Director of development and external affairs jobs
About the team
The Philanthropy Team raises income for Impetus and for Impetus partner charities. The team consists of 15 staff. Impetus has an annual income of c.£11 million which we are looking to grow significantly within the next few years. The team is led by two Directors of Philanthropy and Partnerships.
The Philanthropy Team works with major donors, corporates and grant making trusts, as well as collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation to ensure we make a compelling case to generate new financial commitments and wider support for our work. The team also deliver a high-quality engagement programme of volunteering and pro bono for Impetus’s corporate supporters.
Impetus is driven by a shared belief in tackling the barriers that hold back young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in education and employment. Alongside investing extensive financial and non-financial support in our charity partners through our Investment Team we also seek to influence decision makers to design and implement evidence led policy and direct new resources to get young people the support they need through our Public Affairs team. We are resolutely focused on outcomes, driven by quality evidence.
You would be joining a team that is passionate, ambitious, determined and warm. We care deeply for our colleagues, our charity partners and the young people we serve.
About this role
The Engagement Manager is an experienced professional who plays a key role in supporting donor engagement across all Impetus donors, enabling the team to provide best practice and high-quality donor stewardship and a platform for the renewal of key philanthropic gifts.
The Engagement function is responsible for pro bono and volunteering. Reporting to the Head of Engagement, the Engagement Manager is responsible for supporting the successful delivery and continuous improvement of the volunteering programme, ensuring it delivers high-quality opportunities, contributes to agreed KPIs and evolves in line with the needs of funders and the organisation.
The postholder will account manage key relationships with mid-level supporters and internal stakeholders, working across teams to deliver meaningful and well-coordinated engagement opportunities. They will contribute to identifying and developing new opportunities for the volunteering and pro bono programmes that respond to funder interests and portfolio needs.
In addition, they will manage relationships with mid-level pro bono supporters, taking them through the full pro bono journey from project matching and onboarding through to stewardship and ongoing support.
This is a cross-functional role that collaborates closely with the Investment team, wider Philanthropy team, Public Affairs team and other stakeholders to ensure a consistent and excellent donor experience.
Key responsibilities
Volunteering programme
- Account manage relationships linked to volunteering across corporates, individuals and grant-making trusts, ensuring engagement is maintained and escalating strategic issues or risks where appropriate.
- Support or lead meetings, alongside fundraising account managers where appropriate, with funders to understand their volunteering interests and contribute to the development of suitable engagement opportunities.
- Support account managers in ensuring consistent donor engagement throughout annual giving cycles, including tracking, reporting, and communications.
- Contribute to the development of the volunteering function to ensure the programme offers a range of high-quality opportunities suitable for different funder types and aligned to organisational priorities.
- Identify and suggest new volunteering opportunities based on charity needs and funder interests, working with the Head of Engagement to ensure strategic alignment across the programme.
- Lead delivery of the mentoring programme within agreed plans and frameworks.
- Where necessary, support delivery of the volunteering programme (i.e workshops), ensuring it delivers high-quality engagement activities, contributes to agreed KPIs and continues to develop in response to organisational and funder needs.
- Build and manage effective working relationships across the Investment team, Philanthropy team and other stakeholders to ensure volunteering opportunities are well scoped, coordinated and delivered effectively.
- Work with the Head of Engagement to coordinate needs across the Engagement team, liaise closely with the Investment team and portfolio contacts, and plan and deliver a high-quality programme of volunteering opportunities.
- Ensure communications with donors and external partners are clear, timely, compelling and aligned with agreed messaging.
- Line manage the Engagement Officer, providing support, guidance and oversight to enable effective delivery. Where necessary, lead volunteering delivery sessions when cover is required.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date records in Salesforce, including pipeline activity, reporting and key relationship updates.
Pro Bono programme
- Support the identification, prospecting and conversion of new pro bono supporters, aligned with the needs of portfolio charities and Impetus, including attending meetings with prospective supporters.
