Director of innovation jobs

Role description:

The Bid Writer will be instrumental in driving ambitious income growth by creating compelling proposals, reports, and presentations that showcase the impact of Southampton Hospitals Charity’s work to engage both current and prospective high-value supporters (trusts and foundations, philanthropic individuals

and corporates).

Main Responsibilities:

• Lead the development of high-quality cases for support, philanthropic proposals, update reports and presentations
• Build strong, trusted relationships with key stakeholders across University Hospital Southampton to develop compelling philanthropic asks and stewardship reports
• Work closely with the grants manager to ensure that proposals align to agreed grant priorities and funding decisions
• Translate complex information into clear, donor-friendly materials that are brand consistent and tailored to a high value audience
• Identify compelling and innovative ways to articulate and showcase the impact of Southampton Hospitals Charity, using powerful, persuasive writing to engage and inspire high-value audiences
• Work closely with the Director of Income Generation and Marketing to plan a portfolio of work managing different deadlines for review, sign off and submission
• Work closely with the fundraising team to ensure proposals and reports reflect the interests and motivations of supporters and prospective supporters.

Person Specification:

Knowledge and Experience

• Experience of writing successful funding proposals and grant applications
• Experience collaborating with key senior stakeholders to gather key information and data
• Experience creating visually appealing high value funding proposals and stewardship materials

Skills:

• Excellent writing skills
• Excellent attention to detail
• Strong Microsoft Office skills (Word, Excel, Powerpoint)
• Excellent organisational skills, able to manage competing priorities and deadlines in a busy environment
• A proactive approach to developing strong working relationships with internal colleagues and external stakeholders at all levels to ensure proposals and reports are delivered accurately and on time
• Ability to review, analyse, and interpret key information and data to inform accurate funding proposals and grant applications

Personal Qualities:

• Self-motivated, proactive and able to work effectively on own initiative
• Collaborative and relationship-led, with a strong team ethos
• Professional, reliable and highly organised
• Resilient and adaptable
• Passionate about improving patient outcomes and supporting NHS staff

Role description:

The Senior Philanthropy Officer will play a key role in delivering ambitious income growth by securing philanthropic support from individuals, trusts and foundations, and corporate partners.

Managing a mixed portfolio of high-value prospects capable of making five-figure and above gifts and above, the postholder will cultivate, develop and steward long-term relationships as well as identify and secure new opportunities.

We are looking for a self-motivated and proactive Senior Philanthropy Officer who thrives on building strong, long-lasting relationships. You will be an excellent relationship builder, someone who is curious and able to identify opportunities to strengthen relationships, and who demonstrates resilience when working towards ambitious fundraising goals. You will convey a genuine passion for Southampton Hospitals Charity and feel confident sharing our vision and impact with others.

Main Responsibilities:

• Manage, grow and steward a mixed portfolio of individual major donors, trusts and foundations, and corporate partners capable of making five-figure gifts and above
• Identify and cultivate new high-value prospects, developing tailored engagement and solicitation strategies aligned to charity priorities
• Build strong, trusted relationships with donors, clinicians and senior hospital stakeholders to develop compelling philanthropic asks and stewardship reports
• Grow philanthropy pipeline, focusing on increasing multi-year support and improving the quality, volume and success rate of applications
• Support the Director of Income Generation and Marketing with the delivery of donor stewardship and cultivation events
• Work closely with colleagues across hospital engagement, community fundraising, legacy and in-memory giving and grants to ensure joined-up planning and delivery
• Maintain accurate records of donor engagement, pipeline activity and income forecasting using the CRM system
• Monitor trends in philanthropy, trusts and major giving, adapting approaches in response to changes in the external funding environment
• Act as a professional ambassador for Southampton Hospitals Charity, representing the organisation with credibility

Person Specification:

Knowledge and Experience

• Proven experience of securing philanthropic income at the five-figure level or above
• Experience working within a charity, NHS charity or not-for-profit organisation
• Demonstrable success in managing and developing relationships with major donors and/or trusts and foundations and/or corporate partners
• Experience of producing high-quality funding proposals, cases for support and impact reports
• Track record of managing fundraising portfolios and delivering income against targets

Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate information clearly and compellingly
• Strong relationship-building skills, with confidence engaging clinicians, senior stakeholders and donors
• Outstanding organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities
• High attention to detail and strong project management capability
• Confident use of CRM systems and fundraising databases

Personal Qualities

• Self-motivated, proactive and able to work effectively on own initiative
• Collaborative and relationship-led, with a strong team ethos
• Professional, reliable and highly organised
• Resilient and adaptable
• Passionate about improving patient outcomes and supporting NHS staff

This is not just recruitment – it's a revolution.

