Development director jobs

The Seafarers’ Charity is the leader in maritime welfare grant-making. For over 100 years we have led the way in supporting those who work at sea.

We are looking for an Individual Giving and Legacy Lead who will play a key role in building meaningful, long-term relationships with supporters, helping them feel connected to The Seafarers' Charity's mission and the difference their generosity makes to seafarers and their families.

Through thoughtful engagement, excellent stewardship and a deep understanding of supporter motivations, the role will develop meaningful supporter journeys across individual giving, legacy giving, in-memory giving and other supporter-led income streams. By creating positive experiences that foster trust, loyalty and advocacy, the postholder will strengthen long-term support for the charity and contribute to sustainable income growth.

Special Olympics GB is proud to support some of the most inspiring athletes in the world — individuals with intellectual disabilities who compete from local to international levels, breaking down barriers and showing the transformative power of sport both on and off the field of play.

As we enter an exciting new chapter, we are seeking an outstanding Director of Operations to join our Executive Leadership Team. This is a pivotal role for a strategic and values-driven leader who can strengthen our organisation, drive operational excellence and help deliver even greater impact for athletes, families and communities.

Working closely with the Chief Executive, Board and wider movement, you will lead organisational performance across governance, safegaurding, finance, people, systems, planning and delivery, ensuring Special Olympics GB is resilient, ambitious and fit for the future. As Executive Lead for Safeguarding and Welfare, you will champion a culture where the wellbeing, safety and dignity of every athlete remains at the heart of everything we do.

We are looking for someone who:

• Is inspired by the power of sport to transform lives and create more inclusive communities.
• Brings significant senior leadership experience and a track record of organisational development and operational excellence.
• Can translate strategic ambition into effective delivery and sustainable growth.
• Has experience of governance, compliance, finance, risk management and safeguarding.
• Builds strong relationships and partnerships, influencing with credibility and integrity.
• Leads with empathy, accountability and a commitment to inclusion.

The Director of Operations at SOGB is a wide-ranging, key role, reporting to the Chief Executive as a member of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT). Working across the organisation, the Director of Operations manages the operational and support services activities including governance, compliance, HR, business processes, IT, safeguarding, finance and health & safety to ensure that the organisation runs smoothly, efficiently and effectively.

Application Instructions

For Job Role specifics and how to apply please see the below SOGB Director of Operations Recruitment Pack.

The closing date for applications is Friday 4th September 2026 at 9am. There will be a two- stage interview process that will cover both culture/motivators and thematic competencies.  Stage 1 interviews will take place week beginning 28th September 2026 and stage 2 will take place week beginning 5th October 2026.

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a Finance Director with a social enterprise on a full-time, permanent basis. As Finance Director, you will lead the Finance function, providing high-quality financial planning, reporting, control, technical accounting and decision support that enables the COO, CEO, Leadership Team and Board to manage financial sustainability, risk and performance across the organisation.

The role has a particular focus on property finance, including the financial stewardship of the organisation’s mixed-use estate property portfolio, service charge arrangements, long-term asset planning and accounting for land and buildings, alongside senior oversight of charity / and social enterprise accounting and long-term financial sustainability. Please note, the COO retains senior executive ownership of financial strategy, capital allocation and organisation-wide financial sustainability.

Please note, there is hybrid working in place with this organisation with 3 days per week required in their London office.

As Finance Director, you will:

- Lead on organisation-wide budgeting, forecasting and financial planning processes, balancing operational requirements with long-term financial resilience and sustainability

- Maintain an effective framework of financial governance, delegated authorities and internal controls that protects organisational assets and supports sound decision making

- Lead on the performance, capability and continuous development of the Finance function, ensuring effective delivery of finance services across the organisation with a business partnering ethos

- Provide strategic financial advice, challenge and recommendations to the COO, Leadership Team and Board on organisational performance, investment decisions and financial risks

- Contribute to organisational strategy, performance management and transformation initiatives

by ensuring financial considerations are embedded within major decisions and change programmes

- Lead a team of 3

The successful applicant will:

- Have significant demonstrable experience in finance within the not-for-profit sector, in a similar role (evidence of continuing professional development in charity / social enterprise finance, property finance, VAT, audit, treasury or systems improvement)

- Be a fully qualified accountant (ACA, CIMA, ACCA etc)

- Have more than 3 years’ experience leading a finance function or senior finance team in a complex organisation

- Be able to work confidently across multiple entities with property ownership within the group (knowledge of, or experience working with asset-owning, organisations and that own, manage or account for mixed-use property subsidiaries assets, including commercial, community or residential elements)

- Have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal

If this sounds like you and you're keen to hear more, please do get in touch ASAP!

Please note, only successful applicants will be contacted with further information.

As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp™, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.

We are looking for someone who will help us accompany, equip and develop confident and missional leaders for a changing Church. Our new Leadership Development Officer will play a key role in enabling our clergy and lay ministers to be the best they can be and raising up the next generation of leaders.

This role, part of the Mission and Ministry Team (MMT), sits within a wider transformation of how the diocese forms, supports and develops leaders for mission, ensuring that clergy and lay leaders are equipped to serve a changing Church with confidence, depth and resilience.

