382 Partnership development officer jobs
About GoodGym
GoodGym is a charity that combines exercise with volunteering. Our members run, walk, or cycle to do physical tasks for community projects and to support isolated and older people.
The potential is even greater, cities around the world have requested that we start there and the goal is to make our activity ubiquitous. Doing so would transform urban life and make cities greener, happier and healthier.
Role summary
The Head of Business Development is responsible for all income generation for the organisation. Working with the CEO they are responsible for creating and executing our business development strategy. They work closely with the senior team to ensure the long term financial sustainability of the organisation.
Goal of the role
The goal of the role is to generate more income than is required to run GoodGym each year and to develop plans to do this sustainably.
- Direct reports 1
- Team Business Development
- Hours 5 days (37.5 hours) per week with flexible arrangements
- Location GoodGym’s Central Team works hybridly from an office in London.
- Report to CEO
- Salary £45-50k
- Application Closing Date Midnight 05th of October 2026
- Planned Interview dates
- First round: Week beginning 19th October
- Second round: Week beginning 26th October
Key responsibilities and accountability
- Develop and manage a business development strategy in line with targets and needs of the organisation.
- Stay informed on changes and trends in relevant funding areas and keep the organisation informed of where we might need to adapt to obtain funding.
- Accountability for all income including, but not exclusively, public sector, grant funding, brand partnerships, member donations and gift aid.
- Identifying new income generation channels, and working with the CEO to ensure opportunities and risks are understood
- Own the end to end business development pipeline - modelling, identifying opportunities, producing proposals, tender submission, negotiation of contracts.
- Ensuring visibility of funding pipeline for the CEO, Treasurer and Board, with regular review of accurate likelihood of delivery across each funding route
- Ensure reporting to funders is executed to a high standard.
- Build and develop relationships with funders and potential funders including chasing funding where necessary.
- Lead, motivate and manage staff and contractors in the business development team.
Wider organisation responsibilities
- Inputting to the overall strategy development of the organisation, and creating delivery plans. Assessing the financial implications of the organisation’s strategy and providing feedback.
- Working with others to ensure that the financial strategy and the organisational strategy are compatible. Work across GoodGym to understand the barriers and enablers for operational work in relation to partnerships
- Ensuring operational teams are consulted on proposals that affect them Building the GoodGym brand and reputation through all interactions and communications, particularly amongst potential and existing funders.
- Reporting relevant information to the Trustee Board, and attending meetings as required
- Working with others to ensure that GoodGym communications reflect our obligations to funders and partners
What success looks like
The success of this role is measured by:
- Development and execution of Business Development Strategy
- Revenue generated at least in line with annual target
- Growth of sustainable income sources e.g. donations, brand sponsorships and long term partnerships
- Contribution to GoodGym’s overall strategy
Growth Opportunities
You will play a key role in the senior leadership of the organisation, and be a representative for GoodGym in meetings with various stakeholders . The role provides the freedom to influence strategy in consultation with the CEO.
You will work closely with other teams across the organisation meaning you can learn from their skills and experiences. You will also have the chance to work closely with our trustees who have a wealth of varied experience and expertise.
Your manager will support your personal development and provide suggestions for learning opportunities, mentorship, training or non-executive roles. There is an annual organisation budget to support the cost of external training.
You will be invited to team events, socials,fitness sessions, meetings and optional working groups on issues such as diversity and the environment.
Expectations of the role
- Occasional national travel - flexible in discussion with manager
- Occasional unsociable hours - flexible in discussion with manager
- Completion of a DBS check
Person specification
What we are looking for in the role:
Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours
Essential
Knowledge
- Understanding of social value and its role in corporate giving
- Budget management experience - including forecasting, tracking against targets and reporting
- Understanding of how to use data and insight to inform decisions, shape proposals and measure impact
Skills
- Proven track record in business development and income generation securing six figure plus amounts
- Experience of bid writing to successfully gain grant/ trust / foundation income
- Experience of people management
- Exceptional relationship building skills
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
- Strategic planning skills - translating strategy into operational delivery plans
- Project management skills
- Time-management and working to deadlines
Behaviours
- Strategic thinker with interest in operations and delivery when needed
- Collaborative
- Person-centred
- Proactive and adaptable
- Committed to diversity, inclusion and safeguarding
Desirable
Knowledge
- Understanding of commissioning environments and public sector procurement
- Relevant sector(s) knowledge - sport/ physical activity, mental health/ isolation/ loneliness or older people
Skills
- Experience of managing people responsible for income generation
- Experience working for a charity or third-sector organisation
For more information on the role and the organisation see our job pack below.
How to apply:
To apply, please apply on our company website no later than midnight on the 05/10/26.
The GoodGym Charity exists to support people to combine getting fit with doing good.



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!
Keeping Young People Safe
We are committed to keeping young people safe. All successful applicants will undergo an enhanced DBS (England & Wales) check and receive ongoing safeguarding training.
At Young Enterprise, safeguarding is at the core of everything we do. We are committed to promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. All successful applicants will receive ongoing safeguarding training throughout their employment and be expected to uphold excellent safeguarding practice at all times.
Are you passionate about helping young people build brighter futures?
Do you love building relationships and making things happen in education? If so, we’ve got a brilliant opportunity for you to join our team as an Educational Partnerships Manager at Young Enterprise.
Who We Are
We’re Young Enterprise – a national charity with a bold mission: to give every young person the skills, confidence, and mindset to thrive in the changing world of work.
For over 60 years, we’ve empowered more than 7 million young people through hands-on enterprise and financial education programmes. Whether it’s launching a student business or learning how to manage money, we help young people develop key life skills-teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, and resilience.
We’re a passionate, down-to-earth team of 90+ staff and 2,000+ volunteers who believe that every young person, regardless of background, deserves a fair start in life.
Why Join Us?
We think Young Enterprise is a great place to work—and we’re proud of our people-first culture. Here’s what you can expect:
- A friendly and supportive team where your voice is heard
- A strong commitment to diversity and inclusion—we want everyone to feel they belong
- Generous holiday allowance and flexible working
- Cycle-to-work scheme, life assurance, and NHS top-up plan
- Ongoing learning and mentoring opportunities
- A chance to directly impact the lives of young people every single day
About the Role
This is a role where you’ll really see the difference you make.
As Educational Partnerships Manager, you’ll work across Dorset and the South Coast of Hampshire, building partnerships with schools, colleges, youth organisations and community groups-particularly in areas where opportunities are hardest to come by.
You’ll be right in the mix: planning events, delivering programmes, supporting volunteers and connecting with school staff to make sure young people have access to our inspiring enterprise and financial education experiences.
You’ll be a key driver of our Inspiring Futures programme-helping young people break down barriers and imagine bigger futures.
It’s a varied, people-focused role with loads of room for creativity, independence and collaboration. Whether you’re visiting a school, chatting with a funder, or supporting a trade fair, you’ll be helping young people build skills that will last a lifetime.
