Director of fundraising and engagement jobs

Following the growth of the Income Generation team Severn Hospice is expanding.

Severn Hospice is a leading regional charity providing compassionate care for people living with incurable illness across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, and Mid Wales. We are looking for an experienced, compassionate and motivated fundraiser to help grow our Individual Giving programme, a vital source of income that enables us to continue delivering our caring services.

As Senior Individual Giving Fundraiser, you will play a key role in shaping and delivering fundraising activity that inspires supporters and maximises engagement, income and lifetime value.

Leading a diverse portfolio including regular giving, appeals, in memoriam gifts, funeral donations and general donations, you will use insight-led planning and thoughtful communication to engage supporters, build lasting and meaningful relationships and encourage long-term giving.

Working closely with colleagues across the income generation and communications teams, you will develop campaigns, initiatives and supporter journeys that make new and existing supporters feel valued, informed and inspired by the difference they make.

This role combines strategic oversight with hands-on delivery. You will manage budgets, plan and monitor campaigns, evaluate performance, and ensure compliance with all relevant regulatory and best practice standards. You will also line-manage the Legacy Fundraiser, supporting the development of legacy income as part of the wider Individual Giving programme.

Severn Hospice is a wonderfully rewarding place to work. If you are an experienced, creative and relationship-focused fundraiser with a passion for supporting your local community, we would love to hear from you.

Main Role & Responsibilities

The Director of Income Generation will lead the charity’s fundraising and income generation strategy with a particular focus on securing, managing, and growing funding linked to gambling, gaming and wider digital harm prevention, including funding overseen or commissioned via the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID).

This is a senior leadership role which sits on Ygam’s Senior Leadership Team (SLT) with responsibility for developing a diversified, sustainable income portfolio that enables the charity to deliver high-quality, UK-wide evidence-informed prevention activity aligned with national public health priorities.

The successful candidate will lead and empower a high-performing fundraising team, foster innovation, and build strong relationships with donors, funders, partners, and stakeholders across the UK. You will provide strategic direction and inspirational leadership across all income-generating activities, ensuring long-term financial resilience while upholding the charity’s values, reputation, and commitment to excellent supporter experience.

Working closely with the Chief Executive, Trustee Board, and Senior Leadership Team, you will shape organisational strategy, influence decision-making, and act as an external ambassador for the charity.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for a strategic, values-driven fundraising leader with a strong track record of delivering income growth across multiple fundraising and business development streams.

You will bring credibility in working with or alongside public bodies such as OHID, or similar national commissioners and/or major funders, and demonstrate a clear grasp of the accountability, evaluation, and assurance requirements associated with levy-funded or statutory funding.

You will be an inspiring people manager, a confident communicator, and a credible senior leader who enjoys building relationships and making things happen at pace

The successful candidate will possess both strategic insight and hands-on experience, be networked across the charitable funding sector, combining commercial thinking with a deep understanding of the UK charity and fundraising landscape.

You will be a confident senior leader who combines strategic vision with operational rigour, has excellent stakeholder management skills. A commitment to evidence, impact, evaluation and collaboration will be central to your approach.

Above all, you will be motivated by our cause and committed to ethical, inclusive, and supporter-centred fundraising and wider income generation.

This is a new role to stabilise, diversify and grow income in a financially constrained environment, reducing reliance on statutory funding, increasing unrestricted income, and strengthening Catalyst Support’s credibility with all sources of non statutory funding, including trusts, foundations, corporates, individuals and communities. The postholder holds clear accountability for income performance, return on investment and risk management, and plays a critical role in the organisation’s financial recovery and long-term sustainability. The role is designed as a strategic investment, with the expectation that income generated will move the function towards break-even and net contribution over time, supported by clear targets and Board oversight.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Income Delivery

• Lead and deliver a multi-year income and engagement strategy covering trusts and foundations, corporate partnerships, major donors, community fundraising and individual giving.
• Take ownership of income targets, pipelines and forecasts, including break-even requirements and risk exposure.
• Actively manage income risk, developing scenario plans and mitigation actions where delivery falls below expectation.
• Work with the Executive and Senior Leadership Teams to align income activity with organisational strategy and service priorities.