The postholder will take particular responsibility for:
• Developing sustainable leadership development pathways, processes and systems that support the Diocese’s long-term vision for raising up new leaders and equipping ministers for mission.
• Designing and helping deliver the taught programme of IME2 (curate) and IME3 (first post) training.
• Supporting the development of a coherent and high-quality training menu and bespoke formation and learning plans for clergy and key lay leaders, including
overhauling our approach to ministerial development reviews (MDRs).
• Contributing to the design of a new Worcester School of Leadership, including working on proposals for a Young Leaders Programme and Ministry Experience Scheme (MES).

Regional Youth and Community Director
OASIS UK – Youth and Community (OCP)

0.6 FTE, Permanent

Salary:£31,487 (FTE £52,479)

We’re excited to be recruiting for a key leadership position supporting Oasis’ youth and community work in the North West region (covering delivery in Greater Manchester and Bradford).With accountability to the Oasis Community Partnerships CEO the role of the Regional Youth and Community Director has three main functions:

1 Strategic management oversight of local Youth and Community teams

2 Regional development, working alongside other functions within the Oasis family

3 Being part of the national Youth and Community leadership team

The Youth and Community Director will have strategic management oversight of local Youth and Community teams in the region, providing accountability and support to the local leaders and charity boards. This responsibility area falls into two categories; those the Director is directly responsible for, and those they are responsible for ensuring are carried out by leaders within their region.

ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT

Oasis neighbourhoods are local places of activity that provide integrated, high quality and diverse services to benefit the whole person and the whole community. The Oasis ethos stems from our Christian roots and is an expression of our character - it is a declaration of who we are and therefore the lens through which we assess all we do. This is encapsulated by the following five statements:

a passion to include everyone

a desire to treat everyone equally, respecting differences

a commitment to healthy and open relationships

a deep sense of hope that things can change and be transformed

a sense of perseverance to keep going for the long haul

An Oasis neighbourhood is a community movement and the joining together of all the work Oasis does in any one place, which could include foodbanks, debt advice centres, family support and advice services, healthcare, youth work, children’s work, alongside other Oasis activities in that community, including formal education through Oasis Academies.

The Youth and Community function of Oasis is responsible for the wider community work that takes place within Oasis neighbourhoods, working closely with the wider Oasis family to outwork our vision. In relation to governance, Oasis Community Partnerships is the national charity, with each local team operating from their own local Oasis charity.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a growing national organisation, making a difference to communities on a local level, whilst also influencing the national landscape.  As part of the package, Oasis offers:

• A pension scheme, currently offering 7% employer contribution
• A generous holiday allowance, starting at 25 days per year (plus 8 Bank Holidays)

Please contact us to arrange for an informal conversation with our CEO to find out more about the role. If you are interested in this position, please send your CV and a covering letter (ensuring you refer to the job description and person spec).

The successful candidates must have the right to work in the UK.  Oasis cannot assist with sponsorship or visas.

We actively encourage applications from people of all ethnic backgrounds and minority and underrepresented groups. If you require any assistance to overcome potential barriers to application, please let us know.

Completed applications should be returned by 9am on Tuesday 8th September.

Interviews will take place week beginning 21st September. (Shorter more informal calls may be arranged the previous week to assist with shortlisting)

Oasis is committed to making a difference to the lives of the communities it works in, and as such you must show a willingness to demonstrate commitment to the values and behaviours which flow from the Oasis ethos.  We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff to share this commitment and to undergo appropriate checks, including enhanced DBS checks.

Oasis supports Equal Opportunities.  Registered Charity No. 08749179

Head of Corporate Development

Location:London (Hybrid, with1 day per week in the office on Monday)
Salary:£60,000 - £65,000per annum, commensurate with experience
Hours:Full-time, 35 hours per week
Travel:UK and international travel required (approximately6-7 weeks per year), plus some evening and weekend commitments.

Lead strategic partnerships that change lives around the world
We are seeking an experienced and ambitious fundraising leader to join an international charity that supports a global workforce often operating far from home and their support networks. Through practical assistance, advocacy, emergency response and wellbeing services, the organisation makes a tangible difference to the lives of people across more than 50 countries.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape and deliver a growing corporate fundraising strategy, build high-value partnerships with national and international organisations, and play a key role in achieving ambitious income growth targets. Working closely with the Director of Development, you will lead corporate fundraising activity, oversee a talented team, and help maximise opportunities across a diverse programme of fundraising events and partnerships.

Why this role?
In this position, you will:

• Lead and develop corporate fundraising strategy to secure sustainable, long-term income growth.
• Build and strengthen relationships with corporate partners, sponsors and senior industry stakeholders globally.
• Manage and grow a portfolio of key corporate accounts, identifying new opportunities for support and engagement.
• Develop compelling proposals, presentations and partnership opportunities that align organisational priorities with corporate objectives.
• Work collaboratively with events colleagues to maximise sponsorship, team participation and fundraising outcomes.
• Lead, support and develop a small fundraising team, fostering high performance and collaboration.
• Represent the organisation at meetings, events and presentations in the UK and internationally.