Sikh Women's Aid stands at a pivotal moment. With unprecedented support from major funders including Comic Relief, Lloyds Bank Foundation, National Lottery, Smallwood Trust, The Circle, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, and various other funders and generous donations from corporates and the community, we are scaling our impact to reach thousands more women who need our support.

Our groundbreaking Gender, Power & Abuse Report 2024 revealed the shocking truth: 61.48% of Sikh Panjabi women have experienced domestic abuse, yet 58.13% never report it. The silence ends now. We are seeking a transformational Chief Executive who will:

• Lead service delivery transformation for survivors

• Challenge harmful practices rooted in culture

• Build movements for change in communities

• Influence policy at local, regional and national levels

• Create sustainable growth from £250K to £1M+

Why Lead Us Now?

Purpose: Your leadership will literally save lives Impact: Be the architect of systemic change in the Sikh community

Growth: Lead a rapidly expanding organisation with major multi-year funding secured Innovation:

Shape pioneering approaches to culturally-specific services Legacy:

Build: an institution that will protect generations of women

Genuine Occupational Requirement: This position is restricted to Sikh Panjabi women only under Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010. This is essential to provide culturally specific services to women who have experienced gender-based violence and require support from those who share their cultural and faith background.

Please note that candidates who applied during our previous recruitment round are not eligible to apply again. 

We value the time and effort every candidate invests in applying and look forward to hearing from individuals who share our passion for supporting women and girls affected by domestic abuse and harmful practices.   

Life is a national charity committed to delivering high‑quality, compassionate and person‑centred support to people facing crisis. Guided by our values of Humanity, Solidarity, Community, Charity and the Common Good, we work across multiple sites to provide safe, effective and life‑changing services.

The Role

We are seeking an exceptional Director of Quality Improvement and Compliance to join our Senior Leadership Team at an exciting time of organisational development.

Reporting directly to the CEO, this is a senior, influential role with strategic responsibility for quality, safeguarding, compliance, estates and continuous improvement across our national portfolio of services.

You will provide visible, values‑led leadership, ensuring that everything we do is safe, effective, person‑centred, financially sustainable and fully compliant with regulatory requirements. This role has a real opportunity to shape the future of Life – and to positively impact the lives of hundreds of people we support.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership on quality improvement, compliance and continuous improvement across supported housing, estates and services
• Hold senior accountability for safeguarding governance, complaints and assurance frameworks
• Lead audit, inspection and review activity, ensuring consistently high standards and strong regulatory outcomes
• Embed a culture of quality, learning and improvement across multi‑site services
• Oversee property compliance, health & safety and estates management, ensuring safe and welcoming environments
• Use data, insight and digital systems to drive performance, manage risk and support innovation
• Act as the organisation’s senior lead with regulators, inspectors and professional bodies
• Work collaboratively with fellow Directors to deliver a joined‑up, high‑quality client journey
• Develop, coach and inspire senior leaders, fostering a high‑performing, values‑driven culture

About You

You will be a credible, values‑led leader with a strong background in regulated services and a passion for quality and safeguarding.

Essential experience and qualifications include:

• Senior leadership experience within supported housing, homelessness or a closely related regulated sector
• Proven success leading multi‑site services and senior operational leaders
• Strong track record in quality improvement, safeguarding, compliance and inspection readiness
• Sound financial and commercial awareness, including managing significant budgets and resources
• Lean Six Sigma qualification
• Level 5 Safeguarding qualification
• Health & Safety qualification (IOSH Managing Safely or equivalent)

You will also bring:

• Strategic thinking with the ability to translate vision into practical delivery
• A collaborative, visible and approachable leadership style
• Integrity, humility and purpose in how you lead
• A commitment to co‑production, continuous learning and innovation
• Strong communication, influencing and relationship‑building skills

Information about the role: 

For further information, please see the attached job description on our website. 

