Director of community services jobs in West sussex

LOCATION:

This role will be based predominantly at Pavilion Buildings in Brighton. Depending on their roles, our staff can be required to work in a range of different sites, including our main training centre, enrichment site, training cafes and employer’s premises. 

JOB SUMMARY 

In this role, you will support the delivery and growth of Team Domenica’s thriving Trusts Fundraising programme. Following on from our recent capital appeal, Team Domenica is looking to grow its wide portfolio of grant funders to help the charity continue to deliver excellent training for young people with learning disabilities. 

Working alongside the Trusts and Grants team, your focus will be on securing grant income from a variety of organisations, from medium awards to larger, six-figure gifts. You will build a pipeline of prospects and develop compelling applications that illuminate how funders’ support can change young lives. You will also be comfortable presenting your work and Team Domenica’s mission to funders or other shareholders during visits or meetings.

You will proactively help shape our Trusts’ strategy and build meaningful relationships that generate income, add value to our programmes and raise awareness of what we do. This role is ideal for someone with strong research and writing skills looking to take the next exciting step in their fundraising career and make a huge impact.

We would consider an application for part-time.

REPORTING 

LINE MANAGER: Fundraising Manager 

LINE REPORTS:None 

RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Responsible for supporting our Trust fundraising strategy by securing medium-sized grants, with the opportunity to work on larger (six-figure) applications in line with agreed income targets 

• Prepare thorough and well-researched fundraising applications 

• Craft progress reports for Team Domenica’s funders 

• Draft weekly reports on Trusts activity for the Fundraising Manager and CEO 

• Research new prospects to build the Trusts pipeline

• Alongside the Fundraising Manager, be responsible for project managing a portfolio of funders, including drafting timelines, detailed notes and a plan for application delivery

• Steward a portfolio of existing partnerships, ensuring funders have an engaging experience that involves their teams and supports our fundraising goals 

• Record detailed notes of funder progress and awards on Team Domenica’s CRM database (Donorfy) 

• Attend regular meetings with the fundraising team 

• Work with the Employment Team to develop funding opportunities, understand new priorities and any advancements in Team Domenica’s training programmes 

• Prepare and deliver presentations about Team Domenica when needed to funders, at networking events or other community activities to support relationship building 

• This list of duties should not be regarded as exclusive or exhaustive, as you may be required to undertake other reasonably determined duties and responsibilities. 

All staff have the duty to: 

• Maintain the health and safety of themselves, colleagues, candidates, as well as the public and visitors to Team Domenica. 

• Prioritise the safeguarding of candidates by following the procedures and principles laid out in our policies and associated legislation. 

• Promote equality of opportunity and respect difference and diversity within the Team Domenica community. 

• Maintain a professional stance while at work, including being a positive advocate of the work of Team Domenica. 
   

EXPERIENCE 

Essential 

• Proven record of securing small and medium sized grants within a charitable organisation 

• Strong, demonstrable writing skills, with the ability to create inspiring narratives. You will be comfortable working autonomously on detailed, complex bids, highlighting a clear need through storytelling 

• Thorough research skills 

• Strong numerical aptitude, with the ability to understand and manipulate budgets 

• Extensive experience of Microsoft Office, including Excel and Word 

• Ability to manage workload, competing tasks and meet deadlines 

• Understanding of data and its importance and a willingness to learn how to report effectively using a CRM database 

• Demonstrative ability to cultivate effective relationships with external shareholders. 

Desirable 

• The ability to present Team Domenica’s case for support to a variety of stakeholders, from grant directors to board members to members of the government 

• Experience as a Trusts Fundraiser 

• Understanding of other fundraising income streams and/or philanthropic strategies 

QUALIFICATIONS 

• A degree (or equivalent qualification) in a relevant field is desirable but not essential 

• We welcome applications from candidates with demonstrable, relevant experience in fundraising. 

PERSON SPECIFICATION  

• Excellent communicator with exceptional written and verbal communication skills. 

• Able to build and maintain relationships with key professionals within grant-awarding bodies and across various teams 

• Comfortable taking ownership of large projects and delivering results with minimal oversight 

• A commitment to learning, growing and developing excellent professional fundraising and leadership skills 

BENEFITS    

• Company Sick Pay: (post probation) 15 days in any 12-months rolling period for eligible employees.    

• Employee Assistance Programme    

• Workplace Pension Contribution: 3% employer, 5% employee.    

• Staff Discounts: 25% discount in our cafes and coffee products.    

