Director of development jobs in bermondsey, greater london

We are looking for a creative problem solver with proven experience of financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and reporting at senior management level. Are you someone with a real understanding of the needs and challenges facing churches and Christian charities, and a sense of calling to serve the gospel of Christ through your work?

In this role you will:

- Develop and maintain long-term financial strategies that support the mission of the charity;

- Advise on funding models, reserves policies, and financial risk appetite;

- Present financial reports and forecasts to the board and other stakeholders;

- Translate complex financial data into accessible insights for trustees and non-financial stakeholders;

- Deliver strong positive cash flow to ensure operational continuity;

- Prepare timely statutory audited accounts.

This is a fractional position, based either from home or in our Market Harborough office.

There is an occupational requirement that the job holder must be a Christian in full agreement with our Basis of Faith.

For a more detailed job description, application pack or an informal conversation about the role, please get in touch.

Our Development Team

The Donmar has an exceptional ability to raise private funds, and the vital importance of fundraising is recognised across the organisation and embedded in the overall strategy. Each year we raise around half our income through fundraising from a varied number of sources, with corporate income representing around a third of the fundraised income. The Development team is led by the Director of Strategic Development and Fundraising, and comprises 11 people.

Purpose of the role

The Development Events Manager will be responsible for the planning, administration and delivery of all development events at the Donmar Warehouse, working alongside the Head of Trusts and Events and with support from the Events Administrator.

Who We Are Looking For

The successful candidate will have demonstrable experience of leading, managing and delivering events and strong project management skills. They will have excellent organisational and communication skills and the ability to proactively work on their own initiative as well as in a team, with very strong attention to detail. They will be used to working in a fast-paced environment and to leading multiple events simultaneously.

TERMS

Permanent, Full Time

Salary: £33,000 per annum

Working Hours: Due to the nature of the role you will be required to work some weekday evenings on a regular basis and very occasionally on the weekend. A TOIL system is in operation.

Applications Close at 10am on Monday 24 November

Round One Interviews: Week Commencing 1 December

Round Two Interviews: Week Commencing 8 December

We particularly encourage applications from those who are currently under-represented both at the Donmar and more widely in the industry, and specifically from D/deaf or disabled, or neurodivergent applicants and applicants who experience barriers and inequity due to ethnicity, gender reassignment and/or socio-economic background.

The main focus of the role is to secure income for large-scale capital investment at Stanley Arts; alongside developing and maintaining relationships with statutory funders and trusts who maysupport programming and core running costs of the
building. Funding bodies will include Arts Council England, the National Lottery Heritage Fund and other voluntary sources, predominantly trusts and foundations.

The Development Manager will play a central role in securing income for Stanley Arts through two key areas:

1) Overseeing fundraising across trusts, foundations, statutory funders, corporate partners, and individual donors to support programming and core running costs.

2) Developing and delivering a major fundraising campaign to raise funds for a large-scale capital investment in Stanley Art’s future.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Development Manager will help shape the organisation’s strategic direction and ensure fundraising is embedded across the organisation. They will lead on individual giving and donor development, alongside capital, trust, and foundation fundraising.

Reporting to the Artistic Director/CEO, the Development Manager will line-manage and collaborate with the freelance Fundraiser, and work closely with the General Manager and Data & Insights Officer to ensure effective bid writing, relationship management, and reporting.

Experience & Knowledge
- Minimum of 3–5 years’ experience in a fundraising/development role, preferably 
within arts, heritage, or cultural organisations.
- Experience of individual giving programmes, including donor cultivation, 
stewardship, and retention.
- Proven track record of successful major funding applications to trusts, foundations, 
statutory bodies, and corporate funders.
- Knowledge of fundraising regulations, best practice, and ethical standards.
- Understanding of the role of fundraising in supporting organisational growth.

- Passion for arts, heritage, or cultural sectors.
- High levels of integrity and professionalism.
- Strong organisational skills, ability to prioritise competing tasks and meet deadlines
- Commitment to access, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Commitment to environmental sustainability 

Job Purpose

Join our dedicated Data & Technology department at Operation Smile UK and play a vital role in advancing our digital capabilities. Our website is central to reaching a broad audience with our vital work, and you'll be pivotal in ensuring our online presence is robust, accessible, and effective.

This full-stack role provides an excellent opportunity to lead and contribute across both front-end and back-end development activities. You'll collaborate closely with the Director of Data & Technology and Senior Database Manager to design and build systems that empower our Fundraising and Comms teams, delivering outstanding user experiences.

