a brand, ensuring consistent and impactful communications that maximise reach amongst our target audiences.

• Superb written and verbal communication skills with the ability to persuade and influence at all levels.

• Proven experience of overseeing communication campaigns to engage new prospects across a variety of audiences.

• Evidence of efficient and accurate management of budgets and resources.

• Willingness to work flexibly and attend occasional events or meetings on evenings/weekends when required.

• Working collaboratively and supporting fostering a collegiate workplace environment.

• Upholds the values of our code of conduct and is respectful to all.

Desirable:

• Direct knowledge and/or experience of the barriers young people face in accessing STEM degrees or careers.

• Direct knowledge and/or experience of working with education organisations or STEM sector employers, incl. knowledge of current trends.

• Experience of working in collaboration with across teams to deliver new initiatives that maximise outcomes for young people and attract relevant funding.

• Evidence of delivering highly impactful events.

• Prior experience of public speaking, thought leadership and engaging with the press.

• Experience of governance in a small charitable organisation and utilising Trustees to support the organisation's goals and objectives.

Benefits: 

At In2scienceUK we practise what we preach by giving all staff opportunities to progress in their careers. You will have the opportunity to develop your career with your line manager to get you to the next level from day one. 

Although we take our career development seriously we also value work-life balance. You will have the opportunity to work flexibly from home, balancing your caring responsibilities, volunteer commitments, hobbies and anything else that makes you happy. 

You will have 28 days of annual leave per annum, plus bank holidays. 

Commitment to Safeguarding: 

In2scienceUK is committed to our responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults as outlined in Working Together to Safeguard Children. We are committed to recruiting candidates who share this commitment to safeguarding, and therefore we apply robust recruitment and selection procedures to ensure that the people selected are right for the job, and that all candidates are appropriately screened prior to appointment. 

The following pre-employment checks will be undertaken as applicable:

• References 

• DBS check and/or Overseas criminal records check where applicable

• Self-Disclosure 

• Identity check 

• Right to work in the UK 

• Evidence of qualifications applicable to the role 

• Confirmation of registration with applicable registered body where applicable 

Many of our roles involve working with children and we will therefore take up references prior to your appointment. You should provide details of referees including your current and previous employers, covering the last 5 years. Your current or previous employer will be asked about disciplinary offences relating to children, if the role involved working with children, including any in which the penalty is time expired. We will also ask if you have been the subject of any child protection concerns and if so, the outcome of any enquiry or disciplinary procedure. 

Diversity and Inclusion:

In2scienceUK is committed to being an inclusive and diverse organisation where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly those who are underrepresented in STEM and the charity sector, including but not limited to people from minoritised ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

We recognise that talent and potential come in many forms, and we welcome applicants with different experiences, perspectives, and ways of thinking. We are committed to providing an inclusive recruitment process and working environment, and we will make reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. If you require any adjustments, please let us know.

Direct Marketing Manager, European New Donors

Location:  London

Hiring Range:  46,000-55,000 GBP per year

Reporting to the Director of New Donor Engagement, the Direct Marketing Manager leads IFAW’s international new donor acquisition and global reactivation efforts. This role oversees the strategy and execution  of IFAW’s direct mail and face-to-face fundraising for four European markets:  Germany, France, UK and The Netherlands.  This role also designs and executes strategies to re-engage long lapsed supporters in all markets. Collaborate with the digital acquisition team to amplify results and leverage the strategies to attract new donors and reactivate lapsed donors. The manager collaborates with internal teams and external vendors to ensure campaigns are delivered effectively and in alignment with organizational goals.

Role and Responsibilities

· Lead all facets of direct mail new donor acquisition and reactivation programs, including strategic planning, budget oversight, creative strategy, vendor management, and process optimization.

· Support and participate in direct response TV campaigns and leverage that strategy to amplify results in direct mail and face to face channels.

· Develop and implement country-specific acquisition and reactivation strategies to maintain or grow donor file size in alignment with departmental goals.

· Conduct in-market research and stay informed on emerging donor acquisition methods and trends.

· Collaborate with Direct Marketing Directors to ensure newly acquired and reactivated donors align with overall fundraising goals and audience segmentation strategies.

· Oversee vendors and internal colleagues to ensure acquisition and reactivation campaigns are executed accurately, efficiently, and on schedule.

· Apply direct marketing principles, fundraising strategies, and analytical insights to design and optimize acquisition and reactivation campaigns.

· Research, identify, and recommend acquisition and reactivation test plans that support innovation, cost efficiency, and departmental growth objectives.

· Contribute to the development and management of the annual budget and three-year projections, ensuring alignment with strategic fundraising priorities.

· Deliver timely and accurate monthly forecast updates to the Director of New Donor Engagement, accompanied by a clear narrative outlining key performance trends, strategic adjustments, and changes impacting acquisition and reactivation campaigns.

· Review vendor contracts to ensure compliance with legal standards and alignment with organizational policies, fundraising ethics, and operational expectations. Ensure that vendors operate within contractual agreements.

· Lead the vendor selection process by issuing bids, evaluating proposals, and managing onboarding to ensure alignment with organizational standards and campaign goals.

Qualifications and Education Requirements

· 5+ years of direct marketing experience, preferably within a nonprofit or fundraising context

· Strong leadership and organizational skills, with a track record of self-motivation, effective time management, and team development

· Proven success managing cross-functional teams and external vendors to execute complex projects on schedule and within scope

· Exceptional communication abilities, both written and verbal, with a focus on clarity, persuasion, and donor engagement

· Demonstrated ability to meet and exceed fundraising goals, with a solid understanding of donor acquisition and retention strategies

· Global marketing exposure or international campaign experience is highly desirable

· Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business administration, communications, or a relevant experience preferred

At IFAW, we aim to create and foster a workforce that reflects and contributes to the diverse, global community in which we work to improve the lives of both animals and people.  We are dedicated to fostering justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion so we actively encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds.

To apply, please submit CV and letter of interest to Careers | IFAW