Funding Applications & Grant Management

• Provide strategic oversight, delivery and quality assurance of all high-value bids, tenders and funding applications.
• Ensure bids are evidence-led, outcome-focused, accurately costed and aligned to service capacity.
• Taking direct responsibility for bid and tender preparation and submission.
• Maintain strong relationships with funders, and foundations, ensuring compliance with reporting requirements and effective stewardship.
• Maintain strong relationships with funders, and foundations, ensuring compliance with reporting requirements and effective stewardship.
• Contribute approximately 20% of working time towards partner applications and collaborative projects with key partners, supporting joint funding and shared objectives.

Communications, Marketing & Engagement

• Lead communications and engagement functions to directly support income generation, funder confidence and organisational reputation.
• Ensure all external messaging demonstrates impact, value for money and strategic coherence.
• Grow individual giving, community fundraising and supporter engagement where there is clear return on investment.
• Oversee brand consistency and visibility across digital and offline channels.

Internal Collaboration & Income Culture

• Work closely with service and enabling teams to strengthen funding evidence, case studies and impact data.
• Build organisational understanding that income generation is a shared responsibility.
• Working with services and enabling teams to develop compelling cases for support.
• Equip teams with clarity on how funding, impact and delivery are connected.

Performance, Impact & Governance

• Establish and monitor KPIs covering income performance, ROI, cost-per-£ raised, engagement metrics and pipeline health.
• Report regularly to the Executive team and Trustees, providing transparent assessment of progress, risks and corrective action.
• Support Board assurance through disciplined performance monitoring and review points.

Team Leadership

• Provide line management, development and performance oversight for income generation and communications staff. Head of Income Generation Feb 2026
• Recruit, develop and retain high-quality team capability aligned to organisational needs.

Leadership Contribution

• Contribute as a senior operational leader to organisational planning, change and continuous improvement.
• Work closely with the Director of Services on future service design, positioning and sustainability.
• Undertake other duties appropriate to the seniority of the role and Catalyst Support’s mission.
• Strengthen partnership development with Mary Frances Trust to enhance county-wide support, with particular emphasis on provision for mental health services across both East and West regions.

Person Specification

Essential Experience

• Proven experience securing trust, grant and philanthropic income at scale, with clear evidence of income conversion and delivery.
• Track record of leading income strategies that generate net financial contribution, including roles where income targets were explicitly expected to cover or exceed post costs or programme investment.
• Experience operating in financially constrained, recovery-focused or turnaround environments, with responsibility for balancing income ambition against organisational risk.
• Experience of Board-level reporting, accountability and scrutiny, including transparent reporting of income performance against targets.
• Demonstrated ability to build senior relationships with funders, partners and individuals that translate into sustained or repeat income.

Desirable Experience

• Experience in mental health, wellbeing or community services.
• Experience overseeing communications and marketing functions.
• Experience operating within multi-stream or system-based service environments.

Skills & Competencies

• Commercially and financially astute.
• Strong analytical, forecasting and risk-management capability, including income pipeline assessment and contribution modelling.
• Confident influencer with credibility at senior and external levels. • Strategic thinker with a strong bias towards delivery, outcomes and financial impact.
• Resilient, solutions-focused and adaptable in high-pressure, performance-driven environments.

Values & Behaviours

• Commitment to Catalyst Support’s values: Kindness, Integrity and Commitment.
• Collaborative, inclusive and trauma-informed approach.
• Commitment to equality, diversity and lived-experience leadership

Equal Opportunities Statement

We acknowledge the unique contribution that all Catalyst employees, volunteers and clients can bring to our organisation in terms of their culture, race, gender, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital status, nationality, age, religion or belief and any physical disability or history of mental health or additional problems.

The Saint John Southworth Catholic Academy Trust is seeking an ambitious early-career professional with excellent organisational skills and a strong interest in community fundraising to join our Development Team as a Community Fundraiser Officer. This is a fantastic opportunity to build and nurture the Trust’s fundraising and engagement goals.

Location: 89 Addison Road, London, W14 8BZ, and other Trust sites across London

Contract Type: Full time, all year round

Salary: £31,980-£33,870

Start Date: 10th August 2026

About the Role

Working closely with the Development Manager and the Development Director, you will play a key role in strengthening relationships with the schools’ communities, supporting fundraising initiatives and delivering engaging communications and events that foster lifelong connections with the Trust and its schools.

