Development director jobs

ImpactEd Consulting is acting as recruitment advisor to FEA on this appointment.

Thank you for your interest in the role of Director of Policy, Public Affairs and Influence at the Fair Education Alliance

We are proud to be a coalition of 300 organisations united behind a simple but powerful belief: that no child’s success should be limited by their socioeconomic background. We exist to shift the conditions that hold inequity in place through collaboration across schools, colleges, higher education institutions, charities, youth organisations, researchers, funders, and young people themselves.

Our 2025-30 strategy, From Neighbourhood to National: A Strategy to ensure every child and young person thrives, is rooted in systems change—tackling not just policies and practices, but also the resources, relationships, power and mental models that hold inequity in place. Our work targets root causes, deepens collective impact, and embraces the complexity—and opportunity—of true transformation.

We are now recruiting a Director of Policy, Public Affairs and Influence to strengthen the FEA’s external leadership at a critical point in our development. As we implement our strategy, we are placing greater emphasis on how we represent the collective insight of our members, and how we use our convening role to shape agendas at local, regional and national levels.  

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, and working closely with the Co-Chief Executive Officers, this role will lead FEA’s policy positioning and public affairs activity and play a central role in representing the Alliance externally. The Director will be trusted to shape where and how FEA engages in public debate and decision-making, ensuring that our collective voice is credible and influential, and grounded in the experience of our members and partners across the system. This includes working closely with young people, recognising them as critical contributors and often the most powerful spokespeople for our work, and creating meaningful opportunities for their voices to shape our policy and public affairs activity.

This is a senior leadership role for someone who is comfortable operating through influence rather than formal authority, and who brings confidence in navigating complex policy environments. It offers the opportunity to shape how a large, diverse coalition contributes to public debate and policy thinking at a moment when joined-up, system-level approaches to educational equity are increasingly needed.

We hope you will consider applying.

Key dates

• Applications close: Monday 16 March (10 am)

• First round interviews: 26th and 27th March (online)

• Final interviews: 1st-2nd, 7-9th April (in person at the FEA office in London)

• Start date: as soon as possible, to be agreed with the successful candidate

Development Administrator

Location: Cambridge

Salary: £35,000 - £40,000 per annum depending on experience

Hours: 37 hours per week  

Closing Date: 09/03/2026

Wolfson College is seeking a highly organised and proactive Development Office Administrator to provide comprehensive administrative support to the Development Director and the wider Development team. 

This is a varied role that combines administrative support, event coordination, database management, and general office administration, playing a vital role in the smooth and effective operation of the Development Office.

You will be highly organised, detail-oriented, and confident managing multiple priorities. You will have excellent communication skills, a professional manner, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team. Experience in a development, fundraising, or higher education environment would be an advantage.

To Apply

If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for Wolfson College, please click "redirect to recruiter" to view the full job description and download your application form.

Ready to step into a national leadership role - and make an immediate impact?

Centre for Mental Health is seeking a highly experienced policy leader for a 6–9 month interim role at the heart of our organisation. We need someone who can operate confidently at senior level from day one.

You will:

• Lead and direct our national policy and campaigning work

• Translate robust research into influential, high-impact policy proposals

• Represent the Centre with ministers, parliamentarians and senior stakeholders

• Provide strategic oversight to the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition

• Contribute as a full member of our leadership team

We’re looking for someone with significant experience in a policy environment, deep knowledge of mental health and public policy, and a strong track record of producing influential analysis and building high-level relationships. You’ll be politically astute, credible in national debates, and committed to tackling inequality and promoting antiracism.

This is a great opportunity for an established mental health policy professional to take on a visible, strategic interim leadership role, shaping national conversations and advancing mental health equality at pace.

Please note that interviews will be held in person at our London office on Thursday 19th March 2026.

If you have the experience and confidence, with a readiness to deliver on the Centre's vision of mental health equality for all, we’d love to hear from you.

YOUR PURPOSE

To research, develop and secure funding, projects and opportunities that deliver DMWS’s charitable objectives and to support ongoing stakeholder management to ensure positive relationships.

This involves researching and applying for funding and contract tender opportunities to support the armed forces community and other frontline services. This will include Trusts and Foundations, corporate partnerships and tenders with organisations that include the military, police, NHS, Fire service and other organisations with frontline roles.

The aim is to secure funds and opportunities to support DMWS beneficiaries and to increase DMWS footprint.