You’ll love this job if you are…
- A brilliant relationship-builder, confident working with teachers, volunteers, and community leaders.
- Passionate about education, social mobility, and giving every young person a chance to shine.
- A natural communicator-whether leading a session in a classroom or inspiring a room of volunteers.
- Organised and able to juggle multiple projects (with a great sense of humour!).
- Self-motivated, adaptable, and happy working remotely but never alone-you’ll be part of a close-knit regional team.
- Excited by the idea of doing a job that combines delivery, relationship-building, fundraising and volunteering.
Key Responsibilities
- Build and grow relationships with schools, colleges, youth clubs and local communities.
- Focus on expanding our reach in areas of multiple deprivation and underrepresentation.
- Deliver and support the rollout of YE programmes in schools and other settings.
- Recruit, train and support volunteers-making sure they feel valued and inspired.
- Work with your regional team to meet shared goals and celebrate local impact.
- Help secure local funding by supporting fundraising efforts and managing project deliverables.
- Support the planning of events, trade fairs and celebrations for young people.
- Keep accurate records, track impact, and make sure safeguarding is front and centre.
A few practical things
- This is a hands-on role-you’ll sometimes be lifting resources, setting up venues and travelling regularly (a car and full driving licence are essential).
- You’ll need to be happy occasionally working evenings or weekends during peak delivery times.
- Expect to be on your feet during some events or sessions-it’s all part of the fun!
How to Apply
If you’re ready to help shape the futures of young people across Dorset and the South Coast of Hampshire, we want to hear from you!
Please send your CV and a cover letter (max 2 pages) telling us why you’re the right person for this role. Applications must be submitted by 23:30 on 17 October 2026. Please note that applications without a cover letter will not be considered.
Interviews will be held via Teams and may take place before the closing date. Please note, we are only able to respond to shortlisted candidates.
Full details can be found in the Job Description.
We’re committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to everyone.
If you have a disability, a long-term health condition, or any other need that requires adjustments, please let us know. We’re happy to make reasonable adjustments at any stage of the process - whether that’s providing application materials in a different format, arranging wheelchair access, offering extra time for assessments, or any other support you may need.
You can contact us directly to request a reasonable adjustment. Contact details are available when you apply for role. All requests will be treated with sensitivity and confidentiality.
At YE we are passionate and committed to keeping your data safe and secure. Full details can be found in the YE People’s Privacy Notice.
Join us – and help us give every young person the chance to thrive. Apply today!
Applications without a cover letter will not be accepted.
We empower young people to discover, develop and celebrate their skills and potential.


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!
About Us
We are a high impact, specialist literacy charity supporting the children who need the most help to close their literacy gap. The attainment gap is now the widest it has been for a decade, and early, high quality literacy intervention is essential to give children from disadvantaged backgrounds the opportunity to make the most of their full potential.
Our specially recruited and trained tutors equip children with all the foundational literacy skills, not just reading but also comprehension, writing, listening and speaking. We achieve significant outcomes: children catch up to where they should be and grow in confidence and resilience, able to step ahead and engage with learning and life.
With a clear focus on our specialist literacy intervention work, the charity has doubled in size over recent years, and we are now planning for the next stage of our growth. Funding is key, and we are looking to appoint a Director of Funding Development to take our fundraising to the next level.
The Opportunity
This is a newly created senior management role reporting directly to the CEO. We see it as critical to our future fundraising success and to the overall development of the charity.
This is a role for a new business ‘seeker’: we need a commercially minded individual with a strong track record of securing new, significant funding opportunities; proactive and creative prospecting; building a credible pipeline; and setting and meeting ambitious targets.
As well as being able to confidently represent the charity and evidence significant relationship-building skills across all funding streams, the successful candidate will work purposefully and collaboratively with senior management colleagues and our Trustee Board, and will have line management responsibility for the fundraising team.
We are looking for someone who can become part of our longer-term fundraising vision on a permanent basis, helping to shape and deliver sustainable growth. We recognise, however, that the right person may be looking for an interim opportunity, therefore we are also open to a shorter-term appointment for a candidate who can deliver a significant, measurable impact in that time.
What You Will Do
• Develop and implement an overarching income generation strategy, setting ambitious annual and 3-year fundraising targets
• Deliver and convert new, significant funding opportunities across corporates, trusts and foundations, and high net worth individuals
• Build and proactively manage a realistic pipeline of potentially transformational funders
• Develop compelling bids and proposals that accurately reflect the charity’s core messaging and delivery priorities
• Provide strong direction and line management to other team members across all funding streams
• Work closely with the CEO on the development of a robust, long-term funding plan
• Effectively represent the charity at external events, meetings and conferences
What We Are Looking For
You will bring:
• Senior fundraising experience with a proven track record of securing significant, transformational funding, not necessarily from a charity background
• Experience across multiple funding streams, in particular high value trusts and foundations, corporates and major donors
• A proactive, creative and ambitious approach to prospect identification and relationship development
• Confident and effective communication skills, being able to represent the charity credibly at the highest levels
• Strong writing skills, with the ability to produce nuanced, compelling and tailored proposals
• Experience of line managing a fundraising team
• A collaborative and positive outlook, with the resilience to thrive in a growing organisation
An interest in education, literacy, and equality of opportunity is highly desirable, as is an existing network of high-level funder contacts.
How to Apply
To apply, please send a detailed CV and a covering letter of no more than 2 pages, explaining why you are interested in this role and how your experience meets the person specification.
We want to hear about your individual experience, judgement and communication style in your own words. We recognise the efficiencies AI tools can bring but please do not use generative AI to substantially develop your application.
The closing date for applications is 15th October 2026, however interviews will happen on a rolling basis therefore early applications are advised.
We are managing this recruitment process directly and do not require support from recruitment agencies or third-party suppliers. We kindly request that recruitment agencies do not contact us regarding this vacancy or submit candidate details on behalf of applicants.
The Children’s Literacy Charity is committed to promoting equal opportunities in employment. You and any job applicants will receive equal treatment regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation (Protected Characteristics).
Thank you for taking the time to apply for this role. We aim to reply to all job applicants, however if we receive a very high number of applications then we may not be able to respond. If you do not hear from us within two weeks of the closing date, then we regret to advise that this means that your application has not been selected to progress through to the next stage of our recruitment process.
Closing the Literacy Gap. Broadening Horizons.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service is looking for an inspirational and experienced Director of Care to provide strategic, clinical and operational leadership across our medical, clinical and holistic care services.
This is a pivotal role within our organisation. Reporting to the CEO and working closely with the Board of Trustees and Senior Leadership Team, you will be responsible for ensuring that children, young people and their families receive the highest quality, safe and compassionate care.
You will have the opportunity to shape the future direction of our care services at an exciting time in the development of Alexander Devine.
The role
As Director of Care, you will have overall responsibility for the leadership, management, quality and performance of our care services.
You will:
- Provide strong, visible and inspirational clinical leadership across all care services.
