Innovation business development executive jobs

Join VICTA's team and be part of our award-winning work empowering children and young adults who are blind or partially sighted. We help young people question limiting presumptions they might have, helping them to view themselves and their potential in a new way.
 
We seek an experienced fundraiser who is looking for their next challenge or wants more responsibility to develop and deliver a robust, high-quality mass participation events strategy and plan. Drawing on your experience and the strengths of the charity, you will be responsible for our flagship fundraising event, the TCS London Marathon and shape the future of our mass participation portfolio including bespoke challenges.

Our ideal candidate will have excellent planning and project management, relationship building and influencing skills. Your strong leadership skills and change management experience will be essential as you navigate and embed new challenges and ways of working within an ambitious and growing team. You’ll bring big picture perspective and use your communicating and influencing skills to ensure our key stakeholders help us deliver and grow. Embracing insight, testing, evaluation, and continuous optimisation you will make sure all our engagement is audience centred. If you are an ambitious, highly organised and passionate Senior Fundraising Manager, this is the role for you. 
 
We provide a positive work culture where learning and development is actively supported and promoted. The ideal candidate will be a problem solver, diligent, have a good sense of humour and happy to lead from the front. The position offers hybrid working with a minimum of three days in our Milton Keynes office.

To apply, please send a CV and covering letter. A full job specification is available on request. 

Benefits

• Hybrid working possible (minimum three days in office)
• Critical Illness Cover
• 23 days holiday rising to 28 (plus public holidays)

We’re looking for an ambitious Partnerships Executive to help drive income by supporting and building profitable, long-term partnerships with individuals and organisations. Working within the Philanthropy and Partnerships team, the role of the Partnerships Executive is to deliver excellent relationship management to maximise income revenues.

To thrive in this position, you’ll need to:

• Manage a portfolio of corporate supporters <£10k ensuring they meet their maximum giving and engagement potential.
• Provide excellent relationship management and customer service support across all key audiences in partnership with the account managers.
• Deliver event support for flagship fundraisers such as our annual Dragon Boat Race, Corporate Sports Day, in-hospital volunteering opportunities and innovative Christmas campaign.
• Create fundraising and marketing materials, in partnership with the marketing and communications team, to drive new supporters and support existing partners. Including leading on a regular external Philanthropy and Partnerships newsletter.
• Provide operational support to the philanthropy and partnerships team, including desk based research and database management and reporting.
• Respond to fundraising queries (email and telephone) promptly and efficiently.
• Manage the philanthropy and partnerships teams’ presence on social media, including creating content which helps to promote impact, the charity and supporters.
• Support the team to deliver remarkable stewardship of all donors, including the management of our banking and thanking process and helping to create bespoke impact reports and materials.
• Ensure accurate and up-to-date records of activities and communications are captured on our CRM database (Salesforce) along with regular reporting.
• Provide general administrative support to the philanthropy and partnerships team as and when required.
• Build and maintain records of recognition milestones for supporters providing monthly reports to wider team for stewardship activity.

What we offer: 

• Flexible and hybrid working to support work-life balance 

• Generous annual leave entitlement with additional leave for long service  

• Enhanced sick pay 

• Enhanced Maternity Pay 

• Employee Assistance Program and Lifestyle Savings

• Free flu jabs 

• Cycle to work scheme 

• Charity events throughout the year 

• Employer enhanced auto-enrolment pension scheme with 8% employer contribution 

• Ongoing commitment to education and professional development 

The Charity is committed to equal opportunities and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.  

Successful candidates will have access to vulnerable beneficiaries therefore the role is subject to Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance.  

If you think you have the qualities we are looking for and the desire to contribute, please download the Job Vacancy Pack and then send us a CV and covering letter explaining how you meet the criteria for the role and making clear why you would like to be considered for it. 

We will be interviewing for this role on Thursday 16th April at our Charity Office based in Birmingham City Centre.

The Finance and Business Operations Director will lead VAST’s financial and operational strategy, ensuring robust financial management, effective HR and IT systems, compliance with Health and Safety, and the efficient running of The Dudson Centre.

The postholder will act as Company Secretary, overseeing governance and compliance, and also serve as the organisation’s Money Laundering Reporting Officer.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the role contributes to strategic planning and organisational development, as well as supporting VAST’s day-to-day delivery.

What we're looking for

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, etc.)
• Significant experience in financial management and business operations in the VCSE sector.
• Strong leadership and strategic planning skills
• Knowledge of charity finance, governance, and compliance.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to travel locally and work occasional evenings/weekends.

