Head of Development

Charity People are delighted to be partnering with The Passage to recruit a Head of Development to join their senior management team.

The Passage is a leading London homelessness charity, supporting people experiencing or at risk of homelessness to transform their lives. Their vision is of a society where homelessness no longer exists and everyone has a place to call home. The Passage has built a reputation for high-quality services and impactful fundraising, with voluntary income exceeding £5m in recent years.

This is a rare opportunity to step into a strategic leadership role at a pivotal moment, shaping and growing a diverse high-value fundraising portfolio while leading and developing an ambitious team.

Head of Development

Employment status: Permanent
Working pattern: Full time
Salary: £56,960
Location: Office based (central London) with some flexible working from home
Benefits: 35 Days annual leave including bank holiday

About the Role

This is a key senior position, responsible for leading and growing The Passage's high-value income streams, including corporate partnerships, philanthropy (major donors), trusts & foundations, and commercial/trading activity.

Reporting to the Director of Income Generation and Communications, you'll lead a committed and talented team to deliver sustainable income growth, while ensuring first-class stewardship is provided across all touchpoints.

You'll play a central role in developing and delivering strategy, driving new business, and building long-term, high-value relationships with donors and partners. As part of the Senior Management Group, you'll also contribute to organisational leadership and strategic direction.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver a high-value income strategy across corporate, philanthropy, trusts and commercial streams
• Drive new business, identifying and securing six-figure+ partnerships and donations
• Personally manage a portfolio of major donors and senior corporate relationships
• Oversee and grow commercial and trading opportunities, ensuring strong performance and sustainability
• Lead, coach, and develop the Development team to achieve ambitious income targets
• Work collaboratively across teams to develop compelling propositions, proposals, and donor journeys
• Monitor performance, budgets, and pipelines to ensure delivery against KPIs and forecasts
• Represent The Passage externally, acting as an ambassador with senior stakeholders and partners

About You

We're looking for a strategic, relationship-driven leader with a strong track record in high-value fundraising and income generation.

You will bring:

• Proven success in developing and delivering high-value fundraising strategies
• A track record of securing £100k+ gifts and partnerships
• Experience leading and developing high-performing teams
• Strong expertise across corporate partnerships, major donors, and/or trusts
• Commercial awareness, with experience or interest in trading and income diversification
• Excellent relationship-building skills, with the confidence to engage senior stakeholders
• Strong planning, budgeting, and pipeline management skills
• A collaborative and values-driven leadership style

Most importantly, you'll be motivated by The Passage's mission and committed to driving income that creates lasting impact for people experiencing homelessness.

Why This Role?

This is an outstanding opportunity to shape the future of income generation at one of London's most respected homelessness charities.

You'll join at an exciting point of growth, with the autonomy to innovate, the support of a strong leadership team, and the chance to make a tangible difference through strategic, high-value fundraising.

Application Details

Closing date: Wednesday 17th June, 9:00am
Interviews: 25^th/26^th June

If this role inspires you, please send your latest CV to Kevin Croasdale at Charity People () and request a job application.

Charity People is a forward thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.