Key Responsibilities

• Build meaningful relationships across school communities and alumni networks, bringing people together and inspiring them to support the Trust’s vision
• Lead creative fundraising and engagement initiatives, from community campaigns to reunions and events, helping to drive a vibrant culture of giving
• Boost the Trust’s growth and sustainability by supporting data‑driven fundraising, managing donor stewardship, maintaining accurate customer relationship management (CRM) records and contributing to strong grant proposals

What We Are Looking For

The ideal candidate will be:

• A confident communicator with excellent interpersonal and writing skills who can engage a vast range of stakeholders
• Experienced in relationship management, fundraising or engagement
• Organised, detail-oriented and able to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Skilled in using CRM systems and digital communication tools
• Passionate about education and community building
• A team player with a proactive and positive approach

 About the Trust

The Saint John Southworth Catholic Academy Trust is a growing family of Catholic schools (primary, secondary and post-16), a registered charity and a trading company committed to providing an outstanding education rooted in faith, aspiration and service.

Our Shared Services Team provides high-quality professional and operational support across the Trust, enabling schools to focus on teaching, learning and pastoral care.

What We Offer

• A supportive and collaborative working environment
• Opportunities for training and development to help you grow in your career
• The chance to contribute to a trust committed to delivering high-quality education and supporting staff wellbeing
• Hybrid working during school holidays
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme and generous holiday entitlement

 How to Apply

For further details on the role, please view the Job Description and Person Specification or visit our website to find out more about us.

To apply for this role, please complete the application forms available on our Vacancies webpage.

Closing Date: 5pm on 21st May 2026

Shortlisting Date: 22nd May 2026

Interviews: Week commencing 1st June 2026

The Saint John Southworth Catholic Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people. All roles are subject to satisfactory vetting, including an Enhanced DBS check with Children’s Barred List.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. The amendments to the ROA 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975, (amended 2013 and 2020)) provide that when applying for certain jobs, certain spent convictions and cautions are protected and they do not need to be disclosed to employers. If they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Guidance about whether a conviction or caution should be disclosed can be found on the Ministry of Justice website and further information about filtering offences can be found in DBS filtering guide.

Join us in our mission to cultivate an educational environment that inspires growth, respect and academic achievement!

Severn Hospice is one of the region’s leading and much-loved charities, caring for people living with incurable illness across Shropshire, Telford &Wrekin and Mid Wales and we are looking for a dynamic, talented and motivated individual who wants to make a real difference by raising funds for our caring services.

With your excellent organisational and planning skills, creativity and practical approach you will develop, manage and evaluate our event portfolio, delivering an innovative programme of inspiring events.

As a great team player, you’ll build strong working relationships across various departments, volunteering team and third parties to deliver the highest quality events and experiences.

Confident in preparing work plans and managing multiple projects simultaneously you will also ideally have previous experience of managing budgets, achieving financial targets and have a good understanding of event compliance.

Just like our care, our relationships with supporters are individual and with your exceptional interpersonal skills and intuition you will provide personalised stewardship and engaging supporter journey that inspires and nurtures long term support.

If you can multi-task, are a creative thinker and thrive in a vibrant, ambitious, and supportive team, then this could be the role for you.

This role is to provide maternity cover on a 12-month fixed term contract. 

Following the growth of the Income Generation team Severn Hospice is expanding.

Severn Hospice is a leading charity supporting people with incurable illness across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Mid Wales. We are looking for an experienced, empathetic and relationship-focused Philanthropy Lead who wants to make a real difference by securing vital income for our caring services.

You will play a pivotal role in developing and growing our philanthropy programme by cultivating and strengthening meaningful relationships with mid- to high-net-worth donors, developing tailored engagement plans that inspire long-term support and securing significant and transformational gifts.

Being a strategic thinker, you will lead the growth of major gift income through a relationship-led approach that delivers sustainable fundraising over the long term. You will identify and develop new prospects, build a strong pipeline of supporters and confidently secure significant donations through compelling funding propositions and high-quality and personalised stewardship.

You will translate our priorities and impact into persuasive cases for support, creating bespoke supporter journeys that build trust, inspire long-term commitment, deepen engagement and connection to our cause and ensures donors feel informed, inspired and valued.

You will also be experienced in managing budgets, monitoring performance and maintaining accurate data and reporting in line with fundraising regulations and best practice.

Severn Hospice is a wonderfully rewarding place to work and if you’re dynamic, highly organised and passionate about building genuine relationships that make a lasting difference for our community, we would love you to get in touch.