We aim to build greater in-house capacity for digital development, reducing reliance on external support for routine tasks and increasing automation on key platforms. If you are a hands-on technical lead with experience across various digital channels such as website CMS (e.g., WordPress), along with a solid understanding of front-end and back-end languages and technologies, you'll be a great fit. You will also play a leading role in ensuring the OSUK website user interface and user experience is fit for purpose.

As part of our small but ambitious team, you'll be an integral part of creating and implementing our Data and Digital strategy, directly helping us achieve our goal of supporting more children born with a cleft lip and cleft palate.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead in-house web development, initiating a cultural shift to minimise reliance on external agencies for website and platform creation.
• Play a pivotal role in shaping the organisation's data and digital strategy.
• Serve as the technical product owner for all of OSUK's websites, digital & email platforms.
• Take full ownership of the Gravity Forms to Donorfy Custom API integration.
• Flare for producing modern, stylish and accessible designs, to support campaigns, general website conversion performance and brand.
• Manage relationships with external website agencies and freelancers for key infrastructure and major projects.
• Possess a strong understanding of frontend and backend web technologies

Please refer to the job description for a comprehensive list of tasks, responsibilities, and the required person specification.

Recruitment

We are actively interviewing for this role on a rolling basis as suitable applicants apply. If you're interested in this role, it is advisable to apply as soon as possible.

Disability Confident Committed Employer

We're a Disability Confident Committed employer, so we guarantee an interview to any disabled applicant who meets the minimum requirements for the job.

At Operation Smile UK, we value individuals based on their performance and potential. We're dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace that supports everyone's needs. We're happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the application and employment process, and we particularly welcome applications from diverse backgrounds.

If you need this document in a different format, require any adjustments, or need help with your application, please contact us (further details contained within the job description).

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Operation Smile UK knows fundraising could better reflect the diverse backgrounds and experiences of the people the charity sector supports. If you don’t meet every requirement but believe your transferable skills align with the role, we encourage you to contact us for a conversation. 

We want our team to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve, offering equal opportunities to everyone, regardless of, age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

We celebrate diversity and encourage you to bring your authentic self to Operation Smile UK. We are committed to supporting all applicants and ensuring a fair hiring process. All appointments will be made solely on merit, and we are happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process. 

WCCM seeks to appoint an experienced, creative, and highly motivated Grant and Major Donor Fundraising Manager to lead fundraising and grant management across a global organisation dedicated to the teaching of Christian Meditation.

Working to the Executive Director, you will interact with our decentralised finance, marketing and communications staff and volunteers.  

Together, you will nurture Major Donor relationships and create and manage appropriate donor stewardship schemes and rationalise our income streams.

You’ll ensure grant reporting and management is kept on track whilst developing targeted proposals for new funding from sympathetic donors in the arena of Trusts and foundations.  

You will work to support both our teaching and resourcing of meditation and the running of our retreat centre in Bonnevaux, near Poitiers in France.

An excellent writer with excellent financial and budgeting skills, you will be adept at pulling together relevant, succinct and compelling information for our donor reports and bids.

You’ll work with communications staff to develop impactful donor communications which enhance our accountability and inspire renewed major donations.  

You will have a demonstrable track record in winning grants as well as in the stewardship of major donors.  

Occasional trips to France.

Interest in Christian Meditation/Spirituality an advantage.

Interviews: early December 2025

If you are an ambitious, audience-focused communications and marketing professional who wants to work with a passionate team, in a unique cultural and heritage visitor destination, then look no further.

About Crystal Palace Park

At over 200 acres, Crystal Palace Park is far larger than most urban parks. Beloved as a ‘back garden’ to many people in the surrounding neighbourhoods, it is also of national and international significance due to its design as the grounds to the Victorian architectural masterpiece, The Crystal Palace, and its rich, unique heritage, including the 170-year-old world-famous Dinosaurs. Today, circa one million people visit the park every year; to relax and meet friends and family, take part in sports and physical exercise, enjoy world-class acts during summer festivals, or simply have a moment of peace and enjoyment of nature.

In September 2023, after 25 years of community campaigning, Crystal Palace Park Trust took over custodianship of this historic landscape and its unique venues via a 125-year lease from the London Borough of Bromley. We are now working closely with a wide-range of partners to deliver a multi-million-pound regeneration and restoration project that will save the park's globally unique heritage and drive a 35% increase in annual visitor numbers.

