Salary: £45,000–£47,000 FTE (depending on experience)
Hours: 30–35 hours per week
Location: Hybrid/home-based. Ideally within easy reach of Chelmsford and London. Regular travel to meet colleagues, funders and visit programmes across England.
Reporting to: CEO
Be part of a mission that's transforming children's futures through food, farming and the countryside
For more than 45 years, The Country Trust has been connecting children from the UK's most disadvantaged communities with the land that sustains us all. Through inspiring farm visits, food education and countryside experiences, we've already reached more than 600,000 children, and we're just getting started.
We're entering an exciting new chapter as we develop our next organisational strategy, and we're looking for an experienced fundraising leader to help shape our future.
This is an outstanding opportunity for an ambitious and strategic fundraiser to join our Senior Leadership Team and lead the next phase of our income growth, enabling even more children to benefit from our life-changing programmes.
About the role
As Head of Fundraising, you'll provide strategic leadership across all fundraising activity while remaining hands-on in securing major income and developing key relationships.
You'll lead a dedicated fundraising team, drive innovation, strengthen fundraising systems and processes, and develop a sustainable fundraising strategy that diversifies income across:
- Trusts and foundations
- Corporate partnerships
- Major donors
- Individual giving
- Legacies
- Gaming and Streaming for Good
- Emerging fundraising opportunities
Working closely with the CEO, Senior Leadership Team, Digital and IT colleagues, you'll help embed new fundraising systems, champion data-driven decision making and ensure fundraising excellence across the organisation.
About you
We're looking for an inspiring fundraising leader who combines strategic thinking with practical delivery.
You'll bring:
- Significant senior-level fundraising leadership experience
- A proven track record of securing substantial income across multiple fundraising streams
- Experience developing and delivering fundraising strategies that drive sustainable growth
- Strong leadership skills with experience developing high-performing teams
- Excellent relationship-building, communication and influencing skills
- Financial and commercial awareness, including budgeting and forecasting
- Knowledge of fundraising regulation, GDPR and fundraising best practice
- A passion for improving opportunities for disadvantaged children
Experience developing new income streams, digital fundraising and CRM systems would be particularly valuable.
Why join us?
At The Country Trust, you'll be joining an ambitious charity where collaboration, learning and innovation are at the heart of everything we do.
We offer:
- Hybrid and flexible working
- 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays (FTE)
- Workplace pension
- Homeworking allowance
- Mileage and agreed travel expenses
- A supportive, values-led culture
- The opportunity to shape our future strategy and make a lasting difference to children's lives
We're committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that reflects the communities we serve and welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds.
Key dates
Closing date: 12pm, 3 August
Shortlisting: 6 August
Interviews: Week commencing 24 August
The Country Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful candidate will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check.
We are a small, dynamic national education charity dedicated to bringing alive the working countryside for children least able to access it.



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
We are looking for a confident, motivated, and relationship-focused Fundraiser to help raise vital funds for our humanitarian
projects around the world.
As a key ambassador for the charity, you will build strong relationships with donors, supporters, businesses, and communities, inspiring them to support our mission. Using a range of fundraising tools, campaigns, events, partnerships, and digital platforms, you will maximise income to support life-changing humanitarian programmes.
This role also offers opportunities to travel and deploy to the field, giving you firsthand insight into the impact of the projects your fundraising helps make possible.
Key Responsibilities:
- Raise funds to support the charity’s humanitarian projects.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with donors, corporate partners, and supporters.
- Identify and develop new fundraising opportunities across multiple channels.
- Represent the charity professionally at events, meetings, and community engagements.
- Use all available fundraising tools and platforms to maximise income and supporter engagement.
- Deliver fundraising activities that meet or exceed agreed targets.
- Share the impact of our humanitarian work with supporters and stakeholders.
- Willing and able to travel internationally at short notice.
About You
- Confident and engaging, with excellent communication skills.
- A natural relationship-builder who can inspire and influence others.
- Passionate about humanitarian work and helping communities in need.
- Results-driven, proactive, and self-motivated.
- Comfortable acting as an ambassador for the charity.
- Willing to travel and undertake field deployments when required.
- Fundraising experience.
- Right to work in the U.K.
Join us and help secure the resources needed to deliver humanitarian aid and create lasting change for vulnerable communities worldwide.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.