About Rainforest Foundation UK (RFUK)

RFUK is a values‑driven organisation working with Indigenous Peoples and local communities to protect the world’s rainforests and uphold their human rights. Since 1989, RFUK has partnered with forest peoples and grassroots organisations to secure land rights, challenge destructive industries, and influence laws and policies that safeguard forests and the people who depend on them.

Our mission is clear: to combine human rights and environmental protection to tackle deforestation. From the Congo Basin to the Amazon, our work has helped communities protect millions of hectares of rainforest. With a growing team of passionate advocates for social and environmental justice, we are committed to scaling up our impact to confront the accelerating climate and biodiversity crises.

RFUK is now embarking on an ambitious new 2033 vision to scale up our work and impact in these regions and globally. All our work is delivered in close partnership with Indigenous and grassroots organisations in rainforest countries who are at the heart of what we do. We have a growing team of 30 staff members who are mainly based at our London office in the UK, in France or in DRC.

About the role

Do you want to lead fundraising efforts that make a global impact?

This is a key role to help drive RFUK’s income generation and donor engagement strategies. As Senior Fundraising Coordinator, you will play a pivotal role in the creation and delivery of RFUK’s fundraising strategy to sustain and broaden the organisation’s scale and impact. Reporting to the Head of External Relations and part of the Fundraising and Communications team, you will lead a range of activities and are responsible for developing and cultivating partnerships with institutional donors, trusts and foundations, ethical corporates, and individual supporters.

Based in London with hybrid working options, we offer flexibility, a supportive culture, and the chance to make a lasting difference.

For further details regarding the role and specific qualifications required, please consult the attached job description.

About you

You are an organised, self-starter and experienced fundraising professional with a proven track record managing a diverse fundraising pipeline from identification and cultivation through to securing gifts and successful stewardship. You have confidence engaging with foundations, corporates, individuals and major donors, and are excited to build long-term relationships with diverse stakeholders. You are eager and ready to implement new digital tools and a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system to streamline processes and maximise long-term donor engagement and support. You have excellent communication skills, can juggle multiple tasks, thrive in a collaborative environment, and bring resilience and cultural sensitivity to everything you do.

If you’re passionate about social and environmental justice and ready to help shape RFUK’s future, we’d love to hear from you.

Application process

To apply, complete the online application form via our website by 9AM, Thursday 14th May 2026.

Interviews with shortlisted candidates will be held in-person on Thursday 21st May 2026. Please let us know in your application if you are available to attend an interview on this date.

About Screen Share

Screen Share is the leading refugee digital inclusion charity in the UK. Our mission is to ensure every refugee in the UK has access to a connected digital device and the skills to use it to achieve their goals. We provide devices, internet connectivity, and digital skills support to refugees. Our full-service digital inclusion support gives refugees an opportunity to get on with their lives. If they are digitally excluded, they cannot access education, employment, or support services. Being offline slows down language learning, delays the asylum process, creates social isolation and marginalises refugees at a time in their lives when they have to be online. By providing refugees with the tools and confidence to operate online, our work fosters agency and independence, allowing refugees to rebuild their futures on their own terms.

It's a genuinely exciting time to join Screen Share. Our new 2026–2030 strategy sets an ambitious vision: to scale our impact to reach 5,000 people annually; build a nationwide, integrated programme model across multiple cities; deepen our lived-experience leadership; and deliver a sustainable, circular-economy approach to device reuse. Every element of our work is guided by our values Responsibility, Sustainability, Equity, and Collaboration, which you can read more about in the applicant pack. 

We are looking for a hands-on leader who can bring significant income-generating expertise to a new challenge. You’ll sit lead our Outreach team, be a collaborative 'do-er' who leads inclusively, is passionate about our mission and wants to add value to our small team from day one. We want to work with someone who is excited by our growth journey and can be flexible and dynamic as we scale. We are launching our Senior Leadership Team this summer, which includes a Director of Income to take ownership of our income generation, drive forward our social value offer and lead our Outreach team effectively and kindly. 

Purpose of the Role

The Director of Income role is responsible for leading our income generation. Our fundraising strategy is to significantly grow and further diversify our income, with a particular focus on corporate and trading income. The postholder will coordinate our fundraising activity, lead our Outreach team and work closely with the CEO to drive forward our income generation so we can safely deliver our ambitious strategy over the next 5 years. 

