Head of fundraising jobs in Exeter, devon
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Job Type: Full time
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £55,000 – £60,000 per annum
Scope and purpose
To implement MEI’s business development strategy, helping us secure sustained income to deliver our priorities and fulfil our mission to improve lives through maths education. This includes managing bid processes for major funding, working with senior leadership and business leads to write costed proposals, identifying tender and other funding opportunities, reviewing and finalising funding agreements, and working with the Director for Strategic Communications and Partnerships to nurture relationships and bring new opportunities to fruition.
Main duties and responsibilities
Support all aspects of MEI’s business development and fundraising activity.
Funding opportunities and competitor environment
- Scope external funding opportunities, reviewing these against MEI’s mission, objectives and key criteria.
- Report to MEI’s Senior Leadership Team and Board on the pipeline of new and potential opportunities and produce business cases for new ventures for MEI’s SLT/Board.
- Undertake research into donors, sponsors and other funders, reviewing suitability and conducting due diligence.
- Work with the Director for Strategic Communications and Partnerships to develop relationships and opportunities towards formal agreement.
- Provide advice and guidance to colleagues involved in developing new business, including how to model costs and pricing, and shaping and writing effective proposals.
- Build intelligence about the competitive landscape, identifying competitors, assessing potential threats and maintaining an up-to-date register for SLT and the Board.
Tenders, bids and proposals
- Manage a diverse set of funding opportunities and proposals on the go at any single time, ranging from conference sponsorships to grant applications, project bids, corporate partnerships and government programme bids.
- Participate in pre-market engagement for large tenders, clarifying funder expectations and requirements, guiding senior leadership decisions about priorities and bidding criteria.
- For competitive tenders, manage the process from tender launch to bid submission with input from business and operational leads, including: tender clarification; costs and budget; proposal writing, review and sign off; compliance requirements; and supporting documentation.
- Co-ordinate post-award processes through to contract signature, in line with Grant Manager responsibilities and in liaison with SLT and trustees, legal partners, finance and other partners/teams.
- Participate in post-tender feedback reviews and share learning across the team, using lessons learned to undertake revision and improvements.
Sponsor and donor management
- Support the account management and stewardship of donors and sponsors, liaising with appropriate teams, ensuring that objectives of donors and sponsors are fully met.
- Directly manage relationships with lead representatives of annual conference sponsor and exhibiting organisations, ensuring their objectives are met, arrangements are handled smoothly, and risks and issues are managed effectively.
Systems, records and reporting
- Shape the configuration and use of MEI’s CRM system and other internal systems for effective business development and fundraising.
- Ensure contact records are up to date, accurate and compliant.
- Produce regular reports for SLT and Board on progress in business development and fundraising, including conversion rates, KPIs, and risks.
- Contribute to MEI’s culture of evidence-driven decision-making, providing high quality evidence and intelligence which supports business strategy.
General leadership and management
- Work with trustees, SLT and business teams to ensure that business development and fundraising activity is coherent and aligned with broader strategy and delivery.
- Support the development of commercial skills, competencies and approaches across MEI.
- Undertake other duties assigned by the Director for Strategic Communications and Partnerships and keep them up to date through accurate and regular updates.
Key Relationships
- Director for Strategic Communications and Partnerships
- Chief Operating Officer
- Chief Learning Officer
- Financial Controller
- Business and Central Services Manager
Person Specification
Essential
- Demonstrable experience of fundraising across multiple income streams
- Strong track record of writing bids and securing grant and other funding
- Knowledge and experience of public sector procurement
- Excellent writing skills for bids and fundraising communication
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and work autonomously
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships across MEI and with external funders
Desirable
- Experience in the education or charitable sector
- Track record of securing large government contracts
- Experience collaborating with product development or programme design teams
- Familiarity with MEI’s mission and the education landscape
Personal Attributes, Values and Behaviours
- This is a list of personal attributes which are important for the role but also should encapsulate behaviours required to meet the MEI values of equity, credibility, commitment and service.
- Communicates with clarity and respect
- Commitment and ability to work with all stakeholders to deliver exceptional service
- Actively seeks to work collaboratively when required to achieve the highest service standards
- Self-motivated with a strong work ethic, proactive attitude, and commitment to continuous learning and skill development
- Supportive and collaborative, able to guide and motivate others to deliver high-quality work
- Exceptional interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and foster positive, collaborative relationships with colleagues and stakeholders
- Highly organised, able to manage multiple tasks and adapt to changing priorities
- Dynamic, enthusiastic, and positive, bringing energy and a can-do attitude to the role
Additional Information
This role will involve some travel and occasional overnight stays away from home.
REF-227 227
Thank you!
Head of Mass Supporter Fundraising
Bowel Cancer UK is the UK’s leading bowel cancer charity. We’re determined to save lives and improve the quality of life of everyone affected by bowel cancer. We support and fund targeted research, provide expert information and support to patients and their families, educate the public and professionals about the disease and campaign for early diagnosis and access to best treatment and care.
We currently have employees working across four nations in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Thanks to the generosity of our community, we’re in a privileged position to be able to deliver our ambitious new strategy, On a Mission. There are huge challenges facing bowel cancer patients across the UK and our community needs us now more than ever. We’re building a strong and united team to bring us closer to a world where nobody dies of bowel cancer.
Are you an experienced fundraising leader who wants to be part of creating a future where nobody dies of bowel cancer? This could be the role for you!
Bowel Cancer UK is seeking an exceptional, growth-driven Head of Mass Supporter Fundraising to join our team. We have set a bold ambition to significantly increase income over the next five years, ensuring everyone diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK receives the support they need.
