Together for Short Lives is looking for a driven and creative Business Development Manager to develop and secure high‑value corporate partnerships that will help transform the lives of seriously ill children and their families. You’ll lead our business development strategy, build a strong pipeline of opportunities, and develop lasting relationships with prospective and existing supporters.
If you’re collaborative, tenacious and passionate about making a real impact in children’s palliative care, we’d love to hear from you.
Full‑time 1 year FTC | Hybrid (UK‑wide with travel to our Bristol Office) | £42,000
Purpose of role
The Business Development Manager will lead our efforts to secure high-profile, high-value partnerships with corporate organisations that will generate vital income for children's palliative care. Securing new partnerships and growing our income requires exceptional collaboration skills; a driven, tenacious and resourceful nature; innovation and creativity; and a passionate determination to make a difference to the lives of children and families across the UK.
The main objectives are as follows:
- Secure new corporate partnerships raising funds to support Together for Short Lives’ direct work, and our National Fundraising Scheme (raising funds on behalf of the UK’s children’s hospices).
- Develop and deliver a business development strategy, including prospect research, managing a robust pipeline of opportunities, and developing a diverse range of business development products.
- Manage and develop relationships with a portfolio of individual contacts and organisations, including prospective and existing supporters.
Registered Charity
21 - 50
We exist to ensure every seriously ill child and their family gets the high-quality children’s palliative and end of life care
Thank you!
Make a difference every day with PDSA
About Us
Join us to help keep even more people and pets together when times are tough. For over a century, PDSA have provided vital veterinary care for the pets of people in financial hardship.
We’re now on a journey to expand our reach to support even more people and their beloved pets. To achieve this ambitious goal, we need passionate and driven individuals who are ready to embrace change and help shape a future-focused PDSA. Together, we'll build a stronger organisation to ensure our services help those who need us most for the next hundred years.
If you're ready to make a real difference and be part of a team that's creating positive change, we want you to join us. Let's build a brighter future for pets and their owners, together.
About you
As a Project Communications Officer, you will play a key role in delivering clear, engaging and consistent internal communications that help frontline teams understand and adopt change across the Frontline Improvement Programme. The role involves developing tailored communication plans, crafting compelling messages for diverse audiences, and managing core channels such as newsletters, presentations and social platforms. A central focus is building strong relationships with stakeholders, supporting the Improvement Champion community, and showcasing project progress through impactful, human‑centred storytelling.
We are seeking someone to join the team on a 12‑month fixed‑term contract, working across our Pet Hospitals. We are looking for someone to join the team in this role and produce timely, high‑quality communication outputs, generating positive engagement from colleagues. The position also requires thoughtful planning, awareness of risks and the ability to use data and insight to measure communication impact, ensuring every message supports smooth change adoption across our Pet Hospitals.
This role is ideal for someone who has successfully delivered change communication plans and understands how to craft messages that help teams embrace new ways of working. You will bring experience using key communication platforms and navigating the complexities of a multi‑site organisation. Knowledge of programme and change management is essential, as we need someone who is agile, confident and comfortable working in changing environments while collaborating with stakeholders across the organisation.
This is a home‑based role with UK‑wide travel when required, primarily across the East and West Midlands. You will be expected to visit sites and attend team meetings at our Telford Head Office and Pet Hospitals across the UK.
Rewards, support and benefits
We’re really passionate about being a great place to work, somewhere people feel proud of what they do, connected to a meaningful purpose, and able to make a genuine difference every day. Our teams are collaborative and supportive, and we encourage everyone to bring their ideas, individuality and passion for pets to work with them.
As well as a rewarding role and a positive, people-focused culture, we also offer a wide range of benefits, including:
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Flexible working options to support your work–life balance and individual circumstances.
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25 days’ holiday plus Bank Holidays, with option to buy or sell an extra five days.
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Three paid special days off: Volunteering Day, Celebration Day and Wellbeing Day annually.
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Generous pension options, with PDSA contributions starting at 5% and rising to 10%.
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Life assurance providing four times your annual salary for added peace of mind.
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AXA Health Employee Assistance Programme, with 24/7 wellbeing support
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Retail, holiday and lifestyle discounts available through our staff Fetch benefits platform.
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Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave to support you and your family.
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10% discount on PDSA Pet Insurance plus access to staff veterinary services.
To apply for this role, click Apply Now at the top of the page, create a candidate account and complete our simple application form.