In particular, the postholder will be responsible for coordinating and developing our income function, converting our strategic fundraising objectives into operational plans, managing the Head of Outreach and representing the organisation externally. However, the role is not solely governance and leadership - we need a do-er who is comfortable working in a small team and sharing responsibilities, including submitting fundraising proposals and taking responsibility for our reporting. They will work closely with the CEO, Director of Programmes, Head of Outreach and Communications and Fundraising Coordinator to ensure we are communicating our value proposition coherently and effectively to the important stakeholders that make our work possible.

We do not see this as a traditional fundraising director role - we are looking for a skilled generalist who can meet us where we are at by working confidently across Trusts and Foundations, statutory grants, corporate partnerships and traded services simultaneously. We are a small charity with 10 staff, so while we are looking for a decision-making and accountable leader, the postholder will be expected to support colleagues across the organisation. They will have a collaborateive spirit and the emotional intelligence to thrive in a small team. 

The postholder will lead the Outreach team (CEO, Head of Outreach, and Fundraising and Communications Coordinator), ensuring we work efficiently and together. They will also model our values, actively promote our commitment to refugee leadership, and bring stability and leadership at a crucial time for our organisation's development. We are looking for someone humble and ambitious, motivated by our mission and confident in our ability to create a sustainable, full-service digital inclusion organisation for refugees and asylum seekers in the UK. 

Check out the recruitment pack attached for further information. If you have any questions about the role or it’s scope, please feel free to get in touch.

Timings:

Advert Closes: 22nd May 2026 at 5pm

First Round Interview (online): 28th or 29th May 2026

Second Round Interview (In person): 4th or 5th June 2026

EDI Statement:

Screen Share is committed to building a fair, inclusive and equitable organisation where everyone feels respected, valued and able to thrive. We aim to make our recruitment process consistent, transparent and accessible.

As the leading charity supporting digital inclusion for refugees in the UK, we value diverse perspectives and especially welcome applications from people with lived experience of displacement and forced migration or digital exclusion

We involve clients from refugee backgrounds in our recruitment as part of inclusive and participatory hiring approaches.

We’re happy to make reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process to remove barriers for disabled candidates.

Selection decisions are based on skills, experience, potential and values alignment, supported by a fair and transparent process.

If you don’t meet every requirement of the role but feel aligned and excited by our mission, we still encourage you to apply.

We want to hear from talented people who share our commitment to inclusion, equity and meaningful social change.

The Criminal Justice Alliance (CJA) is seeking a strategic and creative Fundraising and Impact Manager to join our small but mighty team. As the only completely independent member body in the criminal justice sector, we represent over 200 charities, academics, legal experts, and individuals with lived and professional experience. This is a brand-new, high-impact role created at a pivotal moment as we approach our 20th anniversary and begin developing our 2027-30 strategy.

The Senior Fundraising Executive (Grants) leads on bid-writing and relationship building with grantmakers (Trusts/Foundations/Public). The candidate will be a key player in the Grants team alongside the Director of Development (Grants/Major Gifts) and Development Officer. Create has seen its fundraising increase significantly in recent years, as it fulfils its ambitious plans to double its reach by its 25th anniversary in 2028. The Grants team is responsible for securing over 50% of the charity’s income, managing an extensive portfolio of T/F/Public funders, approaching a well-researched pipeline of potential funders, and researching prospects. The successful candidate will share Create’s commitment to the transformative power of the creative arts within community settings, with exceptional written and verbal communication, research, organisational and IT skills, and meticulous attention to detail.

Are you an experienced Development Executive looking to make a meaningful impact? Join the Gardens, Libraries and Museums (GLAM) team within Development and Alumni Engagement (DAE) at the University of Oxford to make a difference within a globally renowned institution.

About the Role

This is an opportunity to join Oxford’s DAE team and to make a significant contribution in support of the mission of one of the world’s leading universities.

The Development Executive is a professional fundraiser (ordinarily with some prior experience), with responsibility for devising, implementing, and collaborating on approaches to high-level philanthropic donors, and for working with DAE and academic colleagues to articulate cases for support, develop fundraising strategy and raise funds for priorities at the Ashmolean, Bodleian, Pitt Rivers Museum, Museum of Natural History, History of Science Museum and Botanic Garden and Arboretum.

Location: University Offices, Wellington Square, Oxford OX1 2JD / GLAM sites across Oxford.

