Head of development and communications jobs

Citizens Advice Stevenage is an ambitious and innovative member of the Citizens Advice network. We have expanded our services and offering to meet the increased demand in the area, doubling in size over the last few years. 

As a positive subsequence, we are looking for a Head of Finance & Business Support, who will become a core member of the Senior Leadership Team, responsible for overseeing the financial stewardship of Citizens Advice Stevenage. To lead on financial governance, business support operations, and compliance, ensuring the organization operates sustainably and meets all legal and regulatory obligations. The role is pivotal in safeguarding the charity's financial integrity, supporting strategic decision-making, and enabling effective service delivery. 

Financial Leadership 

• Prepare, review, and present draft and final budgets for approval by the board, ensuring timely submission of financial information to the CEO and Trustee Board. 

• Oversee financial reporting processes, ensuring accuracy, transparency, and compliance with regulatory standards, including variance analysis and annual balance sheets, ensuring timely submission of financial information to the CEO and Trustee Board. 

• Manage the reserves policy, ensuring regular review and alignment with operational needs and financial risks. 

• Identify and manage financial risks, ensuring integration into the organization’s risk register and adherence to appropriate mitigations.

• Ensure that the day-to-day finance and back-office function is high performing and compliant, safeguarding effective and efficient financial management processes. 

• To co-ordinate the proactive and timely dissemination of high-quality financial information to services, the CEO, and Board such as annual budgets, monthly management accounts, cash flow analysis, financial forecasting and monthly business performance figures.

• To ensure that the organisation has in place, robust and compliant financial systems and procedures; and that these are complied with by all budget holders, ensuring that any oversights are fully investigated and reported upwards as necessary.

• To lead on the preparation of statutory accounts, provide year end accounts, provide appropriate support and assistance to the organisation’s auditors and delivery of recommendations arising from the Audit process.

• To ensure that all statutory returns are complete in a timely and effective manner, including those in relation to VAT, PAYE, NIC and SSP, and that appropriate compliance dates are met for the Charities Commission and Companies House.

• Oversee the transactions, activities and processes of the external payroll provider.

• To monitor and advise on current and future tax legislation, with a view to optimisation.

• To support service managers in the preparation of bids and contract negotiations and provide financial activity analysis and reports in line with specific project reporting requirements.

• To monitor, report and make recommendations regarding the Investment and Reserves Policy to the Board.

• To oversee the payroll function to ensure employees are paid in an accurate and timely manner.

• To monitor and control creditors and debtors, ensuring invoices are paid on time and the risk of bad debts is minimised.

Compliance and Risk Management 

• Ensure compliance with all applicable regulatory frameworks, including the Charity Commission, Companies House, FCA, ICO, and other relevant bodies. 

• Maintain and regularly review financial systems, controls, and policies, ensuring they are effectively implemented and aligned with legal requirements. 

• Conduct due diligence for pension, redundancy, and other liabilities, ensuring plans are in place for management and mitigation. 

• Support the trustee board in understanding risks related to projects and contracts, providing assurance of compliance with funders’ requirements. 

• To lead on the Risk Management process, advising the CEO and managers on risk matters, and reviewing the risk register on a regular basis, reporting to the Board of Trustees.

• To check, amend and monitor the Financial Procedures Manual; reporting material breaches to the CEO and Board of Trustees, as required/in-line with governance.

• Working with the senior leadership team monitoring and updating Insurance matters as required, reporting to the CEO and Board of Trustees.

Business Support Operations 

• Lead on organisational business continuity planning, ensuring resilience during crises and alignment with the charity's objectives. 

• Oversee the development, implementation, and review of key policies, ensuring they reflect legal obligations and organisational values. 

• Manage IT systems and cybersecurity measures to protect organisational data and operations, ensuring compliance with standards such as Cyber Essentials. 

Strategic Contribution 

• Provides proactive strategic financial advice and guidance to the Trustees and wider leadership team, monitoring and reporting on the financial performance against agreed targets, identified risks and key performance indicators. 

