Donor services representative jobs in Birmingham
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This is a home-based role, working Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Applications are welcome from candidates based outside Belfast, provided they are resident in Northern Ireland and able to commute to the Belfast office if required.
The External Affairs Manager plays a pivotal role in empowering people with sight loss to live the life they choose. This position leads the development of policy and campaigns within the country, aligning with Guide Dogs’ strategic objectives. Working collaboratively with the central policy, public affairs, and campaigns team, as well as the country leadership team, the role builds strategic partnerships with government bodies, local authorities, societies, and other key organisations. This ensures Guide Dogs remains informed and influential on all policy initiatives affecting the organisation and its stakeholders.
The post holder will be responsible for the day‑to‑day leadership, management and oversight of a team.
The post-holder is responsible for shaping policy positions, drafting responses to consultations from councils, combined authorities, and devolved governments, and driving impactful campaigns at a regional level. A key focus is increasing the involvement of blind and partially sighted people in advocacy and campaigning.
Additionally, the role leads the implementation of Guide Dogs’ regional marketing and communications strategy across the Devolved Nations. This includes raising brand awareness, engaging diverse audiences—service users, families, volunteers, donors, and the public—and delivering integrated communications plans that strengthen Guide Dogs’ presence and impact.
Key Responsibilities
Policy Development
- Lead the creation of country-specific policy and position papers, ensuring alignment with organisational strategy.
- Prepare responses to consultation papers from devolved administrations, local government, and regional bodies.
- Represent Guide Dogs on committees, working groups, and forums, staying informed on policy issues impacting the organisation and its service users.
Public Affairs
- Build and influence relationships with key stakeholders, including elected representatives and senior officials.
- Represent Guide Dogs at Government Scrutiny Committees and cross-party groups.
- Act as the primary liaison with local government and statutory agencies.
Campaigns & Influence
- Strategically lead and coordinate campaigns at a country level, ensuring alignment with devolved policy priorities.
- Develop and deliver campaigns addressing local needs of the visually impaired community.
- Foster partnerships within the Third Sector to build consensus and amplify Guide Dogs’ strategic aims.
Leadership & People Management
- Provide strong leadership to local staff and volunteers, promoting best practice and knowledge-sharing.
- Oversee recruitment, performance management, and compliance with safeguarding policies.
- Ensure high levels of engagement through effective communication and leadership.
Financial Accountability
- Support fundraising initiatives and monitor operational budgets to ensure efficiency and compliance.
Diversity & Inclusion
- Champion Guide Dogs’ diversity agenda, ensuring services are inclusive and accessible.
- Work with external partners to create a more inclusive environment for people with sight loss.
How to apply
Further details on the full role are attached below. When you are ready to apply, submit an online application form via this page.
If you would like to have an informal conversation about the role before applying, or require any accessibility support to apply, our friendly recruitment team is ready and waiting to help.
As part of your application ensure you provide evidence and examples of how your skills & experience meet the criteria as set out in the attached job description. You will also be asked to complete a few job-specific questions as part of this application process, so please be prepared to write your answers to these questions.
Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
Guide Dogs welcomes applications from all sections of the community and actively encourages diversity to maximise achievements, creativity and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability or nationality.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we are proud, whenever possible, to offer an interview to all candidates that meet our selection criteria, and who indicate they wish their application to be considered under our Disability Confident interview commitment. For more details, visit our careers site.
If you are successful you will need to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK via our digital ID checking supplier; in addition, we cannot offer visa sponsorship at this time.
Safeguarding
Guide Dogs is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk of harm with whom we work. We expect all our employees and volunteers to fully share this commitment.
At Guide Dogs, we believe in fair and equitable hiring practices. A criminal record will not automatically disqualify an applicant from consideration for a position. Each case will be evaluated individually, taking into account the nature of the offense, its relevance to the role, and the time that has passed since the incident. We encourage all candidates to disclose relevant information, and we assure you that it will be handled confidentially and fairly.
Guide Dogs follow Safer Recruitment practices to ensure we are safeguarding the vulnerable people we work with. As part of this, we require a full work history with any gaps accounted for & a minimum of 2 professional referee details fully covering the past 5 years. If you are applying for a disclosure role, please note that you will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check and sign up to the DBS update service.
For high volumes of applications, we reserve the right to close adverts earlier than advertised.
