Experienced fundraising manager jobs in bilston, west midlands

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is the charity that helps young people build lifelong belief in themselves, supporting them to take on their own challenges, follow their passions, and discover talents they never knew they had. Because when you prove to yourself that you’re ready for anything, nothing can hold you back.

Young people want to create a better future. With your help, they can.

Do you have the comms vision to keep DofE relevant, engaging and inspiring for young people? Can you tell our story in ways that resonate with different audiences? Are you a universally respected and respectful team leader? If so, we’d love you to apply to become our Head of Communications.

You will be responsible for delivering on shared strategic goals through compelling communications, externally and across our network of participants, staff, volunteers and organisations which offer the DofE. You’ll amplify the voices of young people, support relationships with funders and other partners, and continually promote the charity’s influence, reputation and brand profile.

The Head of Communications is one of two senior leadership roles in a wider Engagement team, which in December 2024 won Team of Year in the prestigious CharityComms Inspiring Communicator Awards. Working in partnership with our Head of Brand Marketing, you’ll build on that success, bringing a collaborative approach as we evolve our objectives and ways of working. You’ll play a key role as we mark DofE’s 70th birthday in 2026, then pivot to a new organisational strategy for 2026-31.

Critically, you will lead and shape the engagement of our network of almost 5,000 licensed organisations, 38,000 amazing volunteers and more than half a million participants, working closely with senior Operations colleagues. You’ll oversee staff communications, media and PR, and lead on corporate and crisis comms. Members of your team deliver our Youth Ambassadors programme and crucial support for DofE’s Fundraising and External Affairs.

We’re looking for someone who is versatile – able to switch between the big picture and the detail, with antennae equally alert to risks and opportunities. You’ll be an accomplished diplomat and influencer, with an ability to spot and make connections within and beyond the team. Given the breadth of the role, the successful candidate would ideally bring prior experience of different elements of the brief, together with proven experience of team leadership.  

How to apply:

If you are excited about the prospect of working for the DofE and believe you have the desired skills and experience to make a real success of this role, then we are keen to hear from you.

 If you would like to access the application form in a different format or if would like any assistance that might help improve your experience while completing the application, please contact us.

• Applications will close on: Sunday 18th May – Midnight
• 1st Interviews will take place: 13th and 16th June (to be held virtually via MS Teams)
• 2nd Interview will take place: WC 23rd June (interview will be in-person at the London Office)

​The DofE are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people.   All successful applicants will be required to undergo a Basic Disclosure and Barring Service check. (e.g. DBS/PVG or similar), including references covering any gaps of employment/education, confirm eligibility to work in the UK and complete a health check.

**The geographical allowance is based on a member of staff having a home or office-based postcode within 30 miles (as the crow flies) from Charing Cross, WC2N 5HS. The allowance is 7% capped at £4,000 per annum.

Permanent

35 hours per week

£35,100 per annum

Home based with occasional office days when required

The Children's Society has been helping children and young people in this country for over 140 years. We run local services that support children when they are at their most vulnerable and in desperate need of help. We're there for children, every step of the way.

This role sits within Social Impact. Social Impact's primary focus is on 'Building a Movement,' which drives two key objectives:

-Changing society's attitudes and actions towards young people

-Growing support, raising income for The Children's Society

We are currently looking for Senior Copywriter with 5+ years of experience and a proven track record of crafting bold and standout brand voice, impactful campaign messaging in both long and short form, and is capable of creating engaging and insightful yearly reports.

Key parts of this role include an ability to manage your own time efficiently, hold strong collaboration skills to work with designers, social, digital and strategy roles, and an eagerness to bring colleagues from outside of creative & copy backgrounds (often youth service practitioners) along with you through the creative process.

KEY SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

In order to be successful in this role, you must have:

-Experience of hands-on editorial content creation and copywriting for a wide range of comms inc. advertising, marketing, brand, fundraising, plus messaging development

-Using audience insight

-Using creative ways to communicate messages

-Broad digital knowledge and interest inc. content design and management, UX, accessibility, analytics

-Working in cross-functional groups with a shared goal

-Contributing to successful integrated campaigns

-Ensuring strong written identity

-Writing, editing and proofing copy for internal clients

-Working with design, video production, digital producers, story and voice colleagues

-Develop, champion, protect brand voice and tone

-Champion co-creation with children and young people

-Building strong collaborative relationships across knowledge groups

-Creative and critical thinking

-Understanding of and interest in accessible content design

-Proposition and creative concept development

-Stakeholder management

-Prioritisation and project management

-Knowledge of diversity and inclusion

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

-Act as enabler of our brand messaging and voice by coaching and upskilling colleagues and freelancers to develop messaging that is consistent with brand narrative and engages audiences, driving behaviour that creates action and impact

-Working closely with the Chief Creative to craft inspiring organisational messaging that builds on audience insight, tells a powerful story, elevates youth voice, amplifies message and grows support for the charity

-Support development and evolution of brand voice and editorial style guidelines that elevate youth voice, give young people agency and inclusive representation, help to ensure these are embedded across all messaging

-Applying audience insights, work with colleagues to develop brave, innovative and powerful creative propositions and concepts that deliver impact, achieve cut-through and meet campaign objectives

-Write and edit copy for a variety of audiences, purposes and channel executions, ensuring it delivers against the objectives as set out in the brief, building audience understanding and driving action and support

-Outputs: house style guide, brand narrative/voice and tone guidelines

-Organisational brand messaging

-Consistent cross-platform/channel/format brand expression

-Contribution to growth in attraction, support, income

-Contribution to audience understanding and attitude shift towards young people

INFO ABOUT THE CHILDREN'S SOCIETY

The Children's Society runs over 100 local services that help thousands of young people who desperately need our support, and we campaign to get laws and policies changed to make children's lives happier and safer.

Every day we're changing the lives of children in this country for the better - and with your help, tomorrow we can be there for even more.

The Children's Society is committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people that we work with. As such, all posts are subject to a safer recruitment process, including the disclosure of criminal records and vetting checks. We ensure that we have a range of policies and procedures in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practices across our services.

Therefore, candidates applying for work in our CYP Directorate will be required to complete an “Employment history_template” document prior to interview. The fully completed document should be loaded by the candidate at the point of uploading your CV.

The closing date for applications is at midnight on Tuesday 6th May 2025.

Interviews will be held on a date to be confirmed.

IN3