Director of development and communications jobs

We’re looking for an ambitious and creative Business Development Manager to help Honeypot transform the lives of young carers. This is a unique opportunity to grow sustainable income while making a real, visible impact. You’ll build inspiring partnerships with corporate businesses, spotting new opportunities and turning bold ideas into meaningful support for our charity. Working closely with a passionate fundraising team, you’ll research pipelines, open new doors, and champion our mission wherever you go.

If you’re an experienced fundraisier  (3 years or more in a charitable organisation), have business development experience, and be a natural relationship-builder who’s motivated by cause and purpose as much as performance, we’d love to hear from you.

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Head of Individual Giving

We’re looking for an experienced and creative Head of Individual Giving to lead and grow our individual giving programme.

About the Role

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, you’ll shape and deliver our individual giving strategy, overseeing the recruitment, retention and development of individual supporters. You’ll lead on our major appeals, including an annual national campaign to Catholic parishes across the UK.

You’ll also play a key role in developing new fundraising products, optimising donor journeys, and ensuring our CRM and data systems support excellent stewardship and insight-driven decision making. This is a senior position with significant scope to shape the programme and make your mark.

About You

We’re looking for a confident and strategic fundraiser with a strong grasp of individual giving and a collaborative approach. You’ll bring:

• Proven experience delivering successful individual giving or direct marketing campaigns in the charity sector
• Strong skills in supporter stewardship and donor retention
• Experience of managing budgets, teams and external suppliers
• A creative, data-driven approach to growing income
• Excellent communication skills

Assistant Director of Operations
Salary: £72,000 per annum
Work Pattern: This is a permanent contract, working full time, Monday to Friday, 37.5 hours a week.
Location: Your base can be at any of the 6 mainland UK Discovery Sites: Arundel BN18, Llanelli SA14, London SW13, Martin Mere L40, Slimbridge GL2 or Washington NE38. The 7th site is Castle Espie.
For this role we can offer the opportunity for hybrid working. It is expected the role will need you to be present at each of your sites on a regular basis, at least once per month.

About The Role

WWT is the charity for wetlands.

This is a critical role in the recently restructured Operations Directorate at WWT. As Assistant Director, you will be directly responsible for the performance of our 7 Wetland Discovery sites. You will provide inspiring and professional leadership to your teams, whilst proactively collaborating cross organisation and externally.

Your focus will be on driving meaningful improvements at sites across our three ambitions of Restore, Inspire and Thrive, with emphasis on financial performance driven by visitor experiences. Reporting to the Director of Operations, you will directly manage two Heads of Operations, a Head of Retail and Head of Catering. You will indirectly lead more than 400 staff and volunteers across Living Collections, Reserve Management, Visitor Experience, Trading, Marketing, Facilities and Grounds.

You will work closely with Health & Safety and Sustainability leads to ensure good governance and compliance at sites and across the Operations Directorate.

You will have a background working in visitor attractions or a very similar sector, coupled with a passion for purpose-led organisations and a keen interest in the environment. You will be an inspiring leader with high levels of emotional intelligence and values & behaviours that align with WWT.

About You

To join as our Assistant Director of Operations, you will need to evidence:

• Experience in a senior position(s) held in the visitor attraction/events management sectors, directly accountable for site operations and visitor experience throughout the visitor journey.
• Strong skills in leading business planning, financial analysis, budget development and management, and delivery of significant capital projects across £multi-million business unit(s).
• Demonstrable ability to recruit, performance manage and motivate large (>100) diverse multi-disciplinary teams.
• The ability to develop, communicate and implement strategic change, turning organisational vision into improvements at scale.
• An inspirational and empathetic leadership style, able to role model an organisation’s values and behaviours, and to evidence strong emotional intelligence. Able to prioritise effectively, to collaborate, network and influence internally and externally at a senior level.
• A highly creative and inquisitive mindset, able to spot and exploit potential opportunities, keen to explore, test and learn as a means of driving continual improvement and excellence in the visitor experience.
• Experience of working collaboratively with insight, marketing and communications teams to deliver strong brand and marketing campaigns which drive footfall.

