Senior network development manager jobs

Bid Writer — The Heritage Alliance

Application Deadline: 22 May 2026

Fixed Term: 0.4 FTE (14 hours per week) for 6 months 

Start Date: June 2026 

Salary: £33,000 FTE per annum, pro-rata (£6600 total for the contract period) 

Leave: 24 days FTE per annum pro-rata, in addition the Heritage Alliance Office closes between Christmas and New Year 

Line Manager: Head of Development and Membership 

Place of Work: The Heritage Alliance Office, Central London, EC4M 
(Flexible working arrangements can be considered) 

The Opportunity

Are you an experienced bid writer looking for an intensive, focused role with a leading heritage organisation? We are seeking a skilled professional to join our "Creating Connections" project team for a targeted 6-month assignment.

This role is part of The Heritage Alliance's NLHF-funded resilience project, specifically supporting Strand C: Future-proofing our charity. You will work with a pipeline of funding opportunities already developed by our professional fundraising consultant to secure vital long-term funding for our sector support activities.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced bid writer to make a significant impact in a short time-frame, working with high-quality prospects and supporting England's heritage sector through sustainable funding solutions. 

About The Role

Key Tasks:

Research & Development

• Conduct detailed research on prospective funders to tailor applications effectively 
• Develop compelling case studies and evidence base to support funding applications 
• Research and incorporate relevant sector data, impact statistics, and beneficiary testimonials 
• Stay informed about current funding trends and opportunities in the heritage and charity sectors 
• Identify additional funding opportunities that align with our strategic priorities

Strategic Bid Writing 

• Develop compelling funding applications to trusts, foundations, and grant-making bodies using an established pipeline of prospects 
• Write high-quality proposals for long-term support of the Heritage Funding Directory 
• Create applications for new sector-wide support programmes addressing skills needs and emerging challenges identified in our sector capability-building strategy 
• Adapt proposals to different funder requirements, priorities, and application formats 
• Work closely with the Head of Development to ensure applications align with organisational strateg

Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration 

• Work with a professional fundraising consultant to prioritise and progress pipeline opportunities 
• Collaborate with the Heritage Alliance senior team to gather project information and organisational data 
• Engage with relevant staff members to collect evidence, case studies, and impact data 
• Coordinate with the Project Administrator and other team members to ensure consistency in messaging 
• Liaise with potential funders as appropriate during the application process 

Project Support & Administration 

• Maintain accurate records of all funding applications and their progress 
• Manage application deadlines and submission processes 
• Support the development of a sustainable fundraising strategy for post-project continuation 
• Contribute to project reporting and evaluation activities 
• Participate in project team meetings and provide updates on fundraising progress 

Key Competences: 

Experience: 

Essential:

• Proven track record of successful bid writing with demonstrable results in securing funding 
• Experience writing applications to trusts, foundations, and statutory funders 
• Strong background in the charity/not-for-profit sector with understanding of funding landscape 
• Experience managing multiple applications simultaneously and meeting tight deadlines 
• Knowledge of different application formats and funder requirements 

Desirable: 

• Experience in the heritage, cultural, or arts sectors 
• Previous work with membership organisations or sector support bodies 
• Experience with capacity-building or infrastructure funding applications 
• Knowledge of NLHF and other major heritage funders 
• Experience working with professional fundraising consultants 
• Understanding of digital heritage projects and online resource development 

Skills, Abilities and Knowledge: 

Essential: 

• Exceptional written communication skills with ability to adapt tone and style for different audiences, and present detailed information clearly and concisely 
• Strong research skills and ability to quickly understand complex organisational contexts 
• Excellent project management skills with ability to prioritise and meet multiple deadlines 
• High attention to detail and accuracy in application preparation 
• Understanding of charity finance, governance, and impact measurement 
• Ability to work independently and take initiative in a fast-paced environment 
• Strong interpersonal skills for stakeholder engagement and collaboration 

Desirable: 

• Knowledge of heritage sector challenges, funding landscape, and policy environment 
• Understanding of digital transformation and accessibility requirements for online resources 
• Experience with monitoring and evaluation frameworks 
• Knowledge of social impact measurement and outcome reporting 
• Familiarity with Data Protection legislation and compliance requirements 
• Understanding of partnership working and collaborative funding approaches

Application Process

To apply, please submit a CV/resume detailing your qualifications and experiences together with a cover letter (to be pasted into the box labelled 'Anything else to mention').

