Are you a fundraising expert intrigued by the idea of transforming healthcare through the power of volunteering? If so, we have an incredible opportunity for you!
Helpforce is on a mission to revolutionise health volunteering and we need a dynamic, strategic, and results-oriented Head of Business Development to be at the forefront of this exciting journey. This is your chance to shape the future of a rapidly growing national charity, working at the intersection of innovation, impact, and social good.
In this role, you'll be responsible for driving the growth of our income-generating portfolio, securing new business, and forging high-value partnerships with the NHS and the broader healthcare sector. You'll also oversee the fundraising function, ensuring seamless alignment between our commercial growth and philanthropic income. This dual role is perfect for a senior professional who thrives on relationship building, business innovation, and revenue generation from both commercial and charitable sources.
Since our launch in 2017, we've been pioneers with a clear vision for a nation where volunteering is integral to healthcare being its very best. We collaborate closely with NHS Trusts and other healthcare organisations to co-create expert volunteering models that meet healthcare’s biggest challenges, while generating evidence that showcases the value and impact of initiatives. Our insights empower health leaders across the UK to invest in solutions that enhance patient experience, reduce pressure on staff, and bring meaningful benefits to tens of thousands of people who volunteer their time and talents.
This is not just any job, this is a chance to make a tangible difference to the lives of millions who receive and deliver healthcare.
Key Responsibilities
Business Development — Core Focus
- Develop and lead the business development strategy to expand market presence, secure new contracts, and grow sustainable income streams.
- Identify new markets, service offerings, and strategic partnerships that align with Helpforce’s mission and impact goals.
- Lead negotiations for contracts, partnerships, and commercial agreements.
- Oversee the preparation of bids, proposals, and tenders, working with internal teams to ensure high-quality submissions.
- Leverage Helpforce’s reputation and evidence of impact to generate new business opportunities.
- Conduct market research and competitor analysis to inform strategic decisions.
- Build strong commercial relationships with public sector bodies, corporate partners, and health system leaders.
Fundraising — Leadership Oversight
- Provide strategic oversight of all fundraising activities including trusts, foundations, major donors, and institutional funders.
- Directly line manage the fundraising function, providing leadership, coaching, and performance oversight.
- Support the development of high-quality funding applications, stewardship plans, and donor communications.
- Ensure fundraising activities comply with ethical standards, contractual obligations, and regulatory requirements.
- Work closely with the CEO and Trustees on high-value fundraising relationships.
Leadership & Strategy
- Serve as a key member of the Senior Management Team (SMT), contributing to organisational strategy and leadership.
- Set income targets, KPIs, and performance metrics across business development and fundraising.
- Work with Finance to monitor budgets, forecast income, and manage financial risks.
- Represent Helpforce externally at high-profile events, conferences, and with key stakeholders.
Relationship Management
- Build and maintain relationships with donors, funders, corporate partners, and public sector stakeholders.
- Support senior-level relationship-building with strategic funders and institutional partners, working alongside the CEO and Trustees where appropriate.
Person Specification
Essential
- Senior-level experience (7 years) in business development, commercial partnerships, or strategic fundraising,
- Experience in a non-profit, NGO, social enterprise, or impact-driven business.
- Proven track record of securing significant business contracts or partnerships.
- Strong leadership and line management experience.
- Excellent negotiation, commercial acumen, and contract management skills.
- Outstanding relationship-building skills with diverse stakeholders including public sector, corporate, and philanthropic partners.
- Experience in setting and delivering income growth strategies.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for proposals, reports, and presentations.
Desirable
- Sector knowledge: [e.g. healthcare, NHS].
- Knowledge of CRM systems and fundraising databases.
Equality and Diversity
Helpforce encourages applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries. We're committed to having a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities. We actively encourage BAME and disabled applicants and value the positive impact that difference has on our organisation. We are committed to equality and diversity within our workforce and all opportunities provided by Helpforce.
Location: Remote, but travel to the London office will be required, as will UK wide client meetings.
Salary: c.£62,000 per annum
Benefits: Competitive
Closing date for applications is 21st August 2025. Please use the application link to send us your CV and a covering letter to support your application. Applications submitted without a covering letter may not be considered.
REF-223097
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Job Title: Philanthropy Manager
Reports to: Senior Philanthropy Manager
Location: Hybrid work with 40% from Breaking Barriers’ offices in Manchester, Birmingham or Glasgow
Salary: £33,000 - £39,000
Hours: 5 days per week (37.5 hours) but open to part-time (30 hours minimum), and flexible working arrangements
Contract: Permanent
Overall purpose
The Philanthropy Manager will manage and steward a portfolio of funders and donors – across trusts and foundations, statutory sources and major donors – to secure annual and multi-year gifts in support of Breaking Barriers’ vision. As well as managing relationships with our existing donors there will be a focus on creating new relationships through proactive prospecting and developing a long-term strategic approach to stewardship and relationship development.
You will be an ambitious, enthusiastic, energetic, and autonomous fundraiser with a demonstrable passion for supporting people from a refugee background. You will have a strong track record of high-value relationship management and fundraising, ideally specialising in Trusts, Statutory, Major Donor fundraising or a related area. We are looking for someone who can successfully secure and steward gifts of 5 figures and above – so evidence of stewarding high-value relationships and high-quality written skills are key. You will collaborate with additional fundraisers across Trusts, Statutory, Corporate and Major Gifts to coordinate approaches and maximise opportunities across all functions.
We welcome applicants with relevant transferable skills from other sectors and other areas of fundraising but a strong knowledge of the fundamentals of grant fundraising is essential. We are looking for a passionate individual who can get people excited about the work we do and who wants to make a difference in the lives of individuals from a refugee background. You will share our energy and determination, and will be attracted by the idea of working in a team with big ambitions, and in which you will have the opportunity to grow and develop. We encourage creative thinking and new ideas so a proactive individual who is able to spot opportunities and take the initiative would thrive in this role.
To view the full job description and person specification, as well as details on our accessible recruitment process, please view the attached recruitment pack.
Other considerations
- As part of our safeguarding commitment to our clients, we carry out pre-employment checks to ensure that successful applicants are suitable to work with adults at risk. These include basic DBS checks, obtaining references and verifying a candidate’s identity and right to work in the UK.
- We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity status, race, religion or belief.
How to apply
If you are looking for a role where you can make a real difference, we want to hear from you. To apply, please submit a CV and statement (up to approximately 500 words/1 A4 page) outlining:
- Why you are interested in the role
- What skills you would bring to be successful in this role
- Any experience you would like to highlight
- Any reasonable adjustments you require for the interview process
- Disclosure of disabilities if you wish to do so (as a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role)
Please note that applications without a covering letter will not be considered.
Closing date for applications is 11:30pm on Wednesday 06 August. Interviews will be held on a rolling basis so please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
We belong to the Experts by Experience Employment Initiative, which advocates and supports organisations to employ more people from a refugee background. With this in mind, we particularly welcome applicants with experience of seeking asylum and/or a refugee background.
If you are an expert by experience (a refugee or a migrant with direct, first-hand experience of issues and challenges of the UK asylum or immigration system), you can ask for an independent and confidential support for your job application from the Experts by Experience Employment Network. Please reach out to HR Manager Rebecca Hughes for further details (we are unable to include email addresses in this advert, but you can find contact details on the final page of the attached recruitment pack).
Registered Charity
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Breaking Barriers exists so that every refugee can access meaningful employment and build a new life.