About Us

We’re WWT, and we’re on a mission to restore the super-powered ecosystems we call wetlands. There’s never been a more important moment for our work, and we’ve got some phenomenal people on the case.

Whether they’re taking a new visitor under their wing, or conducting ground-breaking research further afield, our team are second to none. And there’s nothing we love more than watching them soar.

Whatever you do here, you’ll be helping to restore wetlands and unlock their power. So, the only question left is, what role will you play?

Why you’ll love working at WWT

• Wake up every day knowing your work is helping to restore wetlands, and our world
• Be surrounded and inspired by our team of passionate, dedicated people
• 33 days annual leave (which goes up to 38 days after 5 years of service) – this includes bank holidays and you have flexibility to take those days whenever you want
• Free entry to all our wetland centres, including your family
• Free car parking and secure bike storage areas
• Colleague discount on shopping and memberships
• Cycle to work scheme
• Contributory pension scheme
• Life Assurance of three times your salary, for peace of mind for your loved ones
• Independent personal, workplace and financial advice from our Employee Assistance Programme

Closing Date: 23rd February 2026

N.B. We reserve the right to close the advert early if we receive a sufficient number of applications from candidates who meet the required skills and experience. We therefore encourage early applications.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

WWT is an equal opportunities employer and all applications will be considered solely on merit.

No agencies please.

Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) is looking for a confident, target-driven Development Manager to help grow philanthropic support. Working closely with the Director of Development, you will deliver individual giving, Supporters’ Circle activity and public fundraising appeals, while supporting corporate partnerships and trusts and foundations. The role involves building strong relationships, planning engaging supporter events and writing persuasive fundraising communications, including appeals linked to future capital developments. This is an excellent opportunity for a confident and motivated fundraiser who believes in the power of arts and culture to create positive change.

MAC is an exciting, ambitious arts centre which offers a wide array of free exhibitions, theatre, music, cinema and comedy performances as well as creative learning and participation activities. Well-loved and well used, it’s a relaxed friendly place attracting a diverse mix of visitors.  As well as MAC our work also extends outside of the venue across the city to community settings to inspire new audiences to experience high-quality art experiences.

Salary: £30,038 per annum

Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Job Purpose:

To deliver key strands of MAC’s Development and Fundraising Strategy, with responsibility for Individual Giving, Supporters’ Circle, donor events and fundraising communications, while also supporting Corporate fundraising and Trusts and Foundations activity.

The Development Manager will be a confident, target-driven fundraiser with excellent writing skills and a strong ability to build relationships. The role will play a central part in delivering public appeals, supporter engagement and long-term giving, including activity linked to exciting capital developments.

A full job description, including key responsibilities, person specification and how to apply can be found by clicking the apply now button.

Deadline

All applications must be received no later than 12pm midday Monday 16 February 2026

Late applications will not be considered.

Please be aware that we may close this vacancy before the stated deadline if we receive a high number of applications. We strongly advise you to submit your application as early as possible. 

Short-listing
Shortlisted candidates will be informed at the latest by end of day Friday 20 February 2026
 
Interviews
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview the week commencing 23 February 2026

REF-226 166

This is a part time role, responsible for leading the fundraising efforts of Canaan Project.

Working closely with the Director, the Fundraising Lead will contribute to strategic funding development and planning, support ongoing fundraising and reporting activities, and assist in the development of relevant policies and processes.

If this sounds like the right role for you, please send us your CV and a cover letter detailing your suitability for the role.

Application closing date: 25th February 2026 at 5pm

Interviews will potentially be scheduled for the week beginning Monday 4th March. 

The Role

Nottingham Contemporary is a leading centre of contemporary art in Europe, and among the largest spaces of its kind in the UK. We have an exciting vacancy for a Development Coordinator to join our dynamic and supportive Development team, to assist with securing funding for the future of our organisation. As Development Coordinator, you will support the Senior Development Manager and Director to achieve our ambitious fundraising strategy. You will be a pivotal member of the team, undertaking tasks across administration, research, project and events management, and high-level writing.

