Outdoor jobs

Role: Director of Fundraising and Engagement

Location: Hybrid/ Head Office, Dorsington near Stratford upon Avon, 2-3 days per week in office

Salary: £68,000 – 75,000

Contract: Full-time, permanent

Reporting to: Chief Executive

The Heart of England Forest is an exciting and ambitious charity. We are helping to reverse centuries of woodland decline by creating and conserving a huge broadleaf forest for the benefit of the environment, wildlife and people. A place of enduring natural beauty, protected and secured for generations to come.

We are entering an exciting new chapter, with ambitious plans for growth and impact. As part of this evolution, we are appointing a new leadership role: Director of Fundraising and Engagement. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of a charity with a bold vision and a deep commitment to nature, people and place.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the Director of Fundraising and Engagement will lead the development of a proactive and innovative fundraising strategy, supported by a clear and compelling marketing and communications proposition. You will play a central role in building the charity’s profile and reputation, locally, regionally and nationally, while developing income streams that will enable us to realise our long-term goals.

You will bring senior leadership experience and a successful track record of growing income across diverse fundraising channels. Your understanding of the charity fundraising and marketing landscape will be matched by your ability to create and deliver engaging campaigns, initiatives and events. You will be confident in managing multiple teams and stakeholders, including Board Trustees, and will demonstrate sound judgement, strategic thinking and a collaborative leadership style.

We are looking for someone who is driven by strong values and empathy, with a deep commitment to our vision. You will be resilient, forward-thinking and innovative, with the ability to inspire and motivate high-performing teams. Knowledge or experience in impactful community engagement or outdoor learning experiences would also be an advantage.

This is a rare opportunity to join a passionate and purpose-led organisation at a pivotal moment. If you are ready to lead with creativity, conviction and care, we would love to hear from you. For more information, please click on Apply.

Closing date: 12 September 2025

Inspire the next generation through outdoor adventure

Blackwell Adventure is one of the UK’s leading outdoor education charities. Located across two sites in rural Worcestershire and welcoming over 30,000 visitors annually, we deliver high-quality outdoor learning experiences to schools, Scouts, Guides, youth organisations, and corporate clients.

As our current CEO prepares to retire, we are seeking an exceptional leader to take the helm and shape the next chapter of our charity’s story. This is an outstanding opportunity for a dynamic and visionary professional with a deep commitment to outdoor learning and youth development. 

About the Role

As Chief Executive Officer, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for the charity, reporting to the Board of Trustees. You will lead a committed team of staff and volunteers to ensure the continued delivery of safe, inclusive, and transformative experiences for young people, while ensuring Blackwell Adventure remains financially sustainable and future-focused.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Strategic planning and organisational governance
• Operational and programme delivery across Blackwell Court and Pikes Pool
• Fundraising and income diversification, including grant acquisition and commercial development
• Financial planning, risk management, and regulatory compliance
• External representation and partnership development
• Team leadership and values-driven cultural stewardship
• This is a hands-on leadership role suited to someone who is equally comfortable setting vision, making strategic decisions, managing complex operations, and building strong, positive relationships with partners and funders.

About You

• We are looking for an experienced, inspirational leader with:
• A proven track record of strategic and operational leadership at senior level
• A strong background in outdoor education or a closely related field
• Demonstrable success in financial management and income generation
• Excellent people management, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills
• A deep understanding of the educational, developmental, and safeguarding needs of young people
• A collaborative, values-led approach, and commitment to continuous improvement

Higher-level outdoor qualifications and familiarity with the voluntary or charitable sector will be advantageous. 

Why Join Blackwell Adventure?

· A respected, successful, and values-driven charity

· A supportive and engaged Board of Trustees

· A passionate and talented staff and volunteer team

· Two beautiful 50-acre sites with extensive facilities

· A competitive salary and benefits package

· Relocation support available

· Optional on-site accommodation available for rent (Detached 2-bedroom Gatehouse Lodge).

Deadline for applications: 5:00 p.m., Monday 18th August 2025

Key Dates

• Application deadline: Monday 18th August 2025, 5:00 p.m.
• Shortlist notification: Friday 22nd August 2025
• Interviews + Facility tours (2.5 hrs, in-person at Blackwell Court):  Up to the 4th of September 2025
• Proposed start date: Monday 5th January 2026

Blackwell Adventure is an equal opportunity employer.
We welcome applications from all backgrounds and actively encourage candidates with lived experience of the power of outdoor learning.
All offers are subject to satisfactory references, enhanced DBS clearance, and background checks.