- Manage relationships with mid-level pro bono funders, supporting delivery across the full engagement process from identifying suitable projects and matching opportunities through to onboarding, delivery and stewardship.
- Work with the Head of Engagement, internal teams and charity partners to scope projects and support matching pro bono funders to suitable opportunities.
- Support the onboarding and ongoing management of pro bono partners, ensuring clear communication and a high-quality supporter experience.
- Monitor the progress and quality of pro bono projects, gather feedback and identify improvements to strengthen delivery and impact.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date records in Salesforce, including pipeline activity, reporting and key relationship updates.
Other
- Support the development and implementation of efficient processes and systems within the Philanthropy team, with a focus on consistency and effectiveness.
- Work in line with best practices and agreed processes, policies and standards across all engagement activities.
- Share insights and learnings internally and externally to support continuous improvement.
- Work in line with Impetus’ strategy, policies, and procedures.
- Attend and support delivery of Impetus events as needed.
- Support the Philanthropy team as required with ad hoc duties.
- Provide cover for aspects of the Head of Engagement role when required.
- Represent the Philanthropy team in cross-functional projects and working groups, contributing to delivery and collaboration.
Person specification
Essential
- Experience of delivering or managing successful engagement, volunteering or fundraising activities, including tracking performance against objectives or KPIs.
- Familiarity with the fundraising landscape, including a good understanding of the corporate donor marketplace.
- Strong account management experience, including managing external partners or funders and building effective relationships across internal teams.
- Experience managing across the donor lifecycle, and identifying and developing opportunities that meet stakeholder needs.
- Experience of developing opportunities for diverse stakeholders.
- Ability to understand and communicate complex ideas and information, including Impetus model.
- Experience working with skilled volunteers or pro bono partners, including supporting relationships through the full lifecycle from scoping or matching through to delivery and stewardship.
- A collaborative working style, comfortable working across teams with a commitment to working in a collaborative and inclusive way to achieve shared objectives.
- Experience of managing and developing staff, including setting clear objectives, providing regular feedback and creating development opportunities. Able to adapt management style to support colleagues at different levels of seniority and experience.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Experience delivering workstreams or programmes within agreed plans and KPIs.
- Strong project management skills with the ability to devise donor engagement plans and use project/account plans, budgets, and other financial information.
- Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and manager a busy and varied workload.
- Ability to look beyond own area of expertise and be pro-active and creative in problem solving.
- Ability to make operational decisions and escalate strategic issues where appropriate.
- IT proficiency, including Microsoft Office and CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce).
- A commitment to Impetus’ mission.
- A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Knowledge of the sector – education and employment.
- Knowledge and understanding of the needs of a young person, charities, and corporates.
- Experience of working with young people.
About Impetus
At Impetus, our focus is on helping young people achieve positive education and employment outcomes to increase their chance of leading fulfilling and successful lives, irrespective of their background.
We tackle the three most difficult challenges that affect a young person’s ability to succeed in life in Britain today:
- Lost learning through absence, suspensions, exclusions from school
- Stagnation in education attainment outcomes, which means many are missing out on key qualifications like GCSE English and maths
- The large numbers of young people out of education, training and employment
We use our deep expertise and high calibre networks to give the best non-profits working in these sectors the essential ingredients to have a real and lasting impact on the young people they serve.
Through a powerful combination of long-term funding, direct capacity building support from our experienced team and our pro bono partners, alongside research and policy influencing to drive lasting systems change, we work towards a society where all young people can thrive in school, pass their exams and unlock the doors to sustained employment, for a fulfilling life.
We are resolutely focused on outcomes and impact, driven by quality evidence.
You would be joining a team that is passionate, rigorous, determined, creative and warm. We care deeply for our colleagues, our portfolio partners and the young people we serve.
Impetus is a registered charity and our charity number is 1152262.