The role will also require report writing to present evidence of DMWS delivering effective value for money and positive impacts for our beneficiaries in line with the funder’s requirements. An ability to also promote our outcomes through case studies and social media posts would also be advantageous.

Travel will be required and some occasional overnights stays can be required.

Benefits

- Annual Leave: We give employees 30 days a year annual leave plus public holiday (pro-rata'd for part time employees).
- Pension: Auto enrolment onto DMWS workplace pension scheme- Subject to eligibility. You will make a minimum contribution of 5% which DMWS will match. Contributions will be matched up to 6% by DMWS.
- Death in Service Scheme: Three times your annual salary to nominated beneficiaries - subject to eligibility.
- Flexible Working: All flexible working requests are considered - many of our staff work flexible hours and work wholly, or partly from home.
- Smart Health: Access to a 24/7 virtual GP service, with a counselling service and on-line help and support around health and well-being matters.
- Work-based Parking/Mileage: For those who pay to park at their work-base, fees are repaid through expenses. Mileage claims are reimbursed in line with HMRC guidelines.
- Enhanced Sick Pay: Enhanced sick pay scheme for all employees upon completion of their probationary period.
- Staff Recognition: Staff are regularly recognised for their work by the leadership team and their peers, via internal events, social media, and industry awards.
- Personal Development Programme: DMWS supports employee continuing professional development and training.
- Above all, being part of the DMWS team means that you are making a difference to the lives of those working on the frontline.
- Great training opportunities.
- £25 contribution towards eye tests and a contribution of £50 towards glasses. (As long as they are only needed for DSE use and not otherwise needed on a standard prescription).
- Enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption family friendly benefits.

Full job description is attached. 

Applications close on 18th March 2026Applicants must hold a full UK Driving Licence and have access to a vehicle. Applications will be considered as they are submitted. DMWS reserve the right to close the application process early.

George Watson’s College is looking for an organised and detail-focused Operations Officer to support the work of our Development Office. 

This varied role plays a key part in managing the financial, operational and data systems that underpin fundraising and alumni engagement. The Operations Officer is responsible for accurately processing and reporting philanthropic income, managing the Development CRM (Raisers Edge), and working closely with the Finance Team to ensure strong controls, compliance and high-quality information. 

We are seeking someone who enjoys working with data and systems, has a keen eye for detail, and values collaboration. In return, you’ll join a supportive school community and contribute to work that helps strengthen connections with alumni and create long-term impact for George Watson’s College. 

Hours of work: 29 hours per week, 52 weeks per year, with the requirement for some evening and weekend work, as well as travel within Scotland and the UK. Flexibility is therefore required. 

Salary: £36,721 - £41,838 (Based to 36.25 hours and 52 weeks) this equates to £29,376 - £33,470 (Based on 29 hours per week) 

Benefits: Seven weeks annual leave (two to be taken at Christmas and New Year, automatic enrolment in the contributory support staff defined contribution pension scheme, reduced school fees at George Watson’s College for children of staff, Membership of the Galleon Club (the school’s fitness club) 

We’re looking for an ambitious and creative Business Development Manager to help Honeypot transform the lives of young carers. This is a unique opportunity to grow sustainable income while making a real, visible impact. You’ll build inspiring partnerships with corporate businesses, spotting new opportunities and turning bold ideas into meaningful support for our charity. Working closely with a passionate fundraising team, you’ll research pipelines, open new doors, and champion our mission wherever you go.

If you’re an experienced fundraisier  (3 years or more in a charitable organisation), have business development experience, and be a natural relationship-builder who’s motivated by cause and purpose as much as performance, we’d love to hear from you.

·

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and motivated professional interested in working in a thriving and successful Development team. We are seeking an individual who has the skills and determination to help support the University’s trust and foundation fundraising and enjoys working as part of a happy and vibrant in-house/remote team.

Working to support the Senior Development Manager, Trusts and Foundations; the Development Officer, Trusts and Foundations, will help to deliver the trust and foundation fundraising strategy. The post-holder will work alongside Development colleagues to identify funding opportunities both in the UK and internationally. The post-holder will have responsibility for securing significant new funds to support the strategic priorities of our £300 million fundraising campaign which covers a wide range of areas. This work will focus particularly on proposals for four and five figure gifts.

