Head of supporter development jobs in Camberwell, greater london

Philanthropy, which covers Trusts & Foundations, Major Donors and Mid-Value Donors , is pivotal to Noah’s Ark – typically accounting for around 46% of the charity’s overall income. In real terms, that is c. £2.2m of our £4.7m fundraising target for 2026-27. This role also has a lead role in managing our Philantropy & Corproate Board of influential volunteers that support our philanthropy programme. Philanthropy is a real area of expertise for Noah’s Ark and we have seen considerable success over the past 10 years. However, there is much scope for further, exciting growth. Specifically, there is much to do to re-engage lapsed donors and to build a healthy pipeline to ensure a steady flow of new donors join our programme. Our mid-value donor programme also requires further development to enable the cultivation of future Major Donors. The Head of Philanthropy will work closely with the Director of Fundraising & Communications to dedicate time and attention to a strong portfolio of donors, and will contribute to the wider development of fundraising and communications strategies through senior team forum and all-staff forums. The post-holder will be key in taking our Philanthropy programme to the next level, building on key existing relationships, increasing income and opportunities generated by our team’s augmentation and growth and elevating the experience of supporting Noah’s Ark.

ABOUT YOU

You will have considerable experience and success in high-value / major donor fundraising, at managerial level. You will be a dynamic, agile, highly organised, dedicated and reliable individual, ready to play a significant role in income generation. An exceptional and eloquent communicator, excellent at managing your time and a natural relationship builder. You will have a collaborative mindset and enjoy working with and managing team members with different personalities, styles of working and approaches to amitious goals. You will feel at home being a key person with whom colleagues across the fundraising and wider charity teams liaise, in order to create the greatest outcomes for the children and families we support. You will have strong line-management skills and show excellence in donor stewardship.

We encourage you to apply if:  

• You have proven skills in Major Donors fundraising and (ideally) Trust fundraising
• Have proven yourself to be an incredibly effective manager of people
• Believe you can build a strong pipeline of donor prospects 

Please note - we are only accepting direct applications for this role

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, we kindly advise you to submit your application as early as possible.
 

We’re looking for an experienced fundraising leader who can combine strategic thinking with hands-on delivery and take the next step into a broad senior leadership role.

As Head of Income Generation and Communications, you will lead Cosmic’s fundraising, marketing and communications function, with responsibility for sustainable income growth, team leadership and strengthening our profile. You will oversee a varied portfolio spanning community and challenge fundraising, corporate partnerships, major donors, events, volunteering and supporter stewardship, while also setting the direction for our communications, brand and digital activity.

This is a role with real scope to shape our future. You will work closely with the CEO and Trustees, lead a small team and external communications support, and develop a three-to-five-year strategy that turns ambition into clear plans, targets and results.

We are looking for someone with a strong track record in fundraising and income generation, experience of managing people and performance, and the confidence to oversee communications and volunteering strategically. You do not need to be a communications specialist, but you should understand how strong storytelling, supporter engagement and volunteer involvement can help drive income and impact.

Salary: £45,000–£50,000 | Full-time | Permanent | Hybrid, primarily based near St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington

Salary: £20,000 at 17.5hrs a week (£40,000 per annum pro rata)

The Farming Community Network (FCN) is a UK-wide voluntary organisation and charity that aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people in farming and ‘walk with’ people at times of difficulty and change. We have been described as a ‘lifeline’ and a ‘trusted friend’ by people we have helped, and support over 12,500 people in agriculture each year with a wide range of issues.

We are recruiting a part-time Trust Fund and Legacy Development Manager. You will be reporting to the Head of Partnerships.

You will build vital relationships with Trusts, Foundations and other grant providers, generating income and helping to ensure the financial sustainability of the charity.  

You will also focus on increasing the volume and value of legacies left to FCN and nurturing these relationships and opportunities.

Now is an exciting time to be joining FCN – we are currently delivering our three-year strategy (2025 - 2027) and we are working with a wide range of stakeholders to create a resilient farming future for the next generation of farmers.

You will be working under your own initiative for much of the time, and will need a valid, clean driving license and own transport. Mileage expenses are reimbursed.

Key Relationships:

Internal: Close working relationships with Head of Partnerships, Head of Operations and Communications, Head of Finance and HR and other staff members.  

External: Liaising with Trusts, Foundations, families and a wide range of other stakeholders. 