The Senior Manager, Audience & Communication will have a critical role to play in the coming years; driving engagement with larger, more diverse audiences as we establish Crystal Palace Park as an exemplar in urban park management, community-led regeneration and cultural and heritage programming whilst restoring its position as one of the UK’s leading visitor attractions.

About the role

The role of Senior Manager, Audience & Communications offers a hugely exciting opportunity for a creative, dynamic and strategic communications and marketing professional to join the charity at a pivotal moment in its evolution. 

You will be able to develop and deliver creative and compelling multi-channel campaigns to meet objectives including:

• Raising the profile of the park and its iconic, award-winning indoor and outdoor venues, such as the Crystal Palace Subway, Italian Terraces, and Concert Platform, as a home for world-class arts, culture and heritage;
• Broadening access, deepening participation and extending reach with larger and more diverse audiences;
• Providing a high level of customer service to park visitors, users and the surrounding communities;
• Supporting income generation as part of the Trust’s remit to deliver an innovative new business model to underpin a sustainable and vibrant future for this complex and historic landscape; and
• Promoting opportunities for local residents to get involved in caring for this unique landscape such as volunteering, membership and philanthropic giving.

To help achieve these objectives you will oversee the work of a Senior Communications & Marketing Officer to ensure the smooth and efficient delivery of all communications and marketing channels whether digital, press or physical in-park signage.

How to apply

For more information on how to apply, please download the application pack and submit the required documents by the closing date of 10am on Monday 17 November 2025.

Crystal Palace Park Trust is an equal opportunities employer. We believe that our staff should represent the communities, organisations, and individuals that we work with and support. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, or nationality.

Tender is an arts charity working with children and young people to prevent domestic abuse and sexual violence through creative projects. Our programmes are safe, enjoyable, age-appropriate spaces where young people can engage with sensitive topics and “rehearse” for real-life scenarios. Participants are encouraged to be both consumers and producers of learning through script-work, role-play and creative media such as films and art. Throughout, we enable young people to explore their choices, rights and expectations in relationships and to recognise the early warning signs of abuse. 

Tender has grown significantly in recent years. We have secured income from an increasing range of sources: corporates, major donors, trusts & foundations and statutory funders. We have done this with a small but highly effective development team.

With a clear strategic focus for the next five years, we are strengthening our development team to ensure we have the funding needed to achieve our strategic ambitions. We plan to grow both the extent of our reach across the country, and the difference we make to the people we work with. We are also planning to increase the effectiveness of our policy & influencing work, aiming to deliver significant, systemic change to how violence against women and girls is prevented.

You will play a pivotal role in raising the funding for our ambitions, focusing on statutory and trusts & foundations income streams. You will lead on both these income streams, managing existing funders and securing new funders. You will secure income from your own portfolio of funders and partners, and lead and inspire the team to achieve their own ambitious targets, both through new sources and through excellent stewardship of existing funders.

Role purpose

The main purposes of this role are:

• Researching, identifying and applying for grant funding and commissioning from statutory sources, trusts and foundations (T&F)
• Developing and writing high quality fundraising bids which align with the objectives and needs of statutory funders, T&F and Tender’s strategic objectives
• Managing and maintaining partnerships and relationships with a range of stakeholders (statutory funders, T&F, delivery partners, professionals in the sector, internal stakeholders)
• Developing the Statutory and T&F strategy in collaboration with the Development Director

Main responsibilities and duties

New business development

• Developing and implementing a strategy to develop relationships with, and maximise income from, statutory sources, T&F
• Working with service managers, designing, developing and submitting high-quality funding proposals to statutory sources, T&F which are technically sound, meet donor requirements and align with Tender’s strategic objectives
• Maintaining an up-to-date market awareness of grant-making trends and best practice in T&F fundraising
• Developing the overall statutory and T & F strategy with oversight from the Development Director
• Monitoring and reporting against business development plans to ensure objectives are achieved, and proposing plans for remedial action if projections are not on track

Relationships

• Managing relationships with Statutory sources and T&F funding Tender, building a deep understanding of the needs and requirements of each funder
• Developing and executing stewardship and relationship management plans for T&F to maximise the value and duration of their support for Tender
• Overseeing the production of high-quality monitoring reports for T&F, and using insights from funded programmes to develop case for support materials
• Working with other Tender managers to ensure the consistent tone and positioning of Tender in the implementation of marketing of all projects
• Line managing two Development Officers