The Key Information

· Location: London based, requiring two days per week at Society Building, 8 All Saints Street, London N1.

· Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week.

· Salary: £85,000 per annum.

· Contract: Permanent.

· Interview process: Two stages totalling around 2 hours.

· Reporting to: Chief Commercial Officer.

About the Role

Commercial leadership with social purpose

We’re looking for someone to shape and scale our diverse portfolio of income-generating services. Services that help power long-term societal change.

As Associate Director of Commercial Services, you’ll lead the strategy, growth and performance of our consultancy, training, conferencing and room hire services – driving sustainable commercial income while ensuring exceptional customer delivery.

Sitting on the senior leadership team, you’ll combine commercial rigour with mission alignment, and make sure every service line strengthens both our financial resilience and our reputation as a trusted partner to the sector.

Why this role matters

Commercial income is crucial for providing the reinvestment towards our mission for a stronger society.

In this role, you’ll:

· strengthen our long-term organisational resilience

· shape and scale a multi-service commercial portfolio

· lead innovation that responds to customer and market insight

· embed commercial discipline and high performance across teams

· contribute at the highest level of strategic decision-making

This is a unique opportunity to combine commercial leadership with social purpose – building services that are financially strong, mission-aligned and market-leading.

Why Join Us?

With members at the heart of everything we do, we champion the charities and volunteers who make a daily difference to our communities across England. Join us and help us make communities stronger and support us making a bigger difference!

Some of NCVO’s great benefits include:

· 25 days’ annual leave (pro-rata for part-time staff), increasing based on years of service

· five days’ volunteering leave (pro rata for part-time staff)

· enhanced pay for maternity/adoption leave

· generous employer pension contribution of up to 8.5% of salary.

Find out more about the benefits of working at NCVO on our wbesite.

Age UK Kensington & Chelsea (AUKC) is a vibrant, values led local charity dedicated to helping older people live well — staying connected, independent and fulfilled at every stage of life. We work alongside our community to codesign and deliver impactful services that promote wellbeing, tackle loneliness, influence local policy and ensure dignity and independence for people across the borough. 

As we look to the future, we are focused on innovation, growth and lasting impact. Building on the success of resecuring our two largest contracts in 2025 (for three and up to nine years respectively) we are seeking to strengthen our partnerships, diversify the ways we deliver support, and create new approaches to have even greater impact for older people in Kensington & Chelsea.

This is an exciting time to join a charity widely recognised for its compassion, quality and influence with a strong reputation among NHS, local authority and community partners.

We are now seeking an exceptional Director of Services & Deputy CEO to join our leadership team and help shape the next stage of our journey. 

Director of Services & Deputy Chief Executive Officer 

Kensington & Chelsea, London (hybrid working) 
Circa £75,000 FTE for 4 days per week (circa £60,000 for 4 days) 

The Opportunity 

This is a rare and exciting leadership role for someone who is passionate about community impact and aspires to become a CEO in the future. 

As Deputy CEO, you will work closely with our Chief Executive to provide inspiring, values driven leadership across the charity. You will help develop and deliver our new three-year strategy, steer organisational priorities, strengthen our culture, and ensure we continue to grow and thrive — as well as deputising confidently for the CEO when required. 

As Director of Services, you will lead our Health, Wellbeing and Community Services, ensuring they remain high quality, evidence based and financially sustainable. You will champion innovation, drive integration across programmes, and make sure our work delivers measurable outcomes for older people. 

A key part of your role will be building strong relationships with commissioners and partners, developing compelling proposals, and supporting the growth and diversification of our services. You will also lead our impact and quality agenda, embedding a culture of learning, continuous improvement and accountability. 

If you are an ambitious, strategic and collaborative leader who thrives on variety and purpose — and who is energized by working alongside communities — this is an exceptional opportunity. 

About You 

We are looking for a confident and compassionate leader who brings: 

• Significant senior leadership experience in the voluntary, community or public sector. 

• A strong track record of developing and delivering health, wellbeing or community services. 

• Expertise in impact measurement, quality assurance and evidence driven service design. 

• Experience of business development, including securing grants, contracts or new partnership opportunities. 

• Excellent relationship building skills across health, care, local government or community sectors. 

• A leadership style that is collaborative, inclusive and aligned with our values of kindness, respect and integrity. 

• Experience working within integrated care systems or commissioning environments

What We Offer 

• A rare career development opportunity for someone who may be aspiring to become a CEO. 

• A supportive and ambitious organisation committed to innovation, inclusion and impact. 

• The chance to shape high quality services that make a real difference to people’s lives. 

