Bid Writer — The Heritage Alliance
Application Deadline: 22 May 2026
Fixed Term: 0.4 FTE (14 hours per week) for 6 months
Start Date: June 2026
Salary: £33,000 FTE per annum, pro-rata (£6600 total for the contract period)
Leave: 24 days FTE per annum pro-rata, in addition the Heritage Alliance Office closes between Christmas and New Year
Line Manager: Head of Development and Membership
Place of Work: The Heritage Alliance Office, Central London, EC4M
(Flexible working arrangements can be considered)
The Opportunity
Are you an experienced bid writer looking for an intensive, focused role with a leading heritage organisation? We are seeking a skilled professional to join our "Creating Connections" project team for a targeted 6-month assignment.
This role is part of The Heritage Alliance's NLHF-funded resilience project, specifically supporting Strand C: Future-proofing our charity. You will work with a pipeline of funding opportunities already developed by our professional fundraising consultant to secure vital long-term funding for our sector support activities.
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced bid writer to make a significant impact in a short time-frame, working with high-quality prospects and supporting England's heritage sector through sustainable funding solutions.
About The Role
Key Tasks:
Research & Development
- Conduct detailed research on prospective funders to tailor applications effectively
- Develop compelling case studies and evidence base to support funding applications
- Research and incorporate relevant sector data, impact statistics, and beneficiary testimonials
- Stay informed about current funding trends and opportunities in the heritage and charity sectors
- Identify additional funding opportunities that align with our strategic priorities
Strategic Bid Writing
- Develop compelling funding applications to trusts, foundations, and grant-making bodies using an established pipeline of prospects
- Write high-quality proposals for long-term support of the Heritage Funding Directory
- Create applications for new sector-wide support programmes addressing skills needs and emerging challenges identified in our sector capability-building strategy
- Adapt proposals to different funder requirements, priorities, and application formats
- Work closely with the Head of Development to ensure applications align with organisational strateg
Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration
- Work with a professional fundraising consultant to prioritise and progress pipeline opportunities
- Collaborate with the Heritage Alliance senior team to gather project information and organisational data
- Engage with relevant staff members to collect evidence, case studies, and impact data
- Coordinate with the Project Administrator and other team members to ensure consistency in messaging
- Liaise with potential funders as appropriate during the application process
Project Support & Administration
- Maintain accurate records of all funding applications and their progress
- Manage application deadlines and submission processes
- Support the development of a sustainable fundraising strategy for post-project continuation
- Contribute to project reporting and evaluation activities
- Participate in project team meetings and provide updates on fundraising progress
Key Competences:
Experience:
Essential:
- Proven track record of successful bid writing with demonstrable results in securing funding
- Experience writing applications to trusts, foundations, and statutory funders
- Strong background in the charity/not-for-profit sector with understanding of funding landscape
- Experience managing multiple applications simultaneously and meeting tight deadlines
- Knowledge of different application formats and funder requirements
Desirable:
- Experience in the heritage, cultural, or arts sectors
- Previous work with membership organisations or sector support bodies
- Experience with capacity-building or infrastructure funding applications
- Knowledge of NLHF and other major heritage funders
- Experience working with professional fundraising consultants
- Understanding of digital heritage projects and online resource development
Skills, Abilities and Knowledge:
Essential:
- Exceptional written communication skills with ability to adapt tone and style for different audiences, and present detailed information clearly and concisely
- Strong research skills and ability to quickly understand complex organisational contexts
- Excellent project management skills with ability to prioritise and meet multiple deadlines
- High attention to detail and accuracy in application preparation
- Understanding of charity finance, governance, and impact measurement
- Ability to work independently and take initiative in a fast-paced environment
- Strong interpersonal skills for stakeholder engagement and collaboration
Desirable:
- Knowledge of heritage sector challenges, funding landscape, and policy environment
- Understanding of digital transformation and accessibility requirements for online resources
- Experience with monitoring and evaluation frameworks
- Knowledge of social impact measurement and outcome reporting
- Familiarity with Data Protection legislation and compliance requirements
- Understanding of partnership working and collaborative funding approaches
Application Process
To apply, please submit a CV/resume detailing your qualifications and experiences together with a cover letter (to be pasted into the box labelled 'Anything else to mention').
All applications should be submitted through our WorkSmarter vacancy page by 22 May 2026.