Our Aims

The Urban Partnership Group (UPG) is a community and regeneration organization situated in West London offering a wide range of activities at its bases at the Masbro Centre, Edward Woods Community Centre, Masbro Brook Green, and Flora Gardens Family Centre  projects managed include those for older people, youth, children center services, volunteering and community champions.  Through these projects UPG hopes to enhance the health, wealth and well-being of the centers’ users.

Role

We are looking for a dedicated and compassionate caretaker to join our team

In this role, you will be responsible for the general upkeep and maintenance of our facilities, as well as caring for the welfare of those under our care.

This includes everyday tasks such as cleaning, carrying out minor repairs, overseeing security measures, and aiding and supporting to our residents or occupants.

Our ideal candidate is reliable, empathic and has a genuine passion for helping others.

They should have excellent communication skills and a strong attention to detail

Main Responsibilities

• Perform regular inspections of the premises to identify and fix maintenance issues, such as leaks or breakages
• Keep an itinerary of tools and jobs
• Manage supply inventory and reorder supplies as needed
• Carry out cleaning tasks such as sweeping, mopping and dusting, to ensure the premises are kept clean and tidy
• Conduct minor repair work, including fixing broken locks, replacing light bulbs and carrying out basic plumbing work
• Monitor the property’s security systems and respond to alarms or potential threats
• Manage waste disposal and recycling activities
• Maintain outdoor areas, such as gardens and parking lots, including pruning shrubs and removing snow or debris
• Coordinate with professional repair services and contractors when required
• Ensure compliance with heath and safety regulations – Fire drills, Gas checks etc
• Assist in arranging events and hires at the premises
• Respond to emergency situations promptly

Working with Others

• Work well with colleagues and tenants
• Polite and professional
• Excellent communication skills

Programme Networks Manager (The OWL Collaboration & OPEN)

We are seeking a passionate and organised Programme Networks Manager to lead two exciting national outdoor learning initiatives.

Position: Programme Networks Manager (The OWL Collaboration & OPEN)

Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week
Salary: £31,000 – £34,000
Location: Quenington, Gloucestershire (Hybrid working considered)
Contract: Permanent

Closing Date: Wednesday 27 August 2025, 11:59pm
Interview Dates: First stage – Thursday 4 September (online); Second stage – Friday 19 September (Quenington)

About the Role

This is a unique opportunity to lead and grow two key programmes:

• The OWL Collaboration, a residential outdoor learning programme supporting children and young people facing the greatest challenges
• OPEN, the Outdoor Practitioners Education Network, a growing professional learning network for the Outdoor Learning sector

You’ll drive the design, delivery and impact of both, ensuring they are visible, connected, and underpinned by strong partnerships and evaluation.

Key responsibilities include:

• Overseeing delivery of OWL programme and Nest School partnerships
• Coordinating grants, onboarding, logistics, evaluation and reporting
• Leading and growing OPEN’s network of members and professional learning opportunities
• Delivering network events, newsletters and collaborative communications
• Building strategic partnerships and representing the charity externally
• Embedding youth voice and championing outdoor education across the sector
• Managing data systems, budget tracking, and reporting to key stakeholders

About You

We’re looking for someone who thrives in a collaborative environment and brings a combination of strategic thinking, practical delivery, and a passion for equity in education and the outdoors.

You will have:

• Experience managing programmes or professional networks, ideally in education or outdoor learning
• Strong relationship-building skills with schools, practitioners and sector bodies
• Excellent communication skills – written, verbal and facilitative
• Confidence managing budgets, data, grants and logistics
• A proactive, organised, and adaptable approach
• A genuine belief in the power of outdoor learning and inclusive practice

About the Organisation

You will be working for an educational charity and one of the UK’s leading funders and providers of Outdoor Learning. Their mission is to improve life chances through nature-based education. Working in partnership with schools, funders, and outdoor centres across the country and underpinned by a values-led approach that champions connection, innovation, and progressive stewardship of the natural world.

Why join?

You will be part of a dynamic, inclusive and supportive team committed to real impact. Offering a range of generous benefits including:

• 10% employer pension contribution
• 27 days annual leave (plus public holidays and office closure over Christmas)
• Life assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to training and personal development budget
• Newly refurbished head office with a creative, flexible working environment

Other roles you may have experience of could include: Programme Manager, Education Network Manager, Outdoor Learning Coordinator, Learning & Engagement Manager, Community Partnerships Lead, Strategic Projects Manager, Youth Programmes Lead #INDNFP

Want to help us to inspire the next generation of wildlife lovers? Keen to see more children outside, connecting with nature and the natural world? Got lots of ideas for taking learning outside and keen to teach others how to feel confident in an outdoor classroom? Agree that a day learning about wildlife and the environment is great for everyone’s health and wellbeing? Then come and join the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust learning team welcoming the children of the county to our fantastic facilities here at Lower Smite Farm or taking nature to their classroom.