• Provide financial and operational insights to inform strategic decision-making and long-term planning. 

• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and financial accountability across the organisation. 

• Funding strategy: Support the CEO and board to regularly review the sustainability of its income sources and their impact on achieving charitable purposes in the short, medium and longer term.

• Work with the CEO and Head of Impact and Development to prepare the funding strategy that should go beyond immediate budgetary considerations and look at the wider funding landscape. The organisation needs to understand potential emerging opportunities and the organisation's readiness to pursue them. 

Team and Stakeholder Engagement 

• Build and maintain effective relationships with trustees, funders, regulators, and key stakeholders, to ensure that Citizens Advice Stevenage meets its financial, regulatory and legal obligations. 

• Provide leadership and support to finance and business support teams, ensuring professional development and effective performance management. 

People management and development  

• Develop and implement a culture of continuous learning that will equip and develop people to deliver outstanding delivery. Responsibility for the training and development plan for the Finance and Business Support ensuring it is in effective operation including maintaining records of training needs identified and training attended.  
   

• Working with the rest of the leadership team ensure the organisation delivers a fair, inclusive, equitable and transparent employee and volunteer experience, taking account of our EDI aims and in line with employment law and the Equality Act 2010. 
   

• Ensure Open and timely communication that provides information about the organisation and context for decisions that are made, helps to build trust and confidence and earn legitimacy. 
   

• Ensure the effective performance management and development of staff through regular supervision sessions, appraisals and learning and development.  
   

Person Specification 

• ACA/ACCA/CIMA Qualified, CPE up to date.

• Strong financial management experience at a similar level within the charity/not for profit sector 

• A proven track record of leading, developing and inspiring small teams 

• Experience of strategic business & financial planning, forecasting and budget management. 

• Sound experience of producing month-end management accounts and audited year-end financial accounts 

• Experience of managing and using financial systems 

• A working knowledge of relevant legislation (regulatory, legal and financial) in the context of a charitable organisation 

• Experience of managing change and change programmes 

• A track record of initiating, leading and managing associated risks 

• Strong influencing, negotiating and collaborative working skills, with the ability to present complex financial information clearly and concisely in writing or verbally 

• Confident IT skills; confident using Microsoft Office applications, especially Excel

• Experience designing and introducing new financial processes, procedures and reports

• Working knowledge of QuickBooks software [advantageous]

• Experience working with a Board of Trustees [advantageous]

• Understanding of Charity Commission and Companies House reporting requirements

• Project and/or professional services experience

• Understanding of Charity Law

• Experience of working in the not-for-profit sector

• Understanding and experience using the Charity Governance Code

• Experience in working with Charity SORP

• Legal experience – as so far as they can scrutinise and review basic contracts and their revenue recognition requirements and VAT implications

• Strategic and forecasting experience

Lead a growing portfolio of support services making a real difference to people affected by gambling harm.

At Betknowmore UK, we work to prevent and reduce gambling-related harm through support, education, training and community engagement, embracing the insight and knowledge of 'Experts by Experience' alongside evidence-based approaches. As our Head of Support Services, you'll provide strategic and operational leadership across our Triage, Peer Aid, New Beginnings and Affected Other teams, and lead the development of a strong, sustainable London-based service offer that establishes our presence and reach across the capital.

Reporting to the Director of Services and leading a team of service managers, you'll ensure our services are safe, effective, person-centred and delivered to a consistently high standard, while strengthening pathways into and through support and ensuring services meet their contractual, quality and impact objectives.

