Location: Central London, hybrid working (office-based at least 2 days a week)
Contract: 4-5 Days a week, permanent
Salary: £55,000 pro rata
Hours: Flexible working pattern permitted, subject to organisational needs
About Refugee Legal Support
Refugee Legal Support is a dynamic organisation working in solidarity with people who migrate: we provide and promote legal support, training, and advocacy so that asylum seekers, refugees and migrants can access rights and justice. We are now recruiting a senior leader to join the three-person Director team (Executive Director; Legal Director; this role) and help drive our next phase of growth and impact.
Why this role matters
This is a career-defining role at a pivotal time for RLS. You will help shape the future of our organisation, ensuring we have the resources and organisational infrastructure to maximise our impact. If you are a senior fundraiser who cares deeply about justice for migrants, wants to lead at a strategic level and doesn’t shy away from operational leadership when it counts, then this role is for you.
The role in brief
As our Fundraising Director you will lead the income generation strategy for RLS and oversee operational elements when needed—making this more than a conventional fundraising role. You will work across the organisation, supporting strategy, sustainable growth, and systems development, while ensuring we meet urgent funding needs as well as build long-term resilience. The role suits someone who thrives in a dynamic, justice-driven environment, is comfortable with ambiguity and change, and has the gravitas and hands-on mindset required in a senior role.
Key responsibilities
- Develop and lead the fundraising strategy: securing income from trusts, foundations, major donors, corporates, and other sources.
- Build, deepen and manage relationships with funders, partners and stakeholders to secure existing and new funding.
- Monitor fundraising performance, budgets, forecasts and contribute to organisational financial sustainability.
- Work operationally as required across the organisation: supporting RLS’s systems, processes and leadership team to ensure effective delivery and growth.
- Be a key member of the senior management team, working closely with the Executive Director, Legal Director and Board of Trustees to shape RLS’s strategic direction.
- Ensure high standards of reporting, monitoring and impact-communication to funders and stakeholders.
- Help embed organisational systems and infrastructure to support scale-up and sustainability.
Person specification
We’re seeking someone who:
- Has great experience in senior fundraising roles (ideally including trust/foundation, donor relationships and multi-stream income generation).
- Is comfortable operating at a strategic level and also stepping into operational matters when needed.
- Has excellent communication and influencing skills, able to engage with senior stakeholders, funders and leadership teams.
- Thrives in a fast-moving, values-driven environment, comfortable with change, ambiguity and organisational growth.
- Shares a strong commitment to migrant justice, equity and the mission of RLS.
- Is organised, resilient, and able to manage competing priorities across fundraising and operations.
Working arrangements
This role is based in London with hybrid working: you will be required to be in the office at least two days a week, with the remainder of time flexible. The post will require occasional flexibility for meetings, events or travel as part of senior leadership commitments.
RLS is committed to equality of opportunity, particularly welcoming applications from candidates with lived experience of migration, forced displacement, or marginalised communities.
We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so that we can help with making the application process work for you.
About the role
You will be home based and will need to travel in the UK, Eire, Europe and further afield as the role develops.
You will need some storage space available for Charity materials.
If you are self-driven, motivated, and want to help others achieve something amazing in support of Histiocytosis UK, we would love to hear from you.
You are likely to be in a similar role at another charity or have the right experience and transferable skills from another sector. You’ll be confident, enthusiastic, and an exceptional influencer with great customer care and communication skills.
There will be ample opportunity to shape the role, lead on specific projects and put your ideas into action.
The role will be mainly remote working so your experience and motivation will be key in this role so that we can achieve tangible results.
Who we need?
You will be an excellent communicator, face to face, online, phone or email. You know the importance of listening, and you are the sort of person that brings focus and calm to difficult situations. Prioritising your workload is second nature. Perhaps most importantly of all, you’re energised and driven by a passion for learning and making life better for those with a long term and/or serious illness.
A degree is not essential, but a communication and fundraising skills qualification is desirable. It is important that you have a high standard of writing, and that you are on good terms with your computer, particularly MS office, email and maybe even Mailchimp, Zoom, Sage Accounting, Spreadsheets etc.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
About Cardiomyopathy UK
Cardiomyopathy UK is the only UK charity dedicated to supporting people affected by all forms of cardiomyopathy and myocarditis. We provide expert advice, trusted information, and support to individuals and families, while championing earlier diagnosis, better treatment and improved care. This is an exciting time to join a growing organisation with a strong, patient-centred mission and an ambitious programme of work across research, policy, services and awareness.