Our Values
In 2022 the Impetus staff agreed the following set of Values to act as our guiding principles as an organisation and help us to remain focused on achieving our mission to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
We are brave and curious
We are bold and brave in our pursuit of better outcomes for young people. We lead with curiosity and stay open to new perspectives. We support one another to take considered risks and learn together.
We bring high trust, high challenge
We build strong, long-term relationships through honesty, kindness, integrity, and respect. We create the space for open, constructive challenge, where colleagues, partners and supporters feel safe to speak up, hold each other to account, and bring their best in pursuit of our mission.
We are evidence led and results driven for young people
We pursue excellence for the young people we work with, are wholly committed to better outcomes, unapologetically results driven, and accountable for our actions.
We thrive through diversity
We seek to embed diversity of thought, background and experience in every aspect of our work. We are open, thoughtful and proactive in better understanding and challenging our assumptions to better deliver the change we seek.
We always seek collaboration
We will not succeed alone. We seek meaningful, productive partnerships with others to achieve our mission and drive systems change for young people.
Our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
We believe that a diverse workforce leads to an organisation that is more open, creative and gets better results.
We want our team at Impetus to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We also want our team to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop.
We want to reach a diverse pool of candidates. We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need to in order to be successful.
We recognise the importance of a good work/life balance. We do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including working from home, working part-time job shares and other arrangements.
Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore.
Impetus is an equal opportunity employer and is determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. We value diversity and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.
Our employee benefits
Impetus appreciates the invaluable contribution made by all employees and wishes to encourage and reward loyalty, motivation and experience. We therefore offer a range of benefits and policies which aim to assist employees during various stages of their lives and careers. For more information on these, please download the job information pack from our website.
How to apply
Please click on the "Apply for this job" button.
You will need to:
- Complete the online form (including the equal opportunities monitoring form).
- Upload a comprehensive CV and supporting statement.
The supporting statement should be no more than two sides of A4 and should address the criteria in the person specification.
You should also include the contact details of two referees, one of whom must be your current or most recent employer. Referees will only be approached with your express permission.
As part of our commitment to flexible working we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant. All options can be discussed at interview stage.
The deadline for applications is Sunday 23rd August 2026, 11:59pm.
Interviews:
1st Interviews will take place on w/c 31st August 2026.
2nd Interviews will take place on w/c 7th September 2026.
You will also be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK.
Personal Data
Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area.
Registered Charity
51 - 100
Impetus transforms the lives of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds by ensuring they get support to succeed in school, in work and in life.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Job title: Partnerships Manager
Responsible to: Director of Delivery, Innovation & quality (MindCHWF) & Senior Operations Manager (Turning Point)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week - Full-time
Salary: Starting salary is £ £46,448.13 PA at full time equivalent (P04-SP41) with scope to increase to £49,612.14 (P04-SP44)
Contract type: 31 March 2027 (with potential for extension)
Location: [102-110 Mare Street, Hackney] with working across locations in City & Hackney
Mind in the City, Hackney and Waltham Forest, working in partnership with Turning Point and Antidote, provide the City and Hackney Integrated Recovery Service (Substance Use). The service is based in each of City and Hackney’s neighbourhoods in order to be accessible, local and inclusive. A full integrated service will contribute to recovery, social inclusion and improving the quality of life of all our service users in the City of London and Hackney borough. A full integrated service, shaped by the community needs and voices of service users, carers, families, communities, all staff and volunteers will contribute to recovery, social inclusion and improving the quality of life of all our service users in the City of London and Hackney borough.
The service has three elements: Out There, Everywhere- specialist outreach, in reach and engagement, Building Blocks- low, medium and hi intensity support pathways, and Get Connected- building on our local, individual, and shared assets to provide recovery capital and peer support.
This role will connect the staff teams and service users to wellbeing opportunities within the local community. The role will promote the City & Hackney Recovery Service within the local community through events, social media and local community engagement. They will identify the needs of the client group and provide adequate support.