Administration

• Working with the Governance team to improve operational effectiveness and quality service by identifying and implementing process improvements
• Contributing to the maintenance of Tender’s overall Development function, providing appropriate analysis and reports
• Developing and maintaining a funding database and ensuring it is up to date to effectively monitor and evaluate the strategy
• Completing all mandatory training, and proactively seek opportunities for ongoing professional development
• Ensuring that all policies and procedures are followed, including safeguarding, data protection and equal opportunities
• Working as a member of the Tender team and carrying out other duties that may be required to meet the needs of the organisation

Reporting to the Senior Supporter Care Manager, you will deliver excellent customer care to supporters and potential supporters of Operation Smile UK. As an integral part of the Supporter Care team, you will successfully support the Individual Giving programme and wider fundraising activities, providing support to ever-increasing income and supporter stewardship for the delivery of increasing levels of unrestricted income for Operation Smile UK.

Key Responsibilities

• Be the first point of contact for existing supporters and new supporters who respond to our fundraising activities by phone, email, letter or in person, letter, or email delivering outstanding supporter care
• Liaise with supporters in timely communication via email, phone, and mail, with excellent customer care
• Prioritise answering incoming phone calls and escalate any difficult situations/complaints to the Senior Supporter Care Manager
• Support processing incoming phone and postal donations
• Assist with banking and processing incoming/outgoing post
• Be responsible for thanking our supporters, including by letter, email and phone, dispatch of information and fundraising materials
• Enter and maintain accurate records on our Database
• Maintain and assist with all types of donation processing, administration and Database record amendments/records being kept up to date. This will include Gift Aid status and contact consent requests
• Assist with cancelling and amending all types of regular gifts and sending out appropriate letters
• Manage the removal process and consent process
• Assist with sending out problem payment letters
• Following up cancelled regular payments as part of the winback process
• Assist with handling material requests and recording actions on the Database
• Assist with any third-party agency supporter care requests
• Maintain sensitive information and records with appropriate confidentiality
• Play an active role in developing the supporter journey at Operation Smile UK, working with the Senior Supporter Care Manager and colleagues across Fundraising & Communications.
• Perform any other reasonable duties as requested by the Senior Supporter Care Manager

Please refer to the job description for a comprehensive list of tasks, responsibilities, and the required person specification.

Recruitment

We are actively interviewing for this role on a rolling basis as suitable applicants apply. If you're interested in this role, it is advisable to apply as soon as possible.

Disability Confident Committed Employer

We're a Disability Confident Committed employer, so we guarantee an interview to any disabled applicant who meets the minimum requirements for the job.

At Operation Smile UK, we value individuals based on their performance and potential. We're dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace that supports everyone's needs. We're happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the application and employment process, and we particularly welcome applications from diverse backgrounds.

If you need this document in a different format, require any adjustments, or need help with your application, please contact us (further details contained within the job description).

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Operation Smile UK knows fundraising could better reflect the diverse backgrounds and experiences of the people the charity sector supports. If you don’t meet every requirement but believe your transferable skills align with the role, we encourage you to contact us for a conversation. 

We want our team to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve, offering equal opportunities to everyone, regardless of, age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

We celebrate diversity and encourage you to bring your authentic self to Operation Smile UK. We are committed to supporting all applicants and ensuring a fair hiring process. All appointments will be made solely on merit, and we are happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process. 

About us

The Lucy Faithfull Foundation (LFF) is a UK-wide charity that exists to prevent child sexual abuse and exploitation. We’re here for everyone who needs us. We protect children by working with people who pose a risk and diverting them from causing harm. We support individuals and families who have been affected by abuse. And we help professionals who work with families to create safer environments for children through delivering risk assessments, interventions, training and consultancy.

About the role and you

We are recruiting for a Policy Officer within the Advocacy and Communications Team. You will report to the Director of Advocacy and Communications and work closely with all others in the team.

The purpose of this role is to strengthen LFF’s policy and advocacy efforts. You will be crucial in helping to develop strategic engagement, influence change and strengthen LFF’s impact on public policy, and in doing so, make a significant contribution to the prevention of child sexual abuse.

Bringing together your knowledge and experience engaging with various stakeholders, you will effect change by identifying opportunities to influence decision-making, analyse data to develop policy positions for the organisation, contribute to consultation submissions and provide advice on various policy matters.