Key responsibilities:

The Trust Fund and Legacy Development Manager will be responsible for:

Trusts:

- Lead on the development and delivery of a new trust fundraising strategy.

- Identify, research and write compelling applications to meet and / or exceed income targets.

- Oversight and management of relationships with existing and new trusts and foundations and delivering funding reports to a high and consistent standard, including evaluating impact.

- Writing and submitting high-quality bids and tailored proposals to secure charity funding from trusts, foundations, grant providers and other sources.

- Monitoring requirements of trust fund projects, including meeting deadlines and collating relevant information.

- Working with the Senior Leadership Team to identify opportunities and develop project proposals aligned to organisational strategy.

Legacy Development:

- Create and deliver an effective strategy for gifts in wills and in memory giving.

- Increasing income from legacies and wills, as well as maintaining and building legacy opportunities. 

- Ensuring legacy funds are utilised in accordance with the wishes of the donor.

- Managing relationships with donors, families and other stakeholders.

- Recording income and donor support accurately and maintaining databases.

- Handling the responsibilities of the role sensitively and with care and compassion.

- Acknowledge and celebrate gifts in wills to raise awareness throughout the organisation, with its followers, supporters, staff and volunteers.

- Working with colleagues to gather content and produce high quality and inspirational updates for legacy supporters and their families.

- Respond to potential enquiries about all types of legacy gifts and gather details about each.

- Gather information from existing content and new sources to draft updates and other stewardship communications for individuals and legacy families.

- Identify case studies and stories from across our work, to show the impact of legacies and gifts in memory.

- Supporting on the delivery of projects and other charitable activities as and when required.

Essential Criteria:

· Strong verbal and written communication skills with excellent attention to detail.

· Excellent customer/donor care experience with a proven track record of exceptional listening skills.

· Methodical and organised approach to tasks with meticulous attention to detail with the  ability to plan and prioritise.

· Experience in supporter acquisition, retention, and the development of supporters.

· Experience in writing funding bids, grants and proposals and tailoring bids to requirement and working to strict deadlines.

· Knowledge and experience of developing and maximising fundraising opportunities.

· Excellent organisational skills and deadline achievement.

· Good interpersonal skills.

· Computer literacy including a working knowledge Microsoft office software, (Word, Excel, & PowerPoint).

· Ability to research, plan and budget.

· Able to work on own initiative while also as a key team member of the management team.

Desirable Criteria:

• Has worked in the charity sector previously.

• Knowledge and understanding of the law as it applies to charity legacies, taxes applicable to estates and probate/trust law and related processes.

• Has knowledge of agriculture and the rural community

• To have completed Higher Education (A-Levels, HNC, HND, foundation degree, bachelor’s all considered).

This role profile is not exhaustive and is subject to review in conjunction with the post holder according to future developments at FCN.

*At times you may be expected to attend in-person meetings at Bragborough Hall Business Centre, Welton Rd, Braunston, Northamptonshire. You may need to travel in order to meet with donors and foundations.

Applicants must be based in the UK. 

Social entrepreneurs scaling their ventures face a specific set of challenges including income generation, hiring, governance, hard calls about growth and risk, all alongside scaling their social impact. We’re recruiting learning and enterprise development managers who’ve lived that journey themselves, to bring first-hand credibility and challenge directly to the entrepreneurs on our scale-up and scale-up-plus programmes.

You’ll hold ownership of SSE’s scale-up approach, shaping our learning content on strategy, profitability and the systems that hold a growing venture together – grounded in what actually works, not just what’s written down. Facilitation sits at the heart of this role. You’ll design and deliver learning programmes and group sessions for cohorts of entrepreneurs as well as leading 1-2-1 coaching and diagnostics, and delivering Action Learning Sets, SSE’s long-standing peer-coaching method (training provided).

We’re looking for people who’ve founded or led a VCSE with an annual turnover of £100,000 or more and held financial accountability such as statutory reporting to the Charity Commission and, where relevant, Companies House, reporting to a board or funders, and making hard calls about growth, income and risk.

You’ll succeed in this role if you believe in what social entrepreneurship can achieve and want to turn your experience into supporting social ventures to scale and create more impact in their communities and beyond

Location: Hybrid working - Part London office-based (E14) and part home working. The post holder will work a minimum of one day a week in the office. 

Salary: £58,300 per annum 

Hours:35 hours per week 

Interview date: as we are receiving applications and will be over video on Teams in the first instance

This is a permanent role. 