Role Purpose
The Communications & Marketing Manager will lead our communications, brand and digital presence, ensuring Cardiomyopathy UK reaches and engages the people who need us most. You will shape and deliver high-quality, impactful communications across all channels, strengthening our voice, raising awareness of cardiomyopathy, and supporting the growth of our services, fundraising and partnerships.
This is a hands-on role for a skilled communicator who can balance strategic thinking with delivery. You will work in a highly matrixed team, supporting colleagues across services, fundraising, events, research, and public affairs. You will collaborate closely with the Executive Leadership Team, clinical experts, fundraisers and our community to tell powerful stories and drive meaningful engagement.
Key Responsibilities
Communications & Brand
- Lead the development and delivery of Cardiomyopathy UK’s communications and marketing strategy.
- Manage and maintain the charity’s brand identity, ensuring consistency across all channels, publications and partnerships.
- Produce high-quality written content including blogs, newsletters, web copy, reports, press releases, campaign assets and patient stories.
- Support internal colleagues across departments with communications planning, copywriting and brand guidance.
Digital Marketing (Website & Social Media)
- Oversee content, structure and performance of the Cardiomyopathy UK website, working with external developers where required.
- Manage social media channels (Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), including planning, creating and scheduling high-quality content.
- Monitor digital analytics and provide insights and recommendations to improve reach, engagement and conversion.
- Lead email marketing activity, including newsletters, segmentation and performance monitoring.
Campaigns & Awareness
- Plan and deliver integrated awareness and marketing campaigns aligned to strategic priorities including early diagnosis, patient support services, fundraising and major events.
- Coordinate campaign content creation, timelines and measurement, ensuring campaigns are impactful and audience driven.
- Work with partners, funders and patient contributors to develop compelling stories and campaign assets.
Media & Public Relations
- Act as the first point of contact for media enquiries and support the CEO and spokespeople with interview preparation.
- Build relationships with journalists, sector press and broadcast media to raise awareness of cardiomyopathy and the charity’s work.
- Draft press releases, media lines and Q&A briefs for key announcements and campaigns.
Cross-Organisational & Matrixed Working
- Work closely with the event manager to promote flagship events, patient webinars and professional engagement activities.
- Partner with public affairs colleagues to amplify policy, research and advocacy messages and ensure alignment across channels.
- Support the fundraising team with donor communications, appeals, supporter journeys and marketing collateral.
- Work closely with clinical colleagues to deliver compelling, on-brand, educational and information materials for various audiences.
- Ensure coordinated planning across teams so that communications reflect organisational priorities and opportunities.
Community & Stakeholder Engagement
- Collaborate with clinicians, researchers, patient advocates and charity partners to strengthen our communications and visibility.
- Amplify the voices and experiences of people living with cardiomyopathy through inclusive, ethical storytelling.
Person Specification
Essential
- Proven experience in communications, marketing or digital roles – ideally within a charity, health or public sector context.
- Strong copywriting and content creation skills, with the ability to explain complex information clearly and sensitively.
- Experience managing websites, digital content and social media channels.
- Ability to plan and deliver multi-channel campaigns.
- Confident in managing media enquiries and developing press materials.
- Experience working collaboratively in a matrixed or cross-functional team, supporting multiple stakeholders simultaneously.
- Excellent organisational and project-management skills with the ability to prioritise a varied workload.
- Strong analytical skills with experience using digital analytics tools.
- A collaborative team player with a commitment to empowering patients and improving health outcomes.
Personal Qualities
- A natural people person, approachable, supportive, and empathetic.
- Solution focused and resourceful, able to stay calm and find ways forward in challenging situations.
- A strong sense of initiative and ownership, with a hands-on, can-do approach.
- An inspiring communicator who builds trust and enthusiasm across teams and partners.
- Adaptable and open to change, always looking for opportunities to improve.
- Demonstrates Cardiomyopathy UK’s values and integrity in all aspects of work.
- A genuine team player who contributes to a positive and inclusive working culture.