Salary: £50,285 per annum

Hours: 32 hours per week

Location: Home Based with travel across sites in the UK

Benefits:  

At Life we are passionate about providing our employees with a supportive and engaging environment. As well as ongoing development and training, we offer our:  

• Generous holiday allowance, starting at 25 days per year, plus 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time hours) 
• Birthday Leave  (applicable after 1 years service)
• Additional annual leave for long term service    
• Company Pension Scheme  
• Signed member of the Menopause Workplace Pledge 

Safeguarding and Equality:   

Life is committed to protecting all staff, volunteers and service users from harm of any kind. Life expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct.   

We are committed to ensuring diversity and equality within our organisation by encouraging applications from all backgrounds.  

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks. Life takes its obligation to protect the rights of children and vulnerable people very seriously; therefore, the successful candidate for this post will be also subject to extensive background checking, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS) which is paid for by the Charity.  

The Director of Programmes & Learning (DPL) provides strategic, technical, and operational leadership for Amna’s programmes across all geographies, partners, and ecosystem levels. The DPL champions a culture of learning, quality, and continuous improvement, ensuring that all programme strategies and initiatives are designed to advance Amna’s global mission.

Please note that compensation will be benchmarked and weighted according to the cost of living and market standards in the country where the candidate currently resides

Sport England is entering a pivotal period of transformation. As we deliver our longterm strategy to improve lives and strengthen communities through physical activity, we are reshaping how we work.  We are embedding clearer accountability, greater efficiency, and a culture defined by high performance and purposeful delivery. 

We are now seeking an Executive Director, Resources to provide strategic direction and operational leadership across several of Sport England’s core corporate functions. 

This is a role for a leader who can blend strategic insight with practical delivery, and who can inspire a modern, diverse workforce to thrive. You will play a vital part in ensuring that everyone in England can access the benefits of sport and physical activity. 

With funding from both the National Lottery and grantinaid from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, our work relies on strong, strategic stewardship. As Executive Director, Resources, you will lead key corporate services such as driving performance, championing continuous improvement, and ensuring that our resources are aligned to deliver maximum value for money and measurable impact. 

As a member of Sport England’s Leadership Team, you will help shape organisational culture, promote cross functional collaboration, and model inclusive, accountable and high performing leadership. 

We are looking for an experienced senior leader with a strong track record of overseeing core corporate functions within a complex organisation. You will be confident operating at board level and skilled at building trusted, cross sector partnerships that support long term organisational success. 

Experience in the sport, public or charity sectors is welcome but not essential – what matters is your ability to bring strategic clarity to this role.   

If you’re passionate about enabling impactful, inclusive outcomes for communities nationwide and excited by the opportunity to shape and strengthen Sport England from within please register your interest at Odgers.

Sport England is entering a defining period of change. As we deliver our long term strategy to improve lives and strengthen communities through physical activity, we are reshaping how we work.  We are embedding clearer accountability, greater efficiency, and a culture focused on high performance and purposeful delivery. 

We are now seeking an Executive Director, Investments to provide clarity, ambition and steady leadership through this transformation. 

In this role, you will balance strategic vision with practical delivery, inspiring a modern and diverse workforce to thrive. You will shape how we invest public and National Lottery funds so that everyone, regardless of background can experience the benefits of sport and physical activity. 

Funded through a blend of National Lottery investment and grant in aid from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Sport England relies on strong, strategic stewardship. As Executive Director, Investments, you will lead our entire investment portfolio, setting direction and overseeing the design, delivery and evaluation of funding programmes that increase participation in sport and active recreation. Your leadership will ensure our investments are inclusive, targeted and deliver maximum impact. 

As a key member of our Leadership Team, you will also help shape Sport England’s culture, promoting cross functional collaboration and modelling inclusive, accountable, high performing leadership. 

We are looking for an experienced senior leader from a complex organisation, with a strong track record in strategic planning, resource management, and delivering largescale programmes or investments. You will be confident operating at board level, adept at leading through change, and skilled at building trusted partnerships across sector. 

Experience in the sport, public or charity sectors is welcome but not essential – what matters is your ability to bring strategic clarity to this role.   

If you’re passionate about enabling impactful, inclusive outcomes for communities nationwide and excited by the opportunity to shape and strengthen Sport England from within please register your interest at Odgers.

