Jobs

We’re looking for a Senior Innovation and Development Lead to help shape the future of how we grow income and engage customers at the British Heart Foundation (BHF). 

This isn’t about theory, it’s about turning bold ideas into real, sustainable income streams. The main focus of this role is developing fundraising and engagement products from new proposition to reimagining traditional engagement models, you’ll take concepts from insight → test → launch → scale. 

Responsible for driving innovation that delivers both impact and income you will:

• Identify new audience problems and income opportunities, using desk research, internal insight and commissioned customer research.
• Turn insight into new fundraising propositions (including digital, subscription and challenge‑based products), developing and refining concepts with clear success criteria.
• Test, pilot and launch ideas at pace, using MVPs and a test‑and‑learn approach to decide what to scale, adapt or stop.
• Build robust business and investment cases, including commercial modelling (e.g. payback, NPV and unit economics).
• Influence senior stakeholders with clear, evidence‑based recommendations.
• Lead successful propositions into BAU.

This is a big role that offers genuine ownership, with all delivery led and delivered in‑house without the support agencies. Visible at senior level the role provides the opportunity to turn insight into real impact.

About you 

As our ideal candidate, you’ll bring senior‑level experience in innovation, fundraising or product development, with a clear ability to turn insight into action. You’re commercially minded and creative, comfortable with ambiguity, and able to move at pace while staying focused on what delivers real value. 

You’ll have proven experience leading propositions end‑to‑end from early problem discovery and insight through testing, piloting, scaling and evaluation, all delivered in‑house. You’ve built and refined MVPs and pilots through evidence‑based experimentation, and you’re confident making calls on when to scale, pivot or stop initiatives. 

With advance data and insight skills, you can translate complex qualitative and quantitative insight into clear options and recommendations for senior stakeholders. You bring experience building strong business and investment cases, including budgeting and forecasting, as well as taking successful propositions into BAU. Used to working in complex, cross functional environments, you can influence without direct authority and manage interdependencies and governance with clarity. 

Working arrangements 

This is a hybrid role, where your work will be split between your home and at least one day per week, on average, in our London Office. This may vary from time to time, so you will need to work in a flexible way to unlock your best work for our cause. 

Belonging at BHF  
 
We celebrate and value the diversity of the communities we serve, recognising that embracing different perspectives and backgrounds strengthens our organisation and drives innovation. By fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels respected and supported, we are better equipped to achieve our mission of helping people have a healthier heart for longer.  

To hear from our people, check out Belonging at BHF. 

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. By funding research across six decades, we’ve helped keep millions of hearts beating and millions of families together. We’re investing in ground-breaking research that will get us closer than ever to a world where everyone has a healthier heart for longer. 
 

• As an Employee Relations Specialist, you’ll be the escalation point from our People Operations team and will apply your specialist employee relations knowledge and expertise to provide professional and pragmatic employee relations advice on a range of employee relations (ER) issues, policies and processes.
  
  You’ll pro-actively engage with managers to offer best practice advice on a range of ER case work, spotting and assessing the risks and advising managers on how to mitigate or find resolutions to those risks which are in the best interest for British Heart Foundation (BHF). 
  
  You’ll take ownership of your own case work from beginning to end and responsibility for the advisory solutions ensuring best practice timescales are adhered to. You will also ensure any risks or concerns are flagged. 

  
  About you
  
  With a CIPD Level 5 minimum qualification, or equivalent, you'll have extensive HR knowledge and understanding around best practice. You'll also have an up-to-date ER and Employment law knowledge, and understand ACAS Code of Practise and be knowledgeable on the Equality Act.
   

  You’ll have substantial experience managing complex casework, including dismissals and discrimination. You are able to weigh up complex evidence and reach sound conclusions that are fair and reasonable while protecting the business. You have the proven experience of navigating legal complexities and negotiating successful resolutions swiftly. 
  
  Ideally, you will have ER specialist experience confidently managing a high volume of cases in a large organisation. Additionally, experience of tribunal case preparation, restructuring, redundancy, and TUPE would be highly advantageous.
  
  To succeed in the role you will:

  • be a highly effective team player
  • have excellent communication skills
  • be able to build trust and rapport quickly
  • have strong time management skills
  • be resilient and work well under pressure to multiple and conflicting deadlines. 

  
  We’re looking for someone with a passion for all things employee relations who will be an ambassador for the People Relations team. Willing to challenge and influence managers, you’ll encourage them to be the decision makers as well as positively challenge the status quo on process, policy and procedure. 

   

  Working arrangements

   

  Please note this is a 4-month fixed term contract.
  
  This is a hybrid role, where your work will be split between your home and one day per week, on average, in our London office. This may vary from time to time, so you will need to work in a flexible way to unlock your best work for our cause.  
  
  Due to the length of the contract we are looking to get someone in post as soon as possible.
   
  Belonging at BHF 

    
  We are committed to fostering a workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. Embracing different perspectives and backgrounds strengthens our organisation and empowers us to make a real difference together. 
  
  To hear from our people, check out Belonging at BHF.  
  
  Our people are at the heart of everything we do. By funding research across six decades, we’ve helped keep millions of hearts beating and millions of families together. We’re investing in ground-breaking research that will get us closer than ever to a world where everyone has a healthier heart for longer.
  
  Benefits and development  

  At BHF, we offer a comprehensive range of benefits designed to support our colleagues’ wellbeing and professional growth.    
   
  To find out more about our benefits you can download the Benefits document at the bottom of this page or check out our Benefits and Development pages.  
   
  Need more help balancing your work and home life? Talk to us about what flexibility is available at the application or interview stage.  
   
  Interview process
  
  Interviews are due to take place shortly after the role closes.
  
  How to apply 
  
  It’s quick and easy to apply for a role at the BHF. Just click on the apply button below. All you’ll need is an up-to-date CV and a supporting statement, outlining your interest in the role and how you meet the role’s criteria. 
  
  As part of our commitment to be an inclusive employer and ensure fairness and consistency in selecting the best candidate for this role, the BHF will use anonymous CV software as part of the application journey.
  
  Should you need any adjustments to the recruitment process, at either application or interview, please contact us.

  Please note internally this role will be known as People Relations Specialist.