Proposal and bid manager jobs

Lead policy and research projects that shape national conversations on cohesion and integration. Join Belong and help create lasting change across the UK.

This is an exciting opportunity to take a pivotal role in delivering high-impact projects that inform practice and influence decision-makers. As Belong enters its next phase of growth, we are determined to deepen our impact, strengthen our resilience, and champion cohesion and integration at scale.

About Belong
Belong – The Cohesion and Integration Network is the UK’s leading not-for-profit organisation focused on building a more united and less divided society. Established in 2019, we work across sectors to strengthen trust, belonging, and resilience in communities. Through research, policy influence, and place-based programmes, we connect people, places, and organisations to share learning and drive systemic change. Our growing membership spans local authorities, charities, civil society, and businesses. Belong is collaborative, evidence-led, and committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

The Role
As Policy and Research Lead, you will design and deliver research and policy projects that inform practice and influence decision-makers. You will produce high-quality outputs, translate evidence into actionable recommendations, and contribute to Belong’s thought leadership. This role combines strategic insight with hands-on delivery and offers the chance to shape national conversations on social cohesion.

Key Responsibilities

• Policy and Research Leadership

  • Lead the design and delivery of policy and research projects, ensuring quality, relevance, and impact.
  • Produce policy briefings, reports, consultation responses, and thought leadership pieces.
  • Translate research findings into actionable recommendations for policymakers and practitioners.
  • Ensure projects are inclusive, participatory, and informed by lived experience.
  • Monitor policy developments and contribute to strategic positioning and horizon scanning.

• Stakeholder Engagement

  • Build and maintain relationships with policymakers, researchers, funders, and sector leaders.
  • Represent Belong at external meetings, events, and networks.
  • Support collaborative research and policy initiatives with partners and commissioners.
  • Contribute to dissemination of Belong’s work through events, media, and digital channels.

• Internal Collaboration

  • Support the Director of Policy & Research in developing Belong’s policy influencing strategy.
  • Contribute to organisational learning and cross-team collaboration.
  • Assist with proposal development and funder engagement.
  • Line manage junior staff or associates as required.

About You
We are seeking a strategic and thoughtful leader with:

• Proven experience in leading policy and applied research programmes.
• Experience working in or with government, think tanks, or advocacy organisations.
• Strong analytical and writing skills.
• Knowledge of cohesion, integration, and community development.
• Excellent project management and organisational abilities.
• Familiarity with participatory and inclusive research methods.
• Experience in income generation or bid development.
• Relevant qualification in public policy, social research, or related field.
• Ability to translate complex ideas into accessible messages.
• Politically aware and intellectually curious.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills.

Personal Qualities

• Passionate about improving cohesion and integration in the UK.
• Strategic and solutions-focused.
• Collaborative and inclusive.
• Practical, reliable, and detail-oriented.
• Committed to personal and professional development.
• Able to thrive in a fast-paced and evolving environment.

Why Join Us?
At Belong, you’ll be part of a dynamic, values-driven team united by a shared commitment to creating a more inclusive and connected society. We offer:

• 30 days’ annual leave (plus bank holidays)
• Hybrid working
• Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly policies
• Opportunities for professional development and growth

Join us and help shape policy and research that builds stronger, kinder, and more connected communities across the UK.

Our office is based in Manchester and we offer hybrid working for those able to travel there. However, this role is open UK-wide and can be worked remotely, with regular travel across England and Wales required.

We’re looking for a proactive, organised and enthusiastic Partnerships & Philanthropy Assistant to join our small but mighty Partnerships & Philanthropy team. This is a vital role at the heart of our team, perfect for someone who enjoys getting stuck in, learning new skills and is interested in high value fundraising.

While you’ll provide essential administrative and logistical support, this role offers so much more — you’ll be trusted to manage your own projects, spot opportunities, and make a real contribution to our fundraising success.

You’ll be a natural self-starter with great attention to detail. You’ll play a key role in coordinating the team day to day, managing our shared inbox, keeping income and expenditure records accurate, and making sure our systems and processes work seamlessly. You’ll also help identify new donors and ensure our incredible supporters feel valued, inspired and well looked after, throughout their journey with Bowel Cancer UK.

As part of the role, you’ll gain valuable hands-on fundraising experience. You’ll support our Partnerships team deliver high-quality stewardship and have opportunities to complete prospect research and help write proposals to Trusts and Foundations.

This is a brilliant opportunity to build your confidence and skills in fundraising. You’ll make a visible impact, be an integral part of a supportive and ambitious team and play a key role in helping us reach our mission, to ensure no one dies from bowel cancer.

Location: London Hybrid (1-2 days per week in London office)
Interview date: w/c 19th January 2026 

Change lives in a life-changing career

When a child or young person is diagnosed with cancer, their whole world can feel like it’s falling apart. Independence is taken and confidence is stolen. Stability no longer exists. The future suddenly feels uncertain.

The impact of cancer on young lives is more than medical. And that impact can be felt by entire family. That’s why we exist. Our specialist social workers help children and young people with cancer and their families navigate the emotional and practical impact of cancer.