What we're looking for
We are interested in speaking with candidates who can demonstrate:

• A strong track record of success in corporate fundraising and partnership development.
• Experience developing and delivering strategic fundraising plans and income growth initiatives.
• Significant experience managing corporate relationships and securing high-value support.
• Experience leading and developing teams within a fundraising environment.
• Strong communication, negotiation and influencing skills, with the ability to engage senior stakeholders confidently.
• An innovative and creative approach to identifying mutually beneficial partnership opportunities.
• Strong financial, reporting and budget management skills.
• Confidence using CRM and supporter database systems, with strong data literacy and Microsoft Office skills.

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave plus public holidays
• 7% employer pension contribution
• Life assurance (3x salary)
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Retail discount vouchers
• Cycle to work scheme
• Free eye tests
• Access to learning and development opportunities

Join a values-led organisation

This organisation is committed to being pioneering, inclusive, collaborative, accountable and caring. We welcome applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences who are motivated by the opportunity to create meaningful global impact through outstanding fundraising and partnership development.

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so that we can help with making the application process work for you.

Shape the future of Fréa – a unique partnership of three Irish charities working together to create greater impact.

We’re looking for an ambitious, creative fundraiser to build on a strong foundation and develop Fréa’s next generation of income and partnerships.

Fréa brings together three established Irish charities with a shared commitment to supporting Irish communities across the North of England. We believe that, by working together, we can achieve more than any of us can alone.

We are now looking for an exceptional Head of Fundraising and Development to help us realise that ambition.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced fundraiser who enjoys building relationships, spotting opportunities and turning ideas into sustainable income. You will have the freedom to shape Fréa’s fundraising approach, develop new partnerships and funding streams, and help establish the partnership as an increasingly influential and sustainable organisation.

You will build on a strong platform already created by Fréa’s existing fundraising work, while bringing fresh thinking and new energy to its next stage of development. You will work closely with senior colleagues and Boards across the three partner charities, developing compelling propositions and identifying opportunities where Fréa can achieve more by working collectively.

Importantly, this is collaborative fundraising, not competitive fundraising. Fréa’s role is to complement and add value to the excellent fundraising already undertaken by its three partners. You will need the judgement to recognise when an opportunity is best pursued by Fréa, by an individual partner, or jointly – always respecting existing relationships with funders, donors and corporate partners.

We are looking for someone who combines fundraising expertise with relationship-building, creativity and excellent partnership skills. You will be comfortable working strategically while also getting stuck into the practical business of developing networks and events, cultivating relationships and securing income.

This is a rare opportunity to help shape the fundraising direction of an emerging partnership with an established history, a strong network and significant potential for growth.

If you are excited by the idea of building something collaboratively, creating new opportunities and helping three organisations achieve greater impact together, we would love to hear from you.

If you would like an informal chat about the role please contact any of the Fréa Trustees: Ant Hanlon Chief Executive at Leeds Irish Health and Homes, Breege McDaid, Director at Irish Community Care or Patrick Morrison, Chief Executive at Irish Community Care Manchester.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

IRC UK

IRC UK is part of the IRC global network, which has its global headquarters in New York. Our team in the UK – approximately 220 colleagues – works to raise profile, deliver policy and practice change, and increase funding to help restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Since 2021, IRC UK has also provided integration services directly to refugees across the UK.

In Europe, the IRC currently operates in the UK, Germany, Sweden, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Greece and Poland.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The People and Culture (P&C) Director works in a highly matrixed environment with staff from several functions across the global organisation. The postholder manages the HR team in IRC UK and is accountable for effective HR service delivery, HR compliance and continuous improvement within the scope of the People & Culture department, localising the IRC’s global people strategy. This position plays a pivotal role in fostering a positive, inclusive and high-performing workplace culture that aligns with IRC’s values, through exceptional communication skills.

The role jointly reports into the UK Executive Director and Regional Director, P&C Europe – with additional reporting accountabilities to the UK Board’s People and Culture Committee. Working within global frameworks set by Global People & Culture, the role localises the implementation of People & Culture priorities and drives UK-specific change initiatives within IRC UK’s culture and regulatory environment.

As a member of the UK Senior Management Team (SMT), the role is jointly accountable for the delivery of IRC UK’s Strategic Plan, and has responsibility for the effective delivery of P&C priorities. The Director has a keen focus on building leadership competencies and organisational effectiveness.

Success in this role requires the ability to build strong relationships, influence decisions, and navigate multiple stakeholder perspectives to deliver effective people solutions within a matrix environment where accountability is shared.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. P&C Leadership (Advisory, Implementation, and Partnering) (25%)

• As a member of the UK Senior Management Team, assume collective accountability for the effective delivery of IRC UK’s Strategic Plan.

• Serve as an advisor and thought partner to the Executive Director and fellow SMT members on the UK application of IRC’s Global P&C strategy, and lead on strengthening IRC UK’s kind, inclusive and high-performing organisational culture.

• Support talent dialogues, performance conversations, and career development planning for IRC UK staff, embedding a culture of continuous learning.

