Assistant to executive director jobs

Description 

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Head of Fundraising to lead and further develop our fundraising activity at a pivotal time for the Cathedral. This is a strategic and hands on role, working closely with the Chief Operating Officer and Senior Management Team to secure the resources needed to sustain and grow the Cathedral’s mission, ministry and buildings. 

You will take the lead on generating fundraising income, primarily through trusts and foundations, while also developing appeals, legacy giving, regular giving and new fundraising income streams. You will build on the strong foundations already in place, bringing creativity, rigour and collaboration to everything you do. 

The role 

As Head of Fundraising, you will: 

• Lead relationships with trusts and foundations, identifying opportunities, writing compelling applications and managing reporting and compliance 

• Drive major fundraising bids to support the Cathedral’s Estates Masterplan and strategic priorities 

• Develop and deliver fundraising appeals and pilot new initiatives to diversify income 

• Grow legacy and regular giving, building a sustainable pipeline of long-term supporters 

• Lead supporter care, engagement and fundraising events 

• Oversee fundraising communications and profile raising activity 

• Work collaboratively across the Cathedral to develop fundable projects and shared ownership of fundraising 

• Manage the fundraising budget and report progress to the Senior Management Team and Finance Committee 

• Act as Line Manager for the Development Officer 

This role combines strategic thinking with practical delivery and will suit someone who enjoys working in a small, committed team where no two days are the same. 

What we're looking for 

• Proven experience in fundraising, particularly trusts and foundations 

• A strong track record of writing successful funding applications generating over £250,000pa 

• Excellent relationship building and communication skills 

• The ability to work collaboratively with colleagues, volunteers and external partners 

• Empathy with the values, mission and worshipping life of a Christian cathedral 

• A calm, organised and proactive approach, with strong attention to detail 

• A clear commitment to safeguarding, inclusion and best practice 

Experience in cathedral, church, heritage or charity settings is welcome but not essential — we are keen to hear from candidates with transferable skills from other sectors. 

Why join us? 

You will be part of a warm, committed community, working in a unique historic setting and helping ensure Portsmouth Cathedral continues to thrive for generations to come. 

 
Benefits 

• Generous annual leave allowance of 25 days per annum (FTE) plus public holidays and 2 'given' days over Christmas. Pro rata for this part-time role. 

• Employer pension contributions of 7% plus 1% employee contribution. 

• Commitment to professional development and training 

• Cash health plan 

Portsmouth Cathedral is an Equal Opportunities Employer and a member of Inclusive Church.   

Interviews in person Tuesday 5 May 2026

Samaritans Training School - or STS for short - is our dedicated central training team who deliver high quality Samaritans training on behalf of branches and hubs. Our busy team delivers training to new and existing volunteers and staff members, throughout the year.​

We’re looking for an experienced Training School Manager to lead our STS function. You’ll oversee high-quality training delivery and facilitation, leading on quality assurance, continuous improvement and the ongoing development of training practice.​

As an experienced leader, you’ll manage and develop our high-performing STS team, striving to ensure excellence in our training provision. You’ll also be responsible for rota management and scheduling of training courses, balancing organisational priorities along with the performance and wellbeing of your team.​

You’ll work closely with stakeholders across the organisation, including staff and volunteers, through building strong working relationships. You’ll work to understand training and development needs, ensuing joined up learning design and delivery.​

If you’re a strong leader with clear and positive communication skills, an aptitude for problem solving and experience in the operational delivery of training, this may be the role for you.​

Contract terms:

• £47,000 - £51,000 per annum, plus benefits
• Permanent
• Full time hours are 35 hours per week, but we are passionate about flexible working, talk to us about your preferences.
• Homebased contract
• In-person working: Meeting in person and working collaboratively are things we value. We work in person around 2 days or more per month
• This role requires regular out of hours working to oversee evening training delivery. Travel to our office in Ewell (Surrey) for in-person meetings is also required.

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​What you'll do:

• Lead the operational delivery of the Samaritans Training School, ensuring a high-quality virtual training provision
• Set and uphold standards of training delivery and facilitation across the Samaritans Training School
• Manage a high-preforming training team
• Support, coach and develop trainers to address skills gaps and drive continuous improvement
• Schedule training courses balancing trainer availability and resource
• Monitor and quality assess service delivery of training courses, using performance data and insight
• Ensure training delivery is in line with best practice
• Build strong relationships with staff, volunteers and other stakeholders

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What you’ll bring:

• ​Proven experience leading the operational delivery of learning or onboarding training programmes
• Experience of leading the delivery of virtual training
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in written form
• Ability to write clear and concise reports and presentations
• Ability to manage multiple systems
• Experience in building rotas and scheduling
• Experience in managing, leading and developing a high performing team
• Strong customer service and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build strong working relationships
• A training or facilitation qualification (desirable)
• Experience working with or managing volunteers, or within the charity sector (desirable)​

Please see Job Description and Person Specification 

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Why Samaritans?

At Samaritans, you’ll be part of a people-first organisation deeply committed to inclusion, compassion and learning. You’ll contribute to a team where your voice matters, your expertise makes a difference, and your work helps save lives.​

We welcome applications from individuals with lived experience and encourage those from underrepresented communities to apply. We are committed to creating an environment where all our people feel seen, heard and supported.​

You’ll join a values-led organisation with a powerful mission and a collaborative culture. We offer flexible hybrid working, excellent benefits, and the chance to make a tangible difference in suicide prevention across the UK and Ireland.​

For further information about Samaritans, including our charity structure, values, employee benefits, and application process, please read our recruitment brochure available here. You can also visit our careers website to access this.​

We recognise the enormous benefits and the social justice imperatives of ensuring diversity at every level of our organisation. Samaritans is wholly committed to inclusion and diversity and to building a culture and environment where everyone is appreciated for the unique person they are. To ensure Samaritans is representative of those we support and who support us, we particularly welcome applications from disabled, racialised minority and LGBTQ+ candidates, as these people are under-represented at Samaritans.

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Apply now

If this sounds like the opportunity for you, please apply. You will be asked to answer some short application questions and to upload your CV. 

Applications close: ​Sunday 12th April 2026.

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At Samaritans, human connection is at the heart of everything we do.​

We do not use AI at any stage during the selection process. Your application will always be carefully reviewed by the recruiting manager or a member of the Talent Attraction Team.​

We kindly ask that you avoid using AI tools to generate your application or interview answers. We want to hear your own ideas, insights, and writing style so your unique strengths can shine through.