Trusts and corporate partnerships manager jobs

We are seeking an Assistant Director – Digital and Innovation to play a central role in shaping how Villiers Park delivers and develops its programmes at a pivotal point in the implementation of our 2025-30 strategy. This role represents an exciting opportunity to lead on the development of our digital education offer and innovation work, ensuring it enhances both the reach and depth of our programmes for young people across the UK.

Villiers Park is a national social mobility charity with a strong track record of delivering impactful programmes that support young people from under-represented backgrounds to fulfil their potential. As we continue to grow, digital provision and innovation are increasingly important in enabling us to reach more students, and to do so in engaging and inclusive ways.

Digital learning and programme innovation will be critical to the next phase in our strategy, building on the foundations we have already established, including the development of our learning platform and programme model. Alongside this, Leadership Challenge continues to expand as a key national outreach and social action programme, and this role will be instrumental in ensuring its quality and impact.

Our work is possible because of a brilliant team of staff, trustees and volunteers and committed funders and partners who believe in what we do and want to make the greatest possible difference. The Assistant Director – Digital and Innovation will work closely with colleagues across programmes, partnerships, communications and fundraising, as well as external partners, to ensure our digital and programme offer is coherent, forward-thinking and aligned with our mission.

This is a unique opportunity to combine strategic leadership with practical delivery, helping to translate ambition into impact for the young people we serve.

Sarah Chick

Head of Programmes 

Job purpose

The Assistant Director - Digital and Innovation leads the development, implementation and ongoing improvement of Villiers Park’s digital education provision. This includes the design and delivery of online learning experiences, the development of digital and physical resources for use across programmes, and ensuring that digital delivery is accessible, safeguarded and aligned with the organisation’s mission.

The role also provides strategic and operational leadership for Leadership Challenge, Villiers Park’s national student outreach and social action programme. This includes programme design, partner engagement, monitoring and evaluation, and ensuring the programme is effectively resourced and financially sustainable.

Working closely with the Head of Programmes, Senior Leadership Team (SLT), Communications and Fundraising teams, and external partners, the postholder supports the development of digital innovation, programme resourcing and Leadership Challenge activity to enhance reach, impact and quality. 

Key responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership for the development, implementation and continuous improvement of Villiers Park’s digital education provision, ensuring alignment with our Theory of Change, priorities and values
• Lead the design and evolution of high-quality digital learning experiences, content and pathways for students, schools, parents/carers and volunteers
• Oversee the adoption and integration of digital platforms and tools, ensuring accessibility, safeguarding, GDPR compliance and scalability
• Drive innovation in digital delivery by monitoring sector trends and embedding relevant approaches to enhance reach and impact
• Ensure digital provision complements and strengthens face-to-face delivery across programmes, working closely with the Head of Programmes and Assistant Directors
• Provide strategic oversight of the use of AI within programmes, ensuring its application enhances learning experiences while maintaining safeguarding and ethical standards
• Provide strategic oversight of the development and ongoing review of physical resources, ensuring consistency, quality and alignment across programmes
• Ensure all resources are inclusive, engaging, curriculum-aligned and reflect organisational standards and brand expectations
• Maintain a coherent approach to resource development, ensuring materials support programme delivery and learning outcomes effectively
• Lead the strategic and operational development of the Leadership Challenge programme, ensuring it is high-quality, sustainable and aligned with organisational priorities
• In collaboration with the Senior Leadership Team, develop and strengthen partnerships with charities, corporates and universities to support programme growth and delivery
• Oversee the development of an appropriate recognition or award framework for participants
• Establish and oversee robust quality assurance and evaluation processes for digital and physical content and delivery
• As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, contribute to strategic planning, budgeting and risk management, and provide quarterly updates to the Board of Trustees.
• Work collaboratively with Fundraising and Communications teams to support income generation, bid development and programme promotion

This list is not exhaustive, and the post-holder will be required to undertake other tasks relevant to the role and within their capability.