All applications should be submitted through our WorkSmarter vacancy page by 22 May 2026.

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted w/c 25 May to arrange interviews. We will also request that shortlisted candidates provide a portfolio of successful funding applications (anonymised as appropriate) demonstrating your track record and writing style. 

The Heritage Alliance is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and abilities.

Thank you for considering a career at The Heritage Alliance. We look forward to receiving your application!

About the Heritage Alliance 

Established in 2002, The Heritage Alliance represents the independent heritage movement in England. We have a unique role, promoting and championing the sector in all its diversity: 

We influence legislation and policy through our extensive links with Government, Parliament and Sector Networks 

We bring the sector together in our advocacy and working groups, events and publications 

We help our members grow through both member-only initiatives and broader sector support programmes with partners like the Chartered Institute of Fundraising, Media Trust and Clore Leadership. 

Our membership ranges from large bodies such as the National Trust, Historic Houses, Canal & River Trust to specialist charities and community organisations, across the breadth of sector, from museums, conservation, archaeology to science and construction. 

Context

London’s Air Ambulance Charity has a small team of pilots who are dedicated to maintaining high standards of aviation in order to deliver our helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) to the people of London. We have recently changed our fleet to the EC135 T3H; modernising our multi-pilot aviation environment.

Day to day, we work closely with the charity’s teams including the medical, fire and support staff. All are prepared and rehearsed in their roles and strive to provide the best service possible.

We also liaise outside London’s Air Ambulance Charity, within the wider air ambulance network and other emergency service communities to ensure safe, efficient operations in line with industry best practice.

Our flights are short and mostly within the busy airspace of London to land and deliver clinical teams to scene with safety as our top priority. Where situations allow, once landed and shut down, pilots help clinical crews with logistics and also act as ambassadors for the charity, liaising with the public. 

About the role

We are looking to appoint an experienced HEMS Captain. As a London’s Air Ambulance Charity Captain, you’ll be responsible for ensuring that flights are operated safely and in accordance with the Operations Manual. You’ll be used to establishing a strong team environment which will ensure the team is ready to respond swiftly.

You’ll be dedicated to maintaining high standards of aviation, striving for continuous improvement and actively working towards standards of excellence.

Please note that the successful post-holder will be subject to a Basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check which will disclose unspent convictions or adult cautions. The successful post-holder will also be subject to obtaining security clearance at RAF Northolt.

About the person

You’ll have experience in HEMS, or an equivalent service, and are able to work within a multi disciplinary team with high levels of accountability in sometimes difficult and challenging conditions.

The ideal candidate will work well in a team and demonstrate the ability to learn and improve, participating in regular personal and professional development while demonstrating an active interest in the overall activities of London’s Air Ambulance Charity. 

This is a unique opportunity to join a dynamic and ambitious new charity as we make a step-change to grow our work significantly over the next 3-5 years. We are not just looking for a typical Fundraiser. At such a crucial moment in our charity’s growth, every staff member has such a significant impact on our work and the potential to make a fundamental difference to our future. We are looking for a highly innovative, adaptable and dynamic individual who is excited by the idea of joining a small, dedicated team all focused on building a new and emerging charity to the next stage.

We are looking for the right core skills, but alongside that, we’re looking for an enthusiast, a driver, a creative, someone who can think outside the box. We welcome applicants at all levels of experience but most importantly, we’re looking for a storyteller, a natural relationship builder, someone who is able to captivate new potential supporters. From carefully crafting grant applications to building long-term, bespoke funding relationships sustained through connection, the role requires attention to detail, foresight, and a natural ability to take initiative. Working for a small charity requires tenacity, resourcefulness and grit, so whether you’re an experienced fundraiser looking for a new challenge or have never worked in Fundraising before but believe you can bring these skills, we’d love to hear from you.

We are a unique charity who are proud to do things differently. Whilst we are highly professional and ambitious, we are also very relational in everything we do, whether that be the way we talk to funders, our culture within the office or the way we look after each other. Life moves fast at Basecamp, and as we are looking to both sustain our current Trusts and Foundations operation and develop a new Corporate income stream, it is likely your skills will to an extent steer the specifics of the role. This is a rare opportunity to get in at the ground level of an ambitious new charity with the potential for significant role development as the charity evolves.

What is Basecamp?

