114 Head of public sector partnerships jobs

As the UK’s independent policing think tank the Police Foundation is the only independent body in the UK dedicated to researching, promoting, and improving policing for the benefit of the public. Through rigorous evidence, innovative ideas, and trusted partnerships, we bridge the gap between police, government, academia, and communities to deliver better policing and a safer society.

As we grow our impact, we are creating a new senior leadership role to elevate our external presence, scale our events and partnerships, and boost our engagement.

Location: London (Hybrid – 3 days per week in our central London office)

Salary: Competitive: Up to £65,000 per annum depending on experience, plus excellent benefits including 32 days paid leave, flexible working and annual 4-week work from anywhere entitlement.

Contract: Permanent, full-time (or option for fractional part-time; 3 or 4 days a week).

The opportunity

This is a brand-new, high-visibility role at the heart of our organisation. You will lead and shape our external affairs function, overseeing events, marketing, and partner/sponsor relations. Reporting to the Director, you will play a pivotal role in raising the profile of the Police Foundation, building strategic relationships, and ensuring our evidence and ideas reach the widest possible audience of policymakers, police leaders, funders, and the public.

This is an exciting time to join a respected, independent think tank with ambitious plans for growth. You will have significant autonomy to design and deliver high-impact strategies, where your work directly contributes to safer communities and better policing.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive external affairs strategy covering engagement, marketing, strategic communications, public and private events, and partnership development.
• Lead the planning and delivery of a portfolio of high-profile events, from intimate discussion dinners and policy roundtables to major national conferences and residential summits.
• Drive marketing initiatives to amplify our research, reports, and thought leadership across digital, print, and media channels.
• Build and nurture a strong network of sponsors, partners, and funders, securing sustainable support for our work.
• Work alongside our Head of Research to manage other staff and foster a collaborative and creative culture.
• Work closely with the senior leadership team to align external activities with organisational strategy and impact goals.

Work arrangements

• Hybrid working: This is a hybrid role. We believe performance is optimised with a blend of in-office time and remote working. The role requires a minimum 3 days per week in our London office (Victoria), with flexibility for the remaining time (subject to organisational needs).
• Flexible working benefits: We support flexible hours and patterns to help you balance work with personal commitments. Many of us, including the Director, have school age children and/or elderly relatives and we work hard to be a genuinely family friendly employer. We offer up to 4 weeks each year of ‘work from anywhere’ entitlement and three ‘remote reading weeks’ per year for hybrid employees.
• Irregular hours commitment: Our standard hours are 9.30am-5.30pm but regular attendance at breakfast or evening functions and occasional weekend events once or twice a year are required, with time off in lieu provided.
• Other entitlements – Our office is closed between Christmas and New Year every year. We offer a 5% employer pension contribution, and a supportive, innovative culture where training and development opportunities are encouraged.

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Significant senior-level experience in external affairs, communications, marketing, events, or partnership development – ideally in a think tank, charity, public sector, or related mission-driven organisation.
• Proven track record of successfully planning and delivering high-profile events and marketing campaigns that achieve measurable impact.
• Strong experience in building and managing strategic partnerships and sponsorship relationships, with a demonstrable ability to secure funding or support and to develop and maintain good supporter relationships.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders, including police leaders, civil servants, policymakers, and media.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to develop and execute integrated external affairs plans and develop innovative new events and partnership opportunities.
• Highly organised, with strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment and a busy events schedule.
• Commitment to the values of independent research, the virtues of democratic policing, and the mission to improve policing for the benefit of the public. The Police Foundation is a registered charity and is non-partisan.

Desirable criteria

• Recent experience of curating impactful events and developing compelling marketing materials.
• Experience working in or with the policing, criminal justice, or public policy sectors in the UK.
• Knowledge of the UK political and media landscape, particularly as it relates to crime and policing.
• Experience of line management and team development.
• Digital marketing expertise, including social media strategy, content creation, and analytics.
• Existing networks in relevant sectors (policing, justice, government, philanthropy, or media).

We welcome applications from mid-career professionals with over 10 years’ experience, and those with transferable experience from related sectors such as charities, think tanks, public affairs agencies, police staff associations, government communications, or corporate partners.

This role offers genuine autonomy, intellectual stimulation, and the chance to make a real difference. Join us in shaping the future of policing.

How to apply

Please submit your CV and a covering letter (maximum 2 sides) by email explaining how you meet the essential criteria and why you are excited about this opportunity at the Police Foundation. Please include ROLE APPLICATION in the subject line.

Closing date: 6pm BST 30 September. Interviews are expected to take place in October. We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the advertised deadline if a sufficient number of applications are received. 

Applications from agencies will not be accepted.

The Police Foundation is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Only those with the right to work in the UK are invited to apply.

The Role

This is an exciting time to join Starlight. We already have considerable expertise across influence, insight and communications and a strong platform from which to build. Recent opportunities with broadcasters, parliamentarians and other influential audiences demonstrate the potential to take Starlight's voice further. The Head of Influence, Insight and Communications will bring these strands together, working with talented colleagues to spot, shape and amplify opportunities that advance our ambition to end preventable trauma in children's healthcare.

As we enter the next phase of Starlight's development, with our new strategy to end preventable trauma for children in healthcare, our focus is on increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of our influencing work. Our aim is to build on our strong existing capability, bringing together complementary specialist teams to create greater strategic impact, stronger external influence and an even more integrated approach to delivering our mission.

This new Influence, Insight and Communications role brings together the existing influencing, insight and communications teams, recognising the significant overlap between strategic communications, public affairs, campaigns, insight and organisational influence. The role will provide strategic leadership across these disciplines, enabling Starlight to connect research, lived experience, policy engagement and communications around organisational priorities, and maximise our external impact.