Advocacy is one of three guiding principles in our 2025-2030 organisational strategy. It underpins all of our work – we advocate for a greater focus on preventing abuse before it happens, not just within the halls of parliament but through all aspects of our work from frontline practice to influencing national policy.

This role sits within the wider Advocacy and Communications Team which supports the promotion of all areas of our work across various channels: websites, social media, press and PR, marketing and digital advertising. Working with the wider team, we are striving to better showcase our advocacy work both internally and externally.

Our ideal candidate will have a strong track record of policy development, an understanding of the UK legislative process and a commitment to our mission to prevent child sexual abuse and exploitation.

For a more detailed job description, please request a job pack.

What you’ll get from us

We offer the following benefits:

• Hybrid working (with a minimum of 2 days in the office per week; we ask for 3 days in the office per week for the first month)
• NEST pension
• 33 days’ annual leave rising to 38 days (inclusive of statutory bank holidays following qualifying period)
• Up to 5 days’ learning and development per year
• Flu jabs & eye tests
• Season ticket loans
• Charity discounts
• Employee assistance programme
• Option of private healthcare with Benenden

How to apply

We really welcome informal conversations with prospective candidates about the role and the charity in advance of the deadline.

To apply, please download the job pack and return your completed documents by Monday 24th November. Stage 1 interviews are scheduled to take place on Wednesday 3rd December and stage 2 interviews are scheduled to take place on Wednesday 10th December for shortlisted candidates.

If you have not been contacted within 2 weeks of the closing date you have been unsuccessful with your application. Please note the successful candidate will be required to undergo a DBS check for this position.

#policy #advocacy #communications #engagement

Location: Remote, North of England with some requirement to travel (UK) and to spend time in London 

The Organisation

The CSJ Foundation was born out of the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) an independent think tank, established in 2004 that studies the root causes of Britain’s social problems and seeks to address these through innovative policy recommendations to government. The CSJ has changed the landscape of our political conversation by putting social justice at the heart of British politics. This has led to some of the biggest welfare reforms in a generation. The CSJ Foundation is committed to ensuring the voices of grassroots charities are elevated to national decision makers. Our aim is to bring much-needed frontline experience into national policymaking. Utilising local networks and a philanthropic platform to guide investment, the CSJ Foundation will ensure that charities who are fighting the root causes of poverty receive the right support – both in policymaking and funding. The CSJ Foundation was established to magnify and amplify the crucial role played by grassroots charities and social enterprises around the country. These organisations are on the frontline in the fight against poverty and do incredible work, day-in-day-out. Despite this fantastic work, these organisations remain largely unseen and underfunded. The CSJ Foundation seeks to change that.

The Role 

The CSJ Foundation is looking for a Regional Portfolio Manager (North) to join its Portfolio team to help grow and professionalise it’s offering to charities and donors alike. The CSJF has big ambitions for its work with small charities over the next 3 years, central to this work is our Portfolio team. Based in the north of England (ideally north of Sheffield), the post-holder will be responsible for delivering first-rate charity due diligence on some of the best small charities in the UK. In this role you will use tech solutions to drive insights and understanding about CSJF’s work with charities, in addition, the post-holder will gather intel from frontline charities to create insights to inform the CSJ’s policy work. The post-holder will also seek to generate interesting media stories. The post holder will help to generate new income for the CSJF through multiple streams. The post-holder will work towards pre-agreed targets to grow the CSJF’s work, fully supported by the Managing Director and other colleagues. The Regional Portfolio Manager will hold responsibility for building and maintaining relationships with multiple charities based in the North of England, engaging in conversations with local organisations and individuals, to ensure that the CSJF’s work is driven forward effectively. 

The Person 

• Possessing the skills and aptitude to develop new policies and practices for delivering charity/portfolio services
• Interest in developing relationships with charity leaders, understanding their work and impact
• Proficiency for using and interpreting data, creating meaningful insights from gathered data about charities, philanthropy and the voluntary sector
• Understanding of systems and technology that can be used to interpret, analyse and present data
• Some proficiency with presenting information effectively using tools like Canva
• The ability to engage with stakeholders including business leaders, researchers, HNWs, and CEOs
• The ability to work independently and plan programmes of work and manage agreed timelines
• Ability to analyse, understand and synthesise complex information, and to present this in a concise and engaging way
• Ability to communicate well with colleagues and explain complex information simply
• A strong appreciation of the need for accuracy, quality control and process control
• An understanding of the economic and political environment of the day
• Ability to build relationships, utilising a high degree of social intelligence
• An interest in managing processes, driving business change, and developing the use of new technologies in business practice
• Strong understanding of UK charities, the issues faced by the sector, and the policy landscape that affects the voluntary sector.
• A commitment to the CSJF & CSJ’s vision, mission and values
• An interest in current affairs, politics and the social justice agenda
• Meticulous attention to detail and calm under pressure
• A collaborative team player with initiative and a positive “can do” attitude
• Highly organised, discrete, and with a high degree of personal integrity