• Competitive salary, pension and ongoing professional development. 

How to Apply 

If you would like an informal conversation about the role, please contact our retained advisors Anna Gardet or Erica Ritchie at Prospectus. 

Recruitment Timetable 

Deadline for applications: Sunday 12th April 2026 

Interviews with Prospectus:  20-24th April 2026 

First stage interviews with Age UK Kensington & Chelsea:  7th May 2026

Second stage interviews with Age UK Kensington & Chelsea:  12th May 2026   

We are seeking a dynamic and highly motivated individual with excellent communication skills who will be a first point of contact with our membership network.

You will proactively increase member engagement whilst nurturing existing relationships and demonstrating commitment to promoting the value of helplines.

This role is supporting the Partnership and Engagement manager to deliver a sustainable membership and partnership model that keeps pace in a constantly moving and diverse climate.

You will be central in supporting HLP’s sustainability and will help to progress continued growth and attract new and diverse collaborations.

You will ideally have experience of working within a fast-paced and proactive team. You will enjoy engaging with a wide range of diverse stakeholders.

The role is predominantly home-based with regular travel to meetings and events. 

We offer attractive staff benefits including 25 days’ annual leave rising with length of service, a company pension scheme, free life assurance and an employee assistance programme.  HLP is committed to equality of opportunity.

Senior Marketing Executive
Location: Lancing, West Sussex, BN15 8UW with Hybrid option following probation
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: 35 hours per week
Salary: £37,800.00 per annum, Band F, Level 3

 About the Role

Our Senior Marketing Executive will be expected to engage with all areas of Unity & TSA’s activities and will be expected to attend meetings with peers across the association. The role will contribute ideas and co-lead the marketing strategy to support Unity’s growth.

The Senior Marketing Executive will take responsibility for leading the delivery and implementation of Unity's marketing strategy, supporting the company’s business plans for the next 3-5 years.

Collaborative working is essential, with partners, clients and internal teams to enhance Unity’s brand positioning, marketing effectiveness and client engagement for Unity products and services, and market positioni

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver lead generation campaigns to achieve company financial goals
• Create & execute marketing plans including marketing campaigns that align with strategic objectives.
• Brand-building initiatives including communications to prospective clients and existing clients.
• Content creation (blogs, white papers, newsletters, print and social media posts) and monitoring performance, including optimising landing pages and improving SEO rankings.

Marketing Activity and Responsibility

• Oversee the annual planning of marketing activities by setting clear objectives, goals, and measurable KPIs.
• Deliver cost effective solutions for successful social media campaigns, email newsletters and campaigns, SEO, CRM, PPC, advertising, sponsorship,  photography, SMS, print, CRM, online, direct mail, printed collateral, website analytics, and web optimisation

Stakeholder Management

• Working closely with the Head of Sales to determine priorities and drive more commercial growth through brand building and lead generation
• Collaborate with internal teams to support cross-marketing activities and ensure alignment between New Business and Existing Business teams for well-prepared campaigns

What We’re Looking For

• Educated to a degree level or equivalent
• Comprehensive marketing knowledge across direct and digital channels in tactical areas and campaign execution
• Excellent communicator at all levels – verbal and written

What we offer as our Senior Marketing Executive:

• A supportive, inclusive, and collaborative team environment
• Ongoing learning and professional development opportunities
• 28 days annual leave, rising to 32 days after 2 years, plus additional time off over Christmas
• Flexible working options to suit you, your role, and your team

For a full list of our benefits, click .

Closing date for applications: 11:59 pm Monday 6th April 2026

Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis until the position has been filled.

Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive enough suitable applications.

Strictly no agencies. 

The Scouts is an equal opportunities employer and we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute. We offer flexible working arrangements to support diverse needs and lifestyles, ensuring that our teams can thrive both professionally and personally. We welcome and encourage applicants from all walks of life, believing that varied perspectives strengthen our innovation and community. Your unique experiences and ideas are essential to our success, and we look forward to hearing from all voices.

Join RUHX – Be part of something extra extraordinary.

At RUHX, we’re more than the Official NHS charity of the Royal United Hospitals Bath. We go further to give every patient the extra extraordinary care they deserve, while supporting our staff to do what they do best and furthering innovation within our hospitals. We’re out there in our community, collaborating with the people and organisations who drive real change. And we’re making sure that every penny we raise goes towards improving health, happiness and wellbeing for everyone in our community.

RUHX are seeking a motivated and collaborative Charity Impact Manager to lead our internal grants programme and ensure that charitable funds deliver measurable impact for patients, families and staff.