We are the county’s leading local charity working towards a county rich in wildlife managing over 3,000 acres of land for wildlife and people across Worcestershire. We work with organisations and landowners to protect and connect wildlife sites across the county.

School engagement is an essential part of the Trust’s work.  We recognise that to give nature the best chance of recovering and flourishing in Worcestershire, we need to nurture the next generation to love their local wildlife and wild spaces and feel confident to take action for it. This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced educator and manager to expand and progress our school strategy work even further, supported by a brilliant team of school officers, tutors and volunteers. We are looking for someone who is a persuasive communicator, passionate about the benefits of nature for pupils and staff as well as being highly organised. You are comfortable building relationships across schools including with senior leaders as well as being able getting stuck into the day-to-day delivery to children and young people where needed. This role will enable you to make a real difference to nature’s recovery and to be part of our vision to get 1 in 4 schools taking action for wildlife by 2030.

We have been running a school service for over 30 years engaging young people with the outdoors. We meet with between 2,000 – 3,000 young people, predominantly from primary schools, every year at Lower Smite through our popular outdoor school trips covering key elements of the science curriculum. Everything we do is fun, interactive and hands-on. We embed nature connection pathways into our programmes with a focus on creative and artistic practice. This includes our creative science sessions where we explore classification and evolution through collage and printing.

The role will be focusing on progressing our work around the natural learning journey, develop a model to move schools through the journey and track their progress. At the heart of this is overseeing and helping to deliver core elements of our school offer and working with the Wilder Schools Team and our school partners to develop new programmes and workshops.

We’re Wild About Inclusion.  To us, this means inspiring, empowering and engaging people from all backgrounds, cultures, identities and abilities, to change the natural world for the better.  It also means cultivating inclusive workspaces that are free from discrimination, where differences are valued, everyone can be themselves and flourish, just like nature!

A full driving licence is essential. This role will be subject to reference checks and an enhanced DBS check with child barred list.

Benefits

· Hybrid working – office at Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, Lower Smite Farm, Hindlip, Worcester WR3 8SZ with regular travel within Worcestershire and occasionally further afield

· Salary Sacrifice Pension Scheme with Royal London. Employees sacrifice a minimum of 4% and the Trust then contributes an additional 8.6%.

· Annual leave entitlement of 6.6 weeks increasing by one day per three years of service to a maximum of 7.6 weeks.

· Group Life Assurance policy worth three times annual salary.

· Health Cash Plan and Wellbeing Services provided via HealthShield.

Head of Learning, Operations & Partnerships (South)

We have an exciting opportunity for a strategic and dynamic senior leader to join a nationally recognised charity as the Head of Learning, Operations & Partnerships (South). In this pivotal role, you will shape and deliver Outdoor Learning programmes across the South of England.

Position: Head of Learning, Operations & Partnerships (South)
Location: Quenington, Gloucestershire – with scope for occasional hybrid working
Salary: £48,000 – £51,000 (depending on experience)
Contract: Permanent, Full time (35 hours per week)
 

Closing Date: Wednesday 27 August 2025 at 23:59
First Interview: Monday 8 September 2025 (Microsoft Teams)
Second Interview: Week commencing 22 or 29 September 2025 at Quenington

About the role:

This is a fantastic opportunity to lead the Trust’s regional Outdoor Learning programmes, combining strategic vision with day-to-day operational oversight. You will oversee a diverse portfolio—Farm Learning, Land based Skills and Outdoor Learning—ensuring impactful, safe, and high-quality delivery that aligns with our mission to engage young people with nature.

You will:

• Lead and support a multidisciplinary team, fostering a positive and collaborative culture
• Drive the development and implementation of regional learning strategies
• Oversee all aspects of site development, programme delivery, and compliance
• Build and sustain partnerships across education, training and land-based sectors
• Play a key role in reporting, budgeting, evaluation and fundraising efforts
• Champion innovative and inclusive use of our land and resources for learning

About you:

We are looking for a motivated and experienced strategic leader who is passionate about Outdoor Learning and environmental education. You will be collaborative, solutions-focused, and committed to empowering young people through meaningful learning experiences.