- Lead the strategic development of our medical, clinical and holistic care provision.
- Ensure services are safe, effective, evidence-based, family-centred and responsive to the needs of the children and families we support.
- Act as Joint Registered Manager with the Care Quality Commission.
- Provide strategic oversight of clinical governance, quality assurance, risk management, safeguarding and compliance.
- Ensure we are prepared for CQC and other regulatory requirements and that learning from incidents, complaints, audits and research drives continuous improvement.
- Lead and support a highly skilled multidisciplinary Care Team, encouraging a culture of reflection, development, innovation and excellence.
- Work with the CEO and wider Senior Leadership Team to deliver the charity's strategic plan and manage resources effectively.
- Develop strong relationships with Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and support the development and management of commissioned services.
- Represent Alexander Devine locally and nationally, contributing to the wider development of children's palliative care.
- Champion the voice of children, young people and their families, ensuring their experience informs the ongoing development of our services.
About you
We are looking for an exceptional clinical leader who combines strategic vision with strong operational management and a genuine passion for children's palliative care.
You will be a registered nurse with significant experience in paediatric palliative care and senior-level leadership experience. You will have a strong understanding of clinical governance, CQC requirements, PSIRF and safeguarding, together with experience of leading service development and change.
You will bring:
- NMC registration as a Children's or Adult Nurse.
- Significant experience of palliative paediatric nursing.
- Senior-level experience of management, strategic thinking and service development.
- Experience of CQC compliance, clinical governance, PSIRF and safeguarding.
- Strong financial and budgetary understanding.
- Excellent communication skills and the confidence to communicate complex and sensitive information to a wide range of audiences.
- The ability to interpret data and use evidence to inform strategic and operational decisions.
- Excellent networking and partnership-building skills.
- A Master's-level qualification in a relevant health or leadership subject is desirable.
Most importantly, you will be an inspirational, resilient and motivational leader who can engage people, build confidence and create a culture where staff are empowered to deliver their very best.
Why Alexander Devine?
This is a rare opportunity to join a growing children's hospice charity and play a leading role in shaping the future of our services.
At Alexander Devine, our values are at the heart of everything we do: determined, empowering, valuing others, integrity, nurture and empathy. We are looking for a leader who genuinely shares these values and can translate them into meaningful action for children, families, staff and volunteers.
You will have the opportunity to work alongside a committed Senior Leadership Team, an experienced clinical team and a passionate wider charity, while building strong relationships with partners across health, social care and the children's palliative care sector.
If you are an ambitious and compassionate clinical leader who wants to make a lasting difference to children and families, we would love to hear from you.
Please note: The successful candidate will be required to undertake an Enhanced DBS check.
We provide specialist care and support to children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, and their families, across Berkshire


The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
About the Royal School for the Blind Charity
The Royal School for the Blind Charity Liverpool is a charity that runs both a School for young people aged 2-19 years old and an adult day service for young adults over the age of 19 with vision impairment, sensory, or additional needs. Although our funding comes from a variety of sources, we are starting to fundraise to support our income and make our work more sustainable for the future. Income generated will support the development of our pupils and young adults, prepare them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life and encourage their independence, communication and mobility.
Why this role matters
We have ambitious plans for the future including building a new Centre to provide opportunities for therapies and independent growth for young people, and we know that developing sustainable voluntary income will be critical to achieving them. That's why we're investing in fundraising and creating this new role. As our first Development Manager, you'll have the opportunity to build our fundraising approach from the ground up, developing new relationships with individuals, businesses, communities and charitable funders and helping us tell the story of our work to new audiences.
Role Overview and Application Process
Job Title: Charity Development Manager
Hours: Full Time (37 hours per week)
Location: This role can be either office-based at the Royal School for the Blind Charity, or hybrid.
Responsible to: Charity Leadership Group and managed by Head of Central Services
Pay Scale: £35k - £40k, depending on experience (NJC 26-30)
Term: Two-year fixed term in the first instance, with the ambition to establish fundraising as a sustainable long-term function within the charity.
This is a rare opportunity to build and shape a new fundraising operation from the ground up, playing a pivotal role in the long-term growth and sustainability of the Royal School for the Blind Charity. As the function develops, there will be scope to expand its reach and impact, offering excellent potential for career progression.
The Charity Development Manager will lead efforts to secure vital income that underpins the charity’s vision and purpose, driving support through donor engagement, targeted campaigns, and strategic fundraising initiatives. Our long-term ambition is to build a diversified fundraising programme capable of generating approximately £400,000 annually. This role will be instrumental in developing and delivering a growing, high-performing fundraising portfolio.
We are looking for an experienced fundraising professional who can design and deliver a robust, evidence-based fundraising strategy. This will involve gaining a deep understanding of the charity’s mission, stakeholders, and audiences, as well as the broader funding landscape, creating a diversified and effective approach that maximizes income and long-term sustainability. This is an exciting time for the Charity as we become much more outward-looking. Alongside our existing work, we have begun a capital building project to enhance our resources. When completed, the new Rushton Centre will house facilities which are open to the public, including a hydrotherapy pool and a café. At the heart of this is a wish to make the Royal School for the Blind Charity part of the fabric of the City.
In this new post we are looking for someone who can help open up our work to the wider public: the role is well suited to an experienced fundraiser looking for autonomy and the opportunity to help shape the next chapter in the charity’s history.
Although this is a new standalone fundraising role, you won't be building the function in isolation. The post sits within a well-established and supportive team and will be strategically led by the Charity Leadership group and Board of Trustees. In addition, you will have access to colleagues across our services to help bring our impact to life, and support to develop campaigns and engage new audiences. Alongside this, the Charity is currently fundraising for a capital project for a significant new building to resource our activities and reach out into the wider community. Whilst this is a separate project, in the future there will be exciting opportunities to link the new building into the core fundraising strategy.
For full roles and responsibilities please see the application pack.
Applications close: 9am on Wednesday 21st October
Shortlisting: Thursday 22nd October
Interviews: Wednesday 4th November
Preferred start date: January 2027 (or as soon as possible)
Safeguarding
The Charity considers safeguarding as its highest priority and fosters an active safeguarding culture. The post will be subject to a range of pre-employment checks, including collection of 3 references, online checks and an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.
Please note we do not accept CVs as a form of application. Please complete the application form attached.
Candidates are encouraged to book an informal chat with the Head of Central Services, to book this, please email HR. The email for HR can be found on the attached application pack.
We are here to support and meet the needs of children and young people with a vision impairment, sensory and other additional needs.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Job summary including context
Young Women’s Trust champions young women on low or no pay. We’re here to create a more equal world of work and raise young women’s incomes. We tackle sexism and misogyny, with and for anyone who has experienced this.
We offer young women free coaching, feedback on job applications and information to help them get where they want to be. We bring together a thousands-strong network to support each other, build their self-belief, and have their voices heard. We work with young women and anyone who experiences misogyny and sexism to campaign for equality in the workplace. And our research provides insight into what young women’s lives are really like, fuelling our campaigns for change.