Main Responsibilities 

Responsibilities for this post include:

• Be a leading member of the CSJF’s portfolio team helping to professionalise and enhance our charity due diligence work
• Helping generate insights from charities to contribute to recommendations in CSJ policy reports
• Work with colleagues to develop a first-class data-input and reporting platform (or database) of charities to monitor their impact and activities
• Use this data to generate insights and presentations to showcase our work
• Interpret data to create insights about charities, philanthropy and the voluntary sector
• Use tech solutions to enhance our data analysis and presentation ability
• Use of presentational tools like Canva (and others) to create information packs for internal and external stakeholders
• Work alongside the Comms team to deliver mainstream media stories generated from frontline insights from the Northern charities
• Responsibility to generate new income for the CSJ Foundation
• Become the internal expert and ‘go-to’ person for 2-3 policy areas connected to CSJ’s research
• Streamline and maintain network of charity contacts across all pathways and then connect the best charities to the CSJ policy team
• Grow and maintain network of regional funders and supporters
• Steward relationship with CSJF Founders Club
• Host visits, events and forums to glean insights from frontline charities based in the North of England
• Support the CSJ Awards application process and judging
• Use the Awards process to onboard new charities
• Manage annual review of Portfolio charities for on/off boarding

We are seeking a proactive, detail-oriented and data-focused [IT/data confident] administrator to support our CRM and audience development activities. 

Hofesh Shechter Company is a boundary-breaking international dance company, led by Artistic Director Hofesh Shechter. Our work includes large-scale touring, film projects, the emerging talent programme Shechter II interwoven with our Shechter Moves learning programme.

This newly created position is central to our data strategy, focusing on centralising audience and supporter information using our new specialist CRM and event management systems, Monad and YesPlan. You will be responsible for data integrity, analysis and supporting us to turn rich audience insights into a powerful tool for storytelling and growth, helping us build deeper relationships with our diverse audiences. 

This is an ideal role for someone passionate about IT systems and the arts. It suits a recent data/business analytics graduate looking for a role with real-world impact in the UK’s vibrant creative sector or an aspiring arts administrator who thrives on a mix of analytical and creative work. 

Starting Salary: £54,269 - £59,422 (including LW)  

Contract: Permanent  

Location: Romero House, London - Hybrid working with a minimum of 40% of your time in the London head Office

Job Profile

CAFOD has an ambition to be digital first in our marketing and communications, to stay ahead of emerging trends and make the most of what digital technology can offer to strengthen our relationships with our supporters and in our ways of working across the organisation. Digital technology has already transformed our communications and will continue to do so. This senior communications and marketing role will be responsible for steering the ongoing digital transformation of CAFODs work, primarily in the supporter programme and also across the wider organisation.

This role encompasses overall responsibility for the brand, digital marketing, messaging, proactive and reactive media relations, with a core focus on digital transformation across all platforms. This post will play a key role in guiding our digital shop fronts and marketing efforts, evolving supporter journeys, steering our email programme and leading on the digital infrastructure to enable delivery of our supporter programme. It will ensure that digital engagement and conversion is embedded and an integral part of our communications planning. 

This role will drive innovation and data-informed insight across the full spectrum of communications and wider organisation functions. It will embed a digital-first approach across teams and guide and accompany the wider organisation on harnessing opportunities of new technologies, making digital engagement integral to communications planning. 

This role will drive brand awareness, brand advocacy and action across our programmes to ensure CAFOD is top of mind amongst the Catholic Community of England and Wales, helping to grow support from our constituency. You will bring proven senior-level experience in digital communications and marketing, ideally within the charity sector. With a strong understanding of communications at a senior level with expert knowledge of digital channels, audience engagement, and online conversion, you also have a strategic grasp of how digital integrates into broader communications and supporter strategies. Your leadership style is collaborative and visionary, and you have the gravitas and expertise to set the digital marketing direction for a large organisation, while bringing all teams along with your vision.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic development, direction setting and delivery of an ambitious, insight-led digital-first communications strategy that enhances supporter journeys, increases engagement and drives measurable growth in support of our supporter programme, especially our parishioner-first fundraising strategy. 