Your main accountabilities will include:

• Providing administrative oversight of key areas related to gaining income from a wide range of sources, including but not limited to trusts and foundations, individual donors, and corporate giving (including from commercial galleries).

• Researching, drafting and preparing timely project and funding report templates and reports.

• Supporting the Director and Senior Development Manager in strategically cultivating and stewarding individual donors, as well as corporate and strategic partners.

• Undertaking prospect research, including due diligence of individual donors, researching opportunities for funding through Trusts and Foundations, and identifying relevant local and national government grant schemes.

• Supporting the planning, drafting and submission of grant applications and funding reports, with the aim of leading on select applications and reports over time.

• Supporting the planning and delivering of a high-quality programme of supporter, VIP and external events.

The Person

This is an exciting opportunity to gain experience in fundraising for a renowned arts organisation, and we’re looking for someone who is proactive and enthusiastic for the challenge! Your ability to be adaptable, calm, and to manage a busy workload will be vital when administering bids, preparing reports, and researching donors and funding opportunities. A team player, you’ll enjoy working collaboratively and supportively with internal colleagues and external stakeholders. You’ll have excellent written and verbal communication, and your strong organisational and project management skills will come in handy when managing cross-team funding applications and organising events for donors, funders and prospects.

You don’t need experience in fundraising to apply to this role. We understand the benefit of other skills and experience, and are excited to hear from those with transferable skills such as high-level writing, project management, administration, research, events management, customer service or commercial sales. If you don’t meet all of the criteria but are interested in the role, please do consider applying.

Closing Date: Monday 9 February 2026, 10am

Interview Date: Monday 23 February 2026

The Head of Client Experience will lead the planning, development and sustainable delivery of MHFA England’s commercial plan through applying expertise in workplace mental health. This role is responsible for generating income through new business and growing long-term partnerships with existing clients. 

This role will lead our commercial sales and delivery teams to deliver high quality training and consultancy, driving commercial success to directly support our purpose as a social enterprise. Leading the team to deliver seamless customer experiences, build customer lifetime value and ensuring we achieve our financial and impact goals within budget.

Please see the attached job description for full details of the role and responsibilities.

Use your financial leadership skills to protect and restore the environment.

A Rocha UK (ARUK) is a unique Christian environmental charity, with a mission to mobilise Christians and churches to care for the environment.

With climate change accelerating at an ever-faster pace and biodiversity collapsing, we bring a message of hope. Our Christian perspective provides our mandate for action and our posture of confidence, assured that God reigns and is at work.

Best known for our growing Eco Church programme which currently supports more than 9,000 churches to improve their environmental practice, our mission is to equip Christians to protect and restore the environment - for God, nature and all people.

With a staff of 23 people (17 FTEs) and a growing income of £1m, we now seek a Finance and Services Director, to develop our financial management and central services to underpin the new strategy and goals we plan to launch later this year.

This strategically important role will require finance planning and management expertise, the ability to thrive in a small and growing cause-led charity with diverse streams of income and a staff body of which more than half is home based.  You will bring a strongly strategic mind and the collegiality to contribute to the wider leadership of the organisation. As well as bringing a passion for the environment, the way you live and lead will be shaped by your Christian faith.

If this sounds like you we would love to hear from you. For more details see the job pack attached. Closing date 13th February.

Job Title: People Development Manager (Job Share)

Location: Homeworking with a requirement to occasionally work at Head Office (Vauxhall, London)
Salary: £23,036 per annum, pro rata based on an FTE salary of £57,590 per annum. (Inclusive of London Weighting, which may not be applicable depending on your home location and any agreed permanent homeworking arrangement)

Contract type: Part Time, Fixed Term (1 year)

Hours: 15 hours per week (Wednesday's and Friday's as part of a job share)

We are now seeking a People Development Manager (Job Share) to join our People & Culture team and help us strengthen learning, development, and organisational capability across Refuge.

As People Development Manager, you will play a key role in delivering effective, compliant, and customer-focused People services that help colleagues perform at their best and support Refuge’s strategic objectives.