This role will lead on management of subcontractors, coordinate quarterly contract monitoring and build partnerships including commissioners, GPs, politicians, and other stakeholders to increase collaborative and effective service in City and Hackney’s neighbourhoods. The role will also lead to support MindCHWF’s policies and delivery in the blended service in order to provide efficient and high-quality service.
Job Role:
1. Nurture external partnerships across specific areas and being responsible for overseeing and ensuring all appropriate pathways are in place and reviewed
2. Maintain and enhance appropriate key relationships with statutory and VCS partners who co-locate/joint work with or refer into the service
3. Lead on expanding the partnership network on an ongoing basis by identifying opportunities to streamline delivery and maximise joint working
4. Work as part of the service-wide team developing recovery treatment services that are truly connected to the community
5. Lead on development and management of a broad range of internal and external partnerships including but not limited to, homelessness prevention, outreach, community development and engagement, peer mentoring
6. Take a lead role in supporting the teams to improve and adapt to changing demands
7. Promote and raise the profile of the service and partners across the boroughs
8. Establish and review joint-working protocols to deliver joined up and effective support, using a population health perspective, reflecting the service’s aims
9. Oversee the innovation fund, establishing processes and protocols to set it up and the ongoing governance of the fund
10. Lead on management of all service sub-contractors – including liaison and cascade of information back and forth between the service, co-ordinate quarterly (and ad hoc) contract monitoring (manage KPI’s, staffing, service support etc.).
11. Develop and manage a Partnership Board that meets quarterly comprising Mind, London Friend and NHS Homerton (and any other organisations we begin sub-contracting to).
12. Generate and maintain/oversee SharePoint folders for all key stakeholders – including contact info, management details, premises and any joint working agreement paperwork.
13. Maintain and overarching Stakeholder contact list in Excel to be stored on SharePoint, update and amend as necessary over time.
14. Maintain and update the service satellite spreadsheet (including internal and external satellites).
15. Attend relevant CDP’s to represent the service and cover for colleagues at CDP’s as and when required.
16. Be the main link for partners/stakeholders when they are looking to initiate some joint working enterprise or have feedback or concerns to raise with the service.
17. To lead on organising stakeholder events and community events.
18. To establish and continue building a wide network of contacts for the service within as many professions as possible within CoL and Hackney.
19. To branch the service out more into the night-time economy of the borough, in terms of awareness, literature/posters and training where relevant.
20. Support the Training and Practice Lead to offer and deliver more training to external partners.
21. Run regular feedback sessions and surveys of partners to elicit feedback from the service and gather intelligence on what training and support they would like from our service. Share this information/intelligence regularly with the service at MGM’s.
22. To maintain and bolster 12-step and other mutual aid groups in the service, be the main liaison for these contacts and establish a SMART recovery Group to complement our existing mutual aid arrangements.
23. Lead on changes to the service website, review this site and consider how we could optimise promoting the service this way.
24. Lead on liaison with TP External Affairs and Marketing teams. Create and manage a service promotion plan.
25. Lead on negotiating, writing, collating and storing all MOU’s, RA’s ISA’s and all other written agreements with partner agencies relating to co-location and joint working.
26. Manage the service’s digital footprint including google reviews, and control or delegate the management of the service’s social media channels to boost our digital engagement with the local community.
27. Create a regular C&H Recovery Service newsletter to share with partners and stakeholders.
28. Engage with local media and politicians where appropriate to promote the service and position the service effectively politically within the borough.
29. Oversee the work we do with commissioners and public health teams on the PH Van and Hot Spot Activity including attending meetings relating to these with the council. Ensure a rota and staffing is organised for these outreach exercises months in advance.
30. Continue to manage the contracts and joint-working agreements with the GPSC scheme and our separate GP alcohol satellites with a view to setting up at least two more GP satellites in the borough.