This is a rare opportunity to build and scale a data-led fundraising programme, increase our visibility in a competitive landscape, and develop a high-performing talented team capable of delivering sustained, multi-million-pound income growth. You will lead the development of transformational strategies and play a critical role in the management of the charities CRM to significantly scale revenue while ensuring digital innovation is at the heart of all strategic decision-making. You will take full ownership of mass supporter fundraising budgets and provide visionary leadership by directly managing team managers to foster a culture of professional growth.
The salary is £51,241, plus £2,000 London Weighting if applicable and a contributory pension scheme. The position is home-based UK-wide, with required travel to our London-based Hub space in Kennington. We offer 27 days of holiday, plus three discretionary days between Christmas and New Year in addition to statutory holidays, complimented by a range of brilliant staff benefits.
If you have a proven track record in digital acquisition, harnessing data to support decision-making, managing multi-million-pound budgets, and know what it takes to motivate and lead a brilliant team, we want to hear from you.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and at Bowel Cancer UK we are committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults and we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Successful candidates may be subject to either a satisfactory basic, standard or enhanced DBS check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) dependent upon the role.
Registered Charity
51 - 100
We’re the UK’s leading bowel cancer charity. We’re determined to save lives and improve the quality of life of everyone affected by bowel cancer.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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!
Head of Face to Face Fundraising
Reference: MAR20265489
Location: Home-based, Flexible in UK + Regular UK Travel
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full-Time, 37.5 hours per week
Salary: £70,490.00 - £75,275.00 Per Annum
Benefits: Pension Scheme, Life Assurance Scheme, 26 days' Annual Leave
The Head of Face-to-Face Fundraising provides strategic leadership and operational oversight of the RSPB’s face-to-face fundraising programme across the UK.
This role is responsible for delivering significant annual supporter acquisition volumes, ensuring an exceptional supporter experience, maintaining sector-leading compliance and safeguarding standards, and building high-performing in-house fundraising teams.
As a senior leader within Fundraising, you will shape the future of the RSPB’s acquisition strategy, drive innovation within the face-to-face channel, and ensure sustainable long-term growth in regular giving and lead generation to support our mission of creating a world richer in nature.
Key Duties:
- Develop and implement an ambitious multi-year Face-to-Face strategy that drives sustainable acquisition growth and contributes to long-term supporter value.
- Lead budgeting, investment planning and forecasting for all F2F channels, ensuring accountability for ROI, cost-effectiveness, and delivery against income and acquisition targets.
- Lead the evolution of F2F propositions, messaging and materials to ensure they are insight-led, compliant, and aligned with the RSPB’s brand and fundraising strategies.
- Champion innovation across the programme, introducing new approaches to optimise ROI and reach new audiences.
- Monitor market trends, regulatory changes and competitor activity to ensure the programme remains compliant, competitive and forward-thinking.
- Act as the organisational lead for face-to-face fundraising compliance, ensuring all activity adheres to the Fundraising Regulator Code, Charity Commission guidelines and data protection legislation.
- Lead, develop and inspire a multi-disciplinary F2F team by fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, continuous improvement and supporter-centred behaviour.
- Work closely with insight teams to analyse performance data, supporter quality, attrition levels and long-term value across channels.
- Develop KPIs and reporting frameworks to provide senior leadership with clear visibility of performance, risks and opportunities.
- Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders including fundraising, digital, data and technology, communications, brand, marketing and marketing operations, finance and UK country teams to deliver integrated acquisition strategies.
- Champion the role of Face-to-Face fundraising within the RSPB, working with senior leaders and cross-functional teams to increase its prominence and ensure strategic alignment.
- Work closely with the Head of Membership Marketing & Retention to ensure seamless integration between acquisition, onboarding and stewardship journeys.
- Oversee procurement, contract management and ongoing performance of external delivery partners to ensure alignment with organisational goals.
- Lead relationships with external partners, suppliers and agencies, ensuring high-quality delivery, strong return on investment and value for money.
Essential Criteria:
- Able to design and deliver a UK-wide face-to-face or high-volume acquisition programme that achieves agreed supporter and income targets.
- Able to lead and develop regionally dispersed, field-based teams, including setting objectives, monitoring performance and holding managers accountable for results.
- Able to analyse performance data (e.g. conversion, attrition, ROI and quality metrics) and use insight to optimise programme performance.
- Able to manage and monitor programme budgets, including forecasting expenditure and assessing return on investment.
- Able to communicate strategic plans, performance outcomes and risk clearly in written reports and verbal presentations to senior stakeholders.
- Able to work collaboratively with internal teams and external partners to align acquisition activity with organisational strategy.
- Able to travel regularly across the UK to support field operations (by public transport or other means)
- Knowledge of Fundraising Regulator guidance, safeguarding requirements and quality assurance processes relevant to face-to-face fundraising.
- Experience of leading large-scale, multi-site face-to-face fundraising or high-volume acquisition activity in a charity or commercial environment.
- Experience of managing external agencies or suppliers and implementing operational processes that improve performance, compliance and supporter experience.
Additional Information
- This is a home-based role with regular travel across the UK to support teams, partners and operational activity.
- This is a Permanent role for 37.5 hours per week.
- A full, valid UK driving licence is required as the role involves frequent travel to remote locations across all four countries.
Closing date: 23:59, Sunday 29th March 2026
We reserve the right to close this advert once sufficient applications have been received.
We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from 6th April.
Interested?
If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our recruitment partner's website to complete your application for this position.
The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
The RSPB is a licenced sponsor. This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.
As part of this application process you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.
No agencies please.
Registered Charity
More than 1000
The RSPB brings people together – people like you – to protect the things that matter to us all.