Skills and experience:

• Significant leadership experience in education, youth or social mobility sectors
• Knowledge of school and college curricula and the needs of learners aged 13–19
• Proven experience in designing and/or delivering digital learning
• Strong understanding of safeguarding, digital accessibility standards and inclusive design
• Experience developing high‑quality educational resources (digital and physical)
• Ability to lead programmes, manage projects and deliver to deadlines
• Ability to build relationships with colleagues and external stakeholders to further organisational aims and fundraising objectives

Personal attributes:

• A genuine commitment to and care for social mobility and young people’s futures
• Organised and proactive, effectively, prioritising workload and delivering outcomes independently
• Strategic and forward-thinking, with an ability to see the bigger picture
• Collaborative and able to work effectively with colleagues, partners and stakeholders across different functions
• Willingness to learn and develop your own practice and experience

Additional Information:

• The postholder will be required to travel regularly to schools, events and partner organisations
• An enhanced DBS check will be required
• The postholder will hold responsibility to be one of the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads
• The postholder will require a full UK driving licence
• Evening work and overnight stays may be required
• Hybrid – location local to our Cambridge office or near to one of our Regional Hubs

Employee Benefits

• 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rated) and additional leave over Christmas.
• A dedicated wellbeing day for you to take at any time and three days (pro-rated) paid leave for volunteering or study each year.
• Training and professional development, including termly staff development days.
• Support from our wellbeing working group and access to an employee assistance programme.
• Opportunity to join working groups with other colleagues from across the organisation as well as wider networks such as the Fair Education Alliance.
• Flexibility in working hours.
• Additional sick pay and compassionate leave policies. 

Safeguarding

Villiers Park Educational Trust is committed to safeguarding and to providing a safe and supportive environment, which secures the well-being and best outcomes for the young people with whom we work.

Safeguarding is embedded in all aspects of Villiers Park's work and integral to the commitment we make to our schools, partners and the young people and communities we serve and work with. All employees and volunteers are expected to share this commitment by adhering to our organisational safeguarding procedures, attending regular in-house training and keeping up to date with developments in policies and legislation.

All employees and volunteers will also agree to undergo an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Services check and successfully complete our mandatory online training courses including NSPCC Safeguarding in Schools and PREVENT training.

Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) is seeking a detail-oriented and insight-driven Prospect Research and Data Executive to deliver high-quality research and analysis that strengthens our fundraising, partnership development and strategic supporter engagement.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a research and data professional to use their analytical expertise to help uncover opportunities, strengthen relationships and support work that brings practical help, physical healing and spiritual hope to some of the world’s most remote and inaccessible communities.

Location: Folkestone, Kent or Cranfield, Bedfordshire (with hybrid working and consideration for fully remote working)

Rewards: Competitive salary, plus a generous pension scheme, annual leave entitlement, and other great benefits and professional growth opportunities.

Contract: Permanent, part-time (22.5 hours per week across three days)

The Role

As a Prospect Research and Data Executive, you will deliver insight-led research and analysis to strengthen fundraising and partnership development activity.

You will undertake detailed prospect research, due diligence and network mapping to identify opportunities, analyse relationships and provide clear evidence-based recommendations to support strategic engagement with prospective and existing supporters.

Working closely with Partnership Managers and stakeholders across the organisation, you will help promote informed decision making and support effective relationship building through accurate, ethical and accessible research.

You will also support the development and maintenance of prospect pipelines, ensuring research activity complies with GDPR, fundraising regulations and organisational policies.

Additionally, you will:

- Support Philanthropy, Trusts and Corporate Partnership teams with pipeline development
- Maintain accurate and compliant supporter database records
- Manage research subscriptions, tools and supplier relationships
- Monitor sector developments, legislation and fundraising best practice

About You

To join us as our Prospect Research and Data Executive, you will need:

- Evidence of quality written work
- Evidence of data skills, including knowledge of UK data protection legislation and GDPR
- Cultural awareness and the ability to interact successfully on a cross-cultural basis
- Meticulous attention to detail, with highly developed analytical skills and experience of report writing 
- A degree or equivalent qualification

About Us

Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) is a Christian organisation that uses light aircraft to deliver practical help, physical healing and spiritual hope to some of the world’s most remote and inaccessible communities.