31. Organise regular forums and training sessions with GP’s in the borough.
32. To field any complaints coming from GP’s and other key stakeholders.
General
· To comply with, promote, and contribute to the writing and development of Mind in the City, Hackney and Waltham Forest's values and with all organisational systems, policies and procedures
· To work with colleagues and partners within the service to provide a seamless service
· In accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, to take responsibility for your own health and safety at work and that of any staff, service users or visitors you are working with, and to report any risks or potential hazards to the Health and Safety Representative
· To keep records and statistics for dissemination to effectively monitor the service, ensuring that all files and information are kept in accordance with Mind in the City, Hackney and Waltham Forest's policies on confidentiality and data protection
· To be administratively self-supporting
· To liaise with other Mind CHWF projects and staff from partner agencies and external stakeholders to facilitate and maintain effective links
· To attend and participate in staff meetings, contributing to discussions and giving reports if needed
· To attend supervision, appraisal meetings, and appropriate internal and external training courses as approved by your line manager
· To attend Mind in the City, Hackney and Waltham Forest staff away days
· To undertake any other tasks and duties commensurate with the post as directed by your manager, or any other senior manager in Mind in the City, Hackney and Waltham Forest
Person Specification
The following criteria will be used when assessing candidates. Criteria marked (E) are Essential and (D) are Desirable.
Values and Behaviours
· A passion and commitment to supporting good health for individuals and communities (E)
· A valuing of coproduction (E)
· Effective verbal and written communications that can be modified to different stakeholders (E)
· Collaborative team working skills (E)
· Proven negotiating and networking skills with an ability to establish new working partnerships (E)
· Adaptable and resilient to work in a changing and challenging environment (E)
· Ability to deliver against agreed goals, targets and outcomes (E)
· Ability to translate strategy into tangible action to enhance service KPI performance (E)
· Resilient and reflective (E)
· Ability to work under pressure and meet both service and central services deadlines (E)
· Able to work in a changing and sometimes challenging environment (E)
· Excellent report writing skills (E)
· Excellent organisational abilities, able to manage a complex workload of multiple priorities (E)
Knowledge & Experience
· Proven ability to establish new partnerships and collaboration with agencies, with enhanced negotiating skills (E)
· Significant Management experience of leading throughout challenge and change (E)
· Track record of developing innovative approaches to community-based collaboration and joint-working strategies (E)
· An understanding and interest in community development and peer support approaches (E)
· Proven knowledge of substance misuse (D)
· Experience of community-based interventions/collaboration / partnership making (E)
· Resilient and reflective (E)
· Ability to work under pressure and meet both service and central services deadlines (E)
Skills & abilities
· Strong collaborative leadership skills (E)
· Coaching skills to achieve successful outcomes (D)
· Proven experience in leading teams with an ability to improve and adapt to changing demands (E)
· Ability to prepare and manage the services Business Continuity Plans (D)
· Experience of Microsoft Office suite, Excel and Database systems (E)
· Experience of performance monitoring at a high level (E)
· Good communication skills and professional role model with staff and partners at all levels (E)
Qualifications
Essential
· Fluent written and spoken English with appropriate literacy and numeracy skills. (E)
Desirable
· Relevant qualification in health, social care, substance use, mental health, psychology, counselling, social work, or a related field, or equivalent experience. (D)
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
· Enhanced check required.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
ALDER HEY CHILDRENS CHARITY
Job title: PR, Communications & VIP Engagement Manager
Salary: £39,428-£50,450
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Location: Mix of home working and office based (office is at Alder Hey, Liverpool). Hybrid working available.
About us
Alder Hey Children’s Charity raises vital funds to help make Alder Hey Children’s Hospital a truly world-class, patient-friendly hospital for the 450,000 patients and families we care for every year.
The charity helps to fund a range of activities and projects that are designed to enhance and improve the lives of our amazing young patients. This includes the funding of specialist medical equipment to ensure our brilliant surgeons and clinical staff have the most up to date and cutting edge technology available and funding hi-tech distraction equipment designed and proven to reduce pain and anxiety in our patients. We also fund a range of programmes and special projects such as our ward musicians, our on-site magician and the play specialists we have on every ward.