What you'll be doing

• Providing operational oversight and leadership across our peer support services, with effective line management of service managers and direct reports
• Maintaining oversight of service demand, capacity, waiting times and service user pathways, and addressing operational risks and barriers to delivery
• Monitoring service performance, quality and outcomes, using data and feedback to drive continuous improvement
• Ensuring safeguarding and risk management procedures are understood and consistently applied, and that trauma-informed, person-centred principles are embedded in practice
• Ensuring staff and volunteers receive effective induction, supervision, training and development, and promoting a psychologically informed culture that supports the wellbeing of a lived-experience workforce
• Building and maintaining relationships with commissioners, treatment providers and referral partners, and representing Betknowmore UK at external meetings and partnership forums
• Managing delegated service budgets and resources, and contributing to service planning, forecasting and funding bids
• Championing lived experience and co-production, and promoting equality, diversity, inclusion and equitable access to support

What we're looking for

• We're interested in hearing from candidates who have:
• Lived experience of addiction-related harms, either directly or as an affected other
• Significant management experience within mental health, social care, addiction, recovery, peer support or a related field
• Experience leading complex support services and managing service managers or multidisciplinary teams
• Strong experience of performance management, service improvement and workforce leadership
• A good understanding of safeguarding, risk management and safe service delivery
• Experience working within commissioned or contract-funded services
• The ability to use data and evidence to improve performance and outcomes
• Strong communication, leadership and partnership-working skills, with a commitment to lived experience-led and person-centred practice

A degree-level qualification (or equivalent professional qualification) and substantial senior leadership experience in a relevant field such as mental health, public health or social care is essential. Lived experience of gambling harms, management experience within gambling harms services, experience within NHS or statutory commissioning, and knowledge of NICE guidance, CQC standards or comparable quality frameworks would all be advantageous.

Why join us?

You'll be joining a growing charity making a real difference to people's lives. This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of our support services, build our presence across London, and lead a talented, lived-experience-informed team delivering life-changing support to people affected by gambling harm.

How to apply

Please submit an up-to-date CV and covering letter explaining how your skills and experience meet the Person Specification.

Closing date: 5pm Thursday 27th August 2026

Could you turn bold ideas into campaigns that inspire people to give, volunteer and take action?

Mercy Ships UK is entering an ambitious period of growth and we’re looking for an exceptional Head of Marketing to help turn that ambition into impact.

This is an exciting opportunity to support the operational engine room of marketing at Mercy Ships UK, ensuring our fundraising, volunteering and brand priorities are transformed into compelling, integrated campaigns that reach the right audiences and deliver measurable results.

Mercy Ships operates hospital ships that bring free, life-changing surgical care and medical training to people who otherwise have little or no access to safe healthcare. Behind that extraordinary mission sits an equally important challenge: engaging more supporters, growing income, recruiting more volunteers and helping more people discover the work of Mercy Ships.

That’s where you come in.

Reporting to the Director of Communications and Engagement, you’ll lead a multidisciplinary marketing delivery team spanning creative, content, digital and project coordination. You’ll bring together people, ideas, channels and priorities to make sure great strategies become brilliantly executed campaigns.

You’ll oversee the campaign journey from brief to launch and evaluation, shaping creative ideas, coordinating digital and offline activity, improving workflows, managing resources and using insight and performance data to continually improve what we do.

You’ll work closely with colleagues across Fundraising, Volunteering, Strategic Communications, Communities and Engagement, Digital and the wider global Mercy Ships network. This is a highly collaborative role where your ability to influence, prioritise and bring clarity to complex activity will be just as important as your marketing expertise.

We’re looking for someone who combines creative judgement with operational discipline.

You’ll know what makes a great campaign, but you’ll also understand everything that needs to happen behind the scenes to deliver it successfully. You’ll be comfortable moving between creative conversations, campaign planning, digital performance, budgets, stakeholder discussions and team leadership.

You may already be a Head of Marketing, or you could be an experienced senior marketing or campaigns professional ready to take the next step. What matters most is your track record of leading integrated campaigns, managing multidisciplinary teams and turning organisational priorities into marketing activity that delivers results.

This isn’t a role for someone who simply wants to maintain what already exists. We’re strengthening how marketing works across Mercy Ships UK, building greater integration between digital, creative, content and campaign delivery and creating a more resilient in-house capability for the future.