• Family friendly policies    

HOW TO APPLY    

To apply for this position, please complete the application form, as well as sending a copy of your CV and a covering letter to: HR.  Shortlisted candidates will be emailed a Team Domenica Application Form to complete and return prior to interview as part of our Safer Recruitment policy.    

TEAM DOMENICA    

Team Domenica is a Brighton-based charity supporting young people with learning disabilities – our candidates – into paid employment. We create futures for the individuals we support, helping them to discover their full potential, live happy fulfilled lives, and feel included within the local community.    

Team Domenica is committed to the safeguarding and protection of young people and vulnerable adults. Employment will be subject to the receipt of two satisfactory professional references and enhanced DBS certificate.  Safeguarding Training will be given once the successful candidate begins their role.    

Team Domenica is dedicated to providing an inclusive working environment that encourages diversity and equal opportunities for all. We are committed to supporting a team that is representative of a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills.    

As part of our recruitment process, Team Domenica collects, stores and processes personal data relating to job applicants.       

Please refer to our Safer Recruitment Policy for information regarding all of the steps in our recruitment process and to find out more about how we use and protect the information you provide.    

Polka Theatre in Wimbledon seeks a Development & Events Manager to join our successful and welcoming team.

This is the role for you, if you:

· Would like to work for a pioneering national theatre for children.

· Enjoy planning and delivering fundraising events, which leverage immediate and ongoing support for the charity.

· Want to help a charity inspire supporters and build quality relationships with them, by telling the story of our impact.

· Are creative, personable, dynamic and great at communicating.

Polka is seeking a Development and Events Manager to coordinate Polka’s regular giving programmes, manage an established programme of events and oversee a committed portfolio of corporate supporters. As a key member of the Development Team, this is an exciting and rewarding opportunity to help shape Polka's future as a leading children's theatre. 

The Development and Events Manager will help donors feel inspired, appreciated, and compelled to support Polka. You will do this through high-quality communications and events for Polka’s donors, potential donors and corporate partners. The postholder will devise and coordinate a varied annual programme of stewardship and cultivation events and take a proactive role in attracting new supporters.

This is a permanent, full-time role. More details are in the recruitment pack on our website.

This role will suit candidates with fundraising experience, particularly with individual giving and events. We also welcome applications from people with transferable skills who can draw on their experience in other sectors. 

The role is primarily on site at Polka Theatre in Wimbledon, with up to 2 days working from home per week.

Polka's commitment as an equal opportunities employer means we are keen to encourage applications from people from the Global Majority, people across the gender spectrum and people who self-identify as disabled, who are underrepresented in our sector.

Polka is funded by Arts Council England, London, registered charity number 256979.

About Us

We are Global Dialogue, an international philanthropy support organisation partnering with independent funders to advance rights, equity, and diversity. Independent in status and global in reach, we provide funder networks, collaboratives, and partners with the practical support and technical expertise they need to create lasting, systemic change.

The Role

We’re looking for a highly organised and proactive Operations & Systems Manager to play a central role in ensuring Global Dialogue’s operations run smoothly and effectively. This maternity cover role is ideal for someone who enjoys solving problems, improving systems, and supporting teams to be their very best.

You’ll collaborate closely with the Chief Operating Officer, core operational team, and the hosted and incubated programmes to provide a trusted, responsive operational service that enables programmes to focus on their mission. You will be the first point of call for any operational queries, providing clear guidance on our processes and supporting with practical tasks. Your areas of support will span digital and IT systems, data management, programme support, travel and events processes, and internal communications.

About You

The right candidate will possess excellent project management skills, a systems mindset, and confidence working with IT and digital tools. You will be comfortable engaging with stakeholders at all levels, including external suppliers, programme staff, and colleagues across the organisation, and thrive in building trusted relationships. With a passion for improving systems and processes for people, you will be someone who has a track record of providing empathetic and resourceful solutions. An awareness of GDPR considerations and risk management is essential. Experience working in a fast‑paced organisation and confidence with digital systems (particularly Microsoft 365 and SharePoint) would be advantageous.

How to Apply

We are partnering with Doing Good Recruitment for this campaign. Please click ‘Apply’ to find out more, see the full JD and learn how to submit.

Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to the employment and career development of people with disabilities. We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates

may need during the recruitment process, and you will be asked whether you require anything if you are invited to interview. If you need this information in another format or if there are additional options you’d like to request, please contact Tristan at Doing Good Recruitment.

We are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. To help us monitor how we’re doing and identify any barriers in our recruitment process, we invite all applicants to complete the Equal Opportunities Monitoring form found on Doing Good Recruitment's application page.