These are not easy times to be a young woman. The rights and freedoms previous generations fought for can feel up for grabs – sexism is growing louder, online abuse is on the rise, and too many young women are still held back by low pay, insecure work and unequal caring responsibilities. At Young Women's Trust, we believe it doesn't have to be this way, and we're growing our fundraising ambition to match the scale of the challenge.
You will lead a newly united fundraising programme that has brought together corporate partnerships, major donors, and trusts & foundations - an area that already contributes over 80% of our fundraised income. You'll strengthen existing relationships and secure new partnerships to support our mission: creating a more equal world of work and increasing young women's incomes.
EDI statement and sense of flexible working and workplace culture
Young Women’s Trust strives to be an inclusive and representative organisation. We are committed to appointing individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, lived experiences and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from racially minoritised candidates. We use positive action under section 159 of the Equality Act in relation to race. This means that if we have two candidates of equal merit in our process, we will seek to take forward the racially minoritised candidate in order to diversify our staff team.
You’ll be joining a team that will embrace your ideas and support and encourage you to bring your whole self to work.
We can make reasonable adjustments throughout the application process and on the job. If you have particular accessibility needs, please get in touch and let us know any requirements you may have.
Young Women’s Trust is a Living Wage employer and we commit to Show the Salary for every job we advertise. Non-graduates are welcome and we offer a wide range of flexible working options including job share, part-time and compressed hours, different start and finish times and working from home.
We offer:
- 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays – rising annually to a maximum of 30 days
- Enhanced parental leave irrespective of length of service
- Up to 52 weeks maternity leave - 26 weeks at normal rate of pay, 13 weeks statutory maternity Pay, 13 weeks unpaid
- 2 annual wellbeing days
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Learning and development budget
- Flexible working which is fully embedded in our working culture
You must have the right to work in the UK to apply for this role. We are not able to sponsor work visas for non-British applicants.
Deadline to apply: 9am Monday 21st September.
Interview dates: 24th, 25th September
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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.
As our Programmes Officer, you will play a key role in supporting grant partners, community engagement activities and effective grant and event administration. Working closely with colleagues, partners and local communities, you will help ensure our programmes are delivered through strong relationships, accurate records and high-quality administrative support. Your key responsibilities will include:
- Being responsible for the grants administration of 40 Regional Programme partners and grants made in Portsmouth, including ensuring due diligence across governance, finance and safeguarding.
- Providing a first point of contact for Regional Programme and local grant partners.
- Managing grant partnerships, ensuring due diligence is met across governance, finance and safeguarding.
- Supporting local grants, events and community engagement activities in Portsmouth.
- Building and maintaining effective relationships with partners, community stakeholders and voluntary sector organisations.
- Maintaining the grants database with accurate and up to date information.
If you are proactive, well organised and dependable, with strong organisational and administrative skills, and a connection to Portsmouth, we'd love to hear from you.
Empowering young people who face deep-rooted inequality to lead lasting change, by investing in their leadership, their communities, and their spaces.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
University Partnerships Manager
We are seeking an experienced relationship manager to develop university partnerships that improve access to higher education for disadvantaged students.
Salary: £20,004 pro rata (£33,340 FTE), or £21,804 pro rata (£36,340 FTE) for those living in a London borough
Location: Remote within England, Scotland or Wales, with bimonthly meetings in London and occasional UK travel
Hours: Part-time, 22.5 hours per week over three days (between Monday to Friday)
Contract: Fixed term until 31 December 2027
Closing date: Monday 28th September at 9am
About the role
This is an exciting opportunity to manage and grow a portfolio of university partnerships built around a shared commitment to widening participation and improving educational opportunities.
You will provide excellent account management and stewardship, ensuring university partners receive timely communication, meaningful engagement and high-quality impact reporting. You will strengthen existing relationships, support partnership renewals and identify opportunities to secure continued or increased funding.
Working closely with senior leaders and colleagues across fundraising, communications and programme delivery, you will:
- Manage relationships with university partners and key stakeholders
- Coordinate partnership milestones, events and engagement activities
- Produce clear and compelling proposals, reports and cases for support
- Support the research and development of new university partnerships
- Monitor higher education and widening participation policy and sector trends
- Raise the organisation’s profile across the higher education sector
- Maintain accurate CRM records, income pipelines and forecasts
- Ensure fundraising activity complies with regulations and sector best practice
About you
You will be a confident and credible relationship manager with experience of developing partnerships, generating income or achieving successful fundraising or sales outcomes.
You will need:
- Good knowledge of widening participation and the higher education policy landscape
- Strong relationship-building, influencing and negotiation skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- The ability to develop persuasive proposals and cases for support
- Strong organisational and project management skills
- The ability to manage competing priorities and work collaboratively
- A genuine commitment to educational equity and social mobility
Experience within higher education or charity fundraising would be advantageous, as would experience of impact reporting and using a fundraising database such as Salesforce.
About the organisation
You will be joining an education charity that supports young people from under-resourced backgrounds to access leading universities. Through a combination of tuition and in-school mentoring, the organisation helps students improve their grades, navigate the university application process and fulfil their potential.
Benefits include:
- 25 days annual leave p.a. (pro rata) plus Bank Holidays and 5 Winter closure days
- PerkBox
- Employee Assistance Programme, a 24-hour helpline for staff.
- Online Medical assistance
- Interest-free travelcard loan
- Cyclescheme loans
- 2 paid Volunteering Days and 1 paid Wellbeing Day
- Employer’s pensions contributions (3%).
- Learning and Development opportunities.
The organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
As a proud to be a Level 1 Disability Confident employer, if you require any reasonable adjustments please contact us. Please note, if you are selected for appointment to the role, you will be subject to a DBS check.
Applications are particularly welcomed from people from under-represented backgrounds and those with lived experience connected to the organisation’s mission.
Appointment is subject to appropriate pre-employment checks, including a DBS check.
Other roles you may have experience of could include University Partnerships Officer, Higher Education Partnerships Manager, Widening Participation Manager, Corporate Partnerships Manager, Fundraising Manager, Account Manager, Relationship Manager, Partnerships Development Manager or University Engagement Manager.
Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client, NFP People. #INDNFP
Corporate Partnerships Officer
Salary: £32,000 - £33,268 per annum
Contract: Permanent
Hours: 35 hours per week. Flexibility in working pattern, in agreement with line manager
Based: Any BBOWT Office with travel to other sites as required. Hybrid working available.
The Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust has a vision for “more nature everywhere, for everyone”. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. This includes you being comfortable bringing your whole self to work, and us co-working with the diverse communities we serve to ensure we are meeting everyone’s needs.
The Corporate Partnerships Officer will help nature recover by building strong relationships with businesses, creating engaging experiences for corporate supporters, and generating vital income to support local wildlife and wild places.
