Head of philanthropy and partnerships jobs in Birmingham

Make a difference every day with PDSA  

About Us   

Join us to help keep even more people and pets together when times are tough. For over a century, PDSA have provided vital veterinary care for the pets of people in financial hardship.    

We’re now on a journey to expand our reach to support even more people and their beloved pets. To achieve this ambitious goal, we need passionate and driven individuals who are ready to embrace change and help shape a future-focused PDSA. Together, we'll build a stronger organisation to ensure our services help those who need us most for the next hundred years.    

If you're ready to make a real difference and be part of a team that's creating positive change, we want you to join us. Let's build a brighter future for pets and their owners, together.   

About the role

Are you passionate about developing innovative products and propositions that inspire people to take action? Do you enjoy using data and customer insight to shape strategies that deliver meaningful results?

We're looking for a Proposition & Product Manager to join our Marketing, Communications & Fundraising team. In this exciting role, you'll help develop and optimise fundraising and commercial propositions that engage supporters, attract new audiences, and generate sustainable income.

Working collaboratively across marketing, fundraising, philanthropy, retail, data and analytics teams, you'll play a key role in ensuring our products and supporter journeys are relevant, compelling and aligned with our brand.

What you'll be doing:

• Develop and manage fundraising and commercial propositions from concept through to evaluation.
• Use audience insight, market trends and performance data to identify opportunities for growth and innovation.
• Build compelling business cases to support investment in new products and propositions.
• Analyse supporter behaviour and engagement to optimise products and improve the customer journey.
• Work closely with colleagues across marketing, fundraising and philanthropy to prioritise projects and maximise impact.
• Test and refine propositions with target audiences to ensure they are engaging and effective.
• Provide strategic recommendations that support individual giving, legacies, partnerships, philanthropy and commercial initiatives.
• Build strong relationships with internal teams and external partners to identify opportunities and share insight.
• Ensure all propositions align with organisational objectives, brand values and relevant policies.

Please note this role is primarily home based, with occasional travel required to attend meetings other business needs.

About you

We're looking for someone who combines commercial thinking with creativity and a passion for understanding audiences.

You'll ideally have:

• Experience developing fundraising propositions or products within the charity or non-profit sector.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to turn insight into actionable recommendations.
• Knowledge of marketing principles, audience segmentation and customer journeys.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• The ability to manage multiple projects and influence cross-functional teams.
• Experience of audience engagement strategies would be an advantage.

Rewards, support and benefits    

We’re really passionate about being a great place to work, somewhere people feel proud of what they do, connected to a meaningful purpose, and able to make a genuine difference every day. Our teams are collaborative and supportive, and we encourage everyone to bring their ideas, individuality and passion for pets to work with them.  

As well as a rewarding role and a positive, people-focused culture, we also offer a wide range of benefits, including:  

• Flexible working options to support your work–life balance and individual circumstances.  

• 25 days’ holiday plus Bank Holidays, with option to buy or sell an extra five days. 

• Three paid special days off: Volunteering Day, Celebration Day and Wellbeing Day annually.  

• Generous pension options, with PDSA contributions starting at 5% and rising to 10%.  

• Life assurance providing four times your annual salary for added peace of mind.  

• AXA Health Employee Assistance Programme, with 24/7 wellbeing support   

• Retail, holiday and lifestyle discounts available through our staff Fetch benefits platform.  

• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave to support you and your family.  

• 10% discount on PDSA Pet Insurance plus access to staff veterinary services.  

PDSA is committed to embedding a culture of diversity and inclusion within our teams that reflect the communities we serve. We aim to create a working environment in which all individuals are able to make best use of their skills, free from discrimination or harassment, and in which all decisions are based on merit. We offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies and opportunities for flexible working arrangements to support team members from different backgrounds.   

If you have any questions or concerns regarding accessibility, please contact us and we will be happy to discuss via email or telephone reasonable adjustments that you may require throughout the recruitment process.   

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, adults at risk and all our colleagues and expect everyone who works for us to also share this commitment and to treat people with courtesy and respect.   

To support this commitment, our recruitment & selection processes are robust and rigorous. All appointments will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate background checks.  

SOS UK is looking for a Relationship Fundraising Manager to help deliver a newly established fundraising programme with strong momentum, senior buy in and significant growth potential.

Why join us?

• Help shape the future of fundraising at SOS UK.
• Inherit a strong pipeline of prospective partners and supporters.
• Build a new fundraising programme with genuine scope to influence its future direction.
• Work flexibly from home as part of a collaborative, mission driven team.