Are you passionate about building relationships to drive meaningful change to make a real difference in people’s lives? Samaritans is the UK and Ireland’s leading suicide prevention charity. While we are best known for listening to those who need us, we also work to influence change through our advocacy campaigning and relationships with political stakeholders.​

We are looking for a Public Affairs and Campaigns Officer to join our team and help influence decision makers and mobilise our campaigners to achieve our vision of fewer lives lost to suicide. You’ll play a pivotal role in delivering inspiring public affairs and advocacy campaign activity that help achieve our policy and influencing aims, resulting in lasting system change.​

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About the Role

As Public Affairs and Campaigns Officer, you will lead on the development and delivery of impactful advocacy campaigns and public affairs activity, managing supporter journeys and mobilisation, as well as political engagement. It involves building strong relationships with parliamentarians, Samaritans branches and people with lived experience, while producing high‑quality campaign actions, briefings, events, and intelligence to influence change.

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Contract

£30,000-£33,000 per annum plus benefits

Full Time (35hrs per week)

Permanent

Hybrid working with link to Ewell office

In-person working: Meeting in person and working collaboratively are things we value. We work in person around 2 days per month. This role will also involve regular travel to Westminster.

We are passionate about flexible working, talk to us about your preferences 

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What You’ll Do

• Develop and deliver effective advocacy campaign actions.
• Manage campaign data, mailing lists and inboxes.
• Support strategy development for campaigns and lead community mobilisation.
• Promote our campaigning work internally and externally.
• Build and maintain public affairs relationships, particularly with parliamentarians.
• Monitor parliamentary developments and identify opportunities for influencing.
• Coordinate political engagement events.
• Provide secretariat support to relevant APPGs.

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What You’ll Bring

• Strong experience designing impactful advocacy campaigns.
• Solid understanding of public affairs and the Westminster environment.
• Excellent communication, facilitation and relationship‑building skills.
• Highly organised, proactive and adaptable, with strong project and time‑management skills.
• (Desirable) Knowledge of suicide prevention and mental health policy, local and regional political structures, and experience within complex service‑delivery charities.​

See full Job Description and Person Specification

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Why Samaritans?

At Samaritans, you’ll be part of a people-first organisation deeply committed to inclusion, compassion and learning. You’ll contribute to a team where your voice matters, your expertise makes a difference, and your work helps save lives.​

We welcome applications from individuals with lived experience and encourage those from underrepresented communities to apply. We are committed to creating an environment where all our people feel seen, heard and supported.​

You’ll join a values-led organisation with a powerful mission and a collaborative culture. We offer flexible hybrid working, excellent benefits, and the chance to make a tangible difference in suicide prevention across the UK and Ireland.​

For further information about Samaritans, including our charity structure, values, employee benefits, and application process, please read our recruitment brochure available here. You can also visit our careers website to access this.​

We recognise the enormous benefits and the social justice imperatives of ensuring diversity at every level of our organisation. Samaritans is wholly committed to inclusion and diversity and to building a culture and environment where everyone is appreciated for the unique person they are. To ensure Samaritans is representative of those we support and who support us, we particularly welcome applications from disabled, racialised minority and LGBTQ+ candidates, as these people are under-represented at Samaritans.​

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Apply now

If this sounds like the opportunity for you, please apply. You will be asked to some answer short application questions  and to upload your CV.​

Applications close: Sunday 19th April 2026

Interviews: w/c 27th April 2026​

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At Samaritans, human connection is at the heart of everything we do.

We do not use AI at any stage during the selection process. Your application will always be carefully reviewed by the recruiting manager or a member of the Talent Attraction Team.

We kindly ask that you avoid using AI tools to generate your application or interview answers. We want to hear your own ideas, insights, and writing style so your unique strengths can shine through.

You will be building great relationships with our Corporate members and involving them with the work of the trust and inspiring them to support our range of inspiring projects. You will use your networking skills at events to proactively find new corporate supporters, and retain our existing supporters by running corporate events on our nature reserves across the county. You will further develop our corporate volunteering offering, working closely with our land management team, creating great days out for our supporters’ employees that they’ll recommend to their colleagues.

You will be an active member of the Fundraising team, sharing skills and ideas at regular meetings. The role will require extensive travel throughout the county, visiting networking events and arranging relationships between corporates and our wildlife projects, such as the Rye Harbour Discovery Centre. You will have a creative and innovative approach to the role, working on new ways to secure support from businesses from across the county. You will enjoy getting involved in fundraising events that include that whole fundraising department to create new income streams for the trust.