What you’ll be doing
- Leading the day-to-day management & delivery of the corporate memberships scheme
- Developing and implementing membership recruitment, engagement and retention plans
- Identifying opportunities to deepen engagement and develop strategic partnerships
- Developing and delivering a programme of networking events, volunteering and engagement opportunities for corporate members and partners
What we’re looking for
- Significant knowledge and skills in relationship management, fundraising, customer engagement and/or partnership delivery
- Able to understand and respond effectively to the needs, priorities and expectations of a corporate, commercial or business organisation and stakeholders
- Significant knowledge and skills in coordinating events, activities or stakeholder engagement programmes
- Excellent interpersonal skills and confident communicator – both written and oral
- Advanced competency in Microsoft 365 applications and confidence in adopting and using new technologies
For all your hard work you can expect a great rewards package in return. In addition to being part of a friendly, skilled and knowledgeable team, passionate about making a difference, when you work for us, you’ll also receive
- Generous annual leave entitlement with paid birthday leave, balance days, urgent personal business leave and generous occupational sick pay
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, and family-friendly policies
- Flexible working to achieve work-life balance
- Salary exchange pension with generous employer contribution
- Learning & Development Programme for all
- Wellbeing initiatives including qualified Mental Health First Aiders, YuLife benefit package - access to immediate and confidential help for any work, health, or life matters; 3x life assurance, online GP access, discounts and trade YuCoin points for gift cards
- Salary sacrifice Cycle scheme & Electric Vehicle scheme
- Membership to BBOWT’s, and The Wildlife Trusts’, Staff Network Groups for social interaction, peer support, mentoring and personal development
The closing time and date for applications is 11.59pm on Sunday 4th October 2026.
Interviews will take place Monday 12th October 2026.
Interested?
If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.
BBOWT values diversity and inclusion and the benefits this brings. We want every candidate to have the best chance of success as part of this process. In order to do this, we know that some candidates will need reasonable adjustments. You will be able to contact us if there are any reasonable adjustments we can provide during the recruitment process.
Whilst we appreciate ChatGPT and other AI platforms can answer these questions, we know what they have to say (and generally the answer they generate isn't great). We want to hear your perspective written in your own words. If it is clear that any of your answers are not your own work, we reserve the right to reject your application on that basis.
We want our people to be as diverse as nature, so we particularly encourage applications from people who are underserved within the communities in which we operate. This includes people from visible ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities (including those who are neurodivergent), the LGBTQ+ community, those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, and younger people. We are committed to creating an organisation that recognises and truly values individual differences and identities.
No agencies please.
About the team
The Philanthropy Team raises income for Impetus and for Impetus partner charities. The team consists of 15 staff. Impetus has an annual income of c.£11 million which we are looking to grow significantly within the next few years. The team is led by two Directors of Philanthropy and Partnerships.
The Philanthropy Team works with major donors, corporates and grant making trusts, as well as collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation to ensure we make a compelling case to generate new financial commitments and wider support for our work. The team also deliver a high-quality engagement programme of volunteering and pro bono for Impetus’s corporate supporters.
Impetus is driven by a shared belief in tackling the barriers that hold back young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in education and employment. Alongside investing extensive financial and non-financial support in our charity partners through our Investment Team we also seek to influence decision makers to design and implement evidence led policy and direct new resources to get young people the support they need through our Public Affairs team. We are resolutely focused on outcomes, driven by quality evidence.
You would be joining a team that is passionate, ambitious, determined and warm. We care deeply for our colleagues, our charity partners and the young people we serve.
About this role
The Development Director (New Business) provides strategic leadership for Impetus’ new business development, prospect pipeline and high-value funding opportunities. The postholder will have responsibility for identifying, cultivating and converting new corporate, trust and foundation, and high-net-worth donor relationships, as well as continued relationship management for key, established relationships.
In 25/26, the Philanthropy and Partnerships team generated £11m in philanthropic income, alongside £2.8m in probono contributions. The Development Director will play a key role in delivering Impetus' growth ambitions, helping to increase philanthropic income to £14m by 2029.
Working closely with the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships, the role will translate the fundraising strategy into clear new business priorities, pipeline plans and prospect engagement approaches, ensuring a strong flow of qualified opportunities and sustainable growth in high-value income.
Working closely with colleagues across Philanthropy and Partnerships, the postholder will personally lead and support significant six and seven-figure prospects and strategic funding opportunities, while overseeing the stewardship and retention of current partners.
Working collaboratively across the Philanthropy and Partnerships team and with colleagues across the organisation, the Development Director will ensure a joined-up approach to donor acquisition, pipeline development, prospect conversion and stewardship, maximising income, partnership value and long-term impact within the agreed fundraising strategy.
Key responsibilities
New Business, Pipeline & Conversion
- Personally lead on six and seven-figure level priority prospects and strategic funding opportunities, managing the full fundraising cycle from qualification to close.
- Work with trustees, senior volunteers, and networks to unlock introductions and new opportunities, providing clear support and follow-up to maximise success.
- Evolve Impetus’ new business strategy, driving the identification, cultivation, and conversion of new high-value donor and partner relationships.
- Translate Impetus’ impact, evidence base, and venture philanthropy model into compelling propositions for new audiences and sectors.
Strategic Relationship Management & Growth
- Own and oversee select donor relationships at six and seven-figure levels within the philanthropy portfolio, ensuring high levels of retention, satisfaction, trust, income growth and long-term value.
- Ensure your donors receive timely, consistent, high-quality and relevant engagement and communications throughout their relationship with Impetus.
- Work closely with the wider team to ensure a smooth transition between new business, and long-term stewardship.
- Ensure account plans for priority donors and partners include clear renewal and growth pathways; engagement and risk-management plans.
- Act as senior relationship owner where required, modelling strong stewardship and coaching the Head of Development and other colleagues to navigate complex or sensitive relationships.
Research, Insight & Pipeline Development
- Provide strategic leadership for the Research & Insights function, ensuring prospect research, donor intelligence and market insight inform fundraising strategy, pipeline development and organisational planning.
- Lead the strategic development of fundraising pipelines, ensuring focus on opportunities with the greatest potential for long-term income growth, impact and strategic fit.
- Ensure donor intelligence and prospect research are used effectively to identify, qualify and prioritise new funding opportunities.
- Maintain oversight of gift acceptance, due diligence and fundraising compliance in relation to fundraising opportunities, ensuring adherence to relevant regulatory requirements and organisational policies.
- Identify and escalate strategic, reputational or compliance risks associated with donors and partners.
Leadership and Team Performance
- Line manage and develop the Head of Development, providing strategic direction, coaching and performance oversight.
- Establish the Head of Development as the operational lead on new business, ensuring capability, succession and high performance across the wider team.
- Set clear objectives and success measures for new business growth, aligned to Impetus’ wider income strategy.
- Build and sustain an inclusive, evidence-led and high-performing team culture that balances pace and ambition with quality, learning and collaboration.
- Build fundraising capability across your team through leadership, coaching and consistent, fair, and high-quality performance management, including objective-setting, feedback and development planning.
