Head of Development and Engagement
We are seeking an exceptional Head of Development and Engagement to lead growth and influence, and to develop the income strategy at a defining moment in the organisations history.
This is a rare opportunity to step into a senior leadership role where your expertise, ambition, and creativity will have a direct and lasting impact on people’s lives. Shape a legacy. Grow impact. Lead with purpose.
Position: Head of Development and Engagement
Location: Gloucestershire/Hybrid
Hours: Full-time, 37.5 per week (flexible working)
Salary: £57,000 per annum
Contract: Permanent
Benefits include: 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays, rising by up to 5 extra days with service, wellbeing days, retailer discounts and rewards, company pension and sick pay, life assurance, onsite sports facilities and a supportive, passionate and high-performing team environment.
Closing Date: 8th May 2026
Interviews: 19th and 20th May 2026
About the Role
This role sits at the heart of the organisation’s future, shaping how it is seen, how it is supported, and how it can sustainably deliver life changing services for children, adults, and families across Gloucestershire
As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will help shape and lead the runway to the next 170 years.
You will set the strategic direction for brand, engagement, partnerships, and income generation and ensure the mission is powerfully articulated, widely championed, and sustainably funded. You will cultivate influential relationships, unlock new opportunities for growth, and inspire others to invest in this work, not just financially, but also strategically and emotionally.
As Head of Development & Engagement, you will:
- Lead the development and delivery of a long term strategy that diversifies income and strengthens financial resilience.
- Drive the acquisition of new contracts and commissioned services.
- Build and maintain high value partnerships with funders, commissioners, and corporate partners.
- Grow and nurture a loyal donor base through innovative engagement and retention strategies.
- Oversee all marketing, PR, and brand activity to raise our profile locally and regionally.
- Build a Development and Engagement Team.
About You
This is a role for a leader who thinks boldly and acts collaboratively and can balance commercial acumen with deep social purpose. Someone who understands that strong brands change perceptions, strong partnerships accelerate impact, and strong income strategies create freedom to innovate.
This role offers the chance to do work that truly matters, to use your skills and leadership to strengthen communities, transform lives, and steward an organisation with an exceptional past into an even stronger future.
What You’ll Bring
Qualifications
- Degree level education or equivalent experience in fundraising, marketing, business development, or a related field
- Evidence of ongoing professional development
Experience
- Ability to build strategic partnerships with funders, commissioners, and corporate partners
- Experience managing brand development, media relations, and marketing campaigns
- Digital marketing and social media expertise
- Experience leading and motivating teams
- Budget management and financial forecasting skills
- Proven success delivering significant income growth across diverse fundraising streams
- Experience developing and implementing effective fundraising strategies
- Track record of securing contracts and commissioned services
- Strong bid writing and tendering experience
If you are driven by impact, energised by influence, and motivated by the opportunity to leave a meaningful legacy that changes lives for the better, we would love to hear from you.
Employees are not required to adhere to the Christian faith, nor any faith, and no such consideration is made by the organisation in employment choices nor in delivering its services, however, all employees are expected to demonstrate the list of Values shown while in the workplace.
OPERATE with Equity, Integrity, Openness and Honesty.
ENGAGE with Empathy, Kindness, Generosity and Grace.
BE Thoughtful, Discrete, Ethical and Respectful to all.
About the Organisation
Founded in 1855, this registered charity and has become a leading provider of supported housing for the most vulnerable in Cheltenham and Gloucester, alongside other works including early-years provision, sports facilities, community engagement and other charitable activities.
We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of their age, gender, disability, race or ethnicity, sexual orientation or faith. The charity is committed to following safer recruitment guidelines. You must have the right to live and work in the UK. The team is wholly committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment.
You may have experience in other roles such as Deputy Head of Development and Engagement, Head of Development and Engagement, Head of Engagement, Head of Impact and Engagement, Director of Development and Engagement, Development and Engagement Manager.
Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client, Not For Profit People. #INDNFP
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Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
Do you want to join an organisation committed to addressing low literacy and numeracy levels amongst people in the criminal justice system?
We’ve made substantial progress in recent years, with improvements and expansions to our delivery model and significant growth in our staff team. In Spring 2026, we will launch our refreshed organisational strategy, which will shape our work over the next three years and beyond. To support this growth, we are recruiting for a full time National Director of Operations to lead our delivery across England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and emerging community settings, with an ambition to reach Scotland. This is an exciting opportunity to play a central role in scaling our impact and strengthening our presence across the criminal justice system and beyond.
As National Director of Operations, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for our learning programmes in prisons and community settings. You will ensure high‑quality, consistent and accessible delivery, overseeing a team of six Regional Managers and a wider workforce of around 65 staff, volunteers and over 2,000 peer mentors trained each year.
Working closely with senior colleagues, partner organisations and national bodies such as HMPPS, you will drive programme excellence, innovation and partnership working. You will also play a key role in new business development, operational strategy, contractual delivery and ensuring we can reliably demonstrate the impact of our work.
The role requires an experienced operational leader with a deep commitment to improving outcomes for people facing disadvantage. You will bring:
- Senior leadership experience in a complex, multi‑site environment.
- A track record of delivering large-scale programmes and leading distributed teams.
- Strong strategic thinking, problem‑solving and relationship‑building skills.
- Experience working with statutory bodies or large public-sector partners (e.g. HMPPS).
- Excellent judgement, communication skills and the ability to influence at all levels.
- Understanding of the criminal justice system, safeguarding, or alternative education environments (desirable).
- A collaborative, inclusive leadership style aligned with Shannon Trust’s values.
We want to hear from applicants who are as committed to the cause as we are.
This is a home-based role but will require travel around the UK including overnight stays. This role is 5 days per week (35 hours) with working days/hours to be mutually agreed in line with business needs.
Employee benefits include a company contribution to pension scheme of up to 5%, 30 days holiday plus bank holidays, life insurance, paid volunteering days, discounts via Reward Gateway and an Employee Assistance Programme. The biggest benefit though is our culture – our people really want to work for the organisation.
We welcome job applications from people with lived experience of the criminal justice system and do not routinely ask for details of any criminal convictions. This role does require prison security clearance, so we will need to ask for details of any relevant criminal convictions before an offer of employment is finalised.
Interviews, which will be held online, are planned for the w/c 18th May.
All applications must include a CV and covering letter of no more than 2 pages which outlines your suitability for the role and how you meet the person specification.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.