About this role
Are you passionate about using the power of storytelling, media and influential voices to create lasting change for children and young people?
This is an exciting opportunity to join Alder Hey Children's Charity as our Communications, PR & VIP Engagement Manager, helping us deliver our vision of a healthier, happier and fairer future for every child and young person.
Every day, Alder Hey Children's Charity works to create magical moments, fund pioneering research, invest in world-leading innovation and champion better health and wellbeing for children. As part of our ambitious team, you'll play a vital role in sharing these stories, inspiring support and helping more people understand the difference they can make.
You'll lead the Charity's public relations, media and VIP engagement programme, developing creative campaigns that raise awareness, strengthen our reputation and grow our impact. Working alongside colleagues across fundraising, marketing, advocacy and Trust communications, you'll secure high-profile media coverage and build meaningful relationships with celebrities, ambassadors, influencers and public figures who share our passion for improving children's lives.
This is a varied and rewarding role that combines strategic thinking with hands-on delivery. You'll help shape how the Charity is seen, ensure our incredible stories reach new audiences and harness the support of influential advocates to drive fundraising, awareness and policy change.
If you're an experienced communications professional with outstanding media instincts, exceptional relationship-building skills and a passion for making a difference, we'd love to hear from you.
Key Responsibilities will include:
· Leading the Charity's PR and media programme, identifying and delivering proactive communications opportunities that raise awareness, strengthen our reputation and showcase the impact of our work.
· Developing engaging communications and storytelling across press, digital and campaign channels, ensuring consistent messaging that supports fundraising, advocacy and organisational priorities.
· Building and nurturing relationships with celebrities, ambassadors, VIP supporters and media contacts, creating meaningful partnerships that champion Alder Hey Children's Charity and inspire wider support.
· Planning and delivering high-profile visits, events and campaign moments, working collaboratively across the Charity and Trust to create memorable, safe and impactful experiences.
· Working closely with colleagues across fundraising, marketing, advocacy and Trust Communications to deliver integrated campaigns, maximise opportunities and protect the Charity's reputation.
· Monitoring and evaluating communications and VIP engagement activity, using insight and learning to continually improve our impact, profile and supporter experience.
Other Duties
- Be an outstanding advocate for Alder Hey Children’s Charity in line with the core values of the organisation.
- Be an active and supportive member of the Alder Hey Children’s Charity team, contributing to the team’s development and working collaboratively with colleagues and volunteers.
- Attend and support events run by fundraising teams where required, including occasional out-of-hours working.
- Gain and maintain an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the charity’s work, priorities and future plans.
Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more information.
Our Values
At Alder Hey Children’s Charity, our values guide how we work. Being courageous, working together, showing passion and embracing creativity enables us to support the hospital in delivering the very best care for young patients and their families.
Courage
We try new things, take risks and innovate. We speak up, take accountability and act with responsibility.
Together
We work as one team, sharing knowledge and learning. We partner with patients, families, supporters and colleagues.
Passion
We are passionate about what we do and inspire others.
Magic
We are creative, fun and child-led, creating special moments and going the extra mile.
Additional Information
In April 2025, the charity adopted a four-day working week policy. Staff previously working 37.5 hours now work 30 hours across four days, maintaining full pay while supporting a better work-life balance.
This job description outlines the general nature of the role and is not exhaustive. It may be subject to change in line with organisational needs.
Alder Hey Children’s Charity will make reasonable adjustments where required and is committed to equal opportunities and safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.
The post holder will be required to complete an enhanced DBS disclosure check.
How to apply
You can apply by clicking the link below. Applications must include your CV and a covering letter (no more than one side of A4) which answers the following questions:
· How do you meet the person specification? If you don’t exactly meet all of the role requirements but have transferable skills please do consider applying and provide details as part of your answer.
· Why do you want to work for Alder Hey?
Additional information is included within the Job Description and Person Specification.
Closing date: Monday 24th August, 12pm
Interviews will be held in person at Alder Hey on Tuesday 8th September 2026
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.