This is an exciting opportunity to play a vital role in shaping the future of one of the UK’s leading touring theatre companies. The Development Director will lead our fundraising strategy, building the relationships and resources that power our bold, nationally-reaching work.
As Development Director, you will work closely with the joint CEOs (Holly and Lisa) to deliver Headlong’s fundraising strategy. You will have the opportunity to develop the role and will be responsible for raising the funds to support Headlong’s mission and vision over the long-term.
You will lead on prospect research, donor cultivation, bid writing and delivering fundraising events. You will set a fundraising culture with the Board and wider staff, advocating for the power of fundraising to push Headlong into its next chapter.
You will be part of the Senior Management Team and will take an active role in the organisation and as an ambassador for Headlong in different contexts.
Registered Charity The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Overview:
This role will join a vibrant and ambitious fundraising team made up of; major giving, trusts and foundations, prospect research, individual giving, community, events, legacies, innovation and supporter experience. The team’s mission is to raise income for our three hospitals to enable them to continue their vital work. This role will make a huge difference in helping us do that.
About us
Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charity, Guy’s Cancer Charity and Evelina London Children’s Charity are part of Guy’s & St Thomas’ Foundation. Our collective mission is to build the foundations of a healthier society.
As part of our team, you will work alongside talented people from a mix of personal and professional backgrounds. We are a Living Wage employer and support flexible working, part-time roles and job shares. Though our ambitions are serious, this is a friendly place to work with lots of opportunities to meet and socialise with colleagues. We believe there is immense power in diversity and aim to recruit and nurture talent who think and act differently.
There is more information about working with us on our website, where you can read about:
• how we approach recruitment
• our team, culture and values
• the benefits of working with us
• and our approach to diversity, equity & inclusion, health & wellbeing, and learning & development
Overall purpose of the role
As part of a multi-faceted and busy fundraising team, the Events Product Development Lead will take a significant role in strategically planning and delivering a portfolio of new fundraising events to raise funds for Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charities. This role will support the strategic development and delivery of a portfolio of fundraising events aimed at increasing income and diversifying our funding base. You’ll collaborate with teams from all corners of the partnership to test and scale the best ideas. The focus of this role is our virtual and owned events portfolio. This is a strategically significant growth area for the GST Charities and is an exciting opportunity to make a real impact. Fundraising Innovation is part of the wider strategy across GST Charities. Whilst we are in the early stages of embedding innovation across the organisation, you will be part of a growing culture that will help shape, adapt and develop the organisation in the ever changing, fast paced world environment we work in.
Key Responsibilities
· Innovate and develop new supporter led products in collaboration with the Senior Events Manager and Head of Strategy & Innovation, with a focus on virtual events and owned events, along with any other opportunities within this space.
· Oversee product delivery from planning to evaluation, collaborating with experts internally and externally, attending events, and representing GST Charities positively.
· Utilise insights, ensuring data-driven decisions and staying informed on trends for continuous improvement.
· Drive income growth, develop budgets, and monitor financial performance. · Provide thorough analysis of products and events, ensuring that all relevant teams are regularly updated on all activity (coordinating information, reporting cross-team, etc.) and providing a clear strategy for the year ahead.
· To work closely across the charities directorate with enabling teams to ensure all opportunities for collaboration are maximised.
· To contribute to the wider fundraising team, taking a proactive approach to working in a high performing & collaborative team
· To establish, maintain and develop relationships with key stakeholders across our organisation and beyond, including agencies and contractors.
· To seek out innovative and agile approaches to working, adopting lean process and using supporter data to drive performance and supporter experience.
Work environment
· The post holder should expect to:
o Work in a hybrid hot desk environment, generally working 2 days a week in the London office and three from home.
o Be responsible for the input and maintenance of databases and files relevant to the post requirements.
o Will occasionally be required to attend events in the evening and at weekends.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
Experience
· Experience of driving projects and/or teams to deliver agreed outcomes to a deadline
· Experience of using innovation frameworks for product development & continuous improvement.