You will play a key role in implementing our new grant‑making system to strengthen monitoring, compliance, approvals and financial forecasting across all restricted and unrestricted funds. Working closely with clinical, operational and fundraising teams, you will help shape a strong pipeline of strategically aligned projects and support the delivery of donor‑funded initiatives, including restricted grants and major donor commitments.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone with strong analytical skills, excellent relationship‑building capability, and a passion for improving patient and staff experience through effective, transparent and high‑impact charitable investment.

Main duties of the job

No two days in our team are the same. In this role you will spilt your time working onsite in the office in Bath, so that you can meet clinical colleagues across the hospital, with opportunities to work flexibly from home.  You will have a varied role which involves managing a wide range of duties and tasks including.

• Lead the RUHX internal grants process, ensuring all charitable expenditure is compliant and aligned to strategic priorities and donor intent.
• Support the implementation and management of a new grant‑making system that tracks assessments, approvals, expenditure, commitments and fund forecasting.
• Build strong relationships with RUH teams to encourage and support high‑quality, high‑impact grant applications.
• Work with the Development Team to deliver and monitor donor‑funded and restricted‑grant projects, ensuring accurate reporting for stewardship.
• Lead impact measurement and evaluation across all funded projects, producing clear and engaging reports for governance and donors.
• Monitor fund utilisation, project progress and risks, providing regular updates to senior leadership and the Charities Committee.

This is an exceptional opportunity at one of the world's most prestigious universities at a time of extraordinary ambition and philanthropic momentum. 

Associate Director of Development – Principal Gifts
Employer: University of Oxford
Salary: £65,336 - £82,255 with scope to go beyond for a leading professional with outstanding experience and track record
Location: Oxford (Hybrid)

Here at the University of Oxford, we are recruiting three Associate Directors of Development – Principal Gifts to join our incredible team. These are new positions, part of an expansion of our friendly, collaborative and successful Principal Gifts team.

As Associate Director of Development – Principal Gifts, you will operate at the highest levels of the University to secure transformational gifts at the eight-figure-plus level, advancing Oxford’s mission and global impact.  Your work will help ensure that Oxford continues to attract the brightest minds, pursue world-leading research, and address the most urgent challenges facing humanity.

You will work closely with the Vice-Chancellor, Chief Development and Alumni Engagement Officer, Director of Development – Principal Gifts, and other senior leaders to align principal gift opportunities with institutional priorities and articulate a compelling case for support to some of the world’s most significant philanthropists.

Your impact will be enduring – enabling breakthrough discoveries, expanding opportunity for students, and strengthening Oxford’s position as a global leader in education and research.  The Associate Director of Development role offers the chance not only to secure transformational gifts, but also to shape the future of Oxford’s philanthropic culture and leave a legacy at an institution that has been changing the world for over nine centuries.

This is a chance to join a dedicated, professional and ambitious team at a time when Oxford’s fundraising is at unprecedented levels. With strong support from the Vice-Chancellor, a proven track record of principal gift success, and an unparalleled global reputation, you will have every opportunity to make your mark, both at Oxford and in your career.

You will be passionate about what we do here, not phased by complexity and ambiguity, and comfortable orchestrating a myriad of stakeholders.  We hope to hear from you!

The University of Oxford is partnering with Erin Hall-Westfall and Joanna Logan of Constellate Global Talent on this search.

Closing date: midnight on Monday, 6 April 2026.

Interested?

Please familiarise yourself with the attached Candidate Pack.
To apply, please submit a CV and covering letter.

Diversity and Inclusivity

The University of Oxford is committed to equal opportunity, and to being a place where everyone belongs and is supported to succeed. We recognise how the diversity of our community enriches our ability to deliver on our academic mission.

We welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds, including those under-represented within higher education. No applicant or members of staff shall be unlawfully discriminated against on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

No agencies please

Job title: Head of Principal Gifts
Employer: Imperial College London
Salary: £69,365 to £79,257 per annum
Location: White City, London W12 (Hybrid)

About the role:

Are you a fundraiser looking for a new challenge at the highest levels of philanthropy? Are you looking to transition into the field of principal gifts?

Here at Imperial College, we are recruiting a Head of Principal Gifts to join our brilliant and growing team. This is a new position, part of an expansion of our Advancement Division.

What you will be doing:

As Head of Principal Gifts, you will play a transformative role in securing the philanthropic investments that drive groundbreaking discoveries, life-changing innovations and sustainable solutions. Your work will directly impact fields critical to shaping the future – from climate resilience and AI to global health and business innovation. You will have the opportunity to work with amazing colleagues driven to tackle some of the most difficult problems facing society. 