For 80 years, MAF has been working in partnership with hundreds of other organisations to enable access to medical care, education, livelihood training and long-term support in over 24 low-income countries.

We believe that every community, however remote, should have access to the essentials of life – that’s why MAF’s flights are a lifeline, not a luxury.

The Benefits

- Competitive salary
- Annual leave entitlement of 22 days per year plus 8 paid public holidays per year (pro rata)
- Non-contributory pension scheme (10% of salary); employees may make voluntary additional contributions
- Death in service payment
- Flexible working policy
- Access to our Employee Assistance Programme

You’ll have the chance to help strengthen fundraising and partnership development by uncovering the insight that supports informed, strategic engagement with those who can help sustain life-changing work in some of the world’s most remote communities.

What’s more, with part-time hours, hybrid working and the potential for fully remote working, you’ll be able to combine flexibility with the opportunity to support an organisation whose flights are a lifeline, not a luxury.

Christian Values, Beliefs and Ethos:

As a Christian mission, MAF UK seeks staff who share in the evangelical Christian values and beliefs as described in the mission, purpose, values, and beliefs statements. All staff will be required to actively support and demonstrate the Christian values of the organisation and to take part in organisational activities such as staff devotions, prayer meetings, and fellowship days.

Other organisations may call this role Prospect Research Executive, Prospect Research Analyst, Fundraising Research Executive, Prospect Development Executive, Research and Data Executive, Fundraising Data Executive, Donor Research Executive, or Philanthropy Research Executive.

The closing date for this role is 21st June 2026.
Interviews will be held from 22nd June 2026.

James’ Place, Community Fundraising and Engagement Executive
Job Title: Community Fundraising and Engagement Executive – West Midlands
Salary: £24,160 per annum (£30,200 FTE)
Hours: 0.8FTE, 30 hours per week (flexible over 5 days – to be discussed with successful candidate). There may be occasions when evening or weekend availability is needed.
Contract Type: Permanent
Location: Hybrid – based 2/3 days per week in our Birmingham centre 
Reports to: Fundraising Manager Community

THE CHARITY 
Suicide is the leading cause of death of men under 35 and three quarters of those who die by suicide are men. James’ Place exists to save the lives of men in suicidal crisis through delivering clinical services. We are a charity currently offering free, life-saving therapy to suicidal men at our centres in Liverpool, London, Newcastle and Birmingham.
James’ Place was set up by Clare Milford Haven and Nick Wentworth-Stanley in 2008 after their twenty-one-year-old son, James, died by suicide ten days after a minor operation. James had no history of mental illness or depression and had sought urgent help for anxiety and suicidal thoughts but didn’t find it.   
James' Place was set up to make the experience of finding help as easy as possible. We offer men who are experiencing a suicidal crisis a brief, intensive, therapeutic intervention in a safe environment. Men who walk through the door at James’ Place will be in a space where they feel valued and respected. We provide a calm and peaceful environment both inside the centres and in our outside spaces, accessible to men who visit us as well as their friends and families. We have so far treated over 5,100 men who might otherwise have been unable to access the support they desperately need.

THE OPPORTUNITY
This is a new role designed to raise and facilitate fundraising for James’ Place Birmingham and to grow community and voluntary sector relationships across the region to raise awareness of James’ Place to drive referrals to our Birmingham centre.
As part of the Fundraising team, you will take a leading role in building strong networks across Birmingham and the West Midlands, helping to establish our centre as a sustainable source of life-saving support for men in suicidal crisis.
The postholder will spend 50% of their time working collaboratively and taking responsibility for establishing fundraising activity across the West Midlands with appropriate support from centre staff and fundraising colleagues, the Head of Fundraising and Communications, Director of Fundraising and External Affairs and the Chief Executive and Trustees. They will spend 40% of their time building community-based relationships with the aim of raising awareness to drive referrals to the centre, working closely with the Head of Centre Birmingham and the Centre Manager in Birmingham to do so. It is recognised that this will vary week to week depending on the current needs of the organisations.
This opportunity is ideal for an ambitious individual eager to grow their skills and career while helping to secure the funding and relationships needed to achieve the charity’s long-term goals. 
Direct Fundraising Work 50%