• Partner with peers on workforce planning — including managing workforce adjustments such as staff reductions or scale-up, and organisational design work — in partnership with senior management, the Regional Director P&C Europe, and Global P&C Partners, ensuring compliance with local and global policy while minimising risk and supporting affected staff.

• Translate data and metrics into actionable items in line with IRC UK’s strategy.

• Lead, supervise, and develop the UK P&C team, accountable for team quality and effectiveness and for building a skilled, motivated team ready to advance.

2. Manage HR Service Delivery and Core Operations (~40%)

• Manage end-to-end HR service delivery across the employee lifecycle; recruitment, onboarding, contracts, payroll coordination, benefits, performance and leave management, offboarding, and HR information systems, maintaining high-quality, context-specific P&C practices aligned with organisational standards.

• Provide leadership on UK employment law and regulation to the UK HR team, ensuring the HR team supports supervisors of UK staff in the management of their teams in a supportive and compliant way.

• Provide high quality HR partnership to the Refugee, Asylum and Integration (RAI) UK Director and team to support programme needs and donor requirements.

• Advise supervisors on appropriate disciplinary actions, coordinating with Global Employee Relations and Legal on complex or escalated disciplinary proceedings, to ensure fairness and compliance with employment law.

• Responsible for P&C reporting for the UK Board of Trustees and People & Culture Committee, and for the annual production of IRC UK's Gender Pay Gap and Ethnicity Pay Gap reports, in line with IRC's global P&C reporting standards and applicable UK statutory requirements.

• Support any organisational restructure requirements, including active management of any necessary staff consultation and resulting redundancy processes, by providing expert guidance to management and affected staff throughout the process.

• Track UK P&C objectives set by Global P&C and contribute HR input - organisational structure, position scoping, staffing analysis - to proposal design and grant review processes.

• Lead the delivery of regular staff engagement surveys, analysing data and proposing leadership actions in response.

3. Workplace Culture (~15%)

• Promote employee experience, engagement, and inclusion, and oversee the integration of IRC's Values (the ‘IRC Way’), People Manager Standards, and Employee Success Factors across the employee lifecycle.

• Implement safeguarding standards set by the global Safeguarding function across hiring and onboarding, and ensure the IRC Way and reporting channels are visible in all IRC UK locations.

• Serve as a local advocate for Employee Wellbeing, Employee Engagement, and Safeguarding priorities set by global functions, and role model safe, inclusive, and caring leadership standards.

• Operate and promote collaboration in a highly matrixed environment where several units intersect and work together to reach joint decisions.

• Accountable  for the effective delivery of specific P&C-owned elements of IRC UK's Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (GEDI) Strategy and Action Plan, as well as assuming joint accountability for the full GEDI Strategy and Action Plan as a key member of IRC UK SMT.

4. Trade Union Relationship (~20%)

• Working with the UK Executive Director, maintain the relationship with UK Trade Union (Unite) representatives, and negotiate and consult via the quarterly Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC), driving progress on policy and annual salary review negotiations.

• Develop and manage union engagement and communication plans that support open, honest, and productive dialogue across the office.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

• Direct reporting line to UK Executive Director; indirect reporting to Regional Director, P&C Europe

• UK Board and P&C Committee

• UK SMT, with particularly close collaboration with Director, Strategy and Delivery, Financial Controller, and RAI UK Director

PERSON SPECIFICATION

• CIPD qualified with significant HR leadership experience across the full P&C spectrum, including complex UK processes such as restructures, TUPE, and employee relations.**

• Strong interpersonal and analytical skills, with proven ability to operate effectively in a complex, global matrix organisation. Solution-oriented, positive, ‘can do’ attitude.

• Strong knowledge of UK employment law, with experience of advising and influencing senior leaders.**

• Experience of working with Trade Unions, including leading on consultations and negotiations.**

• People management experience.**

• High level of confidentiality, tact, service orientation, and intercultural communication skills.Ability to manage competing priorities and complex, multi-stakeholder projects independently, with willingness to take on significant responsibility.

For nearly 20 years, Lively Minds has been proving that parents are the sleeping giants of early childhood development. With strong evidence and a national scale proof point in Ghana, we have shown that parent powered approaches delivered through government systems can transform children's lives at scale.

We are now at a pivotal moment. We have the evidence, the model and the momentum, and we need the funding, profile and influence to match our ambition. This is a rare opportunity to lead income generation and external voice for an award winning NGO entering an exciting new phase of growth. You will lead our fundraising strategy and direct engagement with Funders ensuring that we maximise all funding opportunities as we continue our strategic evolution. You will also shape a compelling external narrative that will help position Lively Minds as the definitive partner for governments strengthening their early childhood development systems.

If you are an exceptional fundraiser and communicator who is equally comfortable in a strategic conversation and writing a winning proposal, we would love to hear from you.

Read the full advert and apply below. Closing date: 3rd September 2026.