Who we are looking for 

Breakthrough T1D is the UK’s leading type 1 diabetes charity, dedicated to funding research, advocating for change, and supporting the T1D community. We are looking for an experienced and dynamic Head of Finance to help us ensure the finance function is fit for purpose so that we can deliver our ambitious 10-year strategy.

Reporting to the Director of Finance & IT, this is a hands-on leadership role with responsibility for the day–to–day management of the finance function, responsible for monthly financial reporting including quarterly reforecasts and co ordinating the annual budget as well as partnering with senior stakeholders across the organisation.You will also lead on the annual accounts and external audit. 

Managing a team of 3 (2.2 FTE), you will ensure the organisation continues to deliver robust financial control, insightful charity reporting and effective support to operational teams.  

Experience required 

You’ll be/have: 

• CCAB qualified financial professional (or finalist) 
• Experience working for a charity in a senior finance role with fundraised income of £1m or more 
• Strong business partnering skills and experience working closely with senior operational leaders. 
• Strong financial reporting, controls and systems confidence 
• Ability to work both strategically and hands–on 
• Familiar with the charity SORP 
• Strong people management and leadership skills with the ability to develop and motivate teams 
• Excellent accounting, analytical, and communication skills allied with a pragmatic and solution focused approach. 

About Breakthrough T1D 

Breakthrough T1D is the world’s leading charitable research funder into type 1 diabetes, improving lives until we find the cure. We are dedicated to our 400,000 strong type 1 community in the UK and work closely with our international affiliates across the world, including the US, Canada and Australia. 

You will find a vibrant atmosphere and spirited team at Breakthrough T1D, always striving to make a difference to people living with type 1. 

Employee benefits 

As an employer we offer: 

• Hybrid working arrangements 
• Flexible working and will consider compressed hours 
• Generous annual leave entitlement – 25 days per year plus bank holidays for full-time staff with leave increasing after three and five years’ service 
• Health cash plan that allows you to claim for some treatments such as dental, optical and physiotherapy treatment 
• Season ticket and cycle loan 
• Pension scheme 
• Family-friendly policies – maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave at enhanced rates 
• Personalised training to suit your career aspirations and professional development 

Breakthrough T1D is an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applications from all individuals regardless of race, gender, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation or age. 

Head of Finance

Salary£80,000.00 per annum

LocationLondon/Hybrid (with 1 to 2 days a week in the office)

Weekly Hours35

The Vacancy

Job Title: Head of Finance

Location: London/Hybrid (with 1 to 2 days a week in the office)

Salary: £80,000.00 per annum

Weekly Hours: 35

Reference: YMC1228366

About Us

Founded in 1844, YMCA is a global movement and the world's largest youth-focused charity.  In England and Wales, YMCAs are based in over 700 communities across 168 local authorities supporting young people and communities to reach their potential. The turnover of YMCA in 2025-26 was £386m. YMCA England & Wales is a £23 million organisation of more than 400 colleagues, supporting a Federation of 80 local YMCAs to deliver vital services which positively impact young lives across the country. As we grow our income and impact, we are seeking an established and inspirational Head of Finance to take on one of the most pivotal roles in our organisation.

The Opportunity

This is a senior leadership appointment, reporting to the Director of Resources and leading a Finance team of around nine, including the payroll function. You will act as our lead on all matters of finance, liaising with our Federation members where necessary, providing expert support to our Income Generation Directorate (Fundraising and Retail) and other internal Directorates, embedding financial insight into revenue-generation strategy and working in close collaborative partnership with senior colleagues both within those teams but also across the Federation. Beyond this, you will oversee statutory reporting, investments, VAT and taxation compliance, and provide expert counsel to our Board of Trustees and Finance and Audit Committee.

Why You

Perhaps you have already established an excellent track record within a charity with significant fundraising and retail operations and are ready for the scale and influence this role commands. Or perhaps this is your first move into a charity; you are a seasoned accountant whose clients have included charitable organisations, and you now plan to apply that expertise where it matters most. Either way, this is a genuine opportunity to shape the financial future of a movement with over 180 years of heritage as we continue to embed strong financial practices whilst delivering our strategic ambition

What We're Looking For

You will be a fully qualified accountant (ICAEW, ACCA, CIMA or CIPFA) with senior management experience leading finance in an organisation of comparable scale, ideally with charity reporting and SORP knowledge. Strong business partnering skills, gravitas with trustees and committees, and genuine collaborative leadership are essential to succeed in this crucial role.