Registered Charity
More than 1000
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Job Type: Full time
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £55,000 – £60,000 per annum
Scope and purpose
To implement MEI’s business development strategy, helping us secure sustained income to deliver our priorities and fulfil our mission to improve lives through maths education. This includes managing bid processes for major funding, working with senior leadership and business leads to write costed proposals, identifying tender and other funding opportunities, reviewing and finalising funding agreements, and working with the Director for Strategic Communications and Partnerships to nurture relationships and bring new opportunities to fruition.
Main duties and responsibilities
Support all aspects of MEI’s business development and fundraising activity.
Funding opportunities and competitor environment
- Scope external funding opportunities, reviewing these against MEI’s mission, objectives and key criteria.
- Report to MEI’s Senior Leadership Team and Board on the pipeline of new and potential opportunities and produce business cases for new ventures for MEI’s SLT/Board.
- Undertake research into donors, sponsors and other funders, reviewing suitability and conducting due diligence.
- Work with the Director for Strategic Communications and Partnerships to develop relationships and opportunities towards formal agreement.
- Provide advice and guidance to colleagues involved in developing new business, including how to model costs and pricing, and shaping and writing effective proposals.
- Build intelligence about the competitive landscape, identifying competitors, assessing potential threats and maintaining an up-to-date register for SLT and the Board.
Tenders, bids and proposals
- Manage a diverse set of funding opportunities and proposals on the go at any single time, ranging from conference sponsorships to grant applications, project bids, corporate partnerships and government programme bids.
- Participate in pre-market engagement for large tenders, clarifying funder expectations and requirements, guiding senior leadership decisions about priorities and bidding criteria.
- For competitive tenders, manage the process from tender launch to bid submission with input from business and operational leads, including: tender clarification; costs and budget; proposal writing, review and sign off; compliance requirements; and supporting documentation.
- Co-ordinate post-award processes through to contract signature, in line with Grant Manager responsibilities and in liaison with SLT and trustees, legal partners, finance and other partners/teams.
- Participate in post-tender feedback reviews and share learning across the team, using lessons learned to undertake revision and improvements.
Sponsor and donor management
- Support the account management and stewardship of donors and sponsors, liaising with appropriate teams, ensuring that objectives of donors and sponsors are fully met.
- Directly manage relationships with lead representatives of annual conference sponsor and exhibiting organisations, ensuring their objectives are met, arrangements are handled smoothly, and risks and issues are managed effectively.
Systems, records and reporting
- Shape the configuration and use of MEI’s CRM system and other internal systems for effective business development and fundraising.
- Ensure contact records are up to date, accurate and compliant.
- Produce regular reports for SLT and Board on progress in business development and fundraising, including conversion rates, KPIs, and risks.
- Contribute to MEI’s culture of evidence-driven decision-making, providing high quality evidence and intelligence which supports business strategy.
General leadership and management
- Work with trustees, SLT and business teams to ensure that business development and fundraising activity is coherent and aligned with broader strategy and delivery.
- Support the development of commercial skills, competencies and approaches across MEI.
- Undertake other duties assigned by the Director for Strategic Communications and Partnerships and keep them up to date through accurate and regular updates.
Key Relationships
- Director for Strategic Communications and Partnerships
- Chief Operating Officer
- Chief Learning Officer
- Financial Controller
- Business and Central Services Manager
Person Specification
Essential
- Demonstrable experience of fundraising across multiple income streams
- Strong track record of writing bids and securing grant and other funding
- Knowledge and experience of public sector procurement
- Excellent writing skills for bids and fundraising communication
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and work autonomously
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships across MEI and with external funders
Desirable
- Experience in the education or charitable sector
- Track record of securing large government contracts
- Experience collaborating with product development or programme design teams
- Familiarity with MEI’s mission and the education landscape
Personal Attributes, Values and Behaviours
- This is a list of personal attributes which are important for the role but also should encapsulate behaviours required to meet the MEI values of equity, credibility, commitment and service.
- Communicates with clarity and respect
- Commitment and ability to work with all stakeholders to deliver exceptional service
- Actively seeks to work collaboratively when required to achieve the highest service standards
- Self-motivated with a strong work ethic, proactive attitude, and commitment to continuous learning and skill development
- Supportive and collaborative, able to guide and motivate others to deliver high-quality work
- Exceptional interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and foster positive, collaborative relationships with colleagues and stakeholders
- Highly organised, able to manage multiple tasks and adapt to changing priorities
- Dynamic, enthusiastic, and positive, bringing energy and a can-do attitude to the role
Additional Information
This role will involve some travel and occasional overnight stays away from home.
REF-227 227
Thank you!
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!