The post-holder will assist the Senior Development Manager, Trusts and Foundations, in cultivating currently engaged and new trusts, foundations and charities. They will work with the Senior Development Assistant (Research) to grow the pipeline of giving through research into suitable trusts and foundations whose aims are closely aligned with the strategic priorities of the University.

The post-holder will have experience of trust and foundation fundraising accompanied by a sound knowledge of university fundraising. They will be a creative and strategic thinker and possess excellent communication skills with the ability to work proactively, both internally and externally. This role will require knowledge of trust and foundation funders, excellent written communication skills and a high level of attention to detail.

Above all, the post-holder must be passionate about the role that philanthropy plays in supporting higher education for the benefit of society as a whole.

In addition to the salary on offer for this position, there are a wide range of benefits for staff working at the University of St Andrews:

•       Financial contribution to relocation

•       Membership of the S&LAS Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions

•        A hybrid working environment, including partial homeworking where appropriate and a range of family friendly policies, supporting work-life balance

•        Staff discount scheme for local and national goods and services

•       Free staff parking, employee Carshare and Cycle to Work Schemes and subsidised local bus travel

•       Subsidised sports membership, reduced tuition fees on degree programmes for staff, access to training and development opportunities including LinkedIn Learning, access to library facilities, salary sacrifice scheme

•          34 Days Annual Leave plus 5 Public Holidays.

Closing date: 11 March 2026

Interview date: 19 March 2026

DIRECTOR FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

​​​​​​​Handcrafted seek their new Director for Young People.

• Hours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week and will consider part time/flexible hours
• Location: Based from one of the hubs in Gateshead or Durham with travel to other hubs 

Do you have significant experience at senior level working with vulnerable young people? 

Can you shape culture and strategy whilst carrying regulatory responsibility, strengthening systems, developing managers and representing our organisation externally?

Can you demonstrate the below?

• Strong strategic leadership skills with the ability to shape vision, drive improvement, and lead organisational development within young people’s services
• In-depth understanding of safeguarding, risk management, trauma-informed practice at senior level
• Strong communication skills and the ability to engage young people, teams and external partners

Do you have experience in the following? 

• Leading teams, supervising staff and developing professional practice
• Managing safeguarding concerns, coordinating multi agency responses and ensuring compliance
• Operational leadership within social care, education or supportive housing

You will also have the strong personal commitment to Christian ethos of Handcrafted through prayer, practical action and ways of working. 

Download the candidate pack for full details, responsibilities and person specification.

This role is subject to a DBS check, which will be carried out by the employer. 

If you feel you have relevant skills and experience, please submit your CV and supporting statement to Sandra Smith, via the Charisma Charity Recruitment website.

Key dates:

• Closing date for applications: 24 March 2026
• Charisma vetting interviews must be completed by 31 March 2026 prior to shortlisting.
• Interviews with Handcrafted: TBC

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law.

What makes us unique is that we also care deeply about ‘plugging the gap’ for families and young people who are struggling to find the mental health support they need as a result of financial, social or other disadvantage. For this reason, we are a not-for-profit organisation and offer grant and donation funded programmes when we can.

Youth Arts & Health Trust are a registered charity based in Exeter and East Devon who specialise in providing creative therapies and inclusivity-informed arts activities for children and young people aged 5 to 25.

We are in an exciting phase of our development, with new premises in Exeter, growing activities in East Devon, a dynamic team, a supportive and experienced Board of Trustees, and much shared passion to make a difference to children, young people and families.

We provide our services for children and young people via local authorities, organisations, schools and for families directly.

We are looking for someone with vision and passion who can lead and nurture our highly capable and ambitious team to build further upon our compassionate, inclusive and trauma-informed services for children, young people and families.

This is a 0.7 - 0.8 post (25-30 hours per week) with terms to be agreed with the successful candidate.  We are open to flexible working arrangements with the right individual, whether that’s flexitime or compressed hours, or some other agreed arrangement.   

It is expected that the post-holder will work within our premises for 1-2 days a week depending on service needs, and the remainder of hours worked from home, in the community at meetings or events or working on a hybrid basis.