WORKING WITH US

The founder and sponsor of the Harris Federation, Lord Harris of Peckham, opened our first school in 1990. We have, over the past thirty years, implemented ideas and initiatives that have transformed the opportunities of pupils from working class and disadvantaged backgrounds. Harris academies are widely recognised as a force for social mobility. We are immensely proud of the role that our alumni are now beginning to play in the world and of what we believe our current generation of pupils will go on to achieve.

We now have over 50 schools educating more than 40,000 young people across London and Essex, and employ over 5,000 staff across our academies and head office. With the majority of our academies located in areas of high socioeconomic disadvantage, a high-quality education is key to the futures of the pupils we serve.

As a provider of employment and education, we value the diversity of our staff and students, and all our staff are equally valued and respected. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff.

Our work will impact many generations to come, and our staff come from all backgrounds and walks of life, coming together to inspire young minds. We promote an inclusive culture that embraces the valuable and enriching contribution that all of our community make. We continue to be proactive in uplifting and supporting all voices at Harris.

To discover more about our culture, ethos and what it is like to work here, visit the page.

ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY

We are seeking an organised, proactive and professional Personal Assistant to provide high-level support to the Director of Secondary Education at the Harris Federation. This 1-year fixed-term maternity cover role is central to ensuring the smooth running of the Director’s day-to-day operations, including diary management, stakeholder communication, meeting coordination and the preparation of key documents.

As part of our Head Office team, you will work closely with senior leaders and colleagues across our secondary academies, playing an important role in supporting the Federation’s mission to deliver an outstanding education for thousands of young people. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, demonstrates exceptional attention to detail, and enjoys building strong, professional relationships.

MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Your responsibilities will include:

• To present the professional and welcoming face of the Harris Federation and all secondary academies, to all visitors, staff and students, in person and on the telephone.
• To ensure that the Director’s diary is managed efficiently and effectively. This will involve liaising with a variety of external and internal stakeholders.
• To provide a daily/weekly diary and documentation and maintain an overview of approaching deadlines.
• To maintain the Director’s contacts.
• To maintain an exemplary professional environment for the Director at all times.
• To ensure that all visitors are welcomed and catered for in a professional manner, organising refreshments as appropriate.
• To exercise complete discretion when dealing with issues of confidentiality and sensitivity.
• To take all telephone calls, in the first instance, dealing with queries, passing on calls if necessary.
• To keep the Director’s meetings file and retrieve necessary paperwork as and when meetings arise.
• To be responsible for organising meetings and passing on messages between all stakeholders, parents/carers, external agencies and students and the Director.
• To liaise with clerks to Governors to ensure that all relevant paperwork and correspondence is efficiently managed for all the secondary academies.
• To support the Director with the preparation of paperwork and presentations for a range of meetings including interviews, disciplinary hearings, grievances, performance management, presentations, training sessions etc.
• To liaise with Federation admin teams, Data, HR, IT and Finance Business Managers, as well as PAs and Principals across the Federation as appropriate.

For a full list of responsibilities, please download the Job Pack.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We would like to hear from you if you have:

• Appropriate degree or equivalent experience in previous roles
• Trained in the use of a variety of ICT packages
• Knowledge of personal assistant roles and responsibilities
• Training in typing and formatting of a variety of documents including spreadsheets
• Experience of managing staff in relation to the PA role
• Some experience of human resources e.g. recruitment and/or monitoring attendance
• Experience of working to targets and deadlines
• Experience of managing meetings including preparation and circulation of papers, minutes and ensuring information is circulated as required
• Ability to communicate well both orally and in writing
• Ability to work to deadlines
• Ability to be flexible
• Ability to communicate exceptionally well with parents and carers as well as other stakeholders in the academy

For a full job specification, please download the Job Pack.

APPLYING FOR THIS POSITION

If you would like to discuss the opportunity further, or if you have any questions, please contact us via email to arrange a conversation.

Before applying please ensure you download the job pack from our careers website, this will help with completing your application. Please note that we only accept applications submitted online before the closing date.

When applying, you will have the option to import your CV or use a LinkedIn profile which will auto populate the online application.

A reminder to check your junk mail for our email communications and add us to your safe senders list to ensure all future email communication is received.

