Head Of Fundraising & Communications

First Steps ED are looking for a passionate and strategic Head of Fundraising and Communications to join our team and help make a difference in the lives of those we support. First Steps ED provide person-centred support to our service users for a range of disordered eating and eating disorder presentations.

The Head of Fundraising and Communications will lead on the development and implementation of strategies to diversify and grow our income streams, strengthen our brand, and increase engagement with key audiences. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the postholder will be responsible for building and maintaining relationships across trusts and foundations, corporate partners, individual donors, and community supporters. This role will also oversee all aspects of external communications and marketing, ensuring a consistent and compelling voice for the organisation across digital, print, media, and stakeholder channels.

The Head of Fundraising and Communications will provide line management and strategic direction to the fundraising and communications team, with accountability for delivering income targets and enhancing the charity’s profile and impact.

Role Overview:
This position requires a strategic leader who will be a proactive engagement lead and support the charities overall strategy and mission. You will have a proven background of successful fundraising activities, diversifying engagement and income and cultivating key relationships through communication strategies.

Key Responsibilities:
This is an opportunity to develop and shape the fundraising and communications strategy for a growing charity, in an are that is getting more and more attention. The role will require an agile mind to adapt to the ever changing environment, and in return the charity leadership promises flexibility and understanding, as we test learn and adapt these strategies.

Some of the area you are expected to work on are the following, and the rest can be defined by you:

• Budgets and Targets: You are directly responsible for the budgets, and income targets attached to Fundraising and Communications.
• Engagement and Income Diversification: Develop and implement strategies to diversify income streams, including legacy giving, corporate partnerships, individual donations, and major donors.
• Marketing and Communications Strategy: Create and implement strategies to reach a wider audience through innovative marketing and communications channels.
• NHS and Private Sector Opportunities: Identify and pursue new business opportunities within the NHS and private sector.
• Relationship Management: Manage key relationships with donors, partners, and stakeholders.
• Team Leadership: Manage and support Fundraising, Marketing and Communications officers, ensuring alignment with fundraising goals and charity objectives overall.
• Lead our flagship campaigns: This year we are developing an online campaign, currently called Scroll Safe, to tackle the issues with online safety, we are included in the parliamentary act, and we wish this to be a multi-year campaign. It is in development for 2025, and you are expected to hit the ground running. Other campaigns include Eating Disorder Awareness Week, and Christmas.
• Digital Agency and PR Management: Oversee the work of digital agencies and PR consultant to enhance online presence and engagement with public relations and media outreach.
• Ambassadors and Patrons Management: Engage and manage relationships with ambassadors and patrons to leverage their support and influence.
• Web Development Leadership: Lead the development and maintenance of the charity's website to ensure it effectively supports fundraising and communication efforts as well as providing clear and concise support to our service users, carers and professionals.
• Manage our portfolio of events: We have an emerging trend in challenge events, and we manage these carefully and mindfully especially long-distance sporting events. This requires key insights in trends and work with our marketing team on key insights.
• Working with the CEO: You will identify opportunities for strategic communications and growth. You will network with likeminded individuals from other charities and build sector connections.
• Senior Leadership Team: You will be an integral part of our Senior Leadership Team, which means working across the whole charity on tasks that may pop up, and planning with the team our Organisational Development.

Qualifications:

• Experience: Minimum of 5 years in a senior fundraising and communications role, preferably within the charity sector.
• Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Relationship Management, or a related field.

Skills:

• Strong strategic planning and implementation skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.
• Proficiency in fundraising software and CRM systems.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.

What we offer

• 28 days annual leave (pro rata for part time)
• Enhanced sick pay
• Company events
• Blue Light Card
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program + Wellbeing App
• Company pension - 5% employee, 3% employer
• On-site parking
• Referral programme
• Work from home (depending on role)
• Accredited training programme towards CPD

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Should we met our target number of applications we reserve the right to close the advert earlier than the closing date.