Working collaboratively with managers and your job-share partner, you will shape and deliver an organisation-wide training and learning offer that meets diverse needs, supports professional growth, and enhances our inclusive culture.

You will lead on the development of our newly implemented learning system, our evaluation framework and monitoring and developing our apprenticeship scheme. Alongside your job share partner and the Deputy Director of People & Culture, you will help develop our new learning strategy.

You will be part of a supportive People & Culture team committed to positive change and continuous improvement. In this role, you’ll have the opportunity to shape meaningful development initiatives that help colleagues grow and ensure Refuge remains a great place to work.

Closing Date: 09:00 am 12 February 2026

Interview Date: 19 February 2026 

Finance and Resource Director

Location: Hull - hybrid working available
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Part-time or full-time considered (min 3 days per week)
Salary: £65,000

• Lead the financial strategy for a diverse £6 million+ turnover charity.
• Oversee a unique commercial portfolio, including a Wetherspoon franchise.
• Join a senior team empowering students and shaping their experience.

We are helping a university students' union find a new Finance and Resource Director as they embark on a period of restructure in the Senior Leadership Team. This is a fantastic opportunity for a strategic finance leader to join a complex, values-driven organisation in Hull. If you are looking to combine your financial expertise with purpose-driven work, this role offers a unique challenge.

The organisation is happy to consider applicants on a part-time basis (min 3 days per week) or on a full-time basis. Hybrid working is offered with at least 50% of the role expected to be office based.

Company Overview

This is a student-led charity with a thriving commercial arm. With a turnover of over £6 million, its portfolio includes the UK's first J D Wetherspoon franchise on a university campus and a successful SPAR supermarket. The organisation has also invested in its spaces, creating a vibrant hub for student life, including a major live gig venue. The organisation is focused on empowering every student by championing their priorities through community organising.

Position Overview

As the Finance and Resource Director, you will be a key member of the Senior Leadership Team. You will provide strategic leadership across Finance, Facilities, and Health and Safety. Your role is vital to ensuring the organisation has the resources to deliver its strategic plan sustainably. You will work closely with the CEO, Trustees, and elected Presidents to drive commercial performance and support the organisation's mission.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational strategy for finance, facilities, and health & safety.
• Develop and deliver the group's long-term financial plan.
• Provide strategic financial guidance to the CEO and Boards.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and annual financial reporting.
• Lead on the production on the annual statutory accounts.
• Manage key relationships with auditors, banks, HMRC, and the external management accountants.
• Ensure robust financial governance and risk management.
• Lead on contract negotiations and ethical investment strategy.
• Champion and role-model the organisation's inclusive culture.

Requirements

• A recognised accountancy qualification (ACCA, CIMA, ACA, or CIPFA).
• Senior leadership and management experience.
• Proven experience in strategic financial planning and reporting.
• Experience in developing systems and leading organisational change.
• Excellent communication skills, able to present to board level.
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• A genuine empathy with the values of a student-led organisation.
• Experience in the charity or higher education sector is desirable.

Benefits

• Generous annual leave of 27 days plus bank holidays and additional leave
• Paid volunteering days to support causes you care about.
• Comprehensive health and wellbeing support.
• Staff discounts across campus and various retail schemes.
• Cycle-to-work scheme and travel perks.
• Access to training and development opportunities.

Alongside these benefits, you will join a supportive and progressive senior team. You will help shape a fun, inclusive, and solution-focused culture, directly improving students' university experience.

Commitment to Diversity

The organisation is committed to building a team that reflects the diversity of its membership and the communities it serves. We actively encourage applications from underrepresented groups, including racially and ethnically minoritised individuals, women, non-binary people, and people with disabilities.

How to Apply

Please send your CV for consideration by the closing date

Closing date: Monday 23rd February at 12 noon
Interviews: Wednesday 25th February - most likely onsite. Possible second interview w/c 2nd March.

Overview

We’re looking for a Senior Business Development Officer to join our national Business Development Team. This is an ideal next step for you if you’re an experienced bid writer looking to grow your career in business development, make social impact, and develop your leadership skills. We’d particularly like to hear from people that have experience of writing high-scoring drug and alcohol service bids.