Our recruitment process is anonymised and candidates' names are hidden. We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds. Safer recruitment is important to us and the successful applicant will be asked to provide two references. They will also be required to complete a safeguarding self-declaration, safeguarding training and undertake a DBS check

The Head of Communications role is an exciting opportunity to lead on maximising the credibility, visibility and impact of Runnymede Trust’s esteemed research and policy portfolio. You will be responsible for leading Runnymede’s small communications team, developing our traditional, new and digital media strategy and supporting the development of our campaigns identity.

The role will involve providing effective leadership and oversight of all our communications activities. The working environment is often reactive and fast paced whilst also managing a steady stream of longer term project related outputs. This is a key role with the potential to shape the UK’s research and policy narratives on race and inequalities with one of the country’s leading think tanks on race and social justice. You will bring extensive experience in leading a diversely skilled communications team, a track record of dealing with politically sensitive communications issues, and a deep understanding and passion for our work in furthering racial justice.

Background

The Lily Foundation is the UK's leading charity dedicated to advancing research, raising awareness, and providing support for individuals and families affected by mitochondrial disease ('mito'). Our vision is for a world in which every mitochondrial disease patient has a voice and access to treatment, support to improve their life and, ultimately, a cure.

We currently raise around £1m each year, with community fundraising, challenges and special events generating the majority of our income. With a new fundraising strategy in place, exciting plans for growth and increasing opportunities to engage supporters in different ways, we're looking for someone to bring these programmes together into a joined-up public fundraising portfolio.

This is a fantastic opportunity to help shape the future of public fundraising at The Lily Foundation, building on our strong foundations while developing new ways to inspire supporters, grow income and maximise long-term engagement.

About the role

This is an exciting new role with responsibility for leading and developing Lily's public fundraising programme, bringing together our sports events, special events, community fundraising and emerging individual giving activity.

Reporting to the COO, you'll provide leadership across the public fundraising team, ensuring our programmes work together to deliver an outstanding supporter experience and sustainable income growth. You'll line-manage three colleagues, helping them succeed in their roles while creating a joined-up approach to planning, delivery and stewardship across the portfolio.

Alongside overseeing one of Lily's largest fundraising income streams, you'll also play an important role in developing our Individual Giving, Regular Giving and legacy fundraising activity, helping turn these emerging programmes into strong and sustainable sources of future income. If you're someone who enjoys developing people, spotting opportunities and bringing different strands of fundraising together, this is a brilliant opportunity to make a lasting impact.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the delivery and ongoing development of Lily's public fundraising programme, ensuring community fundraising, sports events, special events and individual giving activity work together to maximise income and supporter engagement.
• Line-manage, support and develop the two Events Managers and the Community & Individual Giving Officer, providing clear direction, regular feedback and development opportunities, and carrying out formal performance reviews
• Work closely with the Head of Fundraising to translate Lily's fundraising strategy into practical annual plans, priorities and targets for the public fundraising portfolio.
• Oversee the performance of the public fundraising programme, monitoring income, expenditure and KPIs, identifying trends and opportunities, and taking action where required.
• Support the continued development of Lily's Individual Giving, Regular Giving and Legacy fundraising programmes, helping to test new ideas, improve supporter journeys and build long-term sustainable income.
• Ensure supporters receive an excellent experience across all public fundraising activity, developing joined-up stewardship journeys that encourage long-term support.
• Work collaboratively with Marketing colleagues to develop engaging fundraising campaigns, products and communications that inspire supporters to get involved.
• Encourage innovation and continuous improvement across the team, using insight, evaluation and supporter feedback to inform future activity.
• Ensure accurate use of the CRM system (Donorfy), promoting good data management and using reporting and insight to support decision-making.
• Prepare regular reports and updates for the Head of Fundraising and COO, highlighting progress, opportunities, risks and recommendations.
• Work collaboratively across fundraising, marketing and operations to ensure public fundraising activity is well planned, well supported and aligned with organisational priorities.

Lambeth Palace Library is the historic library and archive of the Archbishops of Canterbury and the principal repository for the archives of the national bodies of the Church of England. Founded in 1610, it is freely open for public use and serves as a research centre specialising in church history, with wide ranging archive, manuscript and printed collections dating from the ninth century to the present day, including modern archives and digital records.

The Library's vision is to collect, preserve and make accessible the memory of the Church of England, so that its history can be explored and enjoyed by all. Alongside its long standing strengths, the Library is developing new ways of improving access to collections and supporting research, learning and engagement.