OUR VISION & VALUES

Our vision, from the start, has been to provide the structure and services needed for our schools to amount to more than the sum of their parts, and to free-up our teachers and leaders to focus on one thing and one thing only: the outstanding education of all their pupils. Our young people and communities are at the heart of everything we do. Our core mission has always been to close the educational gap between young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers. Our ambition is one where every child in London, no matter their background, has equal access to high quality education, giving them the same opportunities and potential to succeed.

We know there are many challenges facing our young people and the communities we serve, and that’s why we need determined people like you to help us tackle those inequalities. Whilst each of our academies has their own unique cultures and values; as a whole Federation, we have four core values which are central to successfully achieving our vision: Excellence, Collaboration, Support, and Innovation. We are proud of our values because they guide us in how we work allowing us to achieve the best possible outcomes for our young people, communities, and colleagues.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

Harris has a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.

You will also have access to a variety of benefits, support programmes and initiatives including:

• Excellent opportunities for continuous professional development and career progression
• Annual performance and loyalty bonus
• Pension scheme (Teachers' Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme) with generous employer contribution
• 26 days' annual leave (inclusive of our Christmas Eve closure day) plus bank holidays, rising to 27 days after 2 years' service, or equivalent for staff on term time contracts
• Harris Wellbeing Cash Plan including cover for routine and specialist healthcare
• Employee Assistance Programme for free and confidential advice
• Cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme
• Wide range of shopping, leisure, and travel discounts
• 20% off at Tapi Carpets, exclusive to Harris employees
• Interest-free ICT and season ticket loans

For most non-teaching staff based at our Head Office in East Croydon, we also offer lifestyle friendly working arrangements including flexible start and end times, and hybrid working with two days from home and three days on site.

Operations Transformation Programme Director

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.

Interim Operations Transformation Programme Director 

Full Time/Fixed Term Position for 18 Months (potential for permanent role)

Our offer to you 

We pride ourselves in being a great place to work, providing a supportive culture with opportunities to grow and develop your career, achieve a healthy work life balance and to be recognised for the great work you do. You will receive: 

• Competitive salary and pension scheme
• 33 days holiday (inclusive of bank holidays) - increasing to 38 days over 5 years
• Hybrid, Flexible working
• Cycle to work scheme Electric Vehicle Scheme
• Health and Wellbeing portal – access to financial, health and wellbeing support and an Employee Assistance Programme
• Discounts – you will have access to Blue Light and NHS Discounts as well as discounts on mobile phones, gym membership, cinema tickets, restaurants, holidays and shopping 

 
About Us 

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a team of over 1,300 employees and over 28,000 volunteers, united by our goal of saving lives through essential first aid services, training and campaigning.  As a charity with rich heritage and a long history of serving humanity, we are proud of our past and excited about creating a healthier, safer, more resilient future.  

St John Ambulance works at the heart of communities, supporting and enabling them to access and receive physical and mental health first aid. We do this through developing and providing effective community response and outreach services (e.g. Ambulance Operations) and using our longstanding expertise to empower people with vital clinical skills and the confidence to use them such as our Volunteers and our Young Responders programmes. There is also a buoyant social enterprise network which delivers first aid training and supplies medical consumables to businesses and consumers.  And now with a new strategy and after a review of our current structures were recruiting to a new Operations Transformation Programme Director to help take our delivery to the next level and build our services. 
 
Job Summary 

As The Operations Transformation Programme Director, you’ll build and lead a new directorate driving major change across Estates, Fleet, Logistics and Supply Chain to ensure St John’s operational services are efficient, future‑ready and deliver outstanding support. Reporting to the COO, you’ll oversee Estates & Facilities, Fleet, Logistics, Clinical Equipment, Health & Safety and Business Continuity, managing a c.£22m budget. You’ll ensure that we implement our new Estates strategy, lead capital investment, transform contract management, and deliver a best‑in‑class logistics and supply chain model. Success means measurable performance improvements, achieving key transformation milestones, strengthening stakeholder relationships, and embedding a culture of innovation, inclusion and continuous improvement while ensuring value for money.