You will bring:

• Proven leadership and operational management experience
• Experience building partnerships and working across sectors (e.g. education, environment, agriculture)
• Strong team management, budgeting and compliance capabilities
• Excellent communication, project management and strategic planning skills
• A passion for sustainability, hands-on learning and making a difference in the lives of young people

About the organisation:

The charity’s mission is to improve life chances of children and young people through a range of Outdoor Learning experiences, enabling them to learn from nature, empowering them to have a positive impact on the environment.

They are committed to creating a workplace where everyone thrives, regardless of background. Safeguarding is our priority, and all appointments are subject to relevant checks.

Apply today and you will be joining a dynamic and welcoming team, where every member is valued and supported. Enjoy competitive benefits and a chance to make a real impact.

Why join us?

Working with us means being part of a dynamic, inclusive and supportive team committed to real impact. We offer a range of generous benefits including:

• 10% employer pension contribution
• 27 days annual leave (plus public holidays and office closure over Christmas)
• Life assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to training and personal development budget
• Newly refurbished head office with a creative, flexible working environment

Other roles you may have experience of could include Director of Learning, Head of Education Partnerships, Outdoor Learning Manager, Education & Training Lead, Environmental Education Programme Manager, Strategic Operations Lead, Land-based Education Manager. #INDNFP

PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.

Could you become the personal champion of a young person facing barriers to achieving their goals? Imagine peeling back the layers to discover what's holding them back so that you can unlock their potential for astonishing progress.

Imagine leading groups through a variety of personal and social development activities to stretch them and grow their comfort zone. Imagine having your own group of young people to support who will turn to you for that one-on-one support, guidance, and direction to progress towards their next steps of education or employment.

Safety always comes first, so keeping a watchful eye on safeguarding, health and safety, and data protection is part of the deal! You’ll empower our delivery partners and service providers to make a difference through exciting and impactful partnership work.  Together, we will ensure every young person embarks on a remarkable journey, experiencing the extraordinary and achieving the dreams they've aspired to.

Working across our Get Started and Explore programmes, you’ll lead personal development sessions that take our foundation programmes to new heights. The sessions will range from outdoor activities in green spaces to world of work experiences and everything in between!  You won’t be sitting behind a screen every day, there will be frequent travel required to Portsmouth and Southampton to support the delivery of these exciting programmes, as well as programme visits and short residential trips. 

However, it’s not all fun and games, keeping things on point means meticulously recording info and data about our programme participants, volunteers, and partners. It's all about making sure every step of their journey aligns perfectly with our funding contracts and has maximum impact for everyone involved.

At The Trust, we're strong advocates for fostering an inclusive workplace where everybody feels seen, and it would be fantastic if you share that passion too.  Your mission? Making a positive impact by implementing a local action plan that harmonises with our big-picture EDI goals and impacts those that need us most.

Be prepared for anything and everything. Alongside all these exciting responsibilities, you might even find yourself wearing different hats as you collaborate with the wider South Coast team to work for young people.

Ready for this exciting opportunity? Let's make every day count and create a brighter future for our young people!

Rock UK Head Office Team

Hours: 25 -30 hours per week (working pattern ideally 5-6 hours per day, Monday to Friday although negotiable)

Salary: £38,030 pro rata per annum plus pension (8% employer contributions)

Contract Term: Permanent, subject to satisfactory references, a DBS check and a 6 month probationary period

Location: Hybrid or Remote (Head Office is based at Frontier Centre, Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire).

We are seeking an experienced finance professional to provide high quality management and control of the finance function at our multi-site Christian outdoor adventure charity. Reporting to the Finance Director, the post holder will work closely with members of the senior management team to facilitate the smooth operation of Rock UK’s finances. He or she will be able to clearly and respectively communicate our Christian ethos, objectives, mission and vision to staff, suppliers and other stakeholders of all faiths and none.

The successful applicant will be educated to degree level or equivalent, hold a professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA), have proficiency in using computerised financial systems, excellent communication skills, attention to detail and the ability to prioritise and work to tight deadlines.

This role is subject to an Occupational Requirement (OR) that the successful applicant is a Christian who is committed to the values, beliefs and behaviours set out in our Statement of Christian Belief and Ethos.

Applications will be reviewed on submission.

Purpose of the job

This is an exciting opportunity for a proactive and relationship‑focused individual to join our Corporate Partnerships team. The role will be a mix of managing and growing existing partnerships and supporting new business activity.