This is a new senior role. Reporting directly to the Head of Lambeth Palace Library, the postholder will ensure that cross-Library programmes are well coordinated and delivered. This includes leading programmes and projects, supporting colleagues in complex work, and overseeing areas such as digital development, access and outreach. Working closely with the Head of Lambeth Palace Library, the postholder will help translate strategic priorities into practical delivery across the organisation.

The Library comprises around 35-40 staff working across four core teams: Printed Books, Archives, Collections Care, and Operations. The Associate Head will lead a fifth, specialist team with defined functional responsibilities, including digital preservation, imaging services and inclusive cataloguing practice, while also coordinating work that sits across and between the Library's core teams.

This is a predominantly office-based role. Regular on-site attendance is expected to support effective leadership, collaboration, and the delivery of in-person services. Hybrid working is available, with the opportunity to work from home typically one day per week.

The closing date for this role is 06 September 2026.
Interviews will be held on 24 September in Lambeth Palace Library.

The Head of Partnerships will play a key role in managing Inter Mediate's relationships with institutional donors, foundations, governments and philanthropic partners. The postholder will coordinate donor engagement across the organisation, oversee grant management and reporting, identify new funding opportunities and support the development of high-quality funding proposals. S/he also leads on our internal quality assurance, research and reporting processes, line managing the Research and Reporting Officer.

Working closely with the senior leadership, programme teams and finance colleagues, you will help ensure that Inter Mediate maintains strong partnerships with its existing funders while expanding its network of supporters. This is a collaborative, externally-facing role suited to someone with strong relationship management skills, excellent organisational ability and experience of securing and managing funding within the international development, peacebuilding or humanitarian sectors.

With at least 7 years' experience in partnerships, fundraising, business development or grant management in the international development, humanitarian or peacebuilding sectors, you will have demonstrable experience managing relationships with institutional donors, foundations and/or HNWIs, and a track record of successful funding proposals and overseeing donor reporting.

You have excellent written communication skills, strong project management skills, and superb interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with proven ability to work collaboratively across teams.

You will ideally have experience working in conflict-affected or politically sensitive contexts, be well-versed in monitoring, evaluation and learning approaches and have working knowledge of grant management systems or CRM platforms.

You are commited to the values of dialogue, conflict resolution and peacebuilding.

Are you an experienced operational leader who thrives on making organisations run brilliantly behind the scenes?

Southwark Charities is entering an exciting new chapter. With a £100m property portfolio, a growing grant programme and the development of 64 new almshouses, we're looking for an exceptional Head of Resources to lead the systems and processes that keep our charity strong.

Reporting to the CEO, you'll oversee finance, HR, IT, governance, property compliance, contracts and organisational systems, ensuring the charity operates efficiently, remains compliant and is well positioned for future growth. You'll work in a small, dedicated team while working closely with colleagues to deliver outstanding services for older people across Southwark.

This is a hands-on role for someone who enjoys improving processes, managing change and finding practical solutions. You'll bring experience in operations, finance or corporate services, excellent organisational skills and the confidence to work across multiple disciplines.

If you're looking for a varied senior role where your expertise will have a direct impact on people's lives and the future of a respected historic charity, we'd love to hear from you.

The arts for mental health – peer support delivered creatively

Sound Minds is a user-led charity transforming lives through music, film and art. We are a thriving community bound together by creativity and a shared belief in mutual learning and peer support.

Main purposes of the job:

Sound Minds is recruiting a Head of Operations to join our team in Wandsworth.

The Head of Operations is a member of the senior leadership team at Sound Minds and leads the management and day-to-day operations of a vibrant community premises.

Sound Minds is in a period of review and consolidation, following growth of its programmes and having secured Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation status. The Head of Operations will further develop and implement robust systems to support this growth and the charity’s future aims.

The role leads on all operational, health and safety, premises, IT, systems, human resources, evaluation, and reporting activity. The Head of Operations manages the delivery of Sound Minds’ Peer Support service and will act as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead. They deputise for the CEO as required.

They will assist the CEO on maintaining key relationships with external stakeholders and external communications.

Sound Minds is a creative place, and the Head of Operations will need a passion for organisation and administration.

Salary: £42,833 per annum(pro rata) & 3% contribution to pension

Hours: 28 hours per week

This fixed term contract ends on 16th June 2030 and is renewable depending on funding.