• Act as CAFODs senior expert on communications, advising the Executive team, across departments and influencing strategic decision-making, including on digital direction and development, at the highest level. 

• Lead complex cross-organisational projects that improve our digital supporter experience, from acquisition to long-term engagement and conversion, ensuring timeliness and consistency with supporter programme priorities, especially the parishioner-first fundraising strategy and approach. 

• Provide leadership and overall oversight of external communications and messaging, including brand consistency and press/media engagement, ensuring consistency between our fundraising efforts, our campaigning work and profiling our international work to supporters and key stakeholders.

• Lead and oversee the digital teams - email marketing programme, social media engagement, digital developments, campaigns and the website, to ensure user experience is optimised and platforms support our supporter programme and broader organisational strategic objectives and ambitions. 

• Lead the media team to explore and encourage new approaches including how we further maximise the digital media landscape.

• Line manage senior specialists across digital marketing, website, and media and PR, ensuring high performance and professional growth. 

• Work closely with IT, data and external agencies to ensure agile, secure and effective digital delivery across platforms. 

• Represent the organisation externally where appropriate, with a focus on digital thought leadership. 
• Develop and manage the communications budget effectively, aligning resources to priority areas and demonstrating clear impact. Agree and ensure accountability for objectives and KPIs as part of the wider supporter strategy, fostering a culture of ongoing learning, adaptation and improvement.  

Safeguarding 

All CAFOD staff share responsibility to promote and maintain a strong safeguarding culture, including identifying the key actions they should take given their role and responsibilities.

Person Specification 

• Extensive experience in a senior digital communications and marketing leadership role, with demonstrable success in developing and delivering integrated and audience-led multi-channel communications and marketing strategies. 
• Strong experience of overseeing development of supporter journeys and objectives, website development, CRM integration and email engagement and conversion. 
• Passionate about digital innovation and technologies, with deep knowledge of platforms, formats, and trends. 
• Committed to insight-led and data-driven approaches with skills to use digital tools, platforms and analytics to shape decisions and measure impact. 
• Excellent leadership, inter-personal and team management skills, with the ability to develop and motivate multi-disciplinary teams. 
• Strong cross-functional project management ability, with experience leading organisational change in digital capability. 
• Understanding of broader communications and marketing disciplines, with the ability to ensure alignment and brand consistency and also oversee media and PR work, including reputational risk and crisis communications. 
• Understanding of the Catholic church in England and Wales and knowledge of Catholic Social Teaching. 
• A track record of strong written and spoken communication skills. 
• Highly organised, able to manage a busy workload and consistently meet deadlines. 

Safeguarding for Children and Vulnerable Adults 

CAFOD recognises the personal dignity and rights of children and vulnerable adults, towards whom it has a special responsibility and a duty of care and respect.  CAFOD, and all its staff and volunteers, undertake to do all in our power to create a safe environment for children, young people and vulnerable adults and to prevent their physical, sexual or emotional abuse.  CAFOD is committed to acting at all times in the best interests of children and vulnerable adults, seeing these interests as paramount.  Any candidate offered a job with CAFOD will be expected to adhere to CAFOD’s Safeguarding policy and sign CAFOD’s Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references, and appropriate screening checks can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. CAFOD also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of, and consent to, these recruitment procedures. 

JOB PROFILE

JOB TITLE: Lead Trusts & Grants Officer

RESPONSIBLE TO: Senior Trusts & Grants Manager

HOURS OF WORK: Full time 35 hours per week

LOCATION: Home working/ Hybrid

DURATION: Permanent

SALARY / GRADE: £32,330

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

• Senior Trusts & Grants Manager

• Trusts & Grants Officer

• Director of Fundraising, Marketing & Communications

• Chief Operating Officer

• Senior Leadership & Service Managers

• Grant making trusts and foundations

• Major Donors

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The Lead Trusts & Grants Officer is responsible for developing and delivering income from mid-value grant making funders, notably trusts and foundations. The role involves managing a dedicated pipeline of opportunities, writing and submitting compelling applications, and stewarding funder relationships. This position works closely with service teams to understand project needs and create accurate budgets and impactful funding proposals. This role will also provide direct line management to the Trusts & Grants Officer, supporting their professional development and ensuring the team's overall success in meeting fundraising targets.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Fundraising and Grants Management

• Pipeline Management: Lead on prospecting, developing and managing the mid-value trusts and grants pipeline, focusing on bids around £20,000 - £70,000, including multiyear grants, ensuring a consistent flow of opportunities to meet team income targets. Developing the skills and ability to manage higher value and more complex strategic bids.