Pro Bono, Events, Volunteering & Partnership Value
- Ensure engagement opportunities, including volunteering, pro bono and events, strengthen strategic partnerships and support long-term income growth through strong collaboration with colleagues.
Operational Excellence, Governance & Risk
- Ensure new business activity complies with due diligence, gift acceptance and risk management requirements.
- Oversee accurate pipeline reporting, forecasting, and performance tracking, using Salesforce and other systems to ensure insights inform decision making.
- Work with Finance and Operations to ensure income is contracted, invoiced, and reported accurately and on time in line with financial controls.
- Identify and escalate strategic or reputational risks associated with prospective partnerships.
Cross-Organisational Leadership & Representation
- Act as a senior ambassador for Impetus, representing the organisation credibly with new donors, partners, and external stakeholders.
- Contribute to organisational strategy, income planning, and senior leadership discussions.
- Lead philanthropic work on Impetus funds including identifying funding opportunities and risks; shaping prospect pipelines; contributing to cases for support and donor presentations; and develop fund stewardship.
- Champion collaboration across the Philanthropy team, ensuring opportunities are shared, relationships are leveraged and expertise is used to maximise income and impact.
- Back Impetus’ values, evidence-led approach, and commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion across the Philanthropy team.
Strategic leadership
- Work in partnership with the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships to contribute to the fundraising strategy.
- Translate strategic priorities into clear operational plans, objectives and delivery, ensuring new business delivers against organisational priorities, income targets and long-term growth ambitions.
- Provide strategic oversight of annual forecasting, budgeting, pipeline performance and resource planning, ensuring risks and opportunities are identified and addressed proactively.
- Maximise the contribution of trustees, committees, senior volunteers and wider networks to support strategic relationship building and new business development.
- Act as a trusted senior adviser to the Directors of Philanthropy and Partnerships, providing insight, challenge and solutions to strengthen organisational fundraising performance and capability.
- Deputise for the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships where appropriate, within agreed delegations and priorities.
- Build a positive, collaborative and high-performing culture across the Philanthropy team, modelling Impetus' values and supporting continuous improvement.
Person specification
Essential:
Fundraising & new business leadership
- Significant experience in major donor and/or corporate fundraising at six and seven-figure gift level, with a strong track record of securing new income and managing complex partnerships.
- Ability to lead and personally deliver the full fundraising cycle, from prospecting and cultivation through to solicitation, negotiation, and close.
- Proven experience of building, managing, and converting a new business pipeline, balancing ambition with delivery.
- Strong ability to leverage internal and external networks, including trustees, senior volunteers, and professional contacts.
Senior stakeholder engagement
- Experience of operating at a senior level and leading high value or complex stakeholder relationships (trustees, board members, senior external partners).
- Ability to influence and build credibility with senior audiences through clear, confident and evidence led communication.
- Excellent negotiation skills, with the ability to secure mutually beneficial outcomes while protecting organisational values and reputation.
Leadership & people management
- Proven experience leading and developing high-performing teams, including developing senior colleagues and building leadership capability.
- A strong track record as a collaborative senior team member, contributing beyond own area of responsibility and supporting wider organisational success
- Ability to build a high-trust, high-challenge culture that supports excellence, inclusion, and learning.
- Strong performance management capability and ability to handle complex people issues, giving strategic feedback, and addressing underperformance constructively.
- Ability to deputise for the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships when appropriate.
Strategic & intellectual capability
- Strong strategic thinker with the ability to translate agreed strategy and insight into clear plans and execute them effectively.
- Ability to grasp, interpret apply and communicate complex information and ideas, including Impetus’ venture philanthropy and impact-led funding models.
- Evidence of an innovative and creative approach, with the ability to adapt in changing contexts.
Financial, operational & delivery capability
- Solid financial management, with experience contributing to budget-setting, managing agreed budgets, supporting forecasting and identifying efficiencies.
- Strong organisational skills and attention to delivery, with the ability to manage multiple priorities to a high standard
- Able to use insight and data (including CRM systems such as Salesforce) to inform decisions and strengthen performance.
- Sound judgement in identifying, managing, and escalating risk, particularly in relation to donor relationships and reputation.
Communication, values & ways of working
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to communicate clearly, persuasively, and with impact.
- Excellent relationship-building skills, with the ability to establish, maintain, and leverage relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
- A strong commitment to Impetus’ mission and to improving outcomes for young people.
- A clear commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, demonstrated through inclusive leadership and professional practice.
Desirable
- Experience working within venture philanthropy, impact investing, or systems-change funding models.
- Familiarity with private equity, professional services.
- Experience contributing to income growth, donor strategy or portfolio development within an agreed organisational fundraising strategy.
- Knowledge of the UK charity or social impact sector, particularly education, employment, or youth-focused work.
- Experience using CRM systems (e.g. Salesforce) to manage pipelines, performance, and forecasting.
About Impetus
At Impetus, our focus is on helping young people achieve positive education and employment outcomes to increase their chance of leading fulfilling and successful lives, irrespective of their background.
We tackle the three most difficult challenges that affect a young person’s ability to succeed in life in Britain today:
- Lost learning through absence, suspensions, exclusions from school
- Stagnation in education attainment outcomes, which means many are missing out on key qualifications like GCSE English and maths
- The large numbers of young people out of education, training and employment
We use our deep expertise and high calibre networks to give the best non-profits working in these sectors the essential ingredients to have a real and lasting impact on the young people they serve.
Through a powerful combination of long-term funding, direct capacity building support from our experienced team and our pro bono partners, alongside research and policy influencing to drive lasting systems change, we work towards a society where all young people can thrive in school, pass their exams and unlock the doors to sustained employment, for a fulfilling life.
We are resolutely focused on outcomes and impact, driven by quality evidence.
You would be joining a team that is passionate, rigorous, determined, creative and warm. We care deeply for our colleagues, our portfolio partners and the young people we serve.
Impetus is a registered charity and our charity number is 1152262.
Our Values
In 2022 the Impetus staff agreed the following set of Values to act as our guiding principles as an organisation and help us to remain focused on achieving our mission to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
We are brave and curious
We are bold and brave in our pursuit of better outcomes for young people. We lead with curiosity and stay open to new perspectives. We support one another to take considered risks and learn together.
We bring high trust, high challenge
We build strong, long-term relationships through honesty, kindness, integrity, and respect. We create the space for open, constructive challenge, where colleagues, partners and supporters feel safe to speak up, hold each other to account, and bring their best in pursuit of our mission.
We are evidence led and results driven for young people
We pursue excellence for the young people we work with, are wholly committed to better outcomes, unapologetically results driven, and accountable for our actions.
We thrive through diversity
We seek to embed diversity of thought, background and experience in every aspect of our work. We are open, thoughtful and proactive in better understanding and challenging our assumptions to better deliver the change we seek.
We always seek collaboration
We will not succeed alone. We seek meaningful, productive partnerships with others to achieve our mission and drive systems change for young people.