You’ll have the opportunity to shape those ways of working, develop the team and help create a marketing function capable of supporting Mercy Ships UK’s ambitious plans for growth.

And ultimately, the campaigns you help deliver have a purpose far beyond marketing metrics.

They help raise the funds, recruit the volunteers and build the awareness that enable Mercy Ships to bring hope and healing to people around the world.

If you’re an experienced marketing leader who loves making great ideas happen and you want your expertise to contribute to something genuinely meaningful, we’d love to hear from you.

Join London Legal Support Trust and use your communications skills to champion access to justice. Create engaging content, manage our website and social channels, and promote our programmes and fundraising events. We are looking for an organised, creative communicator with strong writing, digital and content management skills. This permanent, full-time hybrid role is based in Holborn and offers flexible working, generous leave and development opportunities.

We’re looking for an experienced fundraising leader who can combine strategic thinking with hands-on delivery and take the next step into a broad senior leadership role.

As Head of Income Generation and Communications, you will lead Cosmic’s fundraising, marketing and communications function, with responsibility for sustainable income growth, team leadership and strengthening our profile. You will oversee a varied portfolio spanning community and challenge fundraising, corporate partnerships, major donors, events, volunteering and supporter stewardship, while also setting the direction for our communications, brand and digital activity.

This is a role with real scope to shape our future. You will work closely with the CEO and Trustees, lead a small team and external communications support, and develop a three-to-five-year strategy that turns ambition into clear plans, targets and results.

We are looking for someone with a strong track record in fundraising and income generation, experience of managing people and performance, and the confidence to oversee communications and volunteering strategically. You do not need to be a communications specialist, but you should understand how strong storytelling, supporter engagement and volunteer involvement can help drive income and impact.

Salary: £45,000–£50,000 | Full-time | Permanent | Hybrid, primarily based near St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington

We are looking for a dynamic, technically skilled Head of Evaluation to play a senior role in shaping and delivering Youth Futures’ evidence strategy.

You will lead a team of Evidence and Evaluation Managers and oversee a portfolio of complex evaluations, helping us generate credible, useful evidence about what works to support marginalised young people into good work.

• Reporting to the Deputy Director of Evidence and Evaluation, you will be responsible for ensuring high-quality delivery of a portfolio of complex impact evaluations.

• You will have a sound understanding of youth employment and/or skills and design evidence-generating projects in a complex field that includes partners from national and devolved government, the third sector and employers.

• You will manage a team of Evaluation Managers, supporting their development while delivering projects that inform Youth Futures’ strategic goals.

This is an opportunity to shape some of the most important evidence being generated on youth employment in England. The role suits someone who enjoys combining technical evaluation expertise with leadership, judgement and collaboration, and who wants their work to influence real decisions about how services, funders and policymakers support young people.

We currently operate a hybrid model of two-days per week in the office and three-days from home.

Please download our recruitment pack for more information on this opportunity. To apply, please visit our website.

Due to receiving high volumes of interest in our opportunities, this vacancy may close earlier than the advertised deadline. To ensure your application is considered, please submit it as soon as possible.

The Head of Communications role is an exciting opportunity to lead on maximising the credibility, visibility and impact of Runnymede Trust’s esteemed research and policy portfolio. You will be responsible for leading Runnymede’s small communications team, developing our traditional, new and digital media strategy and supporting the development of our campaigns identity.

The role will involve providing effective leadership and oversight of all our communications activities. The working environment is often reactive and fast paced whilst also managing a steady stream of longer term project related outputs. This is a key role with the potential to shape the UK’s research and policy narratives on race and inequalities with one of the country’s leading think tanks on race and social justice. You will bring extensive experience in leading a diversely skilled communications team, a track record of dealing with politically sensitive communications issues, and a deep understanding and passion for our work in furthering racial justice.

Type: Fixed term contract

Duration: 2 years

Location: A mix of working remotely and in the McPin office (Bethal Green, London)

Salary: Starting from £46,637 per annum FTE (point 22)

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Do you want to ensure mental health research has a real-world impact?