About Lively Minds

Lively Minds is an award-winning NGO with nearly 20 years of experience designing, testing and scaling early childhood development (ECD) solutions across the Global South. Our core idea is simple but radical: parents are the sleeping giants of ECD. Governments and donors have long overlooked parents, assuming that poverty and low literacy make them unable or unwilling to support their childrenʼs development. We have spent two decades proving otherwise. With RCT-backed evidence and a national-scale proof point in Ghana, we have demonstrated that parent-powered approaches, delivered through government systems, can achieve meaningful child development outcomes at scale.

Our 2026–2028 strategy marks a pivotal shift. Having demonstrated what is possible, we are now helping pioneer an innovative model of country-led sustainable scale. Rather than delivering programmes ourselves, we provide lean, time-limited technical advisory support to governments to help them integrate parent-powered ECD into their own systems, budgets and institutions. We are currently working with the governments of Ghana, Uganda, Oromia state (Ethiopia) and The Gambia in 2026, growing to six or more country engagements by 2028. Our ambition is to catalyse a sector-wide shift, positioning Lively Minds as the definitive partner for governments seeking to strengthen their ECD systems.

Our scale strategy rests on three interdependent pillars: fixed-term Technical Advisory partnerships with governments; the development of a modular radio model simple and affordable enough for governments to adopt and fund independently; and an advocacy and sector influence agenda designed to make parent-powered ECD the norm globally.

Purpose of the Role

Lively Minds is at a critical inflection point. We have the evidence, the model and the momentum. We now need the funding, profile and sector influence to match our ambition. The Director of Fundraising and Communications is a priority hire, created to provide the dedicated, experienced leadership that this moment demands.

The Director will own and drive Lively Mindsʼ income generation, building new funder relationships, managing and deepening existing ones, and ensuring the organisation has the pipeline, discipline and quality of engagement to meet and exceed its fundraising targets. Working in close partnership with the Founding CEO, who retains ownership of a small number of long-standing strategic relationships, the Director will take primary responsibility for securing the funding that makes the 2026–2028 strategy deliverable, and that opens the door to greater scale beyond it. We need to raise approximately £3.4m over the next 3 years to deliver our strategy. But our ambition is to exceed that target so we can support additional governments.

Alongside fundraising, the Director will provide strategic leadership to Lively Mindsʼ communications and advocacy work, ensuring that the organisationʼs external voice is compelling and that we are building credibility in the spaces where funding decisions are made. The Director will lead and provide strategic coherence to a small but outward-facing team, including Head of Partnerships and Advocacy Lead who are active on the international stage. Lively Minds is committed to thought-leadership and active external engagement, but equally committed to ensuring that communications resource is deployed with discipline and rigour. The Director will set a clear strategic filter for where the organisation shows up, what it publishes and who it engages: prioritising focus and quality over volume, and always asking whether external activity is building the relationships and reputation that ultimately drive income and/or systems change.

Lively Minds is a dispersed, remote organisation. The Directorʼs team the Advocacy Lead, Development Manager and Communications Officer - are internationally distributed. The ability to lead, develop and maintain high standards across a dispersed team is essential. The role requires regular travel to international conferences and events.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy & Income Generation

• Own and deliver the multi-year fundraising strategy with clear priorities, targets, income streams and a disciplined pipeline to support the 2026–2028 strategy and future scale
• Steward existing funder relationships, turning strong partnerships into long-term supporters, advocates and connectors to new funding opportunities.
• Lead the shift towards Big Bet and catalytic funding, personally cultivating and negotiating high-value, multi-year partnerships and positioning Lively Minds for system-level scale
• Maintain a high standard of fundraising quality, pipeline management and forecasting, while coaching the team to produce compelling, sophisticated fundraising materials
•  Build and continuously strengthen a diverse funding pipeline, identifying emerging opportunities, new funding markets and strategic partnerships that reduce concentration risk and support long-term financial sustainability

Communications, Brand & Advocacy

• Own and deliver Lively Mindsʼ communications and marketing strategy, balancing visibility and sector influence with the need to strengthen fundraising and systems-change objectives
• Partner closely with the CEO to shape and steward a coherent external narrative, brand and messaging framework across all audiences and channels
• Oversee high-quality core communications and fundraising materials, including cases for support, pitch decks, website content, proposals and donor reports
• Provide strategic communications expertise to Advocacy, Partnerships and MEL, ensuring evidence and learning are translated into compelling narratives and consistent external messaging
• Lead efforts to strengthen Lively Mindsʼ profile and thought leadership in the ECD sector, identifying opportunities for strategic media, events, publications and external platforms that reinforce its positioning and influence

Organizational Leadership&TeamDevelopment

 

• Contribute actively to SMT and organisational strategy, bringing funder intelligence, external perspective and communications expertise to strategic decision-making.
• Work closely with Finance and MEL to align fundraising targets, forecasting, budgets and evidence, ensuring proposals are credible, accurately costed and evidence-led
• Act as the organisationʼs communications subject matter expert, providing guidance and challenge to ensure high-quality, consistent external communications
• Lead and develop the Advocacy Lead, Development Manager and Communications Officer, fostering a team culture of quality, accountability, strategic clarity and continuous improvement
• Build strong cross-organisational collaboration, ensuring teams understand how fundraising, communications, advocacy and evidence work together to advance Lively Mindsʼ strategic priorities