Our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
We believe that a diverse workforce leads to an organisation that is more open, creative and gets better results.
We want our team at Impetus to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We also want our team to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop.
We want to reach a diverse pool of candidates. We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need to in order to be successful.
We recognise the importance of a good work/life balance. We do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including working from home, working part-time job shares and other arrangements.
Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore.
Impetus is an equal opportunity employer and is determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. We value diversity and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.
Our employee benefits
Impetus appreciates the invaluable contribution made by all employees and wishes to encourage and reward loyalty, motivation and experience. We therefore offer a range of benefits and policies which aim to assist employees during various stages of their lives and careers. For more information on these, please download the job information pack from our website.
How to apply
Please click on the "Apply for this job" button.
You will need to:
- Complete the online form (including the equal opportunities monitoring form).
- Upload a comprehensive CV and supporting statement.
The supporting statement should be no more than two sides of A4 and should address the criteria in the person specification.
You should also include the contact details of two referees, one of whom must be your current or most recent employer. Referees will only be approached with your express permission.
As part of our commitment to flexible working we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant. All options can be discussed at interview stage.
The deadline for applications is Sunday 20th September 2026, 11:59pm.
Interviews:
1st Interviews will take place on w/c 5th October 2026.
2nd Interviews will take place on w/c 12th October 2026.
You will also be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK.
Personal Data
Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area.
Impetus transforms the lives of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds by ensuring they get support to succeed in school, in work and in life.

The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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.
Are you excited by the potential of digital technology and data to make a real difference in people's lives?
Community Action Redbridge is looking for a creative, forward-thinking Digital Innovation and Development Manager to lead the next stage of our digital journey and help shape how technology supports communities across one of London's most diverse boroughs.
Redbridge is home to vibrant communities and a dynamic voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector. We want to harness the power of digital technology and data to strengthen communities, support local VCSE organisations and help create a fairer Redbridge.
Working across the organisation, you'll lead the implementation of our ambitious Digital Innovation and Development Strategy. You'll help create more consistent and effective systems that reduce duplication, improve collaboration and enable our team to focus on what matters most: supporting our communities and member organisations. You'll champion a data-driven culture, helping us turn information into insight, better understand our impact, and make informed decisions that respond to emerging needs.
You'll play a key role in building digital confidence across the organisation, empowering staff to embrace new technologies, develop their skills and use digital tools effectively in their everyday work. Beyond Community Action Redbridge, you'll work directly with local charities and community groups to strengthen their digital capacity, improve access to data and insight, and foster stronger connections across Redbridge's VCSE sector.
If you're excited by the power of digital technology to connect people, improve services and create lasting social impact, we'd love to hear from you.
About Community Action Redbridge
Community Action Redbridge is a local infrastructure organisation dedicated to building a fairer Redbridge where everyone and every community has an equal opportunity to thrive.
Our work supports the development of strong and resilient communities where people lead happy, healthy, and fulfilling lives. At the heart of our work is a commitment to social justice and to tackling the root causes of inequality. We’re passionate about shifting power, amplifying community voices and working collaboratively to create social change. We do this by:
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Strengthening and championing the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector with tools and support to grow and thrive.
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Supporting local people to drive change in their own communities, through social action, volunteering and active participation.
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Bringing people and organisations from the VCSE sector, public services, and local businesses together to collaborate on shared ambitions for Redbridge.
What it’s like to work at Community Action Redbridge
We’re committed to creating a truly inclusive workplace culture that embraces and celebrates difference. Building a team that reflects the diversity of our communities and brings together a range of experiences, backgrounds and perspectives is essential to the work we do.
We want Community Action Redbridge to be a safe space for everyone to bring their whole selves to work, where all our employees have the opportunity to thrive and feel recognised and valued for the work they do.
We offer some great benefits including 28 days’ annual leave (including the festive closure period) plus public holidays, a free and confidential employee helpline, face-to-face and telephone counselling, and a travel loan and cycle to work scheme.
How to apply
Please submit your CV and a covering letter answering the following 4 questions (no more than 500 words each):
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Describe a digital transformation, systems improvement or innovation project that you have led. What was the challenge, what approach did you take, and what impact did it have on the organisation, team or service users?
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Tell us about a time when your work improved data collection, analysis or insight within an organisation. How did your work help others make better decisions or improve outcomes?
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Describe a time when you helped individuals or teams adopt new systems, processes or ways of working. What challenges did you encounter and how did you overcome them?
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Why do you want to join Community Action Redbridge, and how do your values, skills and experience equip you to help us use digital technology to strengthen communities and create positive social change?
Please apply directly through the CharityJob website by midnight on Monday 28th September 2026.
First-stage interviews will take place online on Tuesday 6th October 2026.
Candidates successfully shortlisted from the first stage will be invited to attend a second-stage interview in person, which is expected to take place on Tuesday 13th October 2026.
If you would like an informal conversation about the role before applying, please email us directly to arrange a suitable time.
Our mission is to support strong and resilient communities where people lead happy, healthy and fulfilling lives.


About School of Hard Knocks
School of Hard Knocks (SOHK) is one of the UK’s leading education charities, working in 29 secondary schools across England, Scotland, and Wales. Using rugby as a key delivery tool, we support young people who are struggling to engage in early secondary education - often because of anxiety, low confidence, disrupted home lives, or behavioural challenges rooted in trauma. For many of the children we support, life has already brought more hardship than most adults experience in a lifetime. Our purpose is clear: to help young people facing complex challenges break the cycle and move towards a safer, stronger, more hopeful future.
The SOHK Schools Programme is a two-year intervention working with cohorts of around 20 pupils from Year 7 through to Year 9. Pupils are selected by the school and are typically among the hardest to reach young people. Each week, we deliver half a day of rugby training and classroom sessions built around our 3Cs framework, covering topics such as growth mindset, goal setting, and decision-making, alongside monthly one-to-one sessions with every pupil. The programme’s impact is evaluated by SOHK staff, teachers, parents, and the pupils themselves.
90% of our participants report feeling more confident and more engaged with school after taking part, with long-term effects on attendance, attainment, and life outcomes. Find out more about our Schools Programme.
Since 2023, SOHK has been proud to partner with Impetus, a charity that invests in and supports organisations helping young people from disadvantaged backgrounds succeed. This partnership combines investment with strategic and organisational development support, helping to strengthen our impact and set SOHK up for sustainable growth.
We are proud to be delivering long-term programmes that meaningfully reach hundreds of young people each year - but the societal need is vast. Our ambitious four-year strategic plan targets growth, aiming to bring our impactful programme to hundreds more young people each year.
“Despite the usual challenges that every education or sport for development charity faces, School of Hard Knocks really is unique. It is not so much what we deliver at a programme level (which is of course brilliant) but who we are as a team. If you are a values-led leader and love the idea of ‘team’, then School of Hard Knocks is the place for you.”