The role will sit within the Play in Healthcare team, reflecting the shift in emphasis of our communications and marketing activity towards influencing, campaigning and systems change. It plays a critical part in making children's experiences visible, amplifying the voices of children and families, and building understanding of why emotionally safe healthcare matters.

Reporting to the Director of Play in Healthcare, and working closely with the Director of Income Generation & Engagement, the postholder will bring together Starlight's existing expertise in influence, insight and communications to translate evidence and lived experience into compelling narratives, policy positions, thought leadership and strategic communications that strengthen Starlight's reputation, influence decision-makers and support organisational growth. The postholder will identify, shape and amplify opportunities to position Starlight as a trusted voice on children's healthcare experiences and the role of play in supporting children's wellbeing, development and emotional safety.

About Starlight

Starlight is the national charity for children's play in healthcare.

We believe that healthcare should be a more humane and child-centred experience for every child. We work across the UK to champion the importance of play during treatment, care and recovery, supporting children, parents and carers, and healthcare professionals.

Our ambition is to end preventable trauma in children's healthcare.

Reporting to the CEO and working as part of the senior management team, you will have overall responsibility for fundraising income performance, the development and delivery of LLST’s fundraising strategy, and the successful delivery and growth of our events portfolio. This includes the London Legal Walk, our flagship mass-participation fundraising event.

The role will lead and develop a team of three to four (direct reports), build strong relationships with supporters, corporate partners, sponsors and other stakeholders, and use performance data, KPIs and return on investment to inform decision-making and future development.

We are looking for someone with significant experience of fundraising and income-generating events, a strong track record of meeting targets, and experience of developing fundraising strategies, and plans. You will also have experience of leading and developing staff, delivering complex events, and building effective external relationships.

The successful candidate will be confident operating at both a strategic and practical level, able to work collaboratively across a small organisation, and comfortable representing LLST externally and reporting to senior colleagues and Trustees.

Experience of the legal, access to justice or related charity sector, and experience of Salesforce, would be desirable but are not essential.

Independent Age is the national charity working towards ending financial hardship in later life. 

Our Helpline and expert advisers offer free information and advice to older people without enough money to live on, while our external training equips professionals with the information they need to support older people on low incomes. Through our grants programme, we fund and support hundreds of local charities working with older people across the UK.  We use the knowledge and insight gained from our support services and partnerships to highlight the issues experienced by older people in poverty and campaign for change. 

We believe no one should face financial hardship in later life. We would love to find individuals from all walks of life and diverse backgrounds to join us on this journey.

Responsibilities and Person Specification:

As Head of Services Development, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Independent Age’s services and maximising our impact for older people facing financial hardship. Reporting to the Director of Services, you will lead service development, innovation, quality, evaluation and strategic change across our service provision (information, advice and external training) ensuring they remain effective, evidence-led and responsive to changing needs. Working closely with colleagues across the charity and external partners, you will translate strategy into practical improvements, develop new opportunities for impact and collaboration, and embed a culture of continuous learning, improvement and innovation.

We use the knowledge and insight gained from our support services and partnerships to highlight the issues experienced by older people in poverty and campaign for change.

We're looking for a strategic and collaborative leader with experience of leading complex projects, organisational change and service improvement programmes. 

You will be skilled at turning strategy into delivery, bringing together people from different teams and disciplines to develop practical solutions that improve outcomes. You will be comfortable using data, insight and evidence to drive decision-making and have a track record of stakeholder engagement and identifying opportunities for innovation and growth. 

You will also bring experience of impact measurement, evaluation, quality assurance or performance frameworks, with the ability to use evidence to demonstrate value and improve services. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills are essential, alongside the confidence to influence senior stakeholders and work across organisational boundaries. An understanding of the needs of older people, the wider ageing sector and the role that data, learning and collaboration play in delivering social impact would be advantageous.

For full details on the role and requirements, please review the job description and person specification.  If your experience doesn’t align perfectly with all of the criteria in the person specification but you do meet most of them and are excited about the role, we encourage you to apply anyway. 

This is a full-time role, 35 hours per week, which you can choose to work over five days or a 9 day fortnight. 

What it’s like to work at Independent Age:

We celebrate diversity at Independent Age and champion the differences that make each of us unique. We actively support and encourage people from a variety of backgrounds, experiences and skill sets to join us and help shape what we do. We aim to attract and retain a wide range of talent and create an environment where everyone can feel safe, protected, welcome and included.

We offer great benefits including 28 days annual leave plus public holidays, a generous pension scheme with life assurance, and fantastic learning and development opportunities. We also offer a number of enhanced leave provisions and benefits.

We know that a good work life balance helps us perform at our best and supports wellbeing. Flexible working hours and hybrid working is standard for all (those contracted to work in the office usually attend 1 day per week). But if you need a different form of flexibility, we are always happy to talk flexible working. 

With an employee engagement score of 98%, colleagues say Independent Age is a great place to work. You can find out more about what it’s like to work at Independent Age on the careers page of our website.

Application Process:

To apply, please submit a CV and a Supporting Statement, detailing how your skills and experience meet the criteria within the Job Description and Person Specification, by visiting our jobs website.

We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to all. If you require any specific arrangements or adjustments to enable you to fully participate in the recruitment process, such as having the job description in a larger text format or to apply in an alternative format, please get in touch with us via the email address on the ‘Contact Us’ page on our jobs site. 

To support our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion our hiring managers use anonymous shortlisting. Please don’t include your name, photo, or any information that could indicate your gender or age in your CV and supporting statement, and don’t include your name in the title of any documents that you upload. However, please do include all dates of employment.  

Independent Age is committed to safeguarding and follows Safer Recruitment practices to ensure we are safeguarding those we work with. We therefore ask that you supply your full work history with explanations for any gaps in the application documents you submit and, if offered the post, we will require a minimum of two employment references including your current or most recent employer. A BASIC DBS check will be carried out for the successful candidate.