At Basecamp Adventure Trust, we empower vulnerable young people from West Yorkshire to thrive through unique, long-term programmes which harness outdoor adventure as a powerful vehicle for personal transformation. Through a combination of skills workshops, exhilarating adventure trips and a deeply relational approach, we challenge, celebrate and inspire young people to discover a newfound sense of confidence, resilience and self-belief, and to explore new possibilities for themselves. Our programmes are intensive, sustained and individualised to make a lasting positive difference on the young people we work with so they can lead happy, healthy and fulfilling lives.

The Role

Trusts and Foundations

Prospect Research and Future Planning

• Proactively carry out detailed and organised research to identify fundraising opportunities across Trust and Foundations.
• Maintain and build a forward-looking pipeline of prospective funding opportunities, ensuring applications are prioritised appropriately based on size, alignment and/or application deadline.
• Support us to develop our Trusts and Foundations Strategy including target income, relationship management and best practice.

Writing Proposals

• Crafting well-written, well-presented and compelling funding applications, taking the time to understand each funder and individually tailor our approach to their criteria.
• Match new and existing applications with specific elements of our work to increase chances of success.
• Help to develop a compelling Case for Support, ensuring we are accurately conveying the impact of our work and maintaining consistency across our applications whilst allowing for nuance.

Building Relationships

• An innate understanding that winning a grant is just the first step of the relationship.
• Ensure all funding relationships are acknowledged and appreciated with priority and genuine care.
• Nurture funding relationships with a person-centred approach rooted in connection, which uses a variety of communication tools (emails, reports, visits) tailored to the funder.
• An understanding of the nuances between different funders and how this informs how we manage and deepen the relationship with the aim to secure future funding.
• Producing monitoring and reporting documents, both bespoke to individual funders and universal for the fundraising operation as a whole.

Database Management

• Maintain our existing management tools for tracking, reporting and stewarding income.
• Helping us implement a bespoke CRM system as our fundraising streams grow in both scale and complexity.

Other

• Our adventure residentials are the core of what we do, and we believe it’s hard to understand the unique power of our work with young people and convey this to others until you experience it yourself. You’ll join us for two residentials (at least!) per year, working alongside our cohorts of young people to immerse yourself in the work which sits at the heart of the organisation. You do not need any special skills as full training will be provided but you do need to be “up for the challenge”. We do lots of adventurous activities in all weathers so being something of an outdoorsy person would be a definite advantage!

Corporate Fundraising

We are looking to develop a Corporate income stream, led by our Senior Leadership team, by building bespoke and unique relationships with companies based in Yorkshire. If you have skills and experience in this area, you may support us to develop this new strand of our work. This new and exciting venture is currently in the preliminary development stages, however roles and responsibilities may look something like:

• Continually undertaking prospect research to identify corporate partners who we can build long-lasting, meaningful relationships with.
• Contacting prospective corporate partners and coordinating meetings with new and existing corporate partners.
• Supporting us to develop our pitch and offering to prospective corporate partners, creating bespoke partnerships which demonstrate our ethos, culture and impact.  
• Support us to develop new ways corporate partners can be involved in our work for mutual benefit.
• Support the development of our stewardship and account management process, including new and innovative ways to develop relationships and monitor impact.
• Work with operational colleagues to plan, coordinate and deliver corporate events.
• Attend networking events to build new relationships with a view of securing new partnerships.

Skills and Experience

• Prior fundraising experience (Trusts and Foundations and/or Corporate partnerships)
• Highly skilled storyteller able to craft emotive, persuasive and compelling narratives that connect with organisations so they feel inspired to support our vision and mission.
• A natural relationship builder, able to build personal and bespoke relationships with funding organisations using a person-centred approach.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills which conveys ideas and impact to a range of audiences in a clear and confident way.
• Attention-to-detail with sharp focus on small details with understanding as to how they inform the bigger picture.
• A self-starter, able to be self-sufficient, manage time and priorities effectively and take initiative when opportunities arise.
• Foresight into how actions today can shape our fundraising income into 1, 3 and 5 years time.
• Enthusiasm and passion about working for a small charity with drive to help us develop and grow.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Canva.
• Willingness to work variable hours when required (including residential trips away with overnight stays), able to travel and work from home. 

Above all, you will be driven by a real passion for helping young people to thrive. You will be motivated by a core belief that all young people are far more capable than they think and that they all deserve a chance to be hopeful for the future.