• Develop and grow a network of local donors (including HNWI, corporates, community fundraisers as well as Trusts and Foundations), volunteer supporters and influencers across the West Midlands with a view to increasing the fundraising reach of the organisation.
• Steward existing donors volunteers and prospects to secure long-term multi-year support.
• Support community engagement and attend fundraising events to help achieve the organisation’s fundraising ambitions.
• Identify regional funding opportunities and support with the preparation and submission of grant applications and funding proposals.
• Collaborate closely with internal teams across fundraising, communications, events, and clinical teams to maximise opportunities.

Direct Outreach Work 40%

• Support Heads of Centre to identify and engage with a range of partner organisations across Birmingham and the West Midlands, helping to raise awareness of the charity’s work.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with local statutory, voluntary, and community sector organisations, acting as a professional and approachable representative of the charity.
• Assist with partnership activity, including attending meetings, forums, and events, to share information about services and strengthen local connections.
• Help to coordinate partnership communications and ensure relevant information about the charity’s work is shared clearly and consistently with external partners.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation to support joined-up approaches to partnership and engagement activity.
• Identify and feedback opportunities for partnership working that could support fundraising, community engagement, and service awareness.

Administration 10%

• Ensure all fundraising activities are delivered to a high standard ensuring compliance with fundraising regulations and best practice guidelines.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records on the CRM database.
• Work collaboratively with both clinical and non-fundraising colleagues within the Birmingham centre and across the organisation, building their confidence and capability in fundraising activities.
• Ensure all fundraising activities are delivered to a high standard, meeting regulatory and ethical requirements.

Working in the Wider Charity

• Represent James’ Place with professionalism, respect, and confidence at all times.
• Participate in review and evaluation processes to support the ongoing development, effectiveness, and sustainability of James’ Place as a respected charity.
• Undertake any additional duties as required to support the successful delivery of the organisation’s business plan.

Values

• Demonstrate commitment to the James’ Place values of Focus, Bravery, Respect, Compassion, Professionalism, Collaboration and Hope through all aspects of work

PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential

• Proven experience of fundraising in the charity sector, with a track record of achieving results in at least two of the following income streams: Community fundraising, Corporate partnerships, events, major gift fundraising from High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNWIs) and Trusts and Foundations.
• Strong understanding of donor motivations and what drives charitable giving across different audiences.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft persuasive messages and build rapport.
• Confidence and professionalism in engaging and maintaining relationships with stakeholders and partners.
• Excellent time management skills
• Practical, resilient, and flexible, with the ability to adapt to changing priorities.
• Innovative thinker, open to exploring new ideas and approaches to fundraising.
• Collaborative and solution-focused, able to work constructively with others to overcome challenges.
• A team player, willing to support colleagues and take on additional responsibilities when required.
• Capable of working on difficult and sensitive issues, demonstrating kindness, integrity, and emotional resilience, and seeking or offering help when needed.

Desirable

• Experience using CRM databases (e.g. Salesforce)
• Understanding of, and interest in, mental health and suicide prevention.

WE OFFER

• A 7% employer contributory pension scheme.
• Family friendly policies.
• Death in service insurance scheme.
• 25 days plus bank holidays leave entitlement (FTE), including enhanced holiday allowance with incremental rises after qualifying period. 