At Imperial, philanthropy has the power to change lives. In this role, you'll be at the heart of that - cultivating relationships with high-net-worth individuals and like-minded stakeholders, and helping drive our most ambitious fundraising and alumni engagement campaign to date.

Working closely with the Director of Development: Principal Gifts and Global, you'll lead on gifts that are genuinely complex and career-defining in scale.

What we are looking for:

We're looking for someone entrepreneurial and ambitious: a natural relationship-builder who thrives in complexity, navigates ambiguity with confidence, and knows how to bring the right people together at the right moment. If that sounds like you, we'd love to hear from you.

What we can offer you:

• The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to use science for humanity.
• Benefit from a sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 39 days’ annual leave and generous pension schemes).
• Access to a range of workplace benefits including a flexible working policy from day one, generous family leave packages, on-site leisure facilities and cycle-to-work scheme.
• Interest-free season ticket loan schemes for travel.
• Be part of a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work culture with various staff networks and resources to support your personal and professional wellbeing.

About Imperial

Welcome to Imperial, a global top ten university where scientific imagination leads to world-changing impact.

Join us and be part of something bigger. From global health to climate change, AI to business leadership, we navigate some of the world’s toughest challenges. Whatever your role, your contribution will have a lasting impact.

As a member of our vibrant community of 22,000 students and 8,000 staff, you’ll collaborate with passionate minds across nine London campuses and a global network.

This is your chance to help shape the future. We hope you’ll join us at Imperial.

Our culture

We work towards equality of opportunity, eliminating discrimination and creating an inclusive working environment. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities. You can read more about our commitment on our webpages.

Our values are at the heart of everything we do and everyone in our community is expected to demonstrate respect, collaboration, excellence, integrity and innovation.

Further Information

This is one of two exceptional opportunities to join our dynamic team. As we continue to expand our international presence, we are recruiting for the following role:

• Head of Global Development, Asia

Each of these roles offers a unique opportunity to shape our strategic direction and build impactful partnerships.

Closing date: Midnight on Thursday 16 April 2026.

Interested?

Please familiarise yourself with the attached Candidate Pack.
To apply, please submit a CV and covering letter.

Imperial is partnering with Erin Hall-Westfall and Joanna Logan of Constellate Global Talent on this search.

No agencies please.

Head of Principal Gifts
Employer: University of Manchester
Salary: £59,966 to £71,566, depending on experience with scope to go beyond for an exceptional candidate
Location: Hybrid working, Manchester

We are looking for our new Head of Principal Gifts to work with our highest level of donors, securing principal gifts in support of the University of Manchester's key priorities - gifts that are truly transformational and enable us to tackle some of the world's greatest challenges.

We're taking our big gift fundraising to the next level with the launch of a dedicated Principal Gifts programme, and we're looking for someone to play a key role in shaping that transformation, building deep, lasting relationships with top-level donors in the UK and internationally.

With our inspirational new strategy in place and our first-ever university-wide philanthropic campaign, CHALLENGE ACCEPTED, launched in November 2025, this is a pivotal moment for Manchester and for your career.

Reporting to the Deputy Director, Principal Gifts, you'll be joining a brilliant, values-driven team with a fantastic pipeline of prospects, strong existing relationships, and academics who are fully engaged in what we're building together.

Great things happen at The University of Manchester every day - from finding new treatments for cancer and discovering wonder materials like Nobel Prize-winning graphene, to providing life-changing scholarships and influencing government policy to help the world's poorest people. This is the work your fundraising will make possible.

If you're a major gifts or big gift fundraiser ready to make your mark at a world-renowned institution and take that next career-defining step, we'd love to hear from you.

Closing date: Midnight on Monday 20 April 2026

Interested?

Please familiarise yourself with the attached Candidate Pack.
To apply, please submit a CV and covering letter.

The University of Manchester is partnering with Constellate Global Talent on this search. No agencies please.

Join RUHX – Be part of something extra extraordinary.

At RUHX, we’re more than the Official NHS charity of the Royal United Hospitals Bath. We go further to give every patient the extra extraordinary care they deserve, while supporting our staff to do what they do best and furthering innovation within our hospitals. We’re out there in our community, collaborating with the people and organisations who drive real change. And we’re making sure that every penny we raise goes towards improving health, happiness and wellbeing for everyone in our community.