• Application Writing: Develop and submit compelling, high-quality grant applications and proposals for mid-value funders, working closely with service teams, ensuring accurate budgets and income against Adoption UK’s strategic priorities.

• Stewardship: Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with a portfolio of new and existing mid-value funders, providing timely and impactful reports to secure renewed funding, and developing relationships with key external contacts through excellent communication.

• Reporting: Oversee the accurate tracking of all applications, reports, and communications using team tracking methods, and the CRM database, providing regular progress updates to the Senior Trusts & Grants Manager.

• Collaboration: Work closely with the Senior Trusts & Grants Manager, the Trusts & Grants Officer, and service teams, to align fundraising activities with the organisation’s strategic priorities and annual income targets.

• Undertake other duties and projects as directed by the Senior Trusts & Grants Manager and Director of Fundraising, Marketing and Communications.

Team Management and Development

• Line Management: Provide line management and support to the Trusts & Grants Officer, including regular one-to-ones, appraisals, and professional development.

• Training and Mentoring: Guide the Trusts & Grants Officer on best practices for researching, writing, budgets, and stewarding of small-value grants.

Personal specification

Knowledge and experience

• Track record of successfully securing individual grant awards typically ranging between £10,000 and £50,000. (E)

• Knowledge of fundraising sector with specialist knowledge of grant making trusts and foundations, or similar grant/bid-writing experience (E)

• Experience in writing persuasive proposal documents and bids (E)

• Experience in developing and implementing fundraising policies and process to deliver strategic goals (E)

• Experience in supporting service teams to deliver complex projects on time and to budget (E)

• Experience in successfully stewarding multiple stakeholders including grant managers and major donors (D)

Qualifications and Education

• Graduate level or equivalent significant professional experience in fundraising/bid

Skills and abilities

• Ability to make decisions within area of responsibility, based on defined frameworks, policies, and procedures and/or based on knowledge of regulations and best practice (E)

• Shows good professional judgement (E)

• Can successfully operate matrix management of complex projects at a national level (E)

• Delivers high quality work with minimal supervision and direction (E)

• Able to communicate clearly and engage with stakeholders at all levels (E)

• Is successful in securing positive external relationships with stakeholders and supporters (E)

• Demonstrates personal credibility (E)

• Demonstrates experience and ability in impact reporting (D)

• Ability to research the sector to identify the best prospects (D)

• Has the capacity to deal with complex issues and is good at problem solving (D)

• An exceptional administrator with excellent organisational and writing skills (E)

• Self-starter, used to working to deadlines and delivering against KPIs (D)

Accountability

• Shows previous experience of achievement of income targets (E)

• Shows previous experience of excellent funder or similar relationship stewardship (E)

• Able to contribute to the development of income growth strategy and strategic goals (D)

Behaviours

• Takes pride in Adoption UK and promotes its values and mission in all interactions with external stakeholders.

• Demonstrates commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of role at all times.

• Contributes to an open and honest culture

• Encourages challenge and creativity, transparency and consistency.

• Leads by example.

• Offers outstanding service to members.

• Promotes cross-functional team working, sharing skills and knowledge

• Communicates clearly, seeking clarity when unclear and valuing the opinion of others.

• Values the opinion of others. Treating colleagues and other stakeholders with respect.

• Takes pride in own development, committed to achieving high standards and agreed objectives.

You will be responsible for the providing effective of HR services for XLP and building strong relationships across the team, keeping a good understanding of people’s challenges and opportunities.

You will partner with Line Managers on a range of HR duties to cover the full employee life cycle, including implementing an HR software platform and reporting with the Director of Operations, managing employee relations, safer recruitment, onboarding and offboarding, staff training and development, and more.

You will help make sure we recruit and retain excellent staff so we can give our best for young people. You will be happy to manage all aspects of HR and the employee lifecycle, happy to work independently, and ready to get stuck in.

This is a full-time hybrid role, with Monday to Wednesdays in the XLP Office.