Can you lead strategic communications that influence researchers, policy makers and the public?

Are you an experienced, values-led communications leader who can support and inspire a busy team?

The McPin Foundation is looking for a Senior Communications Manager to lead our communications function at an exciting point in our growth. This strategic, hands-on role suits someone with excellent communications skills and strategic leadership and communications experience.

McPin is a mental health research charity working to transform how research is done by putting the expertise of people with lived experience at its heart. We believe this makes research more relevant, meaningful and likely to create real-world change. Recent work has included young people’s mental health, digital mental health and virtual reality, inequalities, data sharing and artificial intelligence.

As Senior Communications Manager, you will ensure McPin’s work reaches the right audiences and has the greatest possible impact. You will lead our communications strategy, support influencing and impact work, and help colleagues translate complex research into engaging and accessible content.

You will manage and develop a communications team (two people), oversee consultants for specific projects, and work closely with colleagues, partners, people in our networks and external stakeholders. As part of the charity’s senior leadership, you will help shape organisational strategy, strengthen internal working practices and support other McPin colleagues to develop their own media and communications skills.

You will support delivery of McPin’s communications strategy, strengthen how we capture and demonstrate impact and grow our supporter base. You will bring strategic confidence, creativity and practical delivery skills, whilst working in a way that reflects McPin’s values.

Currently, most staff at the McPin Foundation are working remotely, although office spaces in London are open and available for use. This post will involve a mix of working remotely and working in London.

Our team is committed to transforming mental health research through collaboration, inclusion and a belief in equity and anti-oppressive behaviours. We strongly encourage applications from Black people, People of Colour, people who are LGBTQIA+, those with a disability and those who identify themselves in marginalised groups, as well as people with lived experience of mental health issues.

We offer benefits including a competitive salary, hybrid/flexible working, a NEST Pension scheme with 6% employer contribution, wellbeing support and mentoring scheme, an individual training budget and access to an Employee Assistance Programme and healthcare cash plan with Hospital Saturday Fund. Please see the full Job Description on the McPin Foundation website for more information.

The closing date for applications is Monday 21st September 2026 at 9.00 am. The first stage of Interviews will take place week commencing 28th September.

To apply please visit The McPin Foundation website to download the job description and application form. In line with our values, McPin does not use AI in its recruitment processes, all applications will be read by our team.

Queries to Vanessa Pinfold if you have any questions about the post.

Salary: £50,000 - £54,500
Contract: Full Time Perm
Location: Hybrid
Closing date: ASAP
Benefits: Flexible working, free gym membership at the Peterborough office, life assurance, plus a buy/sell annual leave scheme

We have a great opportunity for a Head of Communications working for an ambitious and growing health charity dedicated to improving the lives of people affected by a serious lung condition. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, this is a fantastic opportunity to shape and lead a communications function at a key stage of organisational growth and strategic development.
As part of this exciting role, you will lead the charity's communications and engagement function, developing and delivering a strategic communications plan that supports organisational objectives and raises the charity's profile nationally. You will manage and develop a small communications team, oversee media relations, digital communications, supporter engagement and internal communications, while ensuring consistent messaging and strong brand standards. Working closely with senior leaders across fundraising, research, policy and services, you will translate complex information into compelling stories that inspire supporters, engage stakeholders and demonstrate the charity's impact. You will also play a key role in strengthening communications systems, processes and reporting to support future growth.
To be successful as the Head of Communications, you will need:

• Significant senior-level experience in communications, marketing, media, engagement or public relations, with a track record of leading multi-channel communications strategies.
• Experience of managing and developing teams, alongside strong media relations, digital communications and stakeholder engagement expertise.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to turn complex information into engaging content and provide confident strategic advice to senior stakeholders.

If you would like to discuss this role with us please email your CV or contact us and quote the reference 3057AJ.