We are looking for an experienced Legacy and Tribute Manager who will be responsible for generating around £1.4 million annually through compassionate and professional management of Gifts in Wills and Tribute Giving. You will lead, shape and deliver RUHX’s Legacy & Tribute Programme—one of our most impactful income streams that enables supporters to honour exceptional care given at the RUH.

We’re looking for an experienced legacy fundraising professional with a strong track record in generating income through Gifts in Wills, creating inspiring marketing campaigns, and managing complex legacy administration with confidence and accuracy. You will bring proven expertise in handling sensitive donor relationships, working with solicitors and executors, and navigating legal processes with minimal guidance. 

Main duties of the job

We need someone highly skilled, emotionally resilient, and able to lead a busy programme while delivering outstanding stewardship rooted in compassion.

This is your chance to help create extra extraordinary healthcare for everyone—by giving supporters a meaningful way to express gratitude, honour loved ones and create a legacy that lasts.

No two days in our team are the same. We split our time evenly between working flexibly at home and onsite in the office in Bath, as well as being out and about in our community.  You will have a varied role which involves managing a wide range of duties and tasks including. 

You will:

• Lead legacy marketing, stewardship and administration with confidence and integrity
• Support bereaved families and grateful patients with empathy and professionalism
• Build strong relationships with local solicitors, legal partners and clinical teams
• Manage a wide and varied caseload of legacies with accuracy and legal competency
• Deliver marketing and supporter engagement activity that inspires long-term giving
• Drive forward RUHX’s Grateful Patient Strategy through legacy and tribute pathways

This is a role where compassion meets strategy—where technical knowledge of legacy administration and marketing is combined with meaningful relationship-building.

This position is offered on a full-time basis, though we welcome applications from candidates interested in working 3–4 days per week

This is a really exciting time to lead on Service Design at UK Youth. The Government’s recently-launched National Youth Strategy represents a shift in youth work’s recognition. UK Youth is about to launch its own new Strategy and we have big ambitions for the coming year – in this crucial leadership role, you’ll drive forward our ambition to design, test and scale the very best solutions to the challenges faced by young people and the professionals supporting them. 

UK Youth’s Impact Function has grown over the last year – we’re investing in the power of evidence, human-centred design and influential storytelling to improve the equity and effectiveness of youth work. Join us and help build a society that backs every young person – through each spark, struggle, and success.​

Purpose of the job

This role is responsible for the design of UK Youth’s support to young people, youth organisations and youth workers. This could include structured youth work programmes, funding and grants+ programmes, professional development initiatives, and campaigns.

You will lead and oversee end-to-end design processes, ensuring that UK Youth develops fully packaged offers that respond to the evidence base and people’s needs, drive forward our strategy and achieve incredible impact. You will work across UK Youth teams, with external design partners, and meaningfully involving young people and the professionals who support them in the design process.

You will be experienced in developing high quality funding propositions (proactively and in response to new business opportunities). You will be confident in taking a human-centred design approach to tackle some of the youth sector’s knottiest problems.  You will design solutions to important problems, ensuring that they are feasible, equitable, impactful and scalable.

In 2026, our priority topics for youth work programmes and network development are: mental health and wellbeing, employability, social cohesion and community safety.

 As a leader, you will work closely with research, evaluation, policy, service delivery, network development, and fundraising teams. You will help to improve the skills and confidence of colleagues across UK Youth to apply design methods in their own work and collaborate effectively with the Design team.

Why work at UK Youth?

UK Youth wants all young people to be equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives. Youth work can be life changing (and even life saving.) In 2026, we will be launching our new strategy, positioning UK Youth to unlock youth work so that every young person in the UK can benefit. We work with others to ensure that the youth sector is strengthened and that provision is youth-led, evidence-informed, and delivers high-quality outcomes.

 UK Youth plays a unique role in addressing the lack of investment in the youth sector, the lack of cross-sector understanding in how youth work makes a difference, and the limited opportunities to embed effective solutions. These factors lead to mass inequality of access to youth services for young people. Come and be part of this change in a driven and supportive team that puts evidence at the heart of our work.