- Ken Cowen, Founder and outgoing CEO
The Role
The CEO is the public face and leader of SOHK, responsible for the overall strategic direction, vision, and management of the charity - ensuring SOHK meets its mission and strategic objectives while maintaining strong relationships with Trustees, staff, supporters, and the wider SOHK community. We’re looking for a mission-driven charity leader and effective fundraiser, capable of building a sustainable growth model.
Strategy and Direction
● Be the face and voice of the charity - its principal ambassador
● Lead the development and periodic review of SOHK’s strategy with the Trustees and Senior Management Team
● Translate the 2026-30 strategy into organisational priorities, plans, and goals
● Ensure safeguarding, wellbeing, and the lived experience of young people remain central to every decision and growth plan
Programme Delivery, Quality and Impact
● Hold a high bar for programme quality and outcomes for young people
● Line-manage and support the Director of Programmes, working with delivery teams and partners to build a world-class, evidence-based intervention
● Ensure SOHK can evidence the impact of its programmes, with insights feeding back into constant improvement
Income Generation, Fundraising and External Relations
● Lead income generation across trusts and foundations, corporate partnerships, individual giving, and challenges and events
● Line-manage and support the Head of Fundraising in executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy
● Hold senior relationships with funders and partners, building SOHK’s brand, reputation, and profile
Leading People, Culture and Operations
● Build and lead a high-performing Senior Management Team
● Foster a positive, inclusive, high-performing culture aligned with SOHK’s values
● Line-manage and support the Director of Finance & Operations, ensuring operational excellence
Governance and the Board
● Act as the primary link between the organisation and the Trustees
● Attend all Trustee meetings (held quarterly) and provide timely, accurate reporting
● Ensure compliance with all legal, regulatory, and Charity Commission requirements
About You
Essential
● Proven senior leadership experience in the charity, education, youth, or social impact sector - whether as CEO or as part of an executive team - including working directly with a Board of Trustees
● Demonstrated success in building or significantly growing an organisation, programme, or initiative
● A collaborative and values-led leadership style, with the ability to inspire trust, hold people to account, and build high-performing teams
● Strong track record of income generation, including securing significant funding from trusts, foundations, corporates, or major donors
● Experience of financial oversight, budgeting, and organisational planning at a senior level
● Strategic thinker, able to translate vision into clear plans and delivery
● Strong relationship-builder and communicator, confident with a wide range of stakeholders
Desirable
● Previous charity CEO experience - a bonus, but not essential; we know brilliant candidates come from a wide range of backgrounds
● Direct classroom, youth work, or education leadership experience
● Knowledge of the UK education system and youth policy landscape
● Experience of scaling a multi-site delivery organisation and working with local authorities
Personal Attributes
● Deep commitment to improving outcomes for young people, especially those facing disadvantage
● Resilient and persistent, able to work under pressure and navigate setbacks
● Collaborative, open, and reflective leader who seeks feedback and learns from it
Terms of Appointment
Contract type
Full-time, permanent
Location
Greater London, with offices in Edinburgh & Cardiff
Salary
£85,000 – £90,000 per year + £5,000 PRP
Reports to
Chair of the Board of Trustees
Direct reports
Director of Programmes; Head of Fundraising; Director of Finance & Operations
Travel
Regular UK travel, primarily to Edinburgh and Cardiff. Occasional evenings for stakeholder engagement and fundraising events
Trustee meetings
Quarterly, in London, in the evening, plus ad hoc subcommittees
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
We’re looking for a Training Officer to help us develop and deliver high quality learning and professional development for people working with and for young people across the North West.
This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys creating and delivering engaging training and supporting others to learn and grow.
Working with our Learning, Workforce Development & Equality Manager, you’ll help shape our learning offer and support a skilled, confident and connected youth sector workforce.
What you’ll be doing
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Design and deliver engaging training and workshops (online and in person)
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Build relationships with learners, partners and organisations
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Support learning events, networks and Communities of Practice
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Use feedback and evaluation to improve what we do
We’re looking for someone who has:
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experience of training, facilitation or learning and development
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confidence delivering engaging sessions to different audiences
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good communication and organisational skills
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an understanding of youth work or the issues affecting young people
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a commitment to equality, inclusion and safeguarding
More information in attached recruitment pack - closing date Monday 21 Sep 2026 @ 12 pm
Interviews will be held in person on Tuesday 29 September 2026.
To benefit the lives of young people in the North West of England by providing opportunities for them to engage and become active citizens.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
As our freelance Chief Growth Officer, you will lead Symphony’s growth across audiences, income, visibility and strategic partnerships. Working closely with the Founder & CEO, COO and CPO, you will shape how more people discover, experience and support our work with young people from marginalised communities.
You will oversee communications and marketing, strengthen Symphony’s brand and public voice, and grow audiences for our events, films, podcasts and digital content. You will also develop corporate sponsorships, strategic partnerships and regular giving, while increasing the reach and income potential of Symphony Studios and our live, digital and community activities.
This hands-on strategic role is suited to an entrepreneurial builder with senior experience in marketing, communications, partnerships or income generation, and a strong record of growing audiences and securing support.
This is a freelance role for four days per week, offered through an initial six-month service-level agreement. It is hybrid, with three days per week onsite working at Symphony Studios in Tulse Hill.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
As an Officer in ImpactEd Evaluation you will project manage evaluation partnerships with schools, trusts and education organisations, from Theory of Change and evaluation design through data collection and analysis to reporting, with the support of a project sponsor. You will work directly with partners, keep projects on track and in scope, and help partners understand and act on what their data is telling them.
We are open to a range of experience and backgrounds. Prior experience in any of consultancy and partnership management, data analysis and report writing, research and evaluation, or the UK education system is likely to be particularly useful. What matters most is a curiosity about what works for young people and the discipline to get things done well.
Officers lead the delivery of specific projects and engagements with support, contribute to revenue generation and service delivery, and mentor junior colleagues.
Partnerships and delivery Project manage evaluation partnerships, coordinating delivery and often leading much of it, with support from a project sponsor. Drive partnerships forward through proactive communication and follow-up, build partner buy-in by involving different stakeholders, and manage scope and the risk of over- or under-delivery.
Evaluation design Facilitate evaluation design with partners: create Theories of Change, design research questions, identify outcome measures and measurement tools, and bring these together in an evaluation framework.
Data collection and analysis Identify suitable approaches to recruiting research participants and facilitate quantitative and qualitative data collection (surveys, existing school data, focus groups and interviews), using our School Impact Platform. Carry out simple inferential statistics independently and more advanced analysis with support, including the data cleaning and matching needed to get data ready.
Reporting and insight Engage with partners to understand the context and purpose of a report and agree the output accordingly. Synthesise the key messages from a complex set of data and report them in an accessible, concise way that fits the partner's context and helps them act.
Colleagues, practice and Group Plan and manage your time, give and act on constructive feedback, communicate openly about progress and blockers, and mentor junior colleagues. There is no direct business development target, but you will contribute to proposals and renewals, and take part in Group-wide work, residentials and professional development.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.