Ashby Jenkins Recruitment are a specialist charity recruitment agency, we use our extensive sector knowledge and experience to match candidates to the most suitable charity jobs. We are passionate about improving equality across the sector, you can read more about our commitment to diversity here.
We take a relationship-led approach to recruitment in the charity sector and partner with you as the leading charity recruitment agency.
If enough applications are received the charity reserve the right to end the application period sooner.
 

Hybrid - London WC1H - we operate hybrid, flexible working practices with 20% of your time per month being office based

Join the ACU as Head of Communications and Engagement and use your expertise and experience to help us in our mission to be the voice of Commonwealth universities, supporting them to collaborate and to advance their contribution to sustainable development.

Working at the intersection of higher education and international development, The ACU offers a unique opportunity to make a real difference. We are one of the largest, most diverse international university networks, bringing together over 400 members in more than 40 countries, and our official role within the Commonwealth and United Nations affords an impactful platform for advocacy and strategic partnerships.

The role
The Head of Communications and Engagement leads ACU's external voice and its member engagement function, ensuring that our member universities experience ACU as a present, credible and valuable partner. This role is the primary custodian of how ACU communicates with the world and how relationships with members, stakeholders and partners are built, maintained and deepened.

You will develop and lead an integrated communications and engagement strategy, ensuring all activity is strategically aligned, well-coordinated and delivered with maximum impact.

Working closely with the Director, you will provide leadership in shaping the external affairs of the ACU, finding new and creative ways to communicate ACU's work and impact, strengthen our position with key audiences and platform our advocacy messages within the sector and with key decisions makers including at major multilateral forums. You will oversee marketing efforts to drive participation with our member opportunities and for our managed programmes and will be responsible for contract fulfilment for a range of external clients. You will also lead on internal communications in support of our people and culture agenda. 

Working with the Head of Membership and Events and Head of Policy and Research, you will be jointly responsible for the membership strategy, leading an international engagement team to ensure that our offer is visible to members, and our diverse and geographically dispersed network feel engaged and see the value of membership.

Who are we looking for?
We are looking for an experienced senior leader who can bring a strategic and an integrated approach to communications and engagement, enjoys working in a collaborative international environment and who will foster creativity and innovation to deliver maximum impact.

You will:

• Bring a track record of leading integrated communications strategies in complex contexts, alongside experience of membership engagement or institutional relationship management at a senior level.
• Have worked at senior level in marketing or communications, be skilled in devising and implementing successful communication strategies and plans, audience segmentation, content creation, delivery and the use of the various channels for effectiveness
• Be comfortable holding the strategic and the relational in equal measure, and understand that in a membership organisation, communications and engagement are two sides of the same endeavour.
• Be a strategic thinker, know how to use data and insight to direct a team's activity, and understand how to design an engagement model that utilises personalised account management and varied communications channels to reach diverse audience segments with targeted messages 
• Be comfortable leading a small, dispersed team- including a network of regional engagement leads across ACU's core geographies - setting strategic direction and supporting consistent standards and autonomous delivery 
• Be energised rather than daunted by breadth: moving between brand strategy and member retention, hands-on delivery and team leadership

What to expect
We see equity, diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our mission and we value the many different perspectives that people from all backgrounds bring to our collective performance (you can find more about our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and safeguarding on our website by clicking here). We believe in investing in all our people and creating cultures in which everyone can thrive.

We offer a fantastic package of benefits including:

• 27 days annual leave, 8 bank holidays (pro rata - part-time employees) and 4 Christmas closure days
• Generous pension scheme – 5% employee contribution, 10% employer contribution 
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave
• Significant investment into your personal and professional development
• Regular social activities
• Health and wellbeing programmes
• Give as you earn charitable donations scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Interest-free travel season ticket loan

How to apply
Apply via the apply button which will redirect you to our recruitment portal.

Closing date: 27th August 2026 at 23.45 pm.

Interviews will take place on 7th September 2026.

First stage interviews will take place virtually. A second stage will be conducted in-person at our London office in the week commencing 14/09/2026.