Key tasks and responsibilities:

• To develop and deliver our strategy including a business plan and regular progression reports for the Board to ensure the charity is financially robust.
• To develop existing and new income streams to secure the future of the charity and enable us to meet our charitable objectives of benefitting children and young people experiencing mental health difficulties through arts therapies and arts activities.  This is likely to include grant fundraising, exploring procurement and commissioning routes, philanthropy, appropriate business sponsorship, training delivery and pathways for private purchasing of our service.
• To line manage, support, and collaborate with our Operations and Clinical Director who oversees our team of therapists and practitioners in ensuring all staff are adequately trained, registered, supervised and supported to provide an excellent service to our clients.
• To provide leadership for the charity both internally in regards to a positive and nurturing culture and externally in regard to reputation, partnerships and opportunities.
• To ensure all relevant policies are implemented effectively, developed and reviewed as required.
• To act as one of three Designated Safeguarding Officers and ensure policy is implemented effectively.
• To ensure the charity fulfils all its statutory obligations, working alongside the Board to achieve this.
• To ensure the charity has appropriate systems in place for the management and mitigation of risk.
• To ensure the charity meets its obligations under health and safety law.
• To lead on the development of innovative arts therapy programmes, in collaboration with our Operations and Clinical Director, our staff team and stakeholders.
• To ensure evaluation and impact data is collected and utilised for our learning and to provide evidence for the effectiveness of YAHT’s services.
• To act as an ambassador for the charity.
• If relevant, to carry a small caseload of children and young people to remain practising as an Arts Therapist or other registered mental health professional (if relevant, see desirable criteria).

Bid Manager & Writer

When registering to this job board you will be redirected to the online application form. Please ensure that this is completed in full in order that your application can be reviewed.

Job Title: Bid Manager & Writer

Location: Highbury & Islington. Unfortunately, this premises does not have step free access.  

Salary: £42,000

Shift Pattern: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday 09:00 - 17:00. Hybrid role based in our central office with regular travel to our services, market engagement events and days working from home

About the Role

We are seeking a skilled and experienced Bid Manager and Writer to join our dynamic Business Development Team. This is a pivotal, hands-on role that will play a key part in driving organisational growth, securing new opportunities, and retaining existing contracts. Working closely with senior colleagues and internal stakeholders, you will develop strong, persuasive bids and proposals that meet financial targets and organisational objectives. While you will work independently on bids, you will also be an integral part of the wider Bid and Business Development teams, supporting colleagues and collaborating with subject matter experts as required.

SIG is a complex and growing organisation, delivering a wide range of health, social care and criminal justice funded services. In this role, you will lead competitive tendering processes end to end, crafting compelling, compliant submissions that align with our mission and values. You will take ownership of the full bid lifecycle, from early market engagement through to final submission ensuring quality, consistency, and compliance at every stage.

Many procurement processes screen submissions for AI‑generated content, and our bids must meet strict originality requirements. Applicants must be able to write independently and produce original bid content without reliance on AI writing tools

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Lead the development and submission of competitive bids, ensuring all are delivered on time and to the highest standard.
• Collaborate with senior colleagues and internal teams to secure necessary approvals and sign-off for bids and budgets.
• Produce high-quality, engaging proposals that clearly articulate SIG’s vision, services, and value to commissioners and funders.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including senior leaders and commissioners.
• Conduct market research and stay informed on trends across social care, criminal justice, healthcare, and procurement to inform bid strategy.
• Work closely with Bid Team colleagues to draft, review, and finalise submissions.
• Attend market engagement events and undertake service visits to gain insight and represent SIG effectively.

About You

We're looking for a self-starter, someone who can hit the ground running and form effective purposeful relationships within the organisation and externally, someone innovative, creative, and able solve problems to support our growth! Someone with previous experience writing bids and/or proposals, securing new or existing contracts. We're looking for an effective communicator, with a high attention to detail and quality. You will be passionate about what we do, supporting vulnerable people and understand the complexities of their backgrounds. .

What We’re Looking For:

• Proven experience in bid writing and bid management, with a track record of securing new contracts and retaining existing ones.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and proofreading skills, with strong attention to detail.
• The ability to produce clear, compelling, and engaging content.
• Ideally, experience securing bids and proposals within the voluntary, social care, criminal justice, or healthcare sectors.
• A strong understanding of the sector.
• Confidence in engaging with senior stakeholders, including directors and commissioners, and leading bid-related meetings.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to prioritise effectively, meet deadlines, and work independently in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and experience using tender portals.
• A proactive, self-motivated approach, with the ability to take ownership of bids through to successful completion.
• Alignment with SIG’s values of Ambition, Empowerment, Transparency, and Inclusivity.

Please refer to the JDPS attached for more details on the vacancy and our requirements/key criteria.