Shortlisted candidates will be contacted w/c 25 May to arrange interviews. We will also request that shortlisted candidates provide a portfolio of successful funding applications (anonymised as appropriate) demonstrating your track record and writing style.
The Heritage Alliance is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and abilities.
Thank you for considering a career at The Heritage Alliance. We look forward to receiving your application!
About the Heritage Alliance
Established in 2002, The Heritage Alliance represents the independent heritage movement in England. We have a unique role, promoting and championing the sector in all its diversity:
We influence legislation and policy through our extensive links with Government, Parliament and Sector Networks
We bring the sector together in our advocacy and working groups, events and publications
We help our members grow through both member-only initiatives and broader sector support programmes with partners like the Chartered Institute of Fundraising, Media Trust and Clore Leadership.
Our membership ranges from large bodies such as the National Trust, Historic Houses, Canal & River Trust to specialist charities and community organisations, across the breadth of sector, from museums, conservation, archaeology to science and construction.
Thank you!
Are you a senior income generation leader ready to build something joined‑up, ambitious, and sustainable?
We’re looking for a Head of Income Growth to lead integrated fundraising, marketing, and communications across the Age UK Oxfordshire group, helping deliver our Strategy to 2030: For a fairer later life. This is a new, pivotal leadership role. Working closely with the CEO, you’ll bring clarity, focus and momentum to how we grow income, strengthen our public profile, and deepen relationships with supporters, volunteers, and communities.
Location; Hybrid (minimum 3 days a week in the Abingdon Office)
Contract; Permanent
Hours; Full time, 35 hours a week (0.8FTE to be considered)
Salary; circa £55,000 per annum
What You’ll Do:
- Lead the development and delivery of a clear, evidence‑based income growth strategy, diversifying, and growing income streams
- Hold overall accountability for fundraising, marketing and communications, ensuring they operate as a coherent, integrated system
- Grow and engage our community of supporters, donors, volunteers, ambassadors and advocates, increasing participation and long‑term value
- Use data, insight, and performance discipline to improve return on investment and keep a clear grip on income and engagement
- Lead, develop and inspire a multi‑disciplinary team, building confidence, capability, and shared ownership of results
- Act as the charity’s most senior income and external‑engagement lead, working with trustees to raise profile, credibility, and influence
What You’ll Bring:
- Substantial senior‑level experience in income generation, marketing, communications, or supporter growth, ideally across more than one discipline
- A strong track record of developing and delivering income or growth strategy aligned to organisational purpose
- Experience leading and integrating teams to deliver measurable results
- Confidence using insight, data and evidence to inform decisions and report performance at leadership and Board level
- Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to build trust across staff, volunteers and trustees
This is an exciting opportunity to shape a new, senior role in a trusted, forward‑thinking local charity with an appetite for change. If you’re motivated by impact, clarity, and collective success, we’d love to hear from you.
This new role is an investment and will lead a step‑change in line with our Underpinning Principles (above) and staff‑expressed appetite for clearer, more joined‑up external engagement. The postholder will lead on two strategic priorities:
·To diversify and grow income by strengthening our public profile, propositions, and routes to support.
·To increase voluntary support by growing and energising our community of supporters, volunteers, and ambassadors.
Interviews. First interviews will be held on Tuesday 2nd June, with second interviews being held on Tuesday 9th June.
Job Purpose:
Working closely with the CEO to ensure the charity’s ambitions, as described in the Strategy to 2030 and the 2026–27 Plan on a Page are delivered, the role holder will proactively lead integrated fundraising, marketing, and communications work. The role is pivotal in aligning planning and tactical decisions to build a sustainable income engine, strengthening the charity’s profile, performance, and impact at scale.
Role Description
1.Income strategy and delivery
Lead the development and delivery of a clear, evidence‑based income growth strategy, diversifying and growing income streams to deliver the charity’s agreed income ambitions and reduce reliance on any single source.
2.Integrated fundraising, marketing, and communications
Hold full accountability for all fundraising, marketing and communications activity, ensuring strategy, brand, propositions, campaigns, and channels are integrated, coherent and focused on measurable impact.
3.Supporter growth and engagement
Grow and deepen relationships with supporters, including donors, volunteers, ambassadors and advocates, increasing participation, loyalty, and lifetime value in line with our strategic ambitions.
4.Insight, data, and performance discipline
Use insight, data, and performance management to inform decision‑making, strengthen propositions, improve return on investment, and give the CEO and Board a clear grip on income and engagement performance.