Salary: Grade 7: annual progression from £39,424 - £47779 per annum, with a possible extension to £51,983 per year, including an Oxford University Weighting of £1,730 (pro rata)

Contract: Full Time (37.5 hours), Permanent 

About Us

Spanning the historic streets of the “city of dreaming spires”, the University of Oxford has been ranked the world’s leading university for ten consecutive years. A place where centuries of tradition meet world-changing innovation, we offer you the chance to shape the future while working in an inspiring environment that promotes excellence. Here, you’ll contribute to an organisation which delivers ground-breaking research that tackles global challenges - from advancing sustainability to pioneering healthcare solutions - and join a diverse, inclusive community that champions your wellbeing, development, and aspirations. Apply now to become part of our extraordinary legacy.

What We Offer

Working at the University of Oxford offers several exclusive benefits, such as:

• 38 days of annual leave (inclusive of public holidays) to support your wellbeing, with the option to purchase up to 10 extra days and additional leave after long service.

• One of the most generous family leave schemes in UK higher education, offering up to 26 weeks of full-pay maternity and adoption leave, plus 12 weeks of full-pay paternity/partner leave.

• A commitment to hybrid and flexible working to suit your lifestyle.

• An excellent contributory pension scheme.

• Affordable and sustainable commuting options, including a cycle loan scheme, discounted bus travel, and season ticket loans.

• Access to a vibrant community through our social, cultural, and sports clubs.

About You

Essential Criteria (See full list in the attached Job Description)

• Prior fundraising experience and direct involvement in securing major gifts

• An ability to think both strategically and tactically about the relations between potential donors and fund-raising goals

• Excellent communication skills

• Demonstrable ability to show highly nuanced sensitive and good judgement when working with key internal and external stakeholders

• The candidate must work well in a team

Application Process

To apply, please upload:

• A covering letter/supporting statement

• Your CV

• The details of two referees

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on 11 May 2026

Interviews will take place on 19 May 2026, and will be held face-to-face.

Salary: £87,500 per annum

Hours: 37.5 hours per week 

Location: Hybrid – remote/Exeter with regular attendance at HQ, plus regular travel to other DAA sites and events as required

Duration: Permanent 

The Role

The Income Generation Director plays a pivotal leadership role in enabling Devon Air Ambulance to deliver its mission through strong, trusted relationships with the public, supporters, partners and stakeholders. You will be responsible for the strategic leadership of income generation, communications and public engagement, as the Income Generation Director brings together fundraising, marketing, communications and commercial activity to grow support for Devon Air Ambulance and generate long-term sustainable income.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will contribute to the development and delivery of the corporate strategy, providing insight, challenge and leadership across the organisation. You will hold responsibility for public engagement and income generation activity across both the Charity and the Trading Company. The postholder will need to be willing to hold/apply for a Gambling Commission Personal Management Licence for the lottery.

The Candidate

We're seeking an inspirational leader who is collaborative and open, and can provide cross-departmental support to all teams, with the ability to achieve strategic goals. The ideal candidate will be able to role model a culture of integrity, honesty and openness with demonstrable experience of senior leadership within public engagement, income generation communications, marketing or a related field. They will have excellent interpersonal skills and be able to build effective partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, being able to influence and have a tangible impact on income generation. The candidate will be able to operate in a dynamic and high-profile environment with the confidence to innovate and take informed risks. 

As the role will require engagement with communities, staff and supporters across the county, it is essential that the candidate has a full driving licence. 

The Package

Salary: £87,500 per annum.

As a valued member of the team you will have access to a wide range of employee benefits including:

• 25 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays (pro rata)
• Maternity/Paternity & Adoption leave
• Pension scheme
• Occupational sick pay scheme
• Free counselling and financial wellbeing services
• Up to £8,000 relocation package available if eligible. 

Find out more about our staff benefits on our website.

Alongside our excellent staff benefits, we will support your ongoing development to build your skills, experience and career.

About the Mercury

The Mercury creates and shares stories that are exhilarating, revelatory and relevant. Through the reinvention of classic texts and the creation of bold, new writing, we believe that the transformative power of theatre can enrich the lives of our community.

The Mercury is a significant regional developer of new talent, working with a range of partners across the arts, education and creative industries to deliver a studio programme and a learning, participation and professional development programme aimed at nurturing the next generation of theatre makers.

Everything we do is driven by our values of quality, innovation, diversity, and connection.