Role Responsibilities

• Designing Solutions

• Developing new business and funding propositions

• Embedding Human Centred Design

• Building a strong external network to support the Design team’s work

• Operations

Experience we're after

• Significant experience of leading and overseeing the development of new business propositions and proposals to time-limited funding opportunities

• Significant experience of designing interventions (digital and/or physical) for young people and/or those who support them 

• Experience using human-centred-design methods and mindsets; managing projects across the end-to-end design process

• Proven track record of inspiring and motivating diverse teams and improving collaborative ways of working across teams and departments

• Experience of developing high quality programme content and curricula for young people, youth workers and/or outdoor learning instructors (desirable)

• Experience of commissioning and managing external design freelancers and consultants (desirable)

• Experience of designing and/or delivering professional development programmes (desirable)

What we can offer you

We offer a competitive range of benefits, good work/life balance, excellent learning and development opportunities and vibrant organisational culture:

• Flexible/Agile Working

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time employees)

• Funded training provided in; Safeguarding, GDPR, Information and Cyber Security & Equality & Diversity

• Other training available in support of your personal and professional development

• Pension scheme (currently UK Youth match employee contributions up to 5%)

• Membership of our life insurance scheme which would pay-out up to 4 times your salary

• Employee Assistance Programme to support employees both professionally and personally

• 20% discount off bookings at Avon Tyrrell, our New Forest Outdoor Centre, including camping, lodges and outdoor activities.

• IT equipment provided for the duration of contract

• CycleScheme and TechScheme

How to apply

If you would like to be considered for this fantastic opportunity, please complete an application via our completely anonymised recruitment system provided by Applied which looks to create a fair and unbiased application process for all. Scroll to the top of the page and start your application.

Closing date: 25th March 2026 at 23:59pm (midnight)

Provisional Interview Dates: 1st and 2nd April (In person at our London Office)

As this role involves working in a regulated environment with young people, any offer will be conditional to satisfactory background checks, which include criminal record check and employment reference.

Job Summary – Head of Income Generation & Engagement

About the role

We are recruiting a Head of Income Generation & Engagement, who will be an integral part of the Executive Team, working closely with colleagues to help shape the organisation’s direction, contribute to key decisions, and drive income generation, marketing and engagement.  You will be central to delivering our shared vision, values and mission, and will be fundamentally values-led in your approach.

The Head of Income Generation & Engagement is responsible for developing and delivering an ambitious, integrated strategy that maximises sustainable charitable income, strengthens Age UK Merton’s brand and reputation, and deepens engagement across the communities we serve.

This a commercially focused role, developing and expanding our current paid-for services, ensuring service processes, staffing structures and client pathways are robust and underpin Age UK Merton’s continued sustainability and good reputation. The role will be responsible for the startup of strategic fundraising activity across the borough, decreasing our reliance on our current income streams, and diversifying our avenues of income to support long-term service development & growth.

About you

We are looking for a compassionate, yet dynamic leader, with the credibility and gravitas to quickly gain the trust and respect of peers and colleagues, and who will be able to connect, inspire and motivate staff, volunteers, partners and the wider community.

You will come to the table with a deep expertise in strategic income generation, engagement and communications. You will have a strong commercial acumen, with a demonstrable track record and proven ability to develop and shape strategy and implement transformational change that drives sustainable growth in both income and audience engagement.

We are looking for someone innovative and ambitious, professional and personable; you will be an outstanding communicator, with the ability to engage and influence a wide range of stakeholders.

You will be empathetic and passionate about the Age UK Merton mission, with the dynamism to inspire and unite diverse, multidisciplinary teams around clear, shared business objectives.

Job Description

We are an equal opportunities employer, aspiring to reflect the communities that we serve, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences. We value diversity and believe our differences enrich the services we provide to local older adults. They also help us as colleagues by encouraging us to challenge ourselves, learn, innovate, and adapt.

Job title: Head of Income Generation & Engagement

Salary: £50k to £60k (dependant on experience)

Hours: 37.5 hours per week (1.0 WTE)

Responsible to: CEO

Based at: Elmwood Centre, 277 London Road, Mitcham, CR4 3NT and hybrid working from home, frequent travel throughout the borough required

Contract: Permanent

Direct reports: Community Outreach Officer, Activity Centre Coordinator, At Home Manager

Key result areas:

Fundraising

· To set the strategic direction for income generation at Age UK Merton, developing and delivering a sustainable portfolio of future-focused fundraising that grows income and optimises the supporter journey over the long term.

· To lead the diversification of income, reducing reliance on any single partner or

activity and building a resilient, balanced fundraising portfolio that represent a high return on investment and grows our supporter base. This will be via individuals, corporates, trusts & foundations, statutory bodies and the community; cultivating long-term, meaningful partnerships, enhancing Age UK Merton’s reach, influence and income-generating potential.

· To strengthen and grow the legacy pipeline, overseeing effective stewardship and marketing, and will oversee the external lottery, ensuring regulatory compliance and annual growth.

· To maintain an agile, insight-driven approach to stay ahead of sector trends and competitor activity.