· Experience of setting KPI’s, objectives and budgets. Tracking and monitoring targets, income and expenditure against budget.
· Experience of leading change and working in an agile environment.
· Experience of managing and delivering fundraising virtual or owned events.
Skills, abilities and knowledge
· Understanding of the principles, theory and practice of new product development and experience of taking a product from idea to market.
· Relationship building expertise & ability to influence stakeholders across the organisation. · Proven understanding of how best to use data insight and analysis to make decisions and inform actionable plans.
· Proven ability to time manage effectively and meet deadlines.
· Ability to interpret complex requirements and user needs and make recommendations of implementable solutions.
Personal Attributes
· Knowledge of Fundraising Regulations and Facebook Fundraising.
· Collaborative and constructive working style with the ability to work well across teams.
· Strategic thinker with the ability to analyse data, identify opportunities, and develop actionable plans to achieve organisational goals.
· Highly organised, detail oriented, and capable of managing multiple priorities in a fast – paced environment.
Benefits
- Up to 12% employer pension contributions
- Annual personal development budget
- Annual health and wellbeing personal allowance
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, and parental leave pay accessible without length of service requirements.
- Health and wellbeing programme that offers optional free yearly health check-ups.
- Support for healthy eating via fruit bowls and onsite lunch facilities.
- Agile working, flexible hours, and supportive IT kit.
- Shower facilities and bike lock area.
- Generous annual leave (27 days + bank holidays)
- Subsidies for glasses
- Employee Assistance Programme
21 - 50
Thank you!
Are you passionate about Jesus and gospel outreach into London?
Are you creative, wise, and inspirational?
Then London City Mission would like to hear from you!
London City Mission shares the gospel alongside the local church of London, equipping everyday Christians to lovingly bring a message of hope in Christ to those least likely to hear it.
One in two people don’t have a Christian friend to invite them to church, open a Bible with them, or tell them the good news of Jesus. We want to see that change. The poor areas of London are incredibly diverse, in fact London is the most ethnically diverse in the world, growing at over 100,000 people a year. The world has come to London – we long to see the Gospel taken to the world by working alongside churches to visit homes and go out into the streets of London with the good news of the Gospel.
We are praying for a talented Director of Fundraising and Supporter Partnerships to join our Leadership Team. You will be inheriting a skilled and diverse team raising income from individuals, legacies, trusts and foundations, corporates and major donors with the support from a new CRM system, to fulfil your responsibilities.
- Salary: £73,000 depending on experience + 13.8% employer contribution to pension, 30 days holiday plus Bank Holidays and 3 days ex-gracia during Christmas and New year + other benefits.
- Location: London City Mission will carefully consider flexible working patterns where possible, though at least 2 days a week presence at Nasmith House, 175 Tower Bridge Road will be necessary.
- Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week). Permanent. Let us know if you need more flexibility than this.
- Responsible for: Currently the team is 12 people, with four direct reports.
- Closing date: Wednesday 11th June 2025 at 5pm BST.
- Interview dates: A selection of candidates will be invited to a first interview via MS Teams on either Wednesday 25th or Friday 27th June. Those who are invited to a second interview will also be asked to complete a psychometric test. In addition finalist candidates will have the opportunity to have an informal meeting with the CEO, Graham Miller in w/c 30th June. A second round of in-person interviews is scheduled for Friday 11th July along with the opportunity to meet the team.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Leading and overseeing the development of Fundraising and Supporter Partnerships Strategy and Operation.
2. Leading and overseeing the management and development of the Fundraising and Supporter Partnerships team.
3. Providing inspiring leadership and contributing proactively to a vibrant worshipping Christian community.
This post is subject to an occupational requirement under Schedule 9 of the Equality Act that the post holder be a practising Christian (see application pack for details).