Role Purpose

The Digital Marketing Manager will play a key role in growing Honeypot’s reach, engagement and impact through creative, insight-led and effective digital marketing.

Reporting to the Head of Marketing and Communications, the postholder will lead Honeypot’s digital marketing activity, using creativity, audience insight and data to grow awareness, strengthen supporter engagement and help achieve the charity’s strategic objectives.

This is a varied and hands-on role combining digital strategy with day-to-day delivery. As Honeypot’s Marketing function grows, the role will have the opportunity to take increasing ownership of digital growth, innovation and audience development.

Open Up Music exists to open up music to young disabled people. We’re looking for an ambitious Head of Development to build the income and support that will help more young disabled musicians flourish.

We work alongside young disabled musicians to tackle inequality, develop accessible instruments, commission new music and reimagine music education and performance.

Our programmes include the National Open Youth Orchestra, the world’s first disabled-led national youth orchestra; Open Orchestras, the UK’s largest network of accessible school orchestras; and Clarion, a digital musical instrument that can be played using the movement of an eye, head or finger.

About the role

This is an opportunity to shape the next phase of fundraising at a nationally recognised charity with a strong record of turning ambitious ideas into high-impact programmes.

You will join us from a position of strength. We have already secured more than 70% of our contributed income target for the coming academic year, and our Board has committed strategic investment to growing our fundraising capacity.

You will inherit a successful trusts and foundations programme, supportive trustees, established digital and CRM systems, and an organisation-wide commitment to fundraising. You will recruit and lead a small fundraising team, diversify our income and help shape Open Up Music’s future as a member of our Senior Management Team.

Key details

• Salary: £50,000, reviewed annually
• Contract: Permanent
• Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week
• Location: Bristol, with the option to work from home for up to half of each week
• Annual leave: 28 days plus bank holidays
• Pension: 3% employer contribution
• Other benefits: Professional development opportunities, Employee Assistance Programme and Cycle to Work Scheme
• Reports to: CEO

We understand that people have different circumstances and are open to discussing alternative working arrangements and job-share applications.

What you’ll be working on

• Leading the development and delivery of our fundraising strategy
• Recruiting, managing and developing a small fundraising team
• Protecting and growing income from trusts, foundations and corporate partnerships
• Developing individual giving, major donor fundraising, community fundraising and legacy giving
• Working with our Marketing and Communications team to create effective fundraising campaigns
• Building relationships with supporters, funders, partners and prospective donors
• Leading fundraising budgets, income forecasting, reporting and performance monitoring
• Helping colleagues and trustees play an active role in fundraising and donor stewardship

This job is for you if:

• You have significant fundraising experience and a strong record of securing contributed income
• You can manage and develop a varied fundraising portfolio
• You have led fundraising strategies, campaigns or programmes and turned plans into results
• You build strong, lasting relationships with funders, donors and partners
• You can recruit, support and develop staff and build a positive team culture
• You are confident managing budgets, forecasts, targets and fundraising data
• You can influence and work effectively with senior colleagues and trustees
• You share our commitment to equity, inclusion and ethical fundraising

Experience in music, the arts, education or disability is welcome, but it is not essential. We know that strong candidates may not meet every criterion, and we encourage you to apply if you believe your skills and experience are relevant.

How to apply

Please complete and submit both application forms included in the recruitment pack.

Closing date: Midnight on Tuesday 25 August 2026
Interview date: Monday 7 September 2026, in person in Bristol

We shortlist anonymously using candidates’ answers to our application questions. The panel will not see your name, pronouns, education or employment history until shortlisting has been completed.

We particularly welcome applications from Disabled, Deaf and neurodivergent people, people from the Global Majority, LGBTQIA+ people and people from working-class backgrounds. We offer a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.

Application materials are available in alternative formats, and we will make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

This role is subject to an DBS check.