HOW TO APPLY
To apply, please use the online application system to submit your CV detailing your experience, roles and responsibilities, and answer the screening questions.
If you have any queries or experience challenges with the application process, please email [email protected]

Closing date: 9am on Monday 22nd June 2026
Interviews are expected to be held online on 7th July 2026

Here at James' Place, we want you to feel comfortable in sharing your authentic selves and personal experiences, so we ask that you do not submit an application that has been formulated by AI. You may wish to use AI to support with structural aspects such as grammar and formatting, however your application must reflect your own genuine experiences, critical thinking and creativity.
James’ Place is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community. Our aim is that no job applicant, temporary worker or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender and transgender status, race and ethnicity, religion and belief (including no belief), marriage or civil partnership status or sexual orientation.
If you have a disability or health conditions which means you'd benefit from any adjustments to the interview process to help you perform at your best, please do let us know in advance.
Any job offers made are subject to the receipt of two relevant satisfactory employment references. We expect this to include one from your most recent or current employer. Any job offers made are also subject to a satisfactory DBS check and a Right to Work in the UK check.

REF-229 053

James’ Place, Community Fundraising and Engagement Executive
Job Title: Community Fundraising and Engagement Executive – North West
Salary: £24,160 per annum (£30,200 FTE)
Hours: 0.8FTE, 30 hours per week (flexible over 5 days – to be discussed with successful candidate). There may be occasions when evening or weekend availability is needed.
Contract Type: Permanent
Location: Hybrid – based 2/3 days per week in our Liverpool centre 
Reports to: Fundraising Manager Community

THE CHARITY 
Suicide is the leading cause of death of men under 35 and three quarters of those who die by suicide are men. James’ Place exists to save the lives of men in suicidal crisis through delivering clinical services. We are a charity currently offering free, life-saving therapy to suicidal men at our centres in Liverpool, London and Newcastle.
James’ Place was set up by Clare Milford Haven and Nick Wentworth-Stanley in 2008 after their twenty-one-year-old son, James, died by suicide ten days after a minor operation. James had no history of mental illness or depression and had sought urgent help for anxiety and suicidal thoughts but didn’t find it.   
James' Place was set up to make the experience of finding help as easy as possible. We offer men who are experiencing a suicidal crisis a brief, intensive, therapeutic intervention in a safe environment. Men who walk through the door at James’ Place will be in a space where they feel valued and respected. We provide a calm and peaceful environment both inside the centres and in our outside spaces, accessible to men who visit us as well as their friends and families. We have so far treated over 5,100 men who might otherwise have been unable to access the support they desperately need.
THE OPPORTUNITY
This is a new role designed to raise and facilitate fundraising for James’ Place Liverpool and to grow community and voluntary sector relationships across the region to raise awareness of James’ Place to drive referrals to our Liverpool centre.
As part of the Fundraising team, you will take a leading role in building strong networks across Liverpool and the North West, helping to establish our centre as a sustainable source of life-saving support for men in suicidal crisis.
The postholder will spend 50% of their time working collaboratively and taking responsibility for establishing fundraising activity across the North West with appropriate support from centre staff and fundraising colleagues, the Head of Fundraising and Communications, Director of Fundraising and External Affairs and the Chief Executive and Trustees. They will spend 40% of their time building community-based relationships with the aim of raising awareness to drive referrals to the centre, working closely with the Head of Centre Liverpool and the Centre Manager in Liverpool to do so. It is recognised that this will vary week to week depending on the current needs of the organisations.
This opportunity is ideal for an ambitious individual eager to grow their skills and career while helping to secure the funding and relationships needed to achieve the charity’s long-term goals. 

Direct Fundraising Work 50%

• Develop and grow a network of local donors - (including HNWI, corporates, community fundraisers as well as Trusts and Foundations) volunteer supporters and influencers across the North West with a view to increasing the fundraising reach of the organisation.
• Steward existing donors volunteers and prospects to secure long-term multi-year support.
• Support community engagement and attend fundraising events to help achieve the organisation’s fundraising ambitions.
• Identify regional funding opportunities and support with the preparation and submission of grant applications and funding proposals.
• Collaborate closely with internal teams across fundraising, communications, events, and clinical teams to maximise opportunities.