What we Offer

• 25 days (Full time equivalent) annual leave, increasing with the length of service
• Employer Pension Contribution
• Eligibility to register with Blue Light Discount Card
• Access to discounted tickets for music events, shows, sports and more
• Reflective Practice regular sessions with a therapist provided by an external provider to support Mental Health and Wellbeing at work
• Training and Development, including access to courses, upskilling, and progression plans
• Employee Assistance Programme, including counselling
• Life Assurance Scheme
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Annual Staff Awards
• EDI Ambassador programme

About Social Interest Group (SIG)

SIG is a not-for-profit organisation providing thousands of people with good-quality support and care in residential, drop-in centres, community floating support settings, probation settings, and hospitals. We do so across London, Brighton, Bedfordshire, Luton, Kent and Liverpool. Our goal is to transform lives through empowering change. 

We believe good care and support improves lives with the vision to create healthier, safer, and more inclusive communities. Join us on our mission to empower independence through trauma-informed solutions and dynamic partnerships that keep people out of prison, out of hospital, and off the streets.
Want to know how we work? Watch our short Theory of Change video to see how we support people towards a brighter future: Theory of Change Further details can be found on our website here: Theory of Change - Social Interest Group - Social Interest Group. 

Additional Information

Please note that this job advert may close early due to screening applications on an ongoing basis. We advise applying as soon as possible for your application to be taken into consideration at the early stages.

Please note that as part of our process, we complete an enhanced DBS check, some roles may require further vetting. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds. 

Please note that this will take you through to our Central Administration team, who will then communicate your enquiry with us and we will arrange to call you back. 

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide sponsorship, please ensure you have full right to work in the UK prior to applying to our positions. 

Additional information on our company policies including Gender Pay, Equality and Diversity, Company Benefits and our Candidate Privacy Policy can be found on our website.

Keychange is a Christian charity with a proud history of supporting people invulnerable situations for over a century. We believe that everyone has dignity and worth, and that people thrive best in communities where they are known, valued and supported. Across our care homes and housing communities, we seek to provide support that goes beyond compliance and is rooted in compassion, excellence and Christian values.

We are now seeking a Director of Operations to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our services and ensuring that our vision is lived out every day across the organisation.

The role

As Director of Operations, you will be a key member of the senior leadership team, working closely with the CEO and Board to translate strategy into high-quality, sustainable delivery with exciting future developments ahead.

You will provide strategic and operational leadership across 7 care homes and 3 housing communities in the south of England, leading and supporting a talented operations team to deliver safe, effective and person-centred services.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing visible leadership that embeds Keychange’s Christian vision, values and culture across all services
• Leading and overseeing multi-site operations, ensuring consistently high standards of care, safeguarding and support
• Holding accountability for regulatory compliance, quality assurance and service improvement
• Driving operational excellence, innovation and efficiency through effective systems and processes
• Ensuring services are financially sustainable, working closely with finance colleagues on budgets and resources
• Developing, coaching and inspiring senior managers and leaders to perform at their best

This is a senior role with real influence – both on the strategic direction of Keychange and on the lives of hundreds of people we support.

About you

We are looking for a values-led, strategic and credible leader who brings:

• Senior leadership experience within social care, housing, homelessness or a closely related sector
• A proven track record of leading multi-site services and managing senior operational leaders
• Strong experience of working within regulated environments and delivering high-quality, compliant services
• Sound financial and commercial awareness, with experience of managing budgets and resources  of a similar scale to Keychange (250 staff across 10 sites)
• A passion for developing people, culture and values-driven practice
• A personal commitment to the Christian faith and active agreement with the Keychange mission, vision and faith basis. (This is a genuine occupational requirement under the Equality Act 2010)

You will be someone who combines strategic thinking with practical delivery, and who leads with integrity, humility and purpose.

What we offer

This is a rare opportunity to take on a senior leadership role where your professional expertise and Christian faith can make a lasting and meaningful difference.

The role involves regular travel across our sites in the south of England with flexibility around base location.

Are you an ambitious part-time (3-days per week) Director of People & Culture ready to shape culture, capability and performance within a national organisation committed to rebuilding lives?