Location: London, Brighton, Manchester or Leeds.

Salary: £43,384.62 − £47,792.23 per year. If you’re based in London, you’ll receive an additional £4,133.14 per year for Inner London Weighting.

Contract: Permanent.

Responsibilities

About the role

Change Grow Live is a health and social care charity. Across the country, we support people to make positive changes in their lives, including around drug and alcohol use, smoking, homelessness and criminal justice.

As a Senior Business Development Officer, you’ll play a lead role in the development and writing of tenders and proposals for a variety of health and social care services. This role offers a great opportunity to learn and develop while using your established skills, and you’ll be encouraged to take on more responsibility as you progress.

This role offers a great opportunity to learn and develop while using your established skills, and you’ll be encouraged to take on more responsibility as you progress, including line management opportunities.

Your day-to-day will include:

• Writing and editing complex and highly weighted bid responses, working to short timeframes
• Project managing the writing of key tenders with support from a Business Development Manager
• Supporting the development of Assistant Business Development Officers and Business Development Officers, with the potential of providing line management
• Working with staff across the organisation and our partners to develop bids that reflect best practice respond to local needs
• Producing and coordinating detailed research for upcoming opportunities, including meeting with subject matter experts, analysing data and collating evidence
• Creating presentations, diagrams and reports
• Participating in and leading reviews of our bid and proposal processes.

About you         

We’re looking for candidates with proven experience of writing tenders, proposals or grant applications in health and social care.

You are:

• A highly competent communicator with a successful track record in bid writing, ideally for drug and alcohol treatment or related services
• Experienced in leading smaller bids and proposals
• Able to analyse data and interpret evidence, with good IT and research skills
• Solution-focused, creative and proactive
• Happy to give and receive constructive, challenging feedback
• Collaborative and contribute to a positive culture team
• Ready to work hard to deliver on CGL’s values and mission.

What we offer

You’ll be able to access structured training, development and mentoring as part of a supportive team. There’s a clear progression pathway within the team, from Senior Business Development Officer to Manager, Senior Manager, Deputy Director, and Director. Several of our current Business Development Managers were previously in the Senior Business Development Officer role.

We also offer:

• The option to work from home for some of the week
• Wellbeing support, including an employee assistance programme and an hour each week for wellbeing activities of your choice (find out more here).

We want our workforce to represent the diversity of the people and communities we work with. We pride ourselves on an inclusive and supportive workplace, evidenced through our Investors in People silver status.

We’re happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that you need to be successful. Please let us know in your application or at any stage of the process if you would like to discuss this.

 Before you apply

In the application portal, there’s a section called ‘how you meet the criteria for the role’. This is your chance to tell us about why you’re a good fit for this job – we won’t be able to consider your application unless it’s filled in. Please explain how you meet each of the person specification criteria (listed at the end of the job description). Use clear examples of your experience (this link contains some useful guidance). As guidance, written statements should not exceed 1,000 words. You can address multiple criteria together where you think it makes sense.

Interviews will be held 16th – 23rd February 2026 via MS Teams. We’ll also ask shortlisted candidates to complete a written task online during this timeframe, at a time of your choice. We may hold a pre-qualification stage task (e.g. presentation) depending on the number of applicants.

We encourage applications from individuals who may not meet every requirement but are excited about the role. We value lived experience of substance use, homelessness, and/or multiple disadvantages.

We’re a Disability Confident Committed employer. Under our Disability Confident interview scheme, we will offer an interview to disabled candidates where they meet our selection criteria in their application. Some of our roles attract a high volume of applications and in some circumstances where it is not practicable or appropriate, we may limit the number of interviews offered to disabled and non-disabled candidates. Please confirm in the ‘how you meet the criteria for the role’ part of the application if you are applying under this scheme. We will provide reasonable adjustments as needed.

Check the job description and team explainer for more information. Contact Yasmin Gilders to discuss this role further.