Person Specification

Essential Experience & Skills

• 10+ years of significant senior-level fundraising experience within international development, education, philanthropy or a comparable sector
• Proven track record of securing major grants from foundations, institutional donors and high-net-worth individuals, alongside demonstrated experience securing or meaningfully progressing large-scale, catalytic funding from Big Bet philanthropy programmes such as the Audacious Project, Skoll Foundation or comparable funders. A strong understanding of what these funders look for and how to position an organisation compellingly within their processes is essential
• Exceptional fundraising writing skills, with the ability to personally develop compelling cases for support, funding proposals, award applications and pitch decks tailored to sophisticated impact funders. This is a hands-on role requiring both strong writing capability and the ability to coach others to consistently produce high-quality fundraising content
• Experienced in developing and owning a marketing and communications strategy, with a strong understanding of how to balance organisational visibility, thought leadership and sector influence with coherence, strategic focus and income generation
• Demonstrated ability to work closely with a Founding CEO to shape and steward the organisationʼs external narrative and brand. Comfortable working in a founder-led environment, providing expertise and constructive challenge while ensuring the organisation maintains a clear, consistent and coherent external voice

Desirable Experience

• Experienced fundraising for a technical advisory, systems change or government-facing organisation
• Knowledge of the ECD, education or early childhood sector and its funding landscape
• Familiarity with the Big Bang Philanthropy network or equivalent impact-focused funder communities
• Experience working alongside advocacy and partnerships teams, providing communications expertise and strategic coherence to their external activity
• Familiarity with the funding landscape for organisations operating in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Experience working remotely across multiple countries and effectively collaborating with cross-cultural teams

Behaviours & Ways of Working

• A doer, equally comfortable in strategic conversations and writing a funding proposal
• Sets a high bar for quality and clarity in all external communications and holds it consistently
• Builds a strong, trust-based partnership with the Founding CEO, provides honest challenge and operates effectively within a founder-led dynamic without losing their own voice or judgement
• Collaborative and cross-organisational. Invests in strong relationships with programme, MEL and finance colleagues, understanding that the best fundraising is grounded in organisational reality
• Calm and focused under pressure - able to manage competing priorities and maintain quality when the stakes are high

What We Offer

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• 25 days annual leave
• Health insurance
• Pension contribution
• Generous learning and development budget
• Flexible, remote working

Application Instruction

Interested candidates are encouraged to read the Job Description carefully before applying to ensure they understand the role and meet the required criteria.

To apply, please complete the pre-screening questions and submit your updated CV

PLEASE NOTE - Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Timeline

Closing Date: 3rd September 2026

Our Stance

Lively Minds operates a strict Safeguarding Policy and is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of children and vulnerable people. As part of our recruitment process, the suitability of successful candidates will be verified through appropriate background checks including professional references and police checks.

Lively Minds is fully committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and to providing equal opportunities throughout our recruitment process. We want this commitment to be reflected in the diversity of the people who work for us, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, experiences and perspectives.

We are committed to ensuring that recruitment decisions are based on merit, skills, experience and suitability for the role, and that all candidates are treated fairly and with respect throughout the recruitment process.

Director of Finance – Interim to Permanent opportunity

London | Hybrid

£80,000 per annum

Initial 6-month contract, with the opportunity to become permanent

We are partnering with a high-profile, internationally focused not-for-profit organisation to appoint an experienced Director of Finance at a significant point of organisational change.

This is an excellent opportunity for a technically strong and hands-on senior finance leader who can bring stability, rigour and clarity to a complex international finance function, while also operating as a trusted adviser to senior leadership and the Board.

Initially appointed on a 6-month contract with a view to becoming permanent, you will lead the finance function through a period of transformation, strengthening financial reporting, controls, systems and processes while supporting wider organisational change.

The role:

Reporting into a senior member of the Executive team, you will lead a London-based finance team while working closely with finance colleagues across an international network.

This is not a purely strategic leadership position. You will need to be comfortable moving between board-level conversations and the operational detail required to ensure the finance function is accurate, controlled and delivering effectively.

Key priorities will include:

• Leading the organisation's global budgeting, forecasting and cash-flow processes
• Strengthening management accounting and ensuring timely monthly and quarterly reporting
• Presenting financial performance, forecasts and modelling to senior leadership, the Board and relevant governance committees
• Reviewing and strengthening financial controls, accounting processes and balance-sheet reconciliations
• Supporting the implementation and development of finance systems
• Providing financial modelling and costings to support organisational change and Executive decision-making
• Leading and developing a dispersed international finance function
• Overseeing grant accounting, cost allocations and compliance with donor and cost-recovery requirements
• Ensuring statutory, legal and taxation compliance across multiple international jurisdictions
• Supporting statutory, project and donor audits
• Building sustainable processes and ways of working that leave the finance function in a stronger position for the longer term

About you:

We are looking for an experienced senior finance professional who combines strong technical accounting capability with pragmatic, hands on leadership.