About your new role

Are you a commercially minded fundraiser, passionate about garnering support for a cause you love? Come and join #TeamMercury as our new Head of Development and Partnerships.

We are looking for someone with a strong track record in identifying and securing funding, building commercial partnerships, and nurturing meaningful strategic relationships that drive sustainable growth.

You will lead on securing income from Trusts and Foundations, statutort funders, lottery sources, individuals, corporate partnerships, membership schemes and commercial coproduction investments.

The successful candidate is creative, highly collaborative and forward-thinking. You will bring experience across a range of fundraising approaches and the ability to make the most of a mix of commercial streams. We would love to hear from you!

To find out more, download the candidate pack.

Applications close at 10am on Monday 18 May 2026. First round of interviews will take place on Wednesday, 27 May 2026.

The Kids Network is looking for an Executive Director to support the Fundraising, Finance and Operations of the charity for an interim period. 

• Contract: Fixed 12-14-month contract depending on availability for start date – Full time 35 hours per week 

• Salary: £60,000 per annum 

• Location: London Victoria/ Hybrid 

• Some evening and weekend work may be required, which can be claimed as TOIL 

• Reporting to the CEO 

• Line Management of 3x staff

About the Charity 

A rare opportunity to lead a values-driven children's charity through an exciting chapter of its story. 

The Kids Network is a growing charity with an ambitious five-year strategy and a decade of impact behind us. We connect children facing adversity with caring mentors from their own communities, creating relationships that change trajectories. In 2027 we celebrate our 10th anniversary and this role sits right at the heart of that milestone. 

We're a small, high-performing team of 16 who care deeply about the children and families we serve. We work hard, we learn constantly, and we look after each other. Now, while our Managing Director is on maternity leave, we're looking for an exceptional interim leader to hold the organisation steady and help it thrive. 

About the role: 

As Interim Executive Director, you'll be deputy to the CEO and a core member of our Senior Leadership Team. You'll hold the big picture: strategy, governance, finance, and fundraising, whilst also being across our operations and being present and part of the day-to-day. From Board engagement and risk management to leading our impact report and driving our plans for our 10th anniversary event, no two weeks will look the same. 

You'll lead and line-manage talented team members across fundraising, school partnerships, and operations. You'll be the steady hand that keeps our income pipeline strong and our systems running smoothly. 

This role would suit you if, you're a leader who balances strategic thinking with being genuinely hands-on. You stay calm under pressure, make clear decisions when they're needed, and take people with you rather than leaving them behind. 

Mission matters to you. Working to improve the lives of underserved children is something you care about, not just a role you're filling. You'll champion our values, model our culture and behaviours, and bring the team with you in doing the same. 

You're well-suited to the interim context. You’re able to build trust quickly, make an impact from day one, and build on what's already working well. You're comfortable with a varied workload and have the experience to make good decisions for the benefit of the children we work with. 

Benefits: 

• Flexible working arrangements (mostly working from home, with approximately one-two days a week working from the office)   

• Option for 2 Me days   

• 25 days annual leave entitlement

• Option to swap bank holidays for other religious holidays  

• Team Socials  

• Birthdays off  

• Working in a value led organisation, where we see and share the impact we have on children every day 

Responsibilities 

Strategy & Leadership 

• Provide executive leadership to the organisation, fostering a high-performance, inclusive and values-led culture aligned with the charity’s mission. 

• Lead, support, and develop the Senior Leadership Team and Fundraising and Schools Partnership leaders, ensuring consistent performance and accountability. 

• Inspire and motivate staff, promoting engagement, foster a learning culture, create ownership, and commitment to organisational goals. 

• Work with the CEO, Board, and Senior Leadership Team to shape and deliver the charity’s third year of its five-year strategy, ensuring alignment with the funding landscape and the evolving needs of children and communities. 

• Deputise for the CEO when required, including Board engagement, strategic decision-making, and external representation. 

• Act as an ambassador for TKN, promoting its work and campaigns to engage, influence, and collaborate with key stakeholders. 

Governance & Operations:

• Lead the Operations function. Manage the Systems and Operations Officer to ensure our robust systems and operations continue to run effectively at a high quality and enable the charity to achieve its stated goals. 

• Provide executive oversight of HR, demonstrating knowledge of HR compliance and law, supporting with serious HR matters and providing leadership support on people matters, performance management and staff development.