Closing Date: Friday 25 September at 11:59pm

Interview Dates: Monday 12 October at our London office, 18 Avonmore Road W14 8RR

This role

We are seeking a commercially minded senior leader to establish and lead a new Life Sciences Partnership Function for the South West Secure Data Environment (SWSDE). Serving more than five million people across six Integrated Care Board areas, the SWSDE enables approved researchers to securely access and analyse health and care data to support research and innovation that benefits patients and populations.

This is an opportunity to shape how the South West works with the life sciences sector to develop research, innovation and commercial partnerships. Working across the NHS, academia and industry, you will build and lead a pipeline of partnership opportunities, taking them from initial engagement through to agreed programmes that deliver clear value for partners and the health and care system.

You will play a key role in developing the frameworks, commercial models and ways of working needed to support effective collaboration between the NHS, academia and industry, while maintaining high standards of privacy, security, ethics and public trust.

As Secure Data Environments continue to evolve across the UK, you will help define how organisations work with life sciences partners to use health data safely and responsibly to support research and innovation.

The role forms part of the SWSDE leadership and delivery model and is hosted by Health Innovation South West on behalf of the SWSDE, working closely with Health Innovation West of England and regional NHS and academic partners.

Role profile:

Key success factors

· The Senior Life Sciences Partnership Lead will lead the development and delivery of the Life Sciences Partnership Function for the SWSDE. The postholder will originate, develop and convert high impact partnerships between the SWSDE, NHS organisations and the life science sector that utilise the functionality and capability of the SWSDE safely, ethically and efficiently to deliver benefit for partners and the population of the South West region.

· The role will act as a key interface between the SWSDE and external partners, ensuring opportunities for partnership working between the SWSDE and the life science sector are translated into deliverable, governance-ready programmes that create measurable research, innovation and economic benefits. This will include providing NHS organisations involved in the SWSDE to develop effective partnership working with the life science sector, including pricing approaches, contract development and commercial operating models that enable sustainable collaboration with industry partners.

· This role reflects emerging functions being developed across other SDEs, Trusted Research Environments (TREs) and regional data innovation ecosystems, where specialist life science sector leadership expertise is required to complement technical, governance and academic routes.

· The postholder will develop commercially and operationally viable proposals for consideration through SWSDE governance. The role will not determine access to data. All projects will remain subject to feasibility assessment, information-governance requirements, demonstration of public benefit and independent Data Access Committee approval.

Responsibilities

1. Leading strategic partnership development 

• Lead the development and delivery of the Life Sciences Partnership Strategy for the SWSDE, building the South West’s distinctive position as a preferred regional partner for data-enabled life science sector research and innovation partnerships.

• Build senior relationships with major life science sector organisations and develop strategic anchor partnerships capable of generating sustained partnership activity and long term income.

• Build trusted relationships with SWSDE partner organisations, including Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and NHS providers, supporting partners to develop effective partnership working with the life science sector and the SWSDE. 

• Build strategic relationships with relevant national programmes including NHS England, Health Data Research UK and wider research networks.

• Identify collaborative opportunities for Life Science Partnership Function with other SDEs and TREs. 

2. Leading partnership pipeline generation  

• Lead the development of a strategically aligned, high quality pipeline of revenue generating partnerships with the life science sector.

• Work with Health Innovation Networks and NHS partners to originate opportunities in collaboration with NHS partner organisations.

• Lead the management, and delivery of the partnership pipeline, ensuring effective planning and oversight to deliver agreed partnership pipeline, revenue targets and KPIs.

3. Leading partnership opportunity development and conversion 

• Translate external opportunities with the life science sector into scoped programmes, studies or service offers, working with technical, IG, governance and delivery teams to assess feasibility of proposals and progress opportunities from concept to approval.

• Work with the wider SWDE team to identify and resolve barriers to partnership conversion and maintain momentum across the partnership lifecycle: Find / Receive / Develop / Secure / Deliver.

• Develop and deploy pricing models, cost recovery approaches, commercial negotiations and contracting arrangements in line with SWSDE strategy and governance frameworks.

• Support NHS organisations and SWSDE partners to develop and adopt effective and sustainable models of partnership working with the life science sector and the SWSDE, including providing expert advice on contracting mechanisms, commercial frameworks and partnership agreements. 

• Work with SWSDE finance, legal, information governance and operational colleagues to develop robust partnership agreements, contractual documentation and commercial propositions that support scalable and repeatable approaches to partnership delivery. 

5. Leading effective governance and assurance 

• Ensure all partnership activity aligns with SafeGUARDs, information governance, ethics and NHS standards, working closely with SWSDE governance and operational leads to maintain public trust and transparency.

• Ensure commercial agreements and partnership arrangements align with SWSDE governance, NHS regulatory requirements and agreed organisational responsibilities across host organisations. 

• Ensure effective communication and contribution into SWSDE governance and reporting processes.

6. Leading people and partners in a matrix management structure 

• Lead the development of the Life Science Partnership Function and the associated resources and people required to ensure effective delivery of the Life Sciences Partnership Strategy. 

• Work collaboratively across multiple SWSDE host organisations and stakeholders, operating effectively without direct line management where delivery is through influence and matrix leadership.

Person specification

Experience we’re looking for

· Experience leading partnership working between the NHS and life science sector. 

· Track record leading commercial growth and business development.

· Experience leading commercial negotiation and contract development, contract development and partnership agreement design across complex multi-organisational environments.

· Experience operating in environments with complex and rigorous information governance and data sharing requirements. 

· Understanding of the UK health, innovation and research landscape.

Desirable experience required:  

· Experience leading partnership working with universities and research partners. 