· To develop sound business cases for investment in new income generation posts or activity.

· To build organisational resource capability and resilience to facilitate future growth.

Commercial Services

· To develop and expand our paid-for services, with a focus on outreach activity to widen reach and access to services, and to increase client numbers and those in underrepresented and underserved populations.

· To develop and expand our paid-for services, to increase client numbers to create a step change in sustainable income and delivery of services across the borough.

· To ensure our paid-for services represent a strong return on investment and to ensure the business model is regularly reviewed for cost efficiencies and potential for growth.

· To ensure service processes, staffing structures and client pathways are robust and underpin Age UK Merton’s good reputation.

· Where appropriate, to seek out funding via grants, trusts and foundations to bolster paid-for service activity, overseeing bid development processes, ensuring quality, competitiveness, transparency and appropriate risk assessment.

· To continuously evaluate the potential for partnership working and collaboration to increase impact and improve performance.

Engagement

· To shape and deliver an engagement strategy that spans all Age UK Merton audiences, growing brand awareness and deepening engagement, understanding motivations and behaviours, and ensuring we focus our efforts where they can make the greatest difference.

· To identify underrepresentation and underserved groups within our borough, building relationships with communities and community leaders to create two-way dialogues to understand unmet need and inform future service development.

· To champion digital, data-led ways of working across engagement activity, working to strengthen our digital presence, and using insights to create relevant, compelling and personalised experiences across all channels.

· As custodian of the Age UK Merton brand, to ensure consistency, clarity and strength of messaging across the organisation.

· To lead the development and delivery of integrated marketing, communications and public relations strategies, ensuring a seamless omni-channel approach.

· To ensure that external communications are accurate, values-led, and reflective of organisational impact, maintaining confidence among funders, partners, and the wider public.

Communications & Marketing

· To lead the development and delivery of a communications strategy that maximises opportunities to increase Age UK Merton’s profile locally and nationally.

· To oversee the development and delivery of our digital channels, in particular social media and the website.

· To oversee the editorial direction, design, production, distribution and quality of the organisation’s publications.

Strategy and Partnerships

· To work as part of the Executive Team, shaping the organisational strategy, culture and cross departmental ways of working.

· To lead the development and delivery of seamless income generation and engagement strategies and annual operating plans aligned to organisational priorities.

· To set, manage and monitor budgets, ensuring clear targets, KPIs and accountability across teams.

· To provide high-quality analysis, reporting and insight to inform strategic decision-making, Board reporting and accountability to funders.

· To ensure robust management of restricted and contractual funding, setting financial controls, to comply with internal policies and regulatory requirements.

· To act as an ambassador and spokesperson for Age UK Merton, representing with

Professionalism, confidence and compassion.

· To build and maintain strategic partnerships, networks and relationships to strengthen visibility, influence and community engagement.

Governance, Compliance & Risk

· Ensure compliance with the Charity Commission, Fundraising Regulator, the Gambling Commission, advertising standards and GDPR/data-protection legislation.

· To contribute to strong risk-management frameworks, ensuring early identification, mitigation, and appropriate investigation of risks.

· Oversee policy development as applicable for the department.

People

· To grow and develop a high-performing team, and to make the case for further resource investment where appropriate, in order to recruit and develop a multi-disciplinary team covering income generation, marketing, communications and engagement, with a view to develop a culture of creativity and professionalism across the entire team.

· To ensure effective performance management, with regular 1:1s, appraisal, individual and team development and succession planning.

· To embed, review and optimise new team structures and systems to maximise efficiency, impact and income.

· To ensure volunteers are effectively integrated, supported and aligned to organisational priorities.

General

· To establish good working relationships with all relevant stakeholders and liaise as required

· To comply at all times with the policies and procedures of Age UK Merton. 

· To ensure that Age UK Merton’s Equal Opportunities policies, principles and practices are observed and implemented throughout service delivery.

· To carry out any other relevant tasks as required, to ensure the effective development of the organisation and the delivery of its services, this may include supporting weekend and out of hours events for time off in lieu.

· To attend staff meetings, 1:1s, and appraisal meetings.

· To be aware of own training needs and participate in training/education to improve performance considered relevant to the post and to achieve agreed targets.

· To act as a representative of the values, beliefs and principles of AUKM at all times.

· To undertake any other duties that are requested and commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Deadline for applications will be Friday 10th April 2026.

Interviews will take place w/c 20th April 2026.

If you have not heard from us within three weeks of submitting an application, you can assume that you have not been shortlisted.