Direct Outreach Work 40%

• Support Heads of Centre to identify and engage with a range of partner organisations across Liverpool and the North West, helping to raise awareness of the charity’s work.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with local statutory, voluntary, and community sector organisations, acting as a professional and approachable representative of the charity.
• Assist with partnership activity, including attending meetings, forums, and events, to share information about services and strengthen local connections.
• Help to coordinate partnership communications and ensure relevant information about the charity’s work is shared clearly and consistently with external partners.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation to support joined-up approaches to partnership and engagement activity.
• Identify and feedback opportunities for partnership working that could support fundraising, community engagement, and service awareness.

Administration 10%

• Ensure all fundraising activities are delivered to a high standard ensuring compliance with fundraising regulations and best practice guidelines.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records on the CRM database.
• Work collaboratively with both clinical and non-fundraising colleagues within the Liverpool centre and across the organisation, building their confidence and capability in fundraising activities.
• Ensure all fundraising activities are delivered to a high standard, meeting regulatory and ethical requirements.

Working in the Wider Charity

• Represent James’ Place with professionalism, respect, and confidence at all times.
• Participate in review and evaluation processes to support the ongoing development, effectiveness, and sustainability of James’ Place as a respected charity.
• Undertake any additional duties as required to support the successful delivery of the organisation’s business plan.

Values

• Demonstrate commitment to the James’ Place values of Focus, Bravery, Respect, Compassion, Professionalism, Collaboration and Hope through all aspects of work

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

• Proven experience of fundraising in the charity sector, with a track record of achieving results in at least two of the following income streams: Community fundraising, Corporate partnerships, events, major gift fundraising from High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNWIs) and Trusts and Foundations.
• Strong understanding of donor motivations and what drives charitable giving across different audiences.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft persuasive messages and build rapport.
• Confidence and professionalism in engaging and maintaining relationships with stakeholders and partners.
• Excellent time management skills
• Practical, resilient, and flexible, with the ability to adapt to changing priorities.
• Innovative thinker, open to exploring new ideas and approaches to fundraising.
• Collaborative and solution-focused, able to work constructively with others to overcome challenges.
• A team player, willing to support colleagues and take on additional responsibilities when required.
• Capable of working on difficult and sensitive issues, demonstrating kindness, integrity, and emotional resilience, and seeking or offering help when needed.

Desirable

• Experience using CRM databases (e.g. Salesforce)
• Understanding of, and interest in, mental health and suicide prevention.

WE OFFER

• A 7% employer contributory pension scheme.
• Family friendly policies.
• Death in service insurance scheme.
• 25 days plus bank holidays leave entitlement (FTE), including enhanced holiday allowance with incremental rises after qualifying period. 

HOW TO APPLY
To apply, please use the online application system to submit your CV detailing your experience, roles and responsibilities, and answer the screening questions.
If you have any queries or experience challenges with the application process, please email [email protected].

Closing date: 9am on Monday 22nd June 2026
Interviews are expected to be held online on 6th July 2026

Here at James' Place, we want you to feel comfortable in sharing your authentic selves and personal experiences, so we ask that you do not submit an application that has been formulated by AI. You may wish to use AI to support with structural aspects such as grammar and formatting, however your application must reflect your own genuine experiences, critical thinking and creativity.
James’ Place is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community. Our aim is that no job applicant, temporary worker or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender and transgender status, race and ethnicity, religion and belief (including no belief), marriage or civil partnership status or sexual orientation.
If you have a disability or health conditions which means you'd benefit from any adjustments to the interview process to help you perform at your best, please do let us know in advance.
Any job offers made are subject to the receipt of two relevant satisfactory employment references. We expect this to include one from your most recent or current employer. Any job offers made are also subject to a satisfactory DBS check and a Right to Work in the UK check.

REF-229 054

About the role

Venture Associates play a key role in delivering our strategy, supporting our portfolio of over 30 organisations to help create a fairer society where all young people thrive. This is a hands-on role suited to someone who has developed a foundation in a structured and analytically rigorous environment, has a demonstrable interest in working in the charity sector or the education sector, and is excited to combine analytical problem-solving with mission-driven work.