· Experience working with health and care data or in trusted research data environments, including NHS data policy, SafeGUARDs or data governance frameworks.

· Experience working with NHS governance structures and decision making.

Abilities and attributes

· Strategic Vision – opportunity-focused, creates new customer markets and develops new revenue streams that balance strategic ambition with attention to risk. 

· Customer Orientation – builds trust, anticipates partner needs, works with agility, delivers value to partners. 

· Commercial Acumen – skilled in complex negotiations, high levels of financially literacy, focused on sustainable commercial growth. 

· Execution excellence – translate partnership opportunities into actionable plans that deliver measurable results, with a strong attention to detail.

· Leadership & Influence – motivates, provides clear direction and build effective working relationships in a matrix managed, partnership structured operating model. 

· Communication – translates complexity into clear narrative, compelling storyteller, adapts style to target audiences. 

Reporting to:

Executive Director of Innovation & Commercial Partnerships, Health Innovation South West

High Trees Community Development Trust is seeking an ambitious Head of Community Research & Impact to join our senior management team and lead one of our core service areas.

Community-led research sits at the heart of how High Trees works. Our approach aims to rebalance the role and power that communities have in deciding how research is informed, delivered and used to improve lives for Lambeth residents. Over recent years we have built a strong foundation for this work and developed two flagship community research partnerships — the Lambeth Peer Action Collective and the Lambeth Community Research Network. We are now looking for someone to significantly expand this work: building local evidence of community need, working with communities to identify solutions and appropriate responses to local challenges, and advocating for change to policy and practice where needed.

This is a broad and varied leadership role. Alongside our direct research programmes, you will lead the development of infrastructure around community-led research in Lambeth, so that voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations can access the training, resources and networks they need to design and deliver their own research. You will also lead our Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning and Communications functions, ensuring the impact of everything we do is understood, evidenced and communicated well.

As part of High Trees’ senior management team, the Head of Community Research & Impact will not only oversee delivery in their service area, but also help shape organisational strategy, grow partnerships and income, and ensure we work as one High Trees — keeping our practice responsive, collaborative and always led by community need.

About High Trees

Based in Tulse Hill, High Trees has been rooted in the local community for nearly 30 years. We deliver community action, employment, education, youth services and community research, working in partnership with local people and local organisations to build stronger communities and create meaningful change. We are recognised for our collaborative, long-term approach and our ability to adapt and respond to the issues that matter most to local people.

About the role

As Head of Community Research & Impact, you will:

• Lead and inspire our Research & Impact team to deliver high-quality, community-led research that drives change.
• Shape and deliver High Trees’ strategic vision for community-led research, championing collaborative research practice across Lambeth.
• Take the lead on designing new research programmes, support with sourcing the funding to run them, and ensuring projects are completed to a high standard with high-quality outputs.
• Grow the infrastructure for community-led research locally, including through the Lambeth Community Research Network and the Lambeth Peer Action Collective.
• Support VCS organisations with community research training, resources and capacity building support.
• Lead and embed Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) and Communications across High Trees and our partnership work.
• Contribute as a member of High Trees’ senior management team, ensuring a joined-up approach across all our services.

About you

We are looking for someone who brings:

• Significant professional experience in research and/or community settings, with a track record of leading research projects.
• Experience of qualitative and mixed methods research and a working knowledge of participatory research approaches.
• A proven track record of leading teams and managing multiple projects and programmes at once.
• The ability to build trust and long-lasting relationships across community, academic, public sector and voluntary sector organisations.
• A strategic mindset, balancing day-to-day delivery with long-term vision.
• A solid understanding of the context in which High Trees delivers its work

Why join us?

This is a rare opportunity to take a senior leadership role in a values-led organisation at a time of growth and ambition. You will help set the standard for community-led research and system change, creating tools, resources and practices that benefit the wider sector — and be part of a collaborative team dedicated to creating lasting change.

Our role is often to act as the connector: bringing people together around shared challenges and turning ideas into practical action. Now we need someone to help us do more of it.

Compass Wellbeing CIC is looking for a Corporate Partnerships, Social Value & Events Manager, a new post at the heart of how we grow.

Working across corporate and community partnerships, our events programme, VCFSE relationships and charity partnerships, you'll help turn growing opportunities into practical activity, community benefit and income, with social value running through all of it.

Whatever sector you come from, if you can build trusted relationships and move ideas towards delivery, we'd love to hear from you.

📍 London (Hybrid) | 🕐 Full-time, permanent | 💷 £40,000–£45,000
Applications close Monday 5 October 2026 at 10:00.

Job description

The Young Ealing Foundation is a place-based charity based in Ealing, West London which brings together the voluntary, statutory and private sectors in the local area to increase and improve opportunities for children, young people and families.

The Young Ealing Foundation’s vision is to ensure all young people in Ealing can access the opportunities and support they need to grow up and lead happy and safe lives, fulfil their potential and become a valued and listened to part of the local community. We work towards this by working with and in the community to empower small, local charities to thrive and flourish.

The Young Ealing Foundation is seeking to appoint a Head of Youth Voice and Advocacy to join our small but impactful team. Youth Voice and co-production is an important and developing strand of YEF's work and this role would suit someone with strong experience of co-production and project development.

Main purpose of the role:

· Work alongside young people to develop the delivery framework for the Ealing Youth Voice Strategy including oversight of existing and new programmes.

· Work with high-level strategic partners and stakeholders to advocate for youth-led coproduction and develop partnerships to extend the reach of YEF’s youth voice activities.

· Develop a robust impact measurement framework to create a culture of learning and enable sharing of best practice.

· Identify and apply for appropriate grants, contracts and other income streams to deliver the ambitions set out in the strategy.

· Oversee people and processes to ensure services meet high standards of delivery and compliance.