I am working with a brilliant charity founded over 50 years ago who are looking to recruit an exceptional part-time Director of People & Culture on an interim basis over the next 6-9 months. This is a rare opportunity to join the Strategic Leadership Team of a mission led organisation whose vision is to be a world class leader in rebuilding lives.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer and accountable to the Board of Trustees, this pivotal executive role will lead the design and delivery of organisations People and Culture strategy.

This interim Director of People & Culture paying £650-£700 per day umbrella, will lead a multidisciplinary team of seven, along with deputising for the CEO when required.

Their London office is located in Wimbledon, where they offer hybrid working. The post holder will need to attend the office up to 2-days per week. The Director of People & Culture role does involve some travel to their other sites which are located on the South Coast, Midlands and the North East. All travel costs will be covered.

Some of the key responsibilities of this Director of People & Culture role include:

• Designing and delivering an ambitious, forward-thinking People & Culture strategy aligned to organisational growth.
• Leading workforce strategy across attraction, reward, wellbeing, engagement and retention.
• Embedding leadership development and succession planning to build long-term organisational capability.
• Overseeing complex employee relations, organisational change and TUPE activity to minimise risk.
• Developing meaningful people metrics and reporting to the Strategic Leadership Team and Board.
• Ensuring equality, diversity and inclusion are central to all people practices and culture initiatives

The ideal candidate will be a CIPD qualified senior People leader with significant strategic leadership experience. You will have a demonstrable track record of delivering ambitious people strategies, leading cultural transformation and managing complex employee relations and change programmes. Strong commercial acumen, outstanding stakeholder management skills and the ability to operate credibly at board level are essential. Experience within the social care or not-for-profit sector would be very advantageous.

My client is keen to move quickly with interviews held in person at their office on the 6th March 2026. The interview process will consist of a 1-stage interview, with the chosen candidate able to start at short notice.

If you are a visionary and values led Director of People & Culture ready to make an immediate impact, I would be delighted to speak with you in.

AHF is seeking an England Development Manager (Heritage Revival Fund) to co‑lead our core grants and advisory programme across England. This role has been created following the recent announcement of significant new investment, which will support the expansion of the Heritage Revival Fund through to 2030. This investment will enable AHF, in partnership with DCMS and Historic England, to provide grants to hundreds of communities across England, helping them bring neglected historic buildings back into use.

Ideally based in southern or central England with focus on southern half of the country. The postholder will work jointly with the current England Development Manager (HRF), who will focus on the northern half of England. Together, they will oversee activity and workflow across the whole country. The role also includes joint management of the England grants team (who work remotely) and programme budget, working flexibly and collaboratively to ensure the successful delivery of AHF’s core programme.

We are looking for a candidate with strong experience across the key responsibilities of the role, including team management, programme budget oversight, and reporting. Ideally, they will bring a proven track record of leadership within the heritage or charitable sector. Candidates must have strong numerical and financial skills, excellent attention to detail, confidence using common IT and Office systems, and the ability to work collaboratively as part of a team.

Job Purpose

This role sits at the heart of Operation Smile UK’s five-year strategy to deliver transformational growth across all income streams. As Retention Fundraising Lead, you will be instrumental in delivering on three of the four core strategic priorities:

1. Build Regular Giving – retain and maximise value from the regular giving base

2. Drive All Donors to Legacy – ensure donors experience best-in-class stewardship, increasing their loyalty to the charity with an objective of feeding into legacy and long-term giving goals.

3. Maximise Growth Through Digital Fundraising Integration – leading the expansion and optimisation of digital growth for all existing supporters.

The Retention Lead is responsible for delivering Operation Smile UK’s strategic individual giving retention and legacy marketing programme. This role is key to driving income growth from our existing donors from the point of recruitment, maximising value and minimising attrition from the regular giving pool and generating and retaining legacy actions and prospects.

You will lead on the strategy, planning, delivery and evaluation of retention campaigns, with full accountability for managing significant budgets, agency partnerships and performance metrics.

You will support the development of the Legacy strategy, be instrumental in planning legacy activity and delivering legacy marketing for the existing supporter base across all income streams and methods of support, from Partnerships, Volunteers and public fundraisers.

This is a senior, hands-on role suited to an experienced Individual giving fundraiser with strong commercial acumen and a data-driven mindset.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Campaign Leadership

• Develop and implement the retention strategy, aligned with income targets and supporter growth objectives.
• Lead on the planning and delivery of campaigns across cash, donor stewardship, legacy prospecting and stewardship, welcome, conversion, reactivation and upgrade appeals.
• Lead on strategic development of the cultivation journey to ensure Operation Smile maximise growth through digital channels.
• Monitor and report on campaign performance, providing insight-driven recommendations to optimise results.
• Drive testing and innovation to expand existing approaches and introduce new ones within acceptable risk and return parameters.

