Community Fundraising and Volunteering Lead

Job Title: Community Fundraising and Partnerships Lead

Location: Animal Centre, Hersden; (on site hybrid)

Reporting To: Branch Manager
Hours: 28 hours per week - flexed over 7 days to meet the needs of the business

Overall Purpose
The purpose of this role is to support the generation of vital community raised income to support the running costs of the Branch’s Animal Care and Rehoming services, while also developing, leading and delivering a branch-wide commercially viable, inclusive and comprehensive volunteering programme.
This is a revenue-generating management role within the charity. The effectiveness and success of the postholder will be measured against agreed financial performance, income generation, and impact KPIs, alongside people, welfare and operational outcomes.
The postholder will work closely with the Branch Manager, Board of Trustees, Employees, Volunteers and Retail Operations, playing a central role in shaping the future sustainability, culture and community impact of the Branch.
As an employee within a small, independent charity, the postholder should expect a broad, challenging and varied role, with significant opportunity to make a tangible and lasting impact on animal welfare, people development and the charity’s growth.
A full UK driving license is essential, as the role requires regular travel between the Animal Centre in Hersden, retail outlets across the Branch area, and community locations.

A more comprehensive list of the role’s duties are included below.
This job description reflects the duties of the role as of May 2026. It is not intended to be exhaustive and may be reviewed and amended in line with organisational needs and development.

Impact of the Role This role plays a critical part in strengthening the Branch’s long-term sustainability and community impact. By developing strong local partnerships, expanding community fundraising, and building a thriving and inclusive volunteering programme, the postholder will help generate the income, engagement and support required to deliver high standards of animal welfare and rehoming services. Success in this role will be demonstrated through increased community income, the development of meaningful and commercially viable partnerships, a motivated and supported volunteer network, and stronger connections between the Branch and the communities it serves. The postholder will play a key role in helping the Branch grow its reach, resilience and reputation while ensuring that more animals receive the care, protection and second chances they deserve.

Structure
Reporting to: Branch Manager
Key Tasks and Responsibilities
Community Fundraising, Partnerships & Income Generation
● In collaboration with the Branch Manager create, implement and grow an effective multi year community fundraising programme, identifying new opportunities and partnerships that benefit the branch.
● Actively seek and develop revenue-generating initiatives, preparing business cases and proposals for consideration by the Branch Manager and Trustees.
● Build and manage relationships with local businesses, corporate partners, schools, community groups and other organisations to develop mutually beneficial partnerships, sponsorship opportunities, and collaborative fundraising initiatives.
● Work collaboratively with retail shops and other teams to maximise fundraising opportunities across the Branch as required.
● Monitor fundraising performance and adapt strategies to maximise income and sustainability.
● Create a positive, inclusive, and accountable team culture aligned with the Charity’s mission and values.
Strategy, KPIs & Reporting
● Track performance against targets and take proactive action to address underperformance or emerging risks.
● Produce clear, accurate and insightful reports for the Branch Manager, including KPI performance, financial contributions, risks, opportunities, and recommendations.
● Support informed decision-making by providing data-driven analysis and proposals.
Volunteering Programme
● In collaboration with the Branch Manager, design, implement and continuously evolve a comprehensive volunteering strategy that supports operational needs, community engagement, and income generation.
● Ensure volunteer recruitment, onboarding, training, engagement, and retention are effective, inclusive and well-managed.
● Foster positive relationships with volunteers and ensure they feel valued, supported and aligned with the Charity’s mission.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Wellbeing
● Create, implement and continuously evolve an effective DEI strategy aligned with Charity values and best practice.
● Champion inclusivity across staff, volunteers and service delivery.
● Develop and embed a staff wellbeing strategy that enhances welfare, resilience and supports diverse needs.
● Promote a safe, supportive and respectful working environment.
Governance, Compliance & Collaboration
● Work closely with the Branch Manager and Trustees, maintaining open and effective communication.
● Ensure compliance with Branch policies, procedures, and relevant legislation.
● Contribute to cross-branch collaboration and organisational initiatives as required.
Education & Qualifications
A management or coaching qualification such as a diploma or similar certification would be desirable but is not essential.
Skills and Experience
Essential
● Minimum 3 years’ management experience.
● Proven experience of managing and coaching high-performing teams across multiple functions.
● Demonstrable experience in raising income
● Demonstrable experience developing and managing external partnerships with businesses, community organisations or corporate supporters.
● Demonstrable experience in running a range of commercially viable events and activities
● Demonstrable experience of setting, monitoring and reporting on KPIs aligned with organisational goals.
● Experience of developing and implementing a DEI strategy.
● Excellent relationship-building, communication and influencing skills with staff, volunteers, senior leaders and Trustees.
● Strong organisational and prioritisation skills.
● High level of IT competence (experience of Google Workspace preferred).
● Full UK driving licence, own vehicle and ability to travel regularly between sites.
Desirable
● Experience working within the charity or not-for-profit sector.
● Knowledge of basic HR legislation and governance.
● Confidence in managing and interpreting data to inform reporting and decision-making.
● Strong presentation skills.
Person Specification
● Passionate about animal welfare and the Charity’s mission.
● Ability to identify opportunities where community engagement, partnerships and fundraising activity can generate sustainable income while strengthening the charity’s mission and visibility.
● Positive, proactive and solution-focused approach.
● Flexible and adaptable. Comfortable working in a fast-paced, varied environment.
● Resourceful, resilient and able to work effectively on own initiative.
● Commercially minded with a strong sense of accountability for outcomes.