Who we are
We are OUTpatients, the UK’s LGBTIQ+ cancer charity. Proudly led by and for our community, we are here to shake up the system, advocate for equity, and stand up for every LGBTIQ+ person affected by cancer. Our passion to support others is born out of personal experience; we understand what it’s like to not see yourself reflected in the services you use, and feel like you are left in the margins at a time when you most need personalised support. That is why we host peer support, educate healthcare professionals and help to shape national policy so that nobody has to go through cancer alone.

The position

The Head of Fundraising & Business Development is one of three new senior leadership roles we're creating alongside our CEO, the first time OUTpatients has built a leadership team of this kind. It's a rare chance to build an income generation function from scratch, not inherit and manage one that already exists.

You'll be the driving force behind how we fund our growth: designing and delivering a multi-channel income strategy spanning trusts and grants, corporate partnerships, individual giving and commercialised education products, and personally securing the gifts and partnerships that sustain our peer support, healthcare education and advocacy work. This is a hands-on, deeply personal role. You'll write the bids, pitch the sponsors and build the relationships yourself, not oversee others doing it.

Working closely with our incoming Chief Operating Officer and Chief Medical Officer, and reporting directly to our CEO, your work will directly shape how many more LGBTIQ+ people affected by cancer we're able to reach.

To learn more about the role, please read the attached Job Description.

Contract Type: Maternity Cover 12 months

Location: Any of our King's Trust offices (Hybrid working - minimum of 2 days in the office)

Interviews: 8th and 12th of October

Our Fundraising and Marketing team are looking for an exceptional colleague to join us on a maternity cover contract and drive high-value fundraising performance during a pivotal period for The King's Trust.

As we work towards our ambition of ending youth unemployment, we are transforming how we support young people in response to significant needs and evolving funding markets. This role will play a critical part in enabling that transformation by ensuring we have the funding propositions and ways of working that help turn this vision into reality.

You will work with colleagues and leaders across Fundraising, Programme Development and Delivery to identify and develop our highest-value and most transformational funding propositions, whilst optimising our bid, proposal and stewardship ways of working and business processes.

Leading a high-performing team of specialists in propositions, proposals and stewardship, you will guide your team to partner with fundraising colleagues across the UK to deliver efficient, effective and high-quality fundraising.

You could have experience in high value fundraising, proposition development, bidding, sales or delivery operations, but what is most important is that you are motivated by solving complex problems collaboratively, succeeding in competitive markets, and are passionate about helping young people achieve their potential.

If you enjoy working in a dynamic, ambitious environment that blends strategic thinking with operational excellence, this could be the role for you. 

What happens next?  

Please submit a CV, and Cover Letter that includes your experience, transferrable skills and motivation to work for The King's Trust! The Team will be in touch about the next steps shortly after the closing date. 

Why do we need Senior Head of Propositions & Stewardships? 

Last year, we helped more than 40,000 Young People, with three in four young people on our programmes moving into a positive outcome in work, education or training.The young people we help face a range of challenges, such as unemployment, mental health issues or some who have been in trouble with the law. We believe all young people should have the chance to succeed, and that young people are the key to a positive and prosperous future for all of us. We want to continue having a positive impact on young people’s lives and we couldn’t do this without the important work of Senior Head of Propositions & Stewardships! 

Perks for working at The Trust! 

• Great holiday package! 30 days annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays. Office closure on the days between Christmas and New Year 
• Flexible working! Where operationally possible, our roles require a combination of office days and working from home (please speak to the hiring manager about this particular role)
• You can volunteer for and/or attend events – The King's Trust Awards, Pride, active events etc. 
• In-house learning platform! Develop your skills for your career and your role 
• Benefits platform! Everything from health and financial well-being support to discounts on your favourite restaurants, shops and cinemas. 
• Personal development opportunities through our Networks – KT CAN (Cultural Awareness Network), KT GEN (Gender Equality Network), KT DAWN (Disability & Wellbeing Network), and PULSE (LGBTQIA+ Network). 
• Fantastic Family leave! Receive 13 weeks of full pay and 13 weeks of half pay for maternity and adoption leave. Receive 8 weeks of full pay for paternity leave. 
• Interest-free season ticket loans 
• The Trust will contribute 5% of your salary to the Trust Pension Scheme 
• Generous life assurance cover (4 x annual salary) 

About the team

The Philanthropy Team raises income for Impetus and for Impetus partner charities. The team consists of 15 staff. Impetus has an annual income of c.£11 million which we are looking to grow significantly within the next few years. The team is led by two Directors of Philanthropy and Partnerships. 

The Philanthropy Team works with major donors, corporates and grant making trusts, as well as collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation to ensure we make a compelling case to generate new financial commitments and wider support for our work. The team also deliver a high-quality engagement programme of volunteering and pro bono for Impetus’s corporate supporters.   

Impetus is driven by a shared belief in tackling the barriers that hold back young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in education and employment. Alongside investing extensive financial and non-financial support in our charity partners through our Investment Team we also seek to influence decision makers to design and implement evidence led policy and direct new resources to get young people the support they need through our Public Affairs team. We are resolutely focused on outcomes, driven by quality evidence.

You would be joining a team that is passionate, ambitious, determined and warm. We care deeply for our colleagues, our charity partners and the young people we serve. 

About this role

The Head of Engagement is a strategically significant and high-impact role within the Philanthropy team, responsible for leading and developing Impetus’ engagement programme across both volunteering and pro bono support.

At Impetus, volunteering refers to opportunities for employees of our donor firms to engage directly with the young people supported by our portfolio partners, helping to inspire, motivate and broaden horizons through meaningful interactions.

Pro bono support is a core element of our capacity-building approach and a key way in which we strengthen the organisations we back. It involves skilled volunteers and partners contributing professional expertise to address strategic challenges and opportunities within our charity portfolio, helping to build capability, resilience and long-term impact.