Strong IT skills are essential for this role. You will be required to have a DBS (criminal records check) and satisfactory written references before starting.

The full job description and application pack are available from Sound Minds’ website.

Closing date: 10:00am, Monday 7th September 2026

First interviews: Friday 18th September 2026

Assistant Head of Fundraising (Public Fundraising)

Salary £57,574.79 per annum

LocationLondon/Hybrid

Weekly Hours35

The Vacancy

Job Title: Assistant Head of Fundraising (Public Fundraising)

Location: London/Hybrid

Salary: £57,574.79 per annum

Weekly Hours: 35

Reference: YMC1212513

An exciting moment to join us

YMCA England & Wales is entering one of the most exciting chapters in its fundraising history, launching our ambition to create 10,000 new homes for young people. Working alongside local YMCAs, we will support the development of new accommodation across the federation, helping young people move towards independence.

This role sits at the heart of that ambition.

You will lead the fundraising behind two critical components of the 10,000 Homes programme:
• Securing income from the public to build and sustain a central Centre of Expertise (mobilisation team), supporting local YMCAs to develop and deliver housing projects.
• Raising capital from individual supporters, mid-level donors and major donors to grow a replenishing national fund that provides upfront investment to unlock housing developments across the federation.

At the centre of this is the 10,000 Homes Fund: a bold, housing-focused proposition that offers the public a clear and tangible way to support young people into safe, stable accommodation. You will be responsible for growing this proposition, ensuring it resonates strongly with supporters and inspires giving at all levels.

You will lead an integrated public fundraising approach, bringing together individual giving, mid-level and major donors into one compelling, housing-led narrative. A key part of the role will be translating a complex, federated model into a simple, emotional and compelling case for support that connects with people’s motivations to give.

We’ve established strong early foundations and are now ready to scale. This role offers the opportunity to take a high-potential public fundraising proposition to the next level -expanding its reach, deepening supporter engagement, and unlocking significant new income.

We are looking for someone who is creative, data-driven and passionate about engaging the public to drive meaningful change for young people. We’re looking for someone comfortable working in a federated environment, with the ability to simplify complex ideas into compelling messages for the public.

The role

As Assistant Head of Fundraising (Public Fundraising), you will lead and inspire a team of talented fundraisers, deputising for the Head of Fundraising and taking ownership of our most ambitious programmes:

The 10,000 Homes Fund driving forward our flagship proposition across individual giving, cash appeals and mid-level audiences.

Major Donors shaping the strategy for high-net-worth relationships, new giving circles and development boards.

RoomSponsor, YMCA’s flagship regular giving product, now in its third year of an ambitious growth strategy. You will oversee a unique partnership model across 45 local YMCAs, support the income distribution process, and see first-hand the impact of your work through a programme that directly supports young people with safe accommodation.

Legacies working with the Senior Fundraising Manager and Head of Fundraising to define and grow what is set to become a landmark legacy programme.

This is a hands-on leadership role: you will set direction, manage budgets, develop your team, while also being prepared to step into delivery when it matters most. You will balance strategic oversight with practical execution, ensuring programmes are both ambitious and deliverable.

About you

You are an experienced public fundraising professional with a strong track record in individual giving or direct marketing, alongside a well-developed understanding of major donor fundraising. You know how to bring different disciplines together behind a single proposition and deliver results.

You are an effective and confident leader, able to build, motivate and develop high-performing teams. You create clarity, set high standards, and support others to do their best work, stepping in when needed and leading from the front.

You are at your best when driving a clear proposition forward. You are excited by the opportunity to take a compelling idea and translate it into something that engages the public, inspires generosity and delivers sustainable income.

You are energised by a challenge, comfortable with complexity and working in a federated environment, where success depends on strong relationships and shared ownership. You are skilled at working with partners, whether agencies, internal stakeholders or local YMCAs, and know how to align people around a common goal.

You combine strategic thinking with operational delivery. You are data-driven, using insight and performance to shape your decisions, and confident working with (and occasionally building) financial models to plan, test and scale activity. You bring both creativity and discipline, generating new ideas while ensuring they are grounded, deliverable and effective.

Above all, you are a strong communicator and influencer. You can simplify complex ideas into clear, compelling messages, build confidence with colleagues and stakeholders, and position fundraising as a critical enabler of impact.