Philanthropy, which covers Trusts & Foundations, Major Donors and Mid-Value Donors , is pivotal to Noah’s Ark – typically accounting for around 46% of the charity’s overall income. In real terms, that is c. £2.2m of our £4.7m fundraising target for 2026-27. This role also has a lead role in managing our Philantropy & Corproate Board of influential volunteers that support our philanthropy programme. Philanthropy is a real area of expertise for Noah’s Ark and we have seen considerable success over the past 10 years. However, there is much scope for further, exciting growth. Specifically, there is much to do to re-engage lapsed donors and to build a healthy pipeline to ensure a steady flow of new donors join our programme. Our mid-value donor programme also requires further development to enable the cultivation of future Major Donors. The Head of Philanthropy will work closely with the Director of Fundraising & Communications to dedicate time and attention to a strong portfolio of donors, and will contribute to the wider development of fundraising and communications strategies through senior team forum and all-staff forums. The post-holder will be key in taking our Philanthropy programme to the next level, building on key existing relationships, increasing income and opportunities generated by our team’s augmentation and growth and elevating the experience of supporting Noah’s Ark.

ABOUT YOU

You will have considerable experience and success in high-value / major donor fundraising, at managerial level. You will be a dynamic, agile, highly organised, dedicated and reliable individual, ready to play a significant role in income generation. An exceptional and eloquent communicator, excellent at managing your time and a natural relationship builder. You will have a collaborative mindset and enjoy working with and managing team members with different personalities, styles of working and approaches to amitious goals. You will feel at home being a key person with whom colleagues across the fundraising and wider charity teams liaise, in order to create the greatest outcomes for the children and families we support. You will have strong line-management skills and show excellence in donor stewardship.

We encourage you to apply if:  

• You have proven skills in Major Donors fundraising and (ideally) Trust fundraising
• Have proven yourself to be an incredibly effective manager of people
• Believe you can build a strong pipeline of donor prospects 

Please note - we are only accepting direct applications for this role

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, we kindly advise you to submit your application as early as possible.
 

This is a very exciting opportunity as this is a brand new role within Kids and they are looking for someone who is able to lead a multidisciplinary team.

Kids is a national charity that supports disabled children, young people and their families, helping them to thrive and reach their full potential. Through a wide range of services, advice and advocacy, Kids empowers children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to access opportunities, have their voices heard, and overcome barriers to inclusion.

Reporting to the Executive Director of Strategy, Partnerships and Advocacy, you will lead and develop a multidisciplinary team spanning communications, policy and influencing, and youth voice. You will be responsible for shaping and delivering an ambitious communications and external affairs strategy that raises the profile of Kids, strengthens stakeholder relationships, and supports the charity's mission to create a world where all kinds of kids have all kinds of opportunities.

This role offers a unique opportunity to combine strategic communications leadership with public affairs, media engagement, campaigning and programme oversight. You will work closely with senior leaders across the organisation, providing expert advice on communications, reputation management and external engagement.

Key responsibilities:

• Develop and deliver an integrated communications and external affairs strategy aligned with organisational goals.
• Enhance the charity's profile with government decision makers, stakeholders and partners.
• Lead brand positioning and ensure consistent, compelling messaging across all channels.
• Oversee digital communications, including website, social media, email marketing and campaigns
• Provide leadership and oversight for youth participation and digital inclusion programmes.
   

We're looking for an experienced communications leader who can combine strategic thinking with hands-on delivery and who is passionate about creating positive change for disabled children and young people.

The appointed candidate will have:

• Significant experience leading multi-channel communications within a charity or values-led organisation.

• The ability to influence and advise senior stakeholders with confidence.
• A strong understanding of public affairs, policy, influencing and campaigning.

• Expertise across digital communications, brand management and content development.

• Line and team management with the ability to coach and develop

Closing date for applications:

1st September

TPP Recruitment is acting as the exclusive recruitment partner for Kids and will be managing all applications for this role.

TPP and Kids are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We particularly encourage applications from candidates with lived experience and those with protected characteristics that are currently underrepresented within our workforce.

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so that we can help with making the application process work for you.