Role details

Location: Nationwide, home based, within reasonable reach of a mainline train station

Salary: Salary band starting at £37,929 per annum, rising to £42,018 through our pay structure (£30,343–£33,614 pro rata for 0.8 FTE). If based in London, this role attracts an additional London weighting of £3,655 per annum. We also provide up to a 6% pension contribution and life assurance.

Interview dates: Week commencing 27 July

Preferred start date: Early September

Introducing SOS UK
 

Our education system helped cause the climate and nature crisis, but now we’re making it the solution.

We are fighting to make sure everyone develops a commitment to protecting the earth and puts it to work – whether it’s at school, university or in their careers.

By empowering students and educators to build a better world, we can transform the lives of generations to come. In just a few years we have developed unstoppable student leaders. Behind these leaders every step of the way is the SOS UK community making sure students don’t have to fight for change alone. We unite people from every background, inside and outside education, because protecting our earth matters to each and every one of us. Armed with proven solutions, we push for change at every level of society. We are always laser focused on what can be done, whether it’s at local councils, in community halls, or in Westminster.

As educators, environmentalists, and activists, we use our expertise to get things done – from changing curriculums across the world, to making sure all school children have access to nature. We mentor. We advise. We campaign. We empower students to lead. Not just at university but for decades to come, as workers, employers and community members. We create climate and nature protectors in every community. They mobilise countless others. They change our country, and even our world, for the better.

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of fundraising at SOS UK. As we diversify our income streams, you will play a central role in developing high value partnerships that support our mission and long-term sustainability.

Over the past 12 months, SOS UK has laid the foundations for a new relationship fundraising programme. During this period, an Interim Head of Relationship Fundraising established a strong pipeline of prospective partners and supporters, developed a suite of partnership propositions and engagement materials, and built relationships with organisations aligned to SOS UK's mission.

Alongside this, SOS UK is launching a new Development Board, bringing together leaders from industries facing key green skills shortages alongside young people helping to shape the future workforce and sustainability agenda. This will create new opportunities to build strategic relationships and engage prospective partners.

You will join at a pivotal moment, helping to deliver the first phase of this newly established fundraising programme. You will inherit a strong pipeline of opportunities, benefit from strong senior leadership support, and have the opportunity to shape the future direction of relationship fundraising at SOS UK.

In this role, you will develop and manage partnerships with companies, corporate foundations and philanthropic supporters to generate sustainable income and strategic value for SOS UK.

The role will focus approximately as follows:

• 75% corporate partnerships and business development
• 25% philanthropy and high value relationship fundraising

Working closely with colleagues across the organisation, you will manage and grow an established pipeline of opportunities while identifying and securing new partnerships aligned with SOS UK's mission and strategic priorities. Through building long term relationships with supporters and partners, you will help create lasting impact for both SOS UK and the students we work with.

Lead the operations, governance and compliance that enable Solving Kids' Cancer UK to deliver its mission and impact for children and families affected by neuroblastoma. Reporting to the Chief Executive, you will play a critical role in ensuring the charity operates effectively, compliantly and sustainably.

This broad and varied leadership role spans governance, risk, HR, IT, data protection and organisational operations, supporting delivery of the charity's strategy through robust systems, policies and processes. Acting as Company Secretary, you will work closely with the CEO and Board of Trustees, providing advice on governance, regulatory requirements and best practice. As a member of the Leadership Team, you will oversee key operational functions, lead cross-organisational projects and deputise for the CEO where required.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for a strategic, highly organised and values-driven leader with strong experience in charity operations, governance and compliance. You will have a track record of ensuring organisations are well run, compliant and effectively managed, with the ability to oversee multiple operational areas and support strong governance and decision-making at Board level.

You will be comfortable working across a broad remit, including governance, risk, HR, IT and data protection, and confident providing clear, practical advice to senior leaders and trustees.

Person specification

Key requirements include:

• Significant senior-level experience in operations, governance or compliance within a charity or similar environment. 
• Strong understanding of charity governance and regulation, with experience supporting boards and senior leadership. 
• Experience overseeing organisational functions such as HR, IT, data protection or risk. 
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and lead cross-organisational work effectively. 
• Strong judgement, integrity and the ability to handle sensitive matters with discretion. 

See our Recruitment Pack for the full role description and specification and for information about Solving Kids' Cancer UK. 

This is an opportunity to make a significant contribution at the heart of a small, ambitious charity where strong operations are a vital enabler of impact for children and families.

Location: Home-based, within easy reach of London, with regular travel to the London office and occasional UK-wide travel.

First-stage interview: Thursday 6 August 

Second-stage interview: Thursday 13 August