What our people say

Holly, Senior Business Development Officer said:

“What are your favourite parts of the job? The amount we learn from bid to bid. No two services are the same and I’m constantly coming across amazing individuals, teams and interventions. Being part of a team that helps share and celebrate great work, and support other services to implement new and exciting initiatives is really rewarding.

How would you describe the team? Helpful, real and full of knowledge. Everyone comes from different backgrounds and is happy to share their skills, knowledge and learning. I’ve never felt like I’ve asked a silly question, and I don’t feel like I must put a on ‘work mask’ every day.

What were your highlights from last year? Becoming a Senior and working across 7 different bids or direct awards last year. It was busy but I learnt so much, made some great connections with people across the organisation and feel excited for 2026.”

Fran, who progressed from this role to Business Development Manager last year:

“How did the role help you progress? The Senior Business Development Officer role sets you up to well to progress into a Business Development Manager role, as you begin to get involved in managing writing teams, reviewing written responses, engaging with Service Managers and Directors in model development and hold line management responsibilities. I was in the Senior Business Development Officer role for just over a year and a half before successfully applying to the Manager role.

How would you describe the team? The Business Development team are incredibly supportive and will give you the opportunity to develop in areas that you’re interested in. My manager supported to me build skills and experience that pushed me out of my comfort zone but enabled me to progress into the Business Development Manager role.

What would you say to someone thinking of applying? Alongside developing your writing skills, this role is a great place to shape your leadership and management skills. If you don’t have line management experience, don’t let this put you off.”

Salary Range (pro rata if part time)

CGL points 39 to 43 (£43,384.61 - £47,792.23)

Interview Date

16/2/2026

Closing Date

8/2/2026

War on Want is recruiting for a permanent Department Director to lead our campaigning, policy and international partnerships and programmes work. This role will suit a dynamic self-motivated and experienced Department Director. You will need significant senior management team experience, as well as experience of managing thematic experts and campaigners and leading the delivery of impactful and transformative campaigns.

As a member of War on Want’s senior management team, you will be responsible for ensuring and overseeing the effective planning, implementing and monitoring of War on Want’s campaigning, policy and international partnerships and programmes work. Working with the Executive Director and Senior Management Team colleagues you will also contribute to the overall management of the organisation.

This is a unique and highly rewarding position for a creative and inspirational individual to join the leadership of an impactful charity working both in the UK and globally on some of the most challenging social justice issues. The role oversees our programmes and campaigns on climate justice, economic justice, and on militarism and security issues, including our priority work on Palestine. This is a great opportunity to join a dynamic staff group dedicated to making a genuine difference in the fight for global justice. 

War on Want staff can work from War on Want’s head office, 44-48 Shepherdess Walk, London N1 7JP and from home. Some travel within the UK and overseas may be required.

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

Deadline for applications: 23.59 on Sunday 8 February 2026.

War on Want is a registered charity no 208724. We actively encourage applicants from ethnic minorities and aim to be an equal opportunities employer.

Job Title: Senior Manager: Specialist & Outreach Services

Reports to: Director of Services

Location: Nankeville Office & Women’s Support Centre, Woking (Hybrid)

Hours: Full time (35 hours per week), to be worked flexibly for needs of business

Salary: £41,000 - £45,000 p.a.

Please note that this post is open to women only under Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010, due to the nature of the services delivered within the Women’s Support Centre and the needs of the service users.

Who we are

Catalyst Support is a leading Surrey charity dedicated to championing wellness across communities, transforming lives by addressing mental, physical, and emotional health needs. Guided by the belief that wellness is a right for all, we empower individuals and communities with innovative, accessible services. Our values are kindness, integrity, and commitment.

About the role

This is a senior, hands-on leadership role with immediate operational responsibility and strategic outreach portfolio leadership.

As the Senior Manager: Specialist & Outreach Services, you will provide strong, visible leadership to Catalyst Support’s specialist and outreach provision, with an initial core focus on the Cuckooing Assertive Outreach Service. Managing the cuckooing team, you will provide direct operational oversight while developing and leading the service, ensuring safe, trauma-informed, high quality delivery and effective partnership working across Surrey.