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA)
• Senior-level finance experience within an international, multi-donor organisation
• Strong technical accounting and financial reporting expertise
• Experience improving financial controls and stabilising finance processes
• Demonstrable experience implementing, improving or migrating finance systems
• Experience of statutory audit and UK compliance, with exposure to international jurisdictions advantageous
• A strong understanding of grant management, donor funding and cost allocation methodologies
• Experience managing and developing finance and administration teams across multiple locations
• The ability to communicate complex financial information clearly to non-finance stakeholders, senior leadership and Boards
• A calm, delivery-focused approach and the willingness to get into the detail when required

Previous experience joining an organisation on an interim or fixed-term basis to stabilise and strengthen a finance function during a period of change would be particularly valuable.

The opportunity

This role will suit someone who enjoys transformation and can quickly understand what needs attention, establish priorities and bring a finance function forward.

You'll be joining an international, purpose-led organisation whose work has a significant global reach. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to make a tangible impact on both the immediate performance of the finance function and its longer-term development.

For a confidential discussion about the opportunity, please apply or reach out to Annabelle at MLC Partners to confidentially discuss this role further.

Please note: Candidates must already have, or be able to obtain, the right to work in the UK.

Prospectus is delighted to be partnering with an international development organisation in the search for a new Director of Philanthropy. 

Director of Philanthropy 

£80,000 to £90,000

London hybrid (minimum three times per month)

This organisation is a global leader in pioneering and scaling proven poverty solutions. Founded in 1972 in post-war Bangladesh as a small relief effort, this organisation is now the world's largest Global South-led development organisation. They equip vulnerable people with the tools, opportunities, and skills to lift themselves out of poverty and reach their potential. Their holistic, entrepreneurial approaches operate across Asia and Africa, and have reached over 145 million people. The organisation's European presence was established in 2006 in London to represent the organisation in Europe, and build relationships with current and potential European donors.

This new Director of Philanthropy role will lead and guide the organisation to build philanthropic fundraising in Europe. This will involve developing a philanthropic fundraising strategy, working to build a pipeline of high-value donors, and securing five-, six-, and seven-figure gifts. This role will be responsible for delivering annual income targets rising to unrestricted or lightly restricted donations totalling £1 million per annum within four years. It will also support the Director, of their International Fund (based in the USA) in the development of an ambitious global catalytic unrestricted fund targeting $1 billion in commitments over the next five years.

To be successful in this role, this person will have proven significant experience in major gift fundraising and a proven track record of securing high-value, multi-year philanthropic commitments from individuals, family offices and/or foundations. This person will have knowledge and experience of UK and ideally European philanthropic markets. They will also need to have sensitivity to being a Global South-led organisation and an entrepreneurial mindset to achieve income growth. They will have previously developed and launched dynamic fundraising strategies that achieved income generation growth. 

At Prospectus, we invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you with your application. We welcome all candidates to apply, regardless of age, sex/gender, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status or pregnancy/maternity. If you have any disability and require reasonable adjustment/s to any part of the process, then please contact Rhiannon Mehta at Prospectus.

To apply, please submit your CV and cover letter (maximum 2 pages) in the first instance. Should your experience be suitable, we will arrange for a meeting to brief you on the role. 

CIPD is the professional body for HR and people development. We champion better work and working lives and support a global community of people professionals to make a positive difference to organisations and the people who work within them.

We are looking for a Financial Controller to join us at an important time for CIPD and our Finance team.

Reporting to the Finance Director and managing four direct reports, you will take responsibility for financial control across the organisation and our international entities.

There is a lot happening at CIPD. We are changing some of our core systems, including those supporting our membership and qualifications, and we want to use this as an opportunity to improve the way Finance works across the organisation.

The Financial Controller will be central to this.

You will lead on financial controls, statutory reporting and audit, treasury, cash management and the integrity of our balance sheet and ledgers. Just as importantly, we want you to look at how we do things today and help us make them better – strengthening processes, improving controls and making sure we get the most from our systems (Netsuite and Salesforce).

This is a hands-on role. We aren't looking for someone who wants to manage from a distance. You will need to be comfortable getting into the detail, understanding where something isn't working and seeing it through to resolution. At the same time, you'll lead and develop a team of eight, helping them take greater ownership and continue to raise standards across the function.

You will also work closely with the Head of FP&A and colleagues across CIPD. A big part of the role will be building good relationships outside Finance and helping people understand why strong financial management matters.

About you

You will be a qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) with strong technical accounting knowledge and experience of working in a complex organisation.

You'll have a good grounding in financial control and statutory reporting, but we're particularly interested in people who have improved things rather than simply maintained them.

You may have strengthened a control environment, improved a year-end process, introduced better balance sheet disciplines, supported a finance system implementation or redesigned financial processes. You'll understand what good looks like and be able to bring people with you when things need to change.

You'll also be an experienced people manager. We want someone who enjoys developing a team, sets clear expectations and is prepared to roll their sleeves up when needed.

Experience of working across multiple entities or international operations would be valuable, as would experience of NetSuite, Salesforce or finance transformation.

Why join CIPD?

This is a good opportunity for someone who wants to have a genuine influence on a finance function.

There is already a clear direction of travel, but there is plenty still to do. You'll have the backing of the Finance Director to challenge how things are done, improve processes and controls and help develop a finance function that is fit for the future.