Mary’s Meals is a global movement supported by people from all walks of life and we are focused on one goal – that every child receives a nutritious daily meal in a place of education. We offer more than just a career, we offer the opportunity to support our global movement in a dynamic and inclusive environment with a real focus on personal development.
We are delighted to be recruiting for Head of Northern Ireland to be the senior ambassador and strategic leader for Mary’s Meals across Northern Ireland. This role is remote however we require candidates to be based in Northern Ireland.
While playing a key role within the wider Development Directorate, you will guide how Mary’s Meals is seen, understood, and felt in Northern Ireland – shaping our public profile, driving sustained income growth, and building the partnerships and grassroots energy needed to grow our movement.
Key responsibilities include:
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Working cross-directorate to create and deliver a fundraising growth strategy for Northern Ireland, rooted in regional insight, cultural understanding, and community needs, and aligned with the global and national strategy.
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Working with the Communications team, shape a clear and compelling narrative, respecting the nation’s strong identity.
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Identify emerging opportunities across Northern Ireland, including diocesan networks, local relationships, and regional giving patterns, adjusting plans quickly to drive maximum impact.
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Serve as the senior MMUK representative in Northern Ireland, ensuring activity aligns with the national organisational strategy.
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Act as the leading spokesperson for Mary’s Meals in Northern Ireland, representing the charity to churches, schools, local authorities, individuals, universities, and community or business networks.
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Spend focused time externally; networking, nurturing partnerships and driving growth through representing the charity at events, meetings, faith gatherings, conferences, and civic forums.
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Proactively cultivate, pursue, and develop fundraising opportunities via networking and outreach with the aim of securing support for our school feeding programme.
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Develop and maintain a robust national growth pipeline, ensuring proactive identification, cultivation, conversion, and stewardship of opportunities.
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Significant focus on the growth and development of new Volunteer Fundraising Groups in counties across Northern Ireland.
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Line manage and coach a Regional Development Officer, enabling them to become a confident, high‑performing fundraiser.
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Serve as a trusted media spokesperson for press, broadcast, and faith media when required.
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Work closely with the Communications team to provide compelling local supporter stories, impactful moments, and local activity to showcase.
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Shape national to local messaging so that campaigns resonate with audiences across Northern Ireland.
To apply for the role of Head of Northern Ireland based at Mary’s Meals UK, please follow instructions on Charity Job.
Applicants must hold full right to work in the UK.
We welcome applications from candidates of all different backgrounds and identities to apply. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse charity providing a supportive place for you to do the best and most rewarding work of your career.
Closing date for applications is Tuesday, 24 March 2026.
Interviews will commence week commencing 30th March 2026. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
Thank you!
Interserve is committed to working cross culturally amongst the peoples of Asia and the Arab World; to see lives and communities transformed through encounter with Jesus Christ.
We are looking for a personable Finance Co-ordinator to join our small friendly team at our National Office in Birmingham.
You will need to have a passion for Interserve’s vision and mission as well as significant hands-on finance experience. You should be qualified in Financial Management or Book keeping, with a qualification at minimum AAT level 3 or equivalent as minimum.
Good experience of accounts preparation and using an accounting system or database are essential.
The role includes:
· Assisting the Finance Manager with the preparation of draft accounts, and year-end preparation, including accounts accruals and reconciliation.
· Assisting with the transition to a new accounting system.
· Liaising with suppliers, tender applications and independent examiners and responding to audit queries.
· Processing and accounting for all supplier invoices and payments,
· Completing month end journals and balance sheet reconciliations.
· Preparing and submitting Gift Aid claims in a timely manner
You should possess excellent numeracy and accuracy with detailed spreadsheets, along with effective administration skills and the ability to handle confidential information sensitively. You should be a good communicator, both verbally and in writing and be able to work independently and as part of the Finance Team.
In return, our National Office offers a welcoming, prayerful community, with a commitment to supporting staff wellbeing and flexible working arrangements.
The salary for this role is £36,481 for full time hours. This is a hybrid role which can be worked from the office and at home, with a minimum once a week attendance at the National Office in Birmingham. Additional days on site will be required during the induction phase (up to 3 months).
In return, our National Office offers a welcoming, prayerful community, with a commitment to supporting staff wellbeing and flexible working arrangements.
Closing date: 25th March 2026
Interviews will take place at our National Office in Birmingham on 31st March 2026
Interserve is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk and expects all within the Interserve community to share this commitment. DBS certificates will be required for all workers.
Please follow the link to our website for further application details. Send a completed application form, CV and covering letter.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.