5.Leadership, culture, and capability
Lead and line‑manage all fundraising, marketing and communications staff, setting clear priorities, expectations and accountability, and building a confident, high‑performing culture aligned with the organisation’s values and Principles.
6.Organisational leadership and profile‑raising
Act as the organisation’s most senior income and external‑engagement leader, working closely with the CEO and trustees to raise the charity’s profile, influence, and credibility, contributing actively to collective leadership and strategic delivery.
The above list is comprehensive but not exhaustive. You will be expected to undertake other responsibilities, reasonable and relevant to the role.
NB. The postholder is expected to ensure full compliance with Charity Commission guidance and the Fundraising Regulator’s Code of Fundraising Practice, and to apply recognised sector best practice in all fundraising, marketing and communications activity, safeguarding public trust, the charity’s reputation, and regulatory standing.
Person Specification:
Qualifications
a)Educated to degree level or demonstrable equivalent (i.e. capacity to learn at pace, analyse information, apply insight, exercise judgement, and sustain delivery through complexity and challenge).
b)Professional qualification in a relevant field (e.g. fundraising, marketing, communications), and membership of a relevant professional body (e.g. IoF, CIM)
Desirable: Evidence of accredited continuous professional development (Level 7), e.g. digital transformation, data‑led growth, commercial strategy.
Experience
c)Substantial senior‑level experience across most areas of income generation, including at least two from:
·voluntary income (e.g. trusts & foundations, legacies, individuals, community)
·marketing and communications
·supporter or audience growth and engagement
·digital fundraising or campaigns
·brand, proposition, or programme development
d)Proven experience of successfully leading multi-disciplinary teams and managing people, including line management and leadership through influence/matrix working to deliver shared outcomes.
e)Experience demonstrating a strong understanding of integrated income and engagement models, with proficiency in leading fundraising, marketing, and communications as a joined‑up system rather than discrete functions.
f)A proven record of developing and implementing income or growth strategy aligned to organisational purpose, values and long‑term direction, including delivering measurable results or step‑change improvement.
Desirable: Demonstrable success delivering income growth, diversification, or transformation in a VCSE or mission‑driven organisation operating at scale.
Knowledge
g)Strong grip of contemporary fundraising, marketing, communications models, inc. audience‑led growth, brand‑led fundraising, digital, data‑driven approaches.
h)Knowledge of the regulatory, ethical and governance framework for fundraising in the UK, inc. Charity Commission guidance and Fundraising Regulator’s Code.
i)Knowledge of risk management, public trust considerations, and safeguarding principles as they apply to fundraising, communications, public‑facing activity.
j)Awareness of current VCSE sector trends, income challenges and emerging best practice in income generation, supporter engagement and profile‑raising.
Desirable: Authoritative knowledge level in one or more specialist areas e.g. major giving, digital fundraising, brand and communications strategy, income diversification
Skills
k)Strategic and analytical thinking skills, with the ability to set direction, prioritise effectively and translate strategy into delivery at pace.
l)Excellent communication skills, including the ability to present complex information, develop compelling narratives and write credible Board‑level papers.
m) Advanced interpersonal and influencing skills, able to build strong relationships, collaborate across functions and influence stakeholders, including trustees.
n)Excellent organisational and planning skills, including leading and delivering programmes of work, managing competing priorities and meeting deadlines.
o)Advanced people leadership and team development skills, including leading high‑performing teams through change, integration, and growth.
p)Strong capability in using data, insight, and evidence (e.g. income metrics, ROI, pipeline performance, benchmarks) to plan, monitor, report and make decisions.
q)Ability to establish professional credibility quickly and operate effectively with staff, volunteers, managers, and trustees across the organisation and externally.
r)High-level of self‑awareness and commitment to continuous professional and personal development.
s)Commitment to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI) and understanding of how this informs ethical, inclusive fundraising and communications.
t)Confident user of MS Office applications, with the capacity to master CRM, digital fundraising platforms and insight or marketing systems (e.g. Donorfy, Just Giving)
You are expected to commit to the vision, mission, and values of the Age UK Oxfordshire group, and be keen to learn / develop new skills and take on challenges.
Apply now and help us build sustainable income to support a fairer life for older people and carers in Oxfordshire.
Registered Charity
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Supporting older people in Oxfordshire to live life to the full
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.