About You 

You will bring senior leadership experience from a large, complex organisation, with strong expertise in either estates and FM, or supply chain, logistics, medical devices and contract management. You will have led large, diverse and geographically dispersed teams, delivering major transformation and operational improvement programmes. Degree‑educated with relevant professional development, you will demonstrate inspirational leadership, excellent communication, analytical thinking, confident board‑level reporting, and proven budgetary management.

About the Role 

• Own and be accountable for the development and delivery of transformation plans for estates, fleet, logistics, and supply chain, aligned with organisational strategy and ensuring safety, quality, and efficiency
• To be accountable for the account management of key external providers across Fleet and Estates
• To hold overall accountability for a significant P&L and ensure adherence to plan delivering value and measurable improvements.
• Lead change initiatives, engaging stakeholders and driving adoption of new processes and technologies.
• To role model, empower and enable your people. To champion and exemplify compassionate, ethical and accountable leadership and St John HEART values.
• Establish and drive continuous improvement of KPIs and dashboards to measure and drive effectiveness across the various teams and the business and to ensure we meet internal and external compliance requirements, continually measuring and acting on customer/stakeholder feedback
• Cultivate relationships with external stakeholders, partners and customers.

Please see the job description for more detail (this can be viewed on our website or once you click apply) 

If you are a current St John Ambulance employee, please apply here: Click here 

For all other candidates, or St John Ambulance volunteers wishing to apply: please apply below 

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive high volume of applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible. 

St John Ambulance are committed to increasing the diversity of our team and making sure we best reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.   At St John, everyone is valued and supported to thrive, we have several networks including Multi Culture, Disability and Accessibility, Pride, Family and Carers and Women’s groups.  We do not tolerate any form of discrimination and engender a sense of belonging for all, by creating an environment of mutual respect, where we value unique differences and demonstrate authentic allyship. We believe passionately in equality, diversity and inclusion.    

'St John Ambulance is committed to safeguarding and we promote safe recruitment practice. Therefore, all successful applicants will undergo pre-employment checks, including DBS Clearance, as part of the onboarding process, if applicable to the nature of the role'. 

Please note: St John does not accept speculative CVs and will only review CVs sent in application for an advertised vacancy. 

Right now, millions of people across the UK are living with financial insecurity. Parents are choosing between heating and food. People who fall ill find themselves unable to work and without support. Countless others lie awake at night worrying about bills they cannot pay. At Turn2us, we believe none of us should have to face these challenges alone - and we exist to change the systems that allow them to persist.

Turn2us is working towards a future where everyone in the UK has financial security so they can thrive. We combine direct support and innovative digital tools, such as our online Benefits Calculator and PIP Helper, with influencing, policy and systems change. Across our organisation, colleagues bring deep expertise, compassion and ambition, united by a shared belief that financial hardship is not a personal failing, but a systemic issue that can and must be changed.

The Income & External Affairs Directorate plays a critical role in making this vision a reality. Through relationship-led fundraising, commercial partnerships, communications, and policy and influencing work, the directorate ensures Turn2us has the resources, profile and voice needed to maximise our impact. It connects our work with the people, organisations and institutions that can help drive lasting change. While we have built strong momentum and significant partnerships in recent years, we know there is far more potential to realise.

As Director of Income & External Affairs, you will be a key member of our Leadership Team, working closely with colleagues across the charity and with our Board. You will lead the growth of sustainable income, develop powerful and values-led partnerships, strengthen our public voice, and help shape a policy and advocacy agenda grounded in the experiences of people facing financial hardship. You will also play a vital role in building trust, credibility and influence across sectors to help shift the systems that keep people locked in financial insecurity.

We are looking for an exceptional and values-driven leader with a strong track record in relationship-based income generation, partnerships and influence. This experience may come from the charity sector or a commercial environment. We are not seeking a specific career path or background; instead, we actively welcome applications from people who bring new perspectives, transferable skills and different ways of thinking. What matters most is a deep commitment to our purpose, a willingness to learn and the confidence to lead with curiosity and humility.

This role calls for persuasive leadership, emotional intelligence and the ability to build trust across diverse teams and stakeholders. You will thrive if you enjoy working collaboratively, sharing power and leading in a way that is inclusive, supportive and ambitious.

This is a genuinely exciting and critical role - for our staff, our partners, and most importantly, for the people we exist to serve. We are particularly keen to hear from people with lived experience of financial insecurity. If you share our values and feel inspired by our vision of a more just and financially secure society, we would love to hear from you.