PDSA is committed to embedding a culture of diversity and inclusion within our teams that reflect the communities we serve. We aim to create a working environment in which all individuals are able to make best use of their skills, free from discrimination or harassment, and in which all decisions are based on merit. We offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies and opportunities for flexible working arrangements to support team members from different backgrounds.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding accessibility, please contact us and we will be happy to discuss via email or telephone reasonable adjustments that you may require throughout the recruitment process.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, adults at risk and all our colleagues and expect everyone who works for us to also share this commitment and to treat people with courtesy and respect.
To support this commitment, our recruitment & selection processes are robust and rigorous. All appointments will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate background checks.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Associate Director, Scotland
Ref: REF000006
Location: Home-based, Scotland (However, travel and overnight stays within the UK will be required as part of this role)
Contract: Permanent
Hours: 35 hours per week
Salary: Circa £66,000 per annum
Finding strength through support
The Stroke Association is the UK’s leading charity providing lifelong support for all stroke survivors and their families. We provide tailored support to tens of thousands of stroke survivors each year. This support includes one-to-one and group support, funding vital scientific research into stroke prevention, acute treatment, recovery and long-term care, and campaigning to secure the best care for everyone affected by stroke.
We’re here for stroke survivors and their loved ones, from the moment they enter the new and frightening post-stroke world, supporting them every step of the way as they find their strength and their way back to life.
It’s only thanks to the generosity of our supporters and donors that we can provide vital support.
Stroke Association is driven by our ambition to improve the lives of everyone affected by stroke. This means we’re determined to create an equitable and inclusive workplace that benefits from the difference, and thrives on the diversity, of our people. Guided by Our approach to solving inequity in stroke, we are prioritising listening to, and learning from, lived experience across our charity.
We are working to improve the representation of this lived experience at all levels within the Stroke Association, and we are eager to recruit applicants from a variety of communities and backgrounds. We are keen to receive applications from people affected by stroke, people of colour, members of LGBT+ communities, and disabled people because these identities and experiences are underrepresented and would add enormous value to how we work.
We are a Disability Confident employer, and we are making great progress focusing on flexible working, reasonable adjustments and access to work. Our charity has a variety of staff network groups, and we're committed to continuously improving our diversity and inclusion efforts. If you have questions, or access needs, we’re happy to discuss any support and adjustments we can make throughout the recruitment process so that you’re able to contribute your best in a way that meets your needs.
About You and The Role
We’re looking for an exceptional systems leader to drive our work across Scotland and ensure people affected by stroke have the support they need to rebuild their lives. You’ll shape and deliver our vision for Scotland, focusing on what matters most to stroke survivors and ensuring our work has real, measurable impact.
In this influential role, you’ll build strong relationships across health and social care, Scottish Parliament and Government, and the wider stroke community. You'll bring deep understanding of the Scottish context and ensure our work is grounded in the lived experience of stroke survivors and their families.
Key responsibilities will include:
- Lead the Stroke Association’s strategic direction and impact in Scotland, ensuring people affected by stroke receive high quality support.
- Build and manage relationships with key health, social care and political stakeholders, acting as a credible and respected systems leader.
- Adapt organisational priorities for Scotland and ensure effective delivery through strong planning and performance oversight.
- Lead and develop the Scotland team, addressing capacity needs and building volunteer capability to meet local priorities.
- Strengthen partnerships across the stroke community to improve access to support and tackle health inequalities.
- Lead engagement in local policy and pathway development, influencing improvements at health board level.
You will have:
- Significant senior-level experience in advocacy and influencing, including shaping policy change in values-driven, social-impact contexts within Scotland’s health and social care sector.
- Substantial experience developing and managing senior-level relationships across partner organisations, using strong negotiation skills and sound political judgement.
- Experience leading complex organisational change and transformation, ensuring people-centred and sustainable outcomes.
- Strong understanding of the Scottish health and social care landscape, including Parliament, Government, influencing systems, and awareness of UK-wide legislative procedures.
- Ability to balance local, national and UK-wide organisational priorities.
To fulfil the role, you must live in Scotland and have the right to work in the UK. This role requires travel and overnight stays across the UK. Candidates must be able to demonstrate how they can meet this requirement of the role.
Closing Date: 5 April
First Interview (online) Date: Monday 20 April or Tuesday 21 April
Second interview and Roundtable Discussion (face to face): week commencing 27 April
Please note all roles close at midnight
Please state any preferences for flexible options in your application. Applications from individuals who are seeking flexible working options, including reduced hours or job shares are welcomed.
Interested?
If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.
No agencies please.