You’ll support and guide a team of staff, helping them stay motivated, work well together, and deliver meaningful support, while holding accountability for performance and practice. Building a positive team culture will be key, encouraging collaboration, learning, and shared responsibility. You’ll also manage key relationships with commissioners, partners, and stakeholders, and work closely with the Director of Services to help shape and deliver strategic priorities.

You will work closely with, and be based regularly within, Catalyst’s Women’s Support Centre, supporting services working with women affected by domestic abuse, on their journey of recovery and living with complex trauma.

Alongside this, the role is designed to grow into the strategic and operational leadership of Catalyst’s wider Specialist & Outreach portfolio, bringing coherence, quality and sustainability across services working with people experiencing multiple disadvantage.

The role is line managed by the Director of Services and you will play a key role in shaping the future operating model for specialist and outreach services.

About you

We are looking for candidates with:

• A relevant professional qualification in mental health, substance use, criminal justice, social care or a related field and/or substantial equivalent professional experience, with a strong applied understanding of trauma-informed and outreach-based practice.
• Significant experience working in specialist, outreach or community-based services, supporting people experiencing multiple disadvantage, including exploitation, domestic abuse, substance use, mental ill-health and criminal justice involvement.
• Proven experience of managing staff and services in complex environments, including line management, supervision, and leading programmes or projects within operational settings.
• Strong Safeguarding knowledge and sound professional judgment with experience of holding safeguarding decisions in multi-agency contexts.
• Demonstrable ability to combine hands-on operational leadership with strategic thinking, including service development, performance improvement and change.
• High level of emotional intelligence, resilience and integrity, with the ability to hold complexity, lead others through change, and work in partnership with a range of stakeholders and partners.

Benefits

• 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays (rising with service)
• Pension scheme and access to Simply Health (including optical, dental, counselling sessions)
• Birthday leave, employee discounts, and flexible working where possible
• Supportive probation, sick pay after probation, and wellbeing/EAP resources

Catalyst Support is an equal opportunities employer. We celebrate difference and are committed to fairness, accessibility, and inclusion throughout recruitment and employment.

Please refer to the Job Description for further information about this role.

Overview

We’re looking for a strong bid writer to join our successful national Business Development Team as a Business Development Officer. This is an excellent opportunity to grow your career in business development within a successful team that prioritises social impact, development and progression. We’d particularly like to hear from people that have experience of writing high-scoring drug and alcohol service bids.

Location: London, Brighton, Manchester or Leeds.

Salary: £37,184.91 – £39,891.91 per year. If you’re based in London, you’ll receive an additional £4,133.14 per year - Inner London Weighting.

Contract: Permanent.

Responsibilities

About the role

Change Grow Live is a health and social care charity. Across the country, we support people to make positive changes in their lives, including around drug and alcohol use, smoking, homelessness and criminal justice.

As a Business Development Officer, you’ll play a key part in helping us secure new contracts and deliver high‑quality services for adults, children and young people. You’ll work with colleagues across the organisation to develop excellent written material for bids and proposals. This role offers a great opportunity to learn and develop while using your established skills, and you’ll be encouraged to take on more responsibility as you progress.

Your day-to-day will include:

• Writing and editing multiple complex bid responses within live tenders
• Working with colleagues across the organisation to gather information and evidence
• Project managing smaller bids and proposals with support from a Senior Business Development Officer or Business Development Manager
• Completing online research, analysing data and collating evidence
• Creating presentations, diagrams and reports
• Helping improve how we do things.

About you

We’re looking for candidates with proven experience of writing tenders, proposals or grant applications, or writing in other professional or academic environments, for instance journalism, research or marketing.

You are:

• A highly competent communicator with excellent writing skills
• Able to analyse data and interpret evidence, with good IT and research skills
• Solution-focused, creative and proactive
• Happy to give and receive challenging feedback
• Collaborative and contribute to a positive culture team
• Ready to work hard to deliver on CGL’s values and mission.

What we offer

You’ll be able to access structured training, development and mentoring as part of a supportive team. There’s a clear progression pathway within the team, from Officer to Senior Officer, Manager, Senior Manager, Deputy Director, and Director. Several of our current Seniors and Managers were previously in the Business Development Officer role.