The Head of Engagement will shape the strategic direction and lead the delivery of a high-quality programme of volunteering and skilled pro bono support, creating meaningful outcomes for portfolio partners while delivering engaging and rewarding experiences for supporters. The postholder will ensure that engagement opportunities align with Impetus’ investment priorities and organisational objectives, respond to donor interests, and maximise impact for the young people and charities we serve.

The role combines strategic leadership, relationship management, programme innovation and operational oversight. Working closely with colleagues across Philanthropy and Investment, and engaging regularly with Public Affairs and senior leaders, the Head of Engagement will build, steward and deepen relationships with a wide network of corporate partners, major donors, and highly skilled volunteers.

The postholder will also lead and develop the Engagement team, comprising the Engagement Manager and Engagement Officer, fostering a collaborative, inclusive and high-performing culture that enables exceptional delivery, continuous improvement and professional growth.

As a key member of the Philanthropy leadership team, the Head of Engagement will play a central role in expanding and strengthening Impetus' supporter network, developing innovative opportunities for supporters to contribute their time and expertise, and ensuring our volunteering and pro bono programmes continue to evolve in response to the changing needs of young people, charities and partners.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape and grow a critical area of Impetus’ work, harnessing the expertise, networks and commitment of supporters to help more young people from disadvantaged backgrounds succeed in school, work and life.

Key responsibilities

Strategy and Leadership 

• Develop and deliver the engagement strategy and operational plan for the pro bono and volunteering functions
• Set and monitor KPIs, targets and budgets for engagement activity in line with organisational frameworks, securing approval from senior leadership where appropriate
• Lead the continued growth and development of volunteering and pro bono activity in alignment with organisational strategy and portfolio partner needs
• Work collaboratively with senior colleagues across Philanthropy and Investment to align engagement opportunities with organisational priorities
• Lead prospecting for the pro bono function, understanding the needs of our Investment Team and portfolio partners, identifying gaps in supporter skills and expertise and onboarding new organisations and specialisms 
• As the organisational lead for volunteering and pro bono engagement, advise senior leadership on engagement trends, sharing insights, learning and volunteering best practice internally and externally
• Lead, develop and coach the Engagement Team, creating a collaborative, inclusive and high-performing culture and ensuring clear objectives, development opportunities and succession planning 
• Provide guidance, support and oversight of delivery to the Engagement Team, line managing the Engagement Manager and supporting the development of the Engagement Officer

Volunteering programme 

• Lead the strategic development and continuous improvement of a high-quality volunteering programme, ensuring it delivers value for portfolio partners, corporate and donor partners and young people.
• Oversee programme quality and effectiveness across all volunteering activities.
• Build capability and strong relationships with portfolio organisations to support the design and delivery of high-quality volunteering opportunities
• Monitor participation, impact and quality across the volunteering programme, using data and feedback to drive improvements.
• Work closely with account managers in the Philanthropy and Partnerships team to drive and steward donor engagement.
• Develop new models of volunteering in collaboration with the Engagement Team, including governance and trustee pathways, skills-based workshops and intensive challenge clinics.

Pro Bono programme 

• Lead the development of the organisation’s pro bono programme and oversee the delivery of activities, ensuring high-quality support for portfolio partners.
• Set annual pro bono targets (including project value, number of projects, and supporter engagement) and lead the team to deliver on these
• Oversee the maintenance of a strong pipeline of projects from portfolio partners and supporters that meet the needs of portfolio partners.
• Source and cultivate new pro bono supporters, including companies and highly skilled individual professionals.
• Oversee and contribute to business development activity including prospect research, outreach, relationship building and partnership development.
• Steward existing strategic supporter relationships and create compelling supporter journeys that communicate impact and strengthen long-term engagement.
• Work closely with the Investment Team to identify, scope and prioritise pro bono projects, and work with the team to improve quality and impact in project delivery. 
• Ensure an effective team approach to project identification, prioritisation and matching across the programme.
• For select high-priority projects, directly match portfolio partner needs with appropriate supporters, ensuring an effective and high-quality project experience, with support from the Engagement Manager.
• Support select high-priority project kick-off meetings and maintain oversight of project delivery, stakeholder management and follow-up processes.
• Ensure appropriate evaluation processes are in place to capture project impact, supporter feedback and learning.
• Own quality assurance, review programme outcomes and impact data to drive continuous improvement
• Collaborate with the Events team to design and run relevant supporter engagement events.

Relationship Management and Donor Engagement 

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with both new and existing corporate partners, major donors, volunteers, pro bono supporters and charity / sector stakeholders.
• Lead strategic account management of donors and supporters.
• Act as a key Account Manager for strategic engagement partnerships, notably the most high-value Pro Bono relationships.
• Work closely with account managers and senior stakeholders to maximise supporter engagement and long-term partnership opportunities.
• Contribute to the creation of compelling communications and marketing materials that demonstrate the value and impact of engagement activity.
• Represent Impetus externally at meetings, events and networking opportunities building effective and inclusive partnerships.

Operations, Systems and Reporting 

• Oversee the effective administration and operational delivery of the engagement function.
• Ensure accurate data management and reporting through Salesforce and related systems by the Engagement team.
• Maintain oversight of engagement pipelines, financial tracking and programme reporting.
• Lead quarterly reviews and reporting processes through the analysis and presentation of engagement data.
• Develop and improve systems, processes and operational efficiency across the engagement function.
• Ensure all activities comply with organisational policies, procedures and best practice.