And you'll be doing that within an organisation with a clear purpose.

The work CIPD does ultimately comes back to improving people's experience of work. As Financial Controller, you will make sure we have the strong financial management, controls and systems needed to support that work.

For someone who enjoys getting the detail right, developing people and making things better, there is a lot to get stuck into.

We reserve the right to close the process early and, as such, an early application is highly recommended.

Hours: Full-time

Pay: £83,840 - £88,490 GBP gross per annum (dependent on experience)

Duration: Permanent

Location: Manchester, UK (hybrid working available), with an expectation of up to 25% international travel to support UK-Med's international programmes, governance and humanitarian operations. The postholder must be deployable and able to travel internationally at short notice where operationally required)

Are you an exceptional finance leader ready to shape the future of a global humanitarian organisation?

UK-Med is a frontline medical aid charity, born of the NHS and committed for over 30 years to ensuring that everyone can access the healthcare they need when crises and disasters strike. We deploy emergency medical teams and health specialists worldwide, supporting communities affected by conflict, disease outbreaks and natural disasters, whilst strengthening local health systems and preparedness.

Reporting directly to the CEO and serving as a member of the Senior Management Team, the Director of Finance will provide strategic leadership across UK-Med's financial stewardship, sustainability, governance and organisational performance. As the organisation's principal financial adviser to the CEO, Board of Trustees and Board Committees, you will help shape UK-Med's long-term strategy and ensure the organisation remains financially resilient and well positioned to deliver its humanitarian mission.

Working closely with the Associate Director of Finance and colleagues across the organisation, you will lead the finance function and support delivery of UK-Med's Five-Year Strategy by strengthening financial governance, resilience and organisational sustainability across a complex, multi-country organisation.

You will be a fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent) with substantial experience providing strategic financial leadership at executive level within a complex organisation. You will have a proven track record of advising CEOs, Boards and Audit & Risk Committees, leading organisational change and financial transformation, and overseeing complex budgets, diverse funding streams and robust financial governance. Experience within the humanitarian, international development, healthcare or wider charity sectors is essential, with knowledge of institutional donor funding and grant compliance highly desirable.

This is a unique opportunity to influence the strategic direction of one of the UK's leading humanitarian organisations, helping ensure UK-Med remains financially resilient and ready to respond wherever communities need us most.

Can you help build a world prepared to help?

How to apply

We strongly recommend that you read theCandidate Information Pack - Director of Finance - August 2026before applying for this role.

To apply, please submit a current CV and a supporting letter (2 pages) through our online jobs portal.

Please apply below, as soon as possible and no later than Monday 31st of August 2026.

UK-Med is committed to safeguarding of our personnel and beneficiaries and has a zero-tolerance approach to sexual exploitation and abuse. We conduct thorough vetting before any appointment is confirmed.

UK-Med is committed to the principles of diversity, equality, and inclusion. We strive to provide an inclusive and supportive environment where employees feel respected and supported to be able to fulfill their potential.

Director of Finance: £80,000 - £85,000 + Benefits | Hybrid | London

For a small (but mighty) international NGO undergoing significant organisational change and transformation, we are recruiting their new Director of Finance on a contract to permanent basis. Reporting to Deputy Executive Director, this pivotal role will lead the Finance team through this change, as well as contributing significantly to the change underway. This role will support the Regional offices, providing hands-on finance support to staff while contributing to a strategic and operational context in transition. The Finance Director will embed new practices and ways of working and build the team to produce deliverables for the long-term.

Main Duties:

• Plan, execute, and deliver global operating budget for 2027 strengthening budget monitoring, reporting, and cash-flow forecasting
• Present management accounts, financial forecasting, and remodelling to the Board
• Oversee the implementation of the Finance Systems plan
• Produce financial modelling and costings for Executive team to evaluate organisational change options
• Lead the International Grant Accounting team to provide first-rate business partnering support, and compliance with donor requirements
• Lead the Finance team to transition to a smooth month-end reporting schedule and monthly and quarterly management accounts
• Implement financial policies to ensure compliance and identify and close gaps in controls
• Ensure compliance with statutory, legal and taxation requirements across the UK, Netherlands, US and Canada including charity commission and companies house
• Review and strengthen all controls and accounting processes
• Support the Project, Donor and Global audits

Person Specification:

• CCAB qualified with strong finance senior management / leadership experience within an international, multi-donor organisation
• Proven ability to deliver accurate and timely financial reporting
• Proved ability to implement, improve, and manage financial systems and controls, during periods of transition and change
• Proven delivery of statutory audits and UK compliance (ideally including US/Canada/EU)
• Strong experience of grant management, and cost allocation
• Leadership skills, including financial and operational staff, and those in remote locations
• Available at short-notice and able to commit to at least 6-months, ideally with a desire to move into a permanent role

________

As an employer, we are committed to ensuring the representation of people from all backgrounds regardless of their gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, disability status, or any other aspect which makes them unique. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds to apply and would encourage you to let us know if there are steps, we can take to ensure that your recruitment process enables you to present yourself in a way that makes you comfortable.