You will work across the full investment lifecycle - from portfolio strategy setting, to sourcing and due diligence through to capacity building (such as strategy and business planning support) and grant management. This includes working closely with colleagues, charity partners and our incubations to understand complex challenges, develop clear and structured approaches to solving them, and support the development of mission driven organisations. The role requires both analytical thinking and the ability to build trusted relationships with stakeholders and communicate clearly and effectively with a range of audiences.

You will gain experience across investing, strategy, and capacity building our portfolio organisations -developing core skills in problem-solving, analysis, stakeholder management, and delivering high-quality outputs. Over time, you will work across different programmes and portfolios, building a broad and practical understanding of how to select, fund, and strengthen organisations working to improve the lives of children and young people.

Examples of projects undertaken by Venture Associates include supporting an early years charity to reach more children, working on a fund for schools to improve maths outcomes, and helping an early-stage incubation to launch a competition around ways in which AI could support the education ecosystem.

This is an opportunity to apply and further develop your skills in a context where your work contributes directly to meaningful, long-term change for children and young people across systems that shape their lives, for example education and care systems. You will be supported by a dedicated line manager, with opportunities to build your skills through on-the-job experience, training, and exposure to senior leaders and partners. We see this role as a springboard for your career, whether that is within Purposeful or beyond.

Why apply for this role?

This is an opportunity to do impactful work on complex challenges affecting children and young people — and to do it at an organisation that combines rigour and evidence with a deep commitment to long-term change. You will:

• Gain practical experience and build your skills: gain experience across the full venture lifecycle, building a strong foundation in strategy, investing, and organisational development
• Work on meaningful challenges: apply structured problem-solving to complex issues that contribute to long-term, system-level change
• Develop trusted relationships: work closely with founders, partners, and senior colleagues, building your ability to influence and collaborate effectively
• Build a platform for your career: benefit from dedicated support, broad exposure across programmes and portfolios, and pathways for progression or future opportunities

Job Description

Purpose

Venture Associates play a key role in delivering our strategy, supporting our portfolio of over 30 organisations to help create a fairer society where all young people thrive. Venture Associates work across the full investment lifecycle - from portfolio strategy setting to sourcing and due diligence through to capacity building (such as strategy and business planning support) and grant management, and may also have the opportunity to take on strategic and/or operational roles for our incubations.

Responsibilities and duties

Support the design and refinement of our investment strategy

You will contribute to shaping where and how we deploy funding and support, ensuring our work is grounded in robust analysis and a clear understanding of impact opportunities.

• Conduct structured research into priority sectors, including market dynamics, policy context, key stakeholders, and barriers to change.
• Identify and map high-potential opportunities for intervention, including emerging organisations and unmet needs.
• Work with Venture Partners and Portfolio Leads to synthesise insights into clear recommendations that inform investment priorities and strategic focus areas.

Build pipelines for our investment strategies and conduct due diligence on specific organisations

You will help identify, assess, and prioritise organisations for partnership and investment.

• Proactively source and build a pipeline of organisations aligned with our strategy, through direct research, expert conversations and potentially designing open application processes.
• Conduct initial due diligence assessments, including mission alignment; strategy, business model and financial sustainability, assessment of programme design and evidence of promise, monitoring and evaluation processes, and capacity for partnership and investment.
• Engage with internal and external stakeholders to develop and test hypotheses and understand key risks.
• Produce clear, concise materials (reports, presentations) to support decision-making.

Support the development of our partner organisations

You will work directly with funded organisations as they scale their impact, supporting strategic decision-making and organisational development.