Cross-Organisational Working

• Form part of the Philanthropy and Partnerships Leads group to lead and drive performance against fundraising targets and strategy.
• Collaborate closely with the Investment Team to identify opportunities for volunteering and pro bono support, especially driving innovation for both programmes.
• Build strong internal relationships to ensure engagement activity is coordinated and effectively communicated across teams.
• Attend and support Impetus events where required.
• Represent the Philanthropy team on internal projects, working groups and committees.
• Support wider team priorities and contribute to a collaborative and inclusive working culture.

Person specification

Essential

• Excellent relationship management skills with experience across a range of sectors, and track record working productively with senior stakeholders in corporate and charity organisations, including internally.
• Strong business development skills, with experience identifying and developing new relationships, partnerships, and engagement opportunities.
• Experience translating strategic priorities into operational plans, objectives and delivery.
• Strong project and programme management skills, including managing multiple priorities, budgets, timelines and stakeholders.
• Experience and understanding of how to design and implement inclusive, accessible and engaging experiences for a range of audiences, including young people and corporate supporters.
• Experience managing line reports or leading teams including coaching, supporting and enabling others to deliver high-quality outcomes.
• Strong analytical and organisational skills.
• Ability to identify opportunities, solve complex problems and contribute innovative and creative ideas.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to influence and build credibility with senior audiences internally and externally through clear, confident and evidence led communication.
• A collaborative and flexible working style with the ability to work cross-functionally.
• Commitment to the mission and values of Impetus.
• A strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Experience working in, or closely with, the charity, youth, education or employment sectors.

Desirable

• In depth understanding of the corporate donor and philanthropy landscape.
• Experience in corporate fundraising or donor engagement, in particular with the financial services and investment sectors.
• Significant experience overseeing either a large corporate volunteering programme or a pro bono programme (e.g. 50+ projects).
• Experience working with Salesforce.
• Expertise in evaluation or impact measurement.
• In-depth understanding of the education and/or youth employment sectors in the UK.

About Impetus

At Impetus, our focus is on helping young people achieve positive education and employment outcomes to increase their chance of leading fulfilling and successful lives, irrespective of their background.

We tackle the three most difficult challenges that affect a young person’s ability to succeed in life in Britain today:

• Lost learning through absence, suspensions, exclusions from school
• Stagnation in education attainment outcomes, which means many are missing out on key qualifications like GCSE English and maths
• The large numbers of young people out of education, training and employment

We use our deep expertise and high calibre networks to give the best non-profits working in these sectors the essential ingredients to have a real and lasting impact on the young people they serve.

Through a powerful combination of long-term funding, direct capacity building support from our experienced team and our pro bono partners, alongside research and policy influencing to drive lasting systems change, we work towards a society where all young people can thrive in school, pass their exams and unlock the doors to sustained employment, for a fulfilling life.

We are resolutely focused on outcomes and impact, driven by quality evidence.

You would be joining a team that is passionate, rigorous, determined, creative and warm. We care deeply for our colleagues, our portfolio partners and the young people we serve.

Impetus is a registered charity and our charity number is 1152262.

Our Values

In 2022 the Impetus staff agreed the following set of Values to act as our guiding principles as an organisation and help us to remain focused on achieving our mission to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

We are brave and curious

We are bold and brave in our pursuit of better outcomes for young people. We lead with curiosity and stay open to new perspectives. We support one another to take considered risks and learn together.

We bring high trust, high challenge

We build strong, long-term relationships through honesty, kindness, integrity, and respect. We create the space for open, constructive challenge, where colleagues, partners and supporters feel safe to speak up, hold each other to account, and bring their best in pursuit of our mission.

We are evidence led and results driven for young people

We pursue excellence for the young people we work with, are wholly committed to better outcomes, unapologetically results driven, and accountable for our actions.

We thrive through diversity

We seek to embed diversity of thought, background and experience in every aspect of our work. We are open, thoughtful and proactive in better understanding and challenging our assumptions to better deliver the change we seek.

We always seek collaboration

We will not succeed alone. We seek meaningful, productive partnerships with others to achieve our mission and drive systems change for young people.

Our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

We believe that a diverse workforce leads to an organisation that is more open, creative and gets better results.

We want our team at Impetus to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We also want our team to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop.

We want to reach a diverse pool of candidates. We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need to in order to be successful.

We recognise the importance of a good work/life balance. We do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including working from home, working part-time job shares and other arrangements.

Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore.

Impetus is an equal opportunity employer and is determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. We value diversity and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

Our employee benefits

Impetus appreciates the invaluable contribution made by all employees and wishes to encourage and reward loyalty, motivation and experience. We therefore offer a range of benefits and policies which aim to assist employees during various stages of their lives and careers. For more information on these, please download the job information pack from our website.

How to apply

Please click on the "Apply for this job" button.

You will need to:

• Complete the online form (including the equal opportunities monitoring form).
• Upload a comprehensive CV and supporting statement.

The supporting statement should be no more than two sides of A4 and should address the criteria in the person specification.

You should also include the contact details of two referees, one of whom must be your current or most recent employer. Referees will only be approached with your express permission.

As part of our commitment to flexible working we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant. All options can be discussed at interview stage.

The deadline for applications is Sunday 20th September 2026, 11:59pm.

Interviews:

1st Interviews will take place on w/c 28th September 2026.

2nd Interviews will take place on w/c 5th October 2026.

You will also be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK.

Personal Data

Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area.

Rural Media is a Herefordshire-based charity and production company that empowers rural young people and underserved communities to find their voice, develop their creative talent and use digital creativity to drive social change. Through our proven creative participation model, developed and refined over three decades, we support early-career creative talent, young rural people and underserved groups to gain the skills, confidence, and platforms for personal growth and societal change.