• Oversee the use of key technology platforms, ensuring that the charity is operating in the most efficient way, in accordance with UK GDPR and promoting data hygiene and security and supporting the Operations officer to develop guides and standard operating procedures 

• Hold executive accountability for organisational compliance, risk management, and operational integrity. Act as the lead for the charity in the event of a serious data or H&S incident. 

• Lead the organisational risk register and risk management, ensuring risks are proactively identified, mitigated, managed and communicated to our board of Trustees and the CEO 

• Maintain awareness of relevant policy, legislative, regulatory, and sector developments, ensuring organisational readiness and compliance. 

• Work closely with the CEO and chair of the Resource Committee to set the agenda and plan for papers for this committee (3 times a year). 

• Act as the key contact with the landlord and the charity’s IT contractors, as and when required 

Income Generation, Partnerships and Communication:

• Oversee the coordination and delivery of key fundraising activities, supporting the organisation’s income generation through strategic oversight and targeted input where required. Lead and line manage the Fundraising and Development Lead.

• Play a key role in planning and delivering the 10-year anniversary event in May 2027. 

• Develop, manage, and strengthen high-level strategic funder relationships and networks, building a strong pipeline of partnerships to support income targets.

• Lead and line manage the Schools and Partnerships Lead to achieve ambitious school targets and secure positive partnerships with schools

• Utilise the organisation’s data systems to identify relevant insights and stories, leading the development of the 2026 Impact Report. 

• Work with the external Marketing Provider and Schools and Partnerships Lead to deliver the organisation’s communications strategy to maintain a strong digital and online presence 

Finance & Sustainability 

• Hold accountability for the operational delivery and financial sustainability of the charity. 

• Work closely with the CEO and external Financial Service Provider to develop organisational budgets, support with the annual independent examiner and ensure effective financial planning, management, and oversight. 

• Ensure financial performance, risks, and forecasts are clearly and appropriately communicated to the CEO, Board. 

• Support income sustainability by aligning delivery with funding strategy and identifying opportunities for growth and partnership. 

• Act as main liaison between the charity and the Financial Service Provider, ensuring that both the charity and contractor adhere to the organisation's financial procedures 

Personal Specification 

Strategic Leadership & Drive 

• Proven senior leadership experience at director level or equivalent in the charity, public, or social sector, including leading teams and engaging boards. 

Organisational governance 

• Financial acumen; comfortable owning budgets, managing forecasts, approving payments and communicating financial health clearly to the board. 

• Sound knowledge of charity governance, HR, GDPR, risk management, and regulatory compliance. 

• Excellent organisational & project management skills 

Vision, stakeholder engagement and influence 

• Experience cultivating strategic partnerships with schools, funders, and external stakeholders. 

• A track record of building funder relationships and driving income generation, with confidence overseeing fundraising strategy and pipelines. 

• Advanced communication skills, someone who can represent the organisation externally with credibility and warmth. 

Change Management & Adaptability 

• Experience in an interim/ short term role 

• Strong people management skills, with a warm and accountable approach to developing and supporting others. 

Desirable:  

• Experience working directly with school and corporate partnerships 

• Experience using Salesforce.  

• Experience working with trustees

How to apply & Dates 

To apply please submit a CV and a covering letter through Charity Jobs, ensuring the cover letter is no more than 2 pages.

The ideal start date is August 2026 

The interview process and dates will be: 

• Rolling initial conversations as and when suitable candidates apply 

• First formal interviews (online) 27th May 

• Final interviews & presentation (in person) 2nd June

Due to the size of the Charity, we are unable to respond to all applications, therefore if you do not hear from us to arrange an interview you have not been successful with your application.  

The Kids Network is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be required to apply for an enhanced DBS check.  

Safeguarding commitment   

The Kids Network is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be required to go through our safer recruitment processes, including an enhanced DBS check.   

Equity commitment      

The Kids Network values diversity and inclusion and we have worked to create an application process that is as accessible as possible, however we still recognise that there is maybe more we can do especially for applicants who are minoritised in society, have specific accessibility needs and/or experience discrimination.    

 If this is the case we are both happy and open to discussing better ways to support your candidacy and make this application process as equitable as possible for you.    

 We are a diverse organisation and welcome everyone but it is important to note that the intersections of your identity will not increase or affect the amount of labour you are asked to do. If you wish to draw on your own lived experiences that will be both encouraged and supported but it is not nor ever will be a prerequisite of this role.   

You can find out more about our commitment to anti-oppression on our website.