• Working with Venture Partners and Portfolio Leads, build relationships with individual organisations and work closely with them to identify their most significant challenges and design the appropriate support model.
• Support capacity building projects for funded and incubated organisations across a range of topics (e.g. strategy development, business planning, operating and financial model design).
• Break down complex strategic questions into clear, structured workplans and analytical tasks.
• Gather and synthesise inputs from multiple sources, including data analysis, stakeholder interviews, and expert perspectives.
• Develop high-quality outputs (presentations, written documents, models) to communicate insights and recommendations.
• Contribute to board- and leadership-level discussions, ensuring recommendations are clear, evidence-based, and actionable.
• Provide ad hoc problem-solving support to funded organisations on key challenges (e.g. growth strategy, operating model, partnerships).

Support grant management and performance tracking

You will help ensure our portfolio is effectively monitored and supported to deliver impact.

• Collate, review, and analyse data from funded organisations for quarterly and annual reporting.
• Assess performance against agreed milestones, impact metrics, and financial targets.
• Identify risks, challenges, and opportunities by organisation, and across the portfolio, and flag these to the team.
• Support the preparation of internal and external reporting materials (e.g. updates for stakeholders, funders, or boards).
• Contribute to improving our grant management processes, tools, and frameworks over time.

The job description is subject to change and the postholder may be required to undertake tasks not specifically referred to above. Such duties, however, will fall within the scope of the job description.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for people who are motivated by our mission and excited to apply analytical, problem-solving, and relationship-building skills in a collaborative, purpose-driven environment. We recognise that strong candidates may bring a range of experiences and perspectives, and we encourage applications from people with diverse backgrounds and career paths.

If your experience is not an exact match, but you believe you would thrive in the role, we would still encourage you to apply.

Key requirements

Essential

Behaviours and Ways of Working

• Passionate about creating a fairer society where all young people thrive.
• Motivated by Purposeful’s mission, with a clear and demonstrable commitment to contributing to meaningful, long-term change in support of children and young people.
• Curious and evidence-led, actively seeking out data, insights, and diverse perspectives to inform thinking.
• Takes ownership of your work, following through on commitments and delivering to a consistently high standard.
• Comfortable working in ambiguity, structuring your own work and adapting as priorities evolve.
• Collaborative and relationship-oriented, working effectively with colleagues and external partners.
• Builds open, respectful and trust-based relationships by acting with integrity, reliability, and transparency.
• Balances attention to detail with an understanding of the broader context and strategic goals.
• Open to feedback and committed to continuous learning and development.

Knowledge and Experience

• Experience working in a structured, analytical environment (for example, consulting, corporate strategy, investing, or similar), with exposure to project-based work involving multiple priorities and timelines.
• Strong grounding in core business concepts such as strategy setting, market sizing, business planning, and competitive dynamics.
• Demonstrated ability to build a working understanding of new sectors, topics, or contexts and to apply this to real challenges facing our portfolio organisations.
• Experience contributing to strategy development, due diligence, or complex problem-solving projects involving ambiguity and multiple stakeholders.
• Experience supporting financial analysis, reviewing financial information (for example, annual accounts) and assessing financial risk.

Skills

• Applies structured, analytical thinking to break down complex or ambiguous problems into clear components, hypotheses, and actionable approaches.
• Strong quantitative and qualitative analysis skills, including working with imperfect data, identifying key drivers, and drawing sound, defensible insights.
• Synthesises information from multiple sources into clear, well-structured outputs and recommendations.
• Clear, effective and nuanced communicator, both in writing and verbally, with the ability to produce materials suitable for senior audiences.
• Effective influencing skills, and the ability to adapt communication style and medium to the audience and context to achieve the best outcome.
• Effectively engages and manages relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Plans and manages their work effectively, taking ownership of workstreams and delivering high-quality outputs within timelines.
• Uses sound judgement to identify risks, assess trade-offs, and determine when to seek input or escalate.

General

• Right to work in the UK.

Desirable

Knowledge and Experience

• Understanding of the charity and/or education sectors gained, for example, through a previous work experience, pro-bono work, volunteer or trustee role.
• Experience of creating financial models to support budgeting and scenario planning; building income generation strategies.
• Understanding of or experience with programme design, monitoring and evaluation.