Over the next three years, Rural Media Charity will focus on two interconnected strategic priorities:

• Youth Voice & Social Change – Supporting young rural people to drive social change through digital creativity, challenging stereotypes, influencing policy, and becoming leaders and changemakers in their communities
• Early-Career Artists/Creatives & Digital Platforms – Supporting early-career creatives from rural, regional and underserved communities to develop their practice, thrive on digital platforms, and build professional creative careers

Rural Media is looking for an ambitious Strategic Partnerships Manager to build a brand-new corporate partnerships function from the ground up. This is a rare opportunity to shape a role from scratch, backed by our CEO/Creative Director and a Strategic Partnerships Consultant, generating a six-figure income stream that will directly fuel our work with rural young people and underserved communities.

Working closely with our Development Director, Head of Youth Programmes and Head of Production, you'll identify, secure and grow partnerships with businesses who share our commitment to rural equality and youth opportunity — turning first conversations into lasting, mutually valuable relationships with a particular focus on supporting young people not in education, employment or training into real opportunities in the creative sector.

This is a varied role combining prospecting, pitching, negotiation, stewardship and ambassadorial work – whether that's crafting a partnership proposition, presenting to a board, or reporting back to a corporate supporter on the impact of their support.

We're looking for someone who is:

• A proven relationship-builder with a track record of generating income, sponsorship or partnership value.

• Confident engaging and influencing senior stakeholders, including at director and board level.

• Skilled at developing compelling proposals, pitches and cases for support.

• Comfortable managing a varied pipeline from first contact through to signed agreement.

• Excited about widening opportunity for young people and underrepresented communities through corporate partnership.

At Rural Media, you'll join a friendly, ambitious team committed to using creativity to change lives and widen access to careers in the screen industries. If you'd like to help build a new income stream that transforms young lives, we'd love to hear from you.

To apply:

• Visit our website

• Deadline for applications: 9am 10th October

• Start date: Mid-late November

We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, and welcome applications from all backgrounds regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, or socioeconomic background. We particularly encourage applications from underrepresented groups. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the application or interview process — such as accessible formats, extra time, or alternative ways to communicate — please contact Mel and she will be happy to accommodate you.

This is an exciting opportunity to develop Momentum’s corporate partnerships 
programme at a time of ambition and growth for the charity. Working as part of the 
corporate partnerships team, you will develop and deliver a focused approach to 
corporate fundraising, building long-term partnerships that generate sustainable income 
and create meaningful opportunities for companies and their employees to support our 
work.

This is a hands-on role combining new business development with the stewardship and 
growth of existing partnerships. You will identify and secure new opportunities, create 
compelling and tailored partnership propositions, and build strong relationships with 
corporate supporters at every stage of their journey with Momentum.

The role will suit a proactive and commercially aware relationship-builder who can think 
strategically, work independently and turn opportunities into action. You will work closely 
with colleagues across the charity to develop creative partnerships, deliver agreed activity 
and help corporate supporters understand the difference their support makes.

Every grant you win becomes someone's first conversation in English, their first step into a job interview, their first time speaking up at a housing tribunal.

English for Action (EFA) is looking for a Partnerships Manager to grow the funding that powers our free, participatory ESOL classes for around 400 migrants across London. Our classes don't just teach English, they build the confidence and collective power people need to organise around housing and employment rights.

About the role

Working closely with our Fundraising Lead, you'll take real ownership of relationships with trusts, foundations and corporate funders, while helping shape how we diversify our income going forward. This is a role with genuine scope to bring your own ideas and see them through, not just execute someone else's plan.

You will:
- Write compelling grant applications, funding proposals and reports that win and retain funding
- Research and build a realistic pipeline of trusts, liveries and corporate foundations
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with existing donors and prospects
- Contribute to EFA's fundraising strategy, including newer income streams such as statutory, corporate, individual giving, membership and events
- Liaise with our Executive Team, Hub Leads and Project Managers so funding proposals stay grounded in what's actually happening in our classrooms and communities
- Maintain accurate donor and grant records on Donorfy, and support monitoring and evaluation of project outcomes

About you

You don't need a degree, and you're not expected to tick every box, nobody does. We're looking for someone with a track record of successful grant writing, strong research and relationship-building skills, and the organisation to manage multiple funding deadlines at once. Knowledge of the UK charity sector and UK trusts and foundations is essential; experience with public sector or EU education funding is a bonus.

If you have lived experience of migration and/or learning English as an additional language, we'd love to hear from you and how you'd like to draw on it in this role.

About EFA

English for Action provides free, participatory, empowering ESOL classes for migrants in London, spaces where students build community and organise collectively around issues like employment and housing rights. We're a national centre of good practice for a radical, participatory approach to ESOL, and we share this approach through training, research and partnerships. We're a team of 11 staff, a wider team of volunteers, and 7 trustees, run through shared leadership rather than a CEO, decisions are made collaboratively, and we aim for our structure to reflect that.

What we offer

- 22.5 hours (3 days) a week, mostly remote, with just monthly in-person meetings in London
- 28 days' annual leave (pro rata) after probation, plus bank holidays, plus a full week's paid closure over Christmas
- 6% matched pension contribution
- Enhanced sick pay, and enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption/shared parental leave
- Wellbeing allowance and full entitlement to leave for sickness, including mental ill-health
- A genuinely flat, non-hierarchical culture with collaborative decision-making on strategy and practice
- Tech and cycle scheme, and actively encouraged continuous personal development

Equal opportunities

EFA particularly encourages applications from people of colour, who are currently underrepresented at EFA and across the charity sector, and from people who have experienced moving to the UK or have English as an additional language. Where two or more candidates are of equal merit, priority may be given to a candidate from a less well-represented group. Please let us know about any access or other requirements we can accommodate.

Closing date: 11.59pm, Wednesday 30th September 2026
Skills test: w/c 5th October 2026 (writing and budgeting)
Interviews: Friday 9th / 16th October 2026

Questions before applying? Email Gina Rodriguez (HR Lead)