Engagement lead jobs in Birmingham

We are the only environmental charity working across the entire length of the River Severn. Our work is bold, ambitious, and rooted in science and community action. From urban streams to remote upland headwaters, we are tackling the biggest challenges facing our rivers through restoration, education, and collaboration. 

Your Role 

As Senior River Engagement Officer, you’ll take a leading role in our Community Engagement team – designing and delivering creative programmes that connect people with rivers and inspire action for nature. You’ll manage and mentor a growing team, develop exciting new projects, and secure funding to make them happen. 

Working in one of our operational catchments, you’ll build partnerships with schools, businesses, and communities, while delivering hands-on engagement activities – from citizen science and volunteering to wellbeing initiatives and outdoor learning. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of community engagement at Severn Rivers Trust. 

What you will do 

• Lead ambitious engagement programmes – from school learning and family events to volunteering and river health monitoring. 

• Manage and mentor River Engagement Officers and freelancers, fostering an inclusive and supportive team culture. 

• Develop new projects and secure funding, turning bold ideas into real-world impact. 

• Champion nature-based solutions and river wellbeing, helping communities understand how rivers support climate resilience and biodiversity. 

• Build partnerships across sectors, working with schools, businesses, and community groups to create shared benefits for rivers and people. 

• Act as the local lead for your catchment, delivering engagement that reflects local priorities and inspires action. 

Who We Are Looking For 

This is a senior role requiring proven experience in community engagement and project management. You’ll need: 

• A strong passion for rivers, wildlife, and nature conservation. 

• Experience leading engagement programmes such as citizen science, volunteering, education, or wellbeing initiatives. 

• Confidence in managing and mentoring staff or volunteers. 

• Excellent communication skills – able to engage, inspire, and influence a wide range of audiences. 

• Strong project management skills, including planning, delivery, and monitoring of multi-strand programmes. 

• Ability to build partnerships and work collaboratively across sectors. 

• Willingness to travel regularly within your catchment and work occasional evenings/weekends. 

A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle insured for business use is essential. 

We are thrilled to be working in partnership with Spurgeons, who believe in creating brighter futures for children, young people, and families. As one of the UK's leading children's charities, firmly supported by Christian beliefs and values, Spurgeons helps vulnerable children and their families by delivering projects that support them and their communities to find long-lasting solutions to the challenges they face.

We are seeking a Supporter Engagement Lead to play a central role in building strong, lasting relationships with supporters, ensuring every interaction reflects care, transparency, and impact.

You'll act as the first point of contact for supporters, delivering excellent supporter care through phone, email, and post. Managing all aspects of legacy administration and liaising with families and solicitors, you'll ensure exceptional supporter care throughout. You'll support the delivery of individual giving programmes including welcome packs and annual thanking, while creating and developing stewardship initiatives for key supporter groups such as Old Fegans and Spurgeons Scholars.

Working collaboratively with the Marketing Team and internal stakeholders, you'll create and deliver engaging supporter communications including monthly emails, magazines, and prayer resources to inspire loyalty and long-term giving. You'll also develop and deliver an engaging community fundraising programme, create and manage a suite of challenge events designed to attract new donors, and plan year-round conferences and events (both in-person and online) to promote Spurgeons' work and drive engagement from individuals and churches.

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate:

• Proven experience delivering excellent supporter or customer care, including handling enquiries and building relationships
• Experience managing fundraising administration processes such as donation handling, Gift Aid, and legacy administration
• Track record of planning and delivering successful events (in-person and online) for engagement or fundraising purposes
• Excellent written and verbal communication, able to produce compelling content and engage supporters

By month 3, you'll have gained a full understanding of Spurgeons' supporter engagement strategy and successfully delivered at least one monthly supporter email. By month 6, you'll have launched at least one community fundraising initiative and one challenge event. By month 12, you'll have delivered a fully developed stewardship programme and achieved measurable improvements in supporter satisfaction and retention.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a team that isn't just goal-driven, but fuelled by creativity, passion, and a love for bold ideas to drive positive change! You'll be part of a team that celebrates successes and believes in fostering a positive and supportive environment where everyone feels valued and inspired to do their best work.

For more information, please contact Nick Thomas, Senior Consultant, Charisma Charity Recruitment. Your application should be submitted through the Charisma website and include your CV and supporting statement.

Charisma is committed to inclusive and accessible recruitment processes. If you have any reasonable adjustments or wish to apply for this role under the Disability Confident Scheme, please confirm in your application, or contact our Operations Teams separately. Charisma will ensure all candidates who disclose that they wish to apply under the Disability Confident Scheme and that meet the minimum criteria for the role will receive an opportunity to interview with the Charisma Consultant representing the vacancy.

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, or other category protected by law.

Location: Home based

Closing date: Sunday 1st February 2026

Charisma vetting interviews must be completed by Tuesday 3rd February 2026

1st round interviews with Spurgeons: w/c 9th February 2026

Final round interviews with Spurgeons: w/c 16th February 2026