Why join us now

YMCA is the oldest and largest youth charity in the world, serving communities across England and Wales every day. The fundraising team is geared up for success, the strategy is set, the proposition is proven, and the results are already coming in. What we need now is a leader ready to take this momentum to the next level.

YMCA England & Wales is committed to equality and valuing diversity. We welcome applications from all backgrounds.

Our recruitment process is anonymised and candidates' names are hidden. Safer recruitment is important to us and the successful applicant will be asked to provide two references. They will also be required to complete a safeguarding self-declaration, safeguarding training and undertake a DBS check.

Head of Communications & Public Affairs 

Salary: Up to £62k depending on experience
Location: Remote, with regular planned travel nationwide, particularly to London and the South, plus attendance at monthly and quarterly team meetings
Hours: Full Time, 35 hours per week
Contract: Permanent

We're looking for an exceptional communications leader to join Help for Heroes as our Head of Communications & Public Affairs. This is a rare opportunity to shape how one of the UK's most recognised charities engages with the media, policymakers, supporters and the wider public, ensuring the voices of veterans and their families are heard where it matters most.

Leading our integrated communications, public affairs, policy and PR activity, you'll develop influential campaigns that continue to strengthen our reputation, support fundraising and drive meaningful change for the Armed Forces community. Working closely with senior leaders across the charity, you'll act as a trusted adviser, bringing insight into the political, media and stakeholder landscape while helping to navigate the opportunities and risks that affect our mission.

This is a high-profile leadership role for someone who combines strategic thinking with outstanding delivery, thrives on building influential relationships and wants to use their expertise to create lasting impact for those who have served our country.

Please see below for more information on what just might be your future role.

About the Role

As Head of Communications & Public Affairs, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping how the charity is seen, heard and understood by the public, media, policymakers and supporters. Ensuring the experiences of veterans and their families remain at the heart of national conversations and decision-making.

• Developing and delivering an integrated communications, public affairs and policy strategy that advances the charity's mission and influence.
• Leading high-profile campaigns that raise awareness, support fundraising objectives and drive systemic change for the Armed Forces community.
• Building influential relationships with media, government, political stakeholders, partner organisations and sector leaders.
• Acting as a trusted adviser to senior leaders, providing strategic counsel on reputation, stakeholder engagement, public policy and emerging issues
• Leading the charity's press office, crisis communications activity, ambassador programme and external reputation management
• Developing, inspiring and coaching a high-performing team, fostering innovation, collaboration and measurable impact.

About You

Are you a strategic communications leader who knows how to turn insight into action and ambition into results?

Do you have a strong track record of leading integrated communications, public affairs, policy or campaigning activity that has built reputation, influenced decision-makers and delivered measurable impact?

Can you confidently navigate complex issues, build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders and provide clear, credible counsel?

Are you equally comfortable shaping long-term strategy, responding to fast-moving external events and spotting opportunities to raise the profile and influence of an organisation?

If you're passionate about telling powerful stories, understand the UK media and political landscape, and enjoy leading talented teams to achieve ambitious goals, we'd love to hear from you.

You'll bring significant senior-level experience across communications, public affairs or policy, alongside expertise in media relations, stakeholder engagement and reputation management.

Most importantly, you'll be motivated by the opportunity to use your skills, networks and leadership to improve outcomes for veterans and their families.

About the Team

You’ll join our ambitious Marketing, Communications and Public Affairs directorate, a team dedicated to amplifying the voices of veterans and their families and ensuring their experiences influence public understanding and decision-making.

We are a collaborative, creative, and purpose-driven team that works across the charity to tell powerful stories, build meaningful relationships and create lasting impact. Together, we’re passionate about helping the Armed Forces community get the support they deserve.

In return we can offer you:

• Belonging to a team who make a difference to our community and value equality, diversity and inclusion.
• 29 days’ annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, regardless of service — plus your birthday off to celebrate!
• Opportunity to buy and sell up to 5 days annual leave per year.
• Added to our free health scheme from day one, including discounts on dental, opticians, massages, and more - with the option to upgrade.
• 3 volunteer days per year to support the Help for Heroes community.
• A generous salary sacrifice pension scheme with an 8% employer contribution and a minimum 3% employee contribution, plus life insurance up to 4× salary as an active member.

Closing date: 23rd August 2026

Interview Process: Two stage process with an initial competency based interview and second round stage involving a task.

First round interviews to be held in person or via Teams 4th/7th/8th or 9th September.

Second Round in person 16th or 22nd September.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high number of strong applications.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all backgrounds.