To download a full copy of the candidate brief and learn more about the role, please click the ‘Apply’ button, where you will be redirected to the website of our recruitment partner, Tall Roots. Applications should include a CV and covering letter. If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please email Mark Crowley at Tall Roots.

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. 

At Outside the Box we make a real difference, positively changing the lives of the people with learning disabilities/autism. To build on our success, we are now looking for someone special to lead our ‘day’ services (OTB Choices).

OTB Choices provides a dynamic portfolio of education, skills, creative and work experience opportunities, from cooking, art and craft to printing, computing, music and customer service, and much more. We are at an exciting stage in our delivery and development and are seeking an exceptional person to lead and manage our services, ensuring consistently high quality provision that really does make a difference.

You will play a pivotal role in our work, proactively leading a diverse team and multi-site operations to achieve targets and outcomes. You will be solution-focused, have the strength, vision and evidenced track record of an experienced manager and shared passion for enabling and empowering people with learning disabilities and/or autism to have their best lives.

Help shape a future where people with motor neurone disease (MND) receive joined-up, person-centred support. As a Programme Lead - Integrated Support, you will guide the development of a new integrated support model, coordinating activity across seven connected work-packages and ensuring progress that is timely, focused, and grounded in real need.

As the Programme Lead, you will work across teams to plan, align, and drive programme delivery. You will ensure each area of work is clearly structured, purposeful, and supported, while maintaining strong relationships across the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead planning and delivery of projects within the Integrated Support Programme
• Maintain a clear programme framework that supports governance, prioritisation, rick-management and quality assurance
• Collaborate with senior leaders to inform strategic direction and future development
• Engage colleagues, volunteers, and community stakeholders to support innovation and inclusive co-production
• Track progress, evaluate effectiveness, and embed continuous improvement
• Oversee budgets, resources, timelines, and project standards
• Identify and manage risks and interdependencies
• Promote integrated, person-centred approaches rooted in lived experience and best practice

About You

• Experience leading complex project portfolios within service-focused settings
• Knowledge of service improvement and the ability to apply recognised Quality Improvement methods
• A formal project management qualification (e.g., PRINCE2, APM, Agile)
• Skilled in programme framework development, resource planning, and financial oversight
• Strong analytical skills and confidence using metrics to inform decisions
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills and clear, inclusive communication
• Ability to lead collaboratively, supporting both staff and volunteers
• Strength in risk management and constructive problem-solving

Further information about MND Association and full job description is available in the attached Candidate Pack.

This is a home-based role with a requirement to travel to Northampton, London and regionally in-line with role and organisation requirements.

We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusivity. We work to remove barriers for everyone affected by MND, employees, volunteers, and stakeholders.

As part of the Disability Confident Scheme, we guarantee interviews for disabled applicants who meet the role's requirements.

What We Offer

• 28 days holiday, increasing to 33 days after 5 years, plus Bank Holidays
• Access to UK Healthcare, including dental, eyecare, health screenings, and therapies
• 24/7 GP access via phone and video
• Life assurance and confidential counselling helplines
• Salary sacrifice schemes (Cycle to Work, Buy/Sell Annual Leave)
• Access to Benefit Hub for discounts on everyday shopping
• Enhanced pension scheme
• Opportunities for training and personal development
• Hybrid working

About Us

Motor Neurone Disease moves fast. It takes away time, it takes away independence and it has no cure. Every day we support people affected by MND. We fund ground-breaking research. We campaign for better care. We’re here for everyone who needs us. Because with MND, every day matters.

Do you have excellent financial management skills and a desire to make a difference to the world around you? Are you able to think strategically, focus on detail and help others to plan and manage  budgets to achieve their goals?

We are looking for a Finance Manager to run the day-to-day finance systems and processes of the Trust, managing the financial reporting and compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements. You will provide support and advise budget holders to help us achieve our vision of restoring nature on a grand scale in the West of England. 

This role offers the opportunity to make a real difference to our organisational effectiveness, working with managers, staff and Trustees to embed a culture of financial awareness and inform decision-making.  You will manage our small finance team, produce high quality financial information to support the effective management of the Trust, and support our Finance & Operations Director in reporting accurate and up to date financial information.