Budget Ownership & Performance Monitoring

• Take full responsibility for retention and legacy budget management, income forecasting and cost control.
• Set, monitor, and evaluate key performance indicators (KPIs), reporting against ROI, value and response, retention and conversion metrics and long-term value across all supporter groups channels.
• Collaborate with the Senior Database Manager and the Director of Data and Technology to develop and maintain performance dashboards (e.g., Power BI) and support strategic data analysis, including both short term and long-term channel performance evaluation.

Line Management

• Provide day-to-day leadership and support to the Retention team, ensuring clarity of objectives, effective workload management, and professional development opportunities.
• Conduct regular 1:1s, annual appraisals, and performance reviews for direct reports, supporting their growth and accountability.
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive team culture, encouraging innovation, learning, and high standards of delivery.
• Provide strategic and operational direction to external agencies or freelancers working on retention projects.

Agency & Partner Management

• Manage day-to-day relationships with external fundraising and creative partners.
• Lead on the relationship with the external fulfilment agency working with multiple internal stakeholders to ensure an effective partnership is in place.
• Lead briefings, content sourcing, agent training, stakeholder approvals, and quality assurance processes.
• Negotiate contracts and hold suppliers accountable for delivery and performance.

Cross-Team and Market Integration

• Represent the retention and legacy programme in cross-functional planning meetings and contribute to a unified team culture focused on strategic delivery.
• Work closely with the Acquisition and Digital lead to deliver a seamless supporter journey from point of recruitment to donor communications.
• Work closely with the Philanthropy Manager to develop and manage the pipeline of HV/Major donors.
• Work closely with the Legacy administrator, Philanthropy Manager and Volunteer Manager to develop the legacy pipeline.
• Work closely to ensure all digital communications are aligned and support the retention strategy
• Act as a key liaison with colleagues across Operation Smile global markets, sharing insights and exploring opportunities to align strategy, co-develop creative, or pilot cross-market initiatives.

Compliance, Risk & Best Practice

• Ensure all campaigns meet legal, ethical and data protection requirements (e.g., GDPR, Fundraising Regulator).
• Act as a key contributor to organisational risk assessments relating to income performance and supplier performance.
• Keep up to date with sector trends, innovations and benchmarks to maintain best practice.

Person specification

Essential Experience

• Extensive experience (ideally 5+ years) in Individual Giving, Legacy or fundraising acquisition roles.
• Proven success delivering multi-channel (including digital) retention campaigns for both cash, legacy and regular giving donors with strong ROI.
• Experience managing external agencies and suppliers to high performance standards.
• Strong background in regular giving retention.
• Demonstrable experience managing and reporting on retention budgets.

Skills & Attributes

• Strategic thinker with excellent campaign planning and execution skills.
• Highly numerate and confident using data for decision-making and optimisation.
• Strong project and stakeholder management abilities.
• Proactive, self-starting approach with high levels of ownership and accountability.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, able to represent the organisation externally.

Desirable

• Understanding of retention and supporter journey optimisation.
• Familiarity with CRM, Dot digital and data system Donorfy.
• Experience with Power BI or other reporting tools.

First-round interviews are set for the week of 9th March 2026. We strongly encourage early applications.

Disability Confident Committed Employer

We're a Disability Confident Committed employer, so we guarantee an interview to any disabled applicant who meets the minimum requirements for the job.

At Operation Smile UK, we value individuals based on their performance and potential. We're dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace that supports everyone's needs. We're happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the application and employment process, and we particularly welcome applications from diverse backgrounds.

If you need this document in a different format, require any adjustments, or need help with your application, please contact us (further details contained within the job description).

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Operation Smile UK knows fundraising could better reflect the diverse backgrounds and experiences of the people the charity sector supports. If you don’t meet every requirement but believe your transferable skills align with the role, we encourage you to contact us for a conversation. 

We want our team to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve, offering equal opportunities to everyone, regardless of, age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

We celebrate diversity and encourage you to bring your authentic self to Operation Smile UK. We are committed to supporting all applicants and ensuring a fair hiring process. All appointments will be made solely on merit, and we are happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.