Switchback is built on the transformational power of trusted relationships – and that applies to our supporters and partners too. As we get ready to launch our next strategic plan, we’re looking for a new Head of Development to help us grow an even stronger supporter base across the full fundraising landscape, ranging from philanthropy to corporate partnerships, to trusts and foundations.
We are an ambitious team who want to make a huge difference, both to the lives of the young men we support and to society through transforming the justice system.
As Head of Development and a member of the Leadership Team, you will play a key role in shaping and leading a new and ambitious Development Strategy to secure the resources we need to grow our frontline and influencing impact. You’ll lead on supporting and galvanizing our small but mighty Development Team to grow their skills and Switchback’s income. You’ll oversee our development systems and processes, maintaining our trajectory of growth to ensure we remain sustainable in future years. And you’ll understand how to interpret and use our robust data and compelling Trainee journeys to make a compelling case for support to the full range of existing and potential supporters.
We’ve grown our income from £1m in 2022 to £1.5m in 2025 and know that further growth requires a clear development strategy which engages supporters in our vision for transforming more lives through better resettlement policy and practice.
This is an exciting role for a first-time leader - you will be fully supported by an experienced CEO and a collaborative Leadership Team, with a focus on your professional development. You’ll be joining at an exciting time of growth and building on a strong fundraising track record.
Our ambitious new strategic plan aims to support more Londoners than ever by 2030 and build the evidence for transforming national resettlement policy, with a staff team of 30 dedicated individuals aiming to push forward that vision. We are a hands-on, collaborative team, so you’ll need to enjoy getting stuck in with everything from bid writing to pitching to building our pipeline of prospective supporters.
We are seeking someone with a strong track record in building long-term funding relationships, who can apply that skill across the whole fundraising landscape, including with both institutions (corporates, trusts and foundations, and statutory grants) and individuals (high net worth philanthropists and individual regular donors).
You’ll be a confident bid writer who can guide your team in producing high quality applications and funder reports. You’ll be happy to absorb and build on Switchback’s style and continuously promote our gold standard of stewardship, which bolsters Switchback’s funder base.
Joining Switchback means you will also work closely with all members of our dedicated team, giving you a unique perspective that will support your work in demonstrating to funders how and why their support matters, and how supporting Switchback will help them meet their own charitable aims.
If you are an experienced, successful and creative fundraiser with a track record in building long-term relationships and who shares our values and vision, we would love to hear from you.
Registered Charity
21 - 50
We support young men to find a way out of the justice system and build a stable, rewarding life they can be proud of.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Purpose of the job
This role is responsible for the design of UK Youth’s support to young people, youth organisations and youth workers. This could include structured youth work programmes, funding and grants+ programmes, professional development programmes, and campaigns.
You will lead and oversee end-to-end design processes, ensuring that UK Youth develops fully packaged offers that respond to the evidence base and people’s needs, drive forward our strategy and achieve incredible impact. You will work across UK Youth teams, with external design partners, and meaningfully involving young people and the professionals who support them in the design process.
You will be experienced in developing high quality funding propositions (proactively and in response to new business opportunities). You will be confident in taking a human-centred design approach to tackle some of the youth sector’s knottiest problems. You will design solutions to important problems, ensuring that they are feasible, equitable, impactful and scalable.
In 2026, our priority topics for youth work programmes and network development are: mental health and wellbeing, employability, social cohesion and community safety.
As a leader, you will work closely with research, evaluation, policy, service delivery, network development, and fundraising teams. You will help to improve the skills and confidence of colleagues across UK Youth to apply design methods in their own work and collaborate effectively with the Design team.
Why work at UK Youth?
UK Youth wants all young people to be equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives. Youth work can be life changing (and even life saving.) In 2026, we will be launching our new strategy, positioning UK Youth to unlock youth work so that every young person in the UK can benefit. We work with others to ensure that the youth sector is strengthened and that provision is youth-led, evidence-informed, and delivers high-quality outcomes.
UK Youth plays a unique role in addressing the lack of investment in the youth sector, the lack of cross-sector understanding in how youth work makes a difference, and the limited opportunities to embed effective solutions. These factors lead to mass inequality of access to youth services for young people. Come and be part of this change in a driven and supportive team that puts evidence at the heart of our work.
Role Responsibilities
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Designing Solutions
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Developing new business and funding propositions
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Embedding Human Centred Design
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Building a strong external network to support the Design team’s work
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Operations
Experience we're after
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Significant experience of leading and overseeing the development of new business propositions and proposals to time-limited funding opportunities
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Significant experience of designing interventions (digital and/or physical) for young people and/or those who support them
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Experience using human-centred-design methods and mindsets; managing projects across the end-to-end design process
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Proven track record of inspiring and motivating diverse teams and improving collaborative ways of working across teams and departments
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Experience of developing high quality programme content and curricula for young people, youth workers and/or outdoor learning instructors (desirable)
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Experience of commissioning and managing external design freelancers and consultants (desirable)
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Experience of designing and/or delivering professional development programmes (desirable)
What we can offer you
We offer a competitive range of benefits, good work/life balance, excellent learning and development opportunities and vibrant organisational culture:
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Flexible/Agile Working
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27 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time employees)
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Funded training provided in; Safeguarding, GDPR, Information and Cyber Security & Equality & Diversity
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Other training available in support of your personal and professional development
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Pension scheme (currently UK Youth match employee contributions up to 5%)
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Membership of our life insurance scheme which would pay-out up to 4 times your salary
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Employee Assistance Programme to support employees both professionally and personally
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20% discount off bookings at Avon Tyrrell, our New Forest Outdoor Centre, including camping, lodges and outdoor activities.
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IT equipment provided for the duration of contract
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CycleScheme and TechScheme
How to apply
If you would like to be considered for this fantastic opportunity, please complete an application via our completely anonymised recruitment system provided by Applied which looks to create a fair and unbiased application process for all. Scroll to the top of the page and start your application.
Closing date: Sunday 4th January 2026 at 23:59pm
Provisional Interview Dates: 12th and 13th January 2026
As this role involves working in a regulated environment with young people, any offer will be conditional to satisfactory background checks, which include criminal record check and employment reference.
Registered Charity
51 - 100
UK Youth is a leading charity with a vision that all young people are equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.