We remove barriers, solve problems and prioritise wellbeing. And we stop at nothing to make their voices heard and their unique needs understood, so they can get the right care and support at the right time

About the role

We are excited to be looking for someone with expertise in high value fundraising communications and project management to join our growing Philanthropy and Partnerships team. This role is central to ensuring our fundraisers are equipped with the tools, assets, and information they need to fundraise efficiently and effectively through every step of the donor journey

This exciting role will play key part in helping to drive our ambitious plans to grow Young Lives vs Cancer’s high value (for us, this means income from major donors, grant-making trusts & foundations, and companies) income to £8m net by 2028.

In this role, you will work on a variety of projects from concept stage through to delivery that will help create a step change in the pace and scale at which the team can attract, engage, secure and retain support from high value audiences.

You will also lead on the delivery of  an exceptional high-value stewardship and cultivation strategy, ensuring every supporter experiences a personalised, impactful journey. This includes developing innovative engagement opportunities, showcasing the tangible difference their support makes, and building deep, trust-based relationships that inspire long-term commitment. You will champion best-in-class stewardship practices, leveraging insight and creativity to strengthen connections and unlock transformational giving.

This role is ideal for a curious, creative and collaborative individual who is committed to delivering exceptional supporter experiences. If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you.   

What will I be doing?

No two days are the same at Young Lives vs Cancer. So, summarising your ‘day to day’ isn’t easy. Here are some of the main things you’ll be doing, but you’ll find more details in the job description.

Main responsibilities

• Create and maintain a suite of clear and compelling written and designed communications including funding propositions, toolkits and cases for support to secure six and seven figure gifts from high value audiences.
• Coordinate stewardship moments across Philanthropy and Partnerships aligned to key calendar events throughout the year.
• Being responsible for development and overseeing an exciting stewardship and cultivation strategy and action plan for newly identified and top prospects, designed to support the delivery of targets and KPIs around high value fundraising development and income growth.
• Support the development of a culture of philanthropy across the organisation by helping colleagues understand and engage with high-value fundraising. This includes keeping internal teams informed about donor impact, sharing updates through meetings and internal channels, and responding promptly to requests for information. You will help coordinate materials, prepare briefings, and assist with internal events that showcase the importance of philanthropy, ensuring everyone feels connected to and invested in our fundraising success.
• Ensure accurate and timely updating of donor stewardship activities and communications in the fundraising CRM, supporting effective donor journey tracking and reporting.

What do I need? 

Diverse perspectives and unique skillsets are at the heart of Young Lives vs Cancer. If you're passionate about making a positive impact and eager to learn, we encourage you to apply, even if you don't meet the criteria and person specification fully. Your potential is what matters most to us, and we’re committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment to help you develop.

Knowledge and skills

• Strong understanding of visual design principles and highly skilled in using Canva and other similar programme to design and create engaging fundraising assets.
• Knowledge of philanthropy & partnerships fundraising including an understanding of the different high value audiences and typical motivations for giving.
• Outstanding writing skills e.g. copy writing, proofreading and editing with the ability to adapt messaging for different high value audiences.
• Strong planning and organisational skills; able to work with tight deadlines.

Demonstrable experience of:

• Writing winning bids, applications, proposals or reports for at least one of our high value audiences e.g. companies, trusts and foundations, or high net worth individuals.
• End-to-end project management.
• Developing and managing relationships with multiple internal stakeholders to deliver results.
• Experience working with fundraising CRMs, with a strong understanding of how to record, track and report on donor interactions and stewardship activities.

What will I gain?

 For people to reach their full potential, they need the right environment. As a member of Team Young Lives, you’ll be made to feel supported, valued and appreciated. Here’s how we do it:

• Flexible working: we’re open to working hours outside of 9 - 5 and we can talk through your flexibility requirements at interview stage
• Wellbeing, Thinking & Growth Days: four days a year to to step back from the day-to-day and focus on your own learning and development
• Generous annual leave allowance
• Great family/caring leave entitlements
• Enhanced pension
• Access to our employee savings scheme

To find out more about our benefits package, have a look on our website.

Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

At Young Lives vs Cancer, we recognise that opportunities for too many people remain a condition of their sex, ethnicity, class, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation – or a combination. This has never been acceptable to us as an organisation. We don’t just accept difference, we value it, celebrate it, nurture it and we thrive because of it.

We’re on a journey to be reflective of the diverse children, young people and families we support. We know we aren’t there yet, and we’re passionately committed to taking actions and making changes to be a truly diverse, inclusive and equitable organisation. This includes taking anti-oppressive action and removing barriers in our recruitment practices. We particularly welcome applications from members of minoritised communities. Our Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging strategy will tell you more.

We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. CVs can be uploaded, but we won't be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to fully complete the work history sections of the online application form for us to be able to assess you quickly, fairly and objectively.

Accessibility

We’re committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always aim to be as accommodating as possible.Please let us know in your application form of any adjustments or access requirements we could make to help you with the application process and interview.

To arrange an informal chat, please contact Liam Mills. 

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