We also offer:

• The option to work from home for some of the week
• Wellbeing support, including an employee assistance programme and an hour each week for wellbeing activities of your choice (find out more here).

We want our workforce to represent the diversity of the people and communities we work with. We pride ourselves on an inclusive and supportive workplace, evidenced through our Investors in People silver status.

We’re happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that you need to be successful. Please let us know in your application or at any stage of the process if you would like to discuss this.

Before you apply

In the application portal, there’s a section called ‘how you meet the criteria for the role’. This is your chance to tell us about why you’re a good fit for this job – we won’t be able to consider your application unless it’s filled in. Please explain how you meet each of the person specification criteria (listed at the end of the job description). Use clear examples of your experience (this link contains some useful guidance). As guidance, written statements should not exceed 1,000 words. You can address multiple criteria together where you think it makes sense.

Interviews will be held 16th – 23rd February 2026 via MS Teams. We’ll also ask shortlisted candidates to complete a written task online during this timeframe, at a time of your choice. We may hold a pre-qualification stage task (e.g. presentation) depending on the number of applicants.

We encourage applications from individuals who may not meet every requirement but are excited about the role. We value lived experience of substance use, homelessness, and/or multiple disadvantages.

We’re a Disability Confident Committed employer. Under our Disability Confident interview scheme, we will offer an interview to disabled candidates where they meet our selection criteria in their application. Some of our roles attract a high volume of applications and in some circumstances where it is not practicable or appropriate, we may limit the number of interviews offered to disabled and non-disabled candidates. Please confirm in the ‘how you meet the criteria for the role’ part of the application if you are applying under this scheme. We will provide reasonable adjustments as needed.

Check the job description and team explainer for more information. You can contact Yasmin Gilders to discuss this role further.

What our people say

Kitty, Business Development Officer:

“What was your route into your current job? I graduated with an English Literature degree in 2019 and started out as an Editorial Assistant in publishing. Furloughed during the pandemic, I took the opportunity to complete a master’s in English Literature before moving into medical communications, where I also worked as an Editorial Assistant. While I enjoyed the work, I wanted a role that allowed me to get more involved in the research and writing, which led me to join CGL as an Assistant Business Development Officer in 2023. After gaining bid writing experience, I started as Business Development Officer in 2024.

What are your favourite parts of the job? I love how varied the job is. One day I might be deep in research, whether that’s desk-based or visiting a service in person, while the next I’m writing and editing responses for a live bid or even creating visuals. No two days are the same, and variety keeps the job exciting.

How would you describe the team? The team is incredibly lovely and supportive. There’s always someone ready to offer help, share advice, or even just have a quick chat, which makes it a really positive and collaborative environment to work in.

What were your highlights from last year? Being part of the team that won the Blackpool contract. We all invested a lot of time and effort into it, and the whole organisation was excited by the outcome.

Is there anything you would say to someone considering applying? Go for it! It’s a fantastic role within a supportive, friendly team, and there’s so much variety and opportunity to learn. If you’re considering applying, you won’t regret it.”

Holly, who progressed from Business Development Officer to Senior Business Development Officer last year:

“What are your favourite parts of this work? The amount we learn from bid to bid. No two services are the same and I’m constantly coming across amazing individuals, teams and interventions. Being part of a team that helps share and celebrate great work, and support other services to implement new and exciting initiatives is really rewarding.

How would you describe the team? Helpful, real and full of knowledge. Everyone comes from different backgrounds and is happy to share their skills, knowledge and learning. I’ve never felt like I’ve asked a silly question, and I don’t feel like I must put a on ‘work mask’.

What were your highlights from last year? Becoming a Senior and working across 7 different bids or direct awards last year. It was busy but I learnt so much, made some great connections with people across the organisation and feel excited for 2026.”

Salary Range (pro rata if part time)

CGL points 33 to 36 (£37,184.90 - £39,891.91)

Interview Date

16/2/2026

Closing Date

8/2/2026