You’ll work closely with the Corporate Partnerships Manager and other colleagues across the team to ensure that our corporate partners feel valued, supported, and inspired by the impact they are helping to create. You’ll also contribute to building our pipeline, identifying potential new supporters, making first contact, and helping to develop tailored proposals.

While you don’t need to be an expert from day one, you will bring energy, curiosity, and great interpersonal skills, along with the ability to deliver excellent partnership experiences.

Key Responsibilities

Account Management

• Support the management of existing corporate partnerships, ensuring they are well‑stewarded and achieve agreed objectives.

• Coordinate partnership activities, such as volunteering days, events, campaigns, and communications.

• Work with internal teams (Marketing, Impact, Delivery) to gather and share inspiring impact stories and updates with partners.

• Track and report on partnership deliverables and KPIs.

• Identify opportunities to deepen existing partnerships, such as additional projects, campaigns, or employee engagement activities.

New Business Support

• Research and identify potential new corporate partners.

• Assist with approaches to prospective partners, including outreach emails, calls, LinkedIn networking, and event attendance.

• Support the development of high‑quality proposals, presentations, and budgets for senior stakeholders.

• Help maintain and grow the new business pipeline.

Communications & Events

• Work with Marketing & Comms to produce engaging partnership content for social media, newsletters, and impact reports.

• Represent UK Youth at external networking events, conferences, and partner‑related activities.

Data & Administration

• Keep all CRM records accurate and up to date.

• Support due diligence processes for both new and existing partnerships.

• Ensure donations are processed, recorded, and recognised appropriately.
   

Why join UK Youth?

By working at UK Youth, you’ll be joining a friendly and committed group of people tackling the systemic problems letting young people down. You’ll also be part of a passionate, values‑driven team who believe in the power of partnership to transform young people’s lives. This role offers the chance to:

• Develop your skills in corporate fundraising, account management, and partnership development.

• Build strong relationships with a variety of high‑profile corporate supporters.

• Work across departments to deliver engaging, impactful partnerships.

• Contribute to meaningful projects that make a difference in young people’s futures.

• Gain hands‑on experience in developing and pitching new partnership ideas.

You’ll have access to opportunities for professional development and ways to connect with colleagues, whether through lunch‑and‑learn sessions or away days at our outdoor learning centre, Avon Tyrrell.

What we can offer you

We offer a competitive range of benefits, good work/life balance, excellent learning and development opportunities and vibrant organisational culture:

• Flexible/Agile Working

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time employees)

• Funded training provided in; Safeguarding, GDPR, Information and Cyber Security & Equality & Diversity

• Other training available in support of your personal and professional development

• Pension scheme (currently UK Youth match employee contributions up to 5%)

• Membership of our life insurance scheme which would pay-out up to 4 times your salary

• Employee Assistance Programme to support employees both professionally and personally

• 20% discount off bookings at Avon Tyrrell, our New Forest Outdoor Centre, including camping, lodges and outdoor activities.

• IT equipment provided for the duration of contract

• CycleScheme and TechScheme
   

How to apply

If you would like to be considered for this fantastic opportunity, please complete an application via our completely anonymised recruitment system provided by Applied which looks to create a fair and unbiased application process for all. Scroll to the top of the page and start your application.

Closing date: Friday 22nd August 2025 at 23:59 (Midnight)

Provisional Interview Dates: w/c 1st Sept 2025

As this role involves working in a regulated environment with young people, any offer will be conditional to satisfactory background checks, which include criminal record check and employment reference.

About us

The South East Rivers Trust (SERT), is the river restoration charity for the South East of England. Our vision is that rivers across the South East are clean, healthy and rich in biodiversity. Our mission is to restore and protect rivers and their catchments against multiple threats and a dramatically changing climate. We do this by:

• delivering evidence-based and nature-based solutions on land and in rivers;

• inspiring and empowering more people to protect rivers for the future.

Working at SERT is rewarding, fulfilling and busy. We work collaboratively and with passion, and this is reflected in our core values of: delivering high quality work, using expertise and scientific understanding, building good and effective relationships, and bringing positive energy to all we do. With rivers and catchments needing serious action to survive, our ambitions are growth and doubling our impact over the next three years– so you’ll be comfortable with challenge, excited by change and willing to turn your hand to anything required. If this sounds like an environment that you would thrive in, we would love to hear from you.

Are you a strategic, experienced, and passionate Engagement & Learning Manager, who would love to lead the Trust’s education, volunteering, and community work; then this is the role for you. This is a key leadership role, focused on ensuring our community and school engagement activities are inclusive, effective, and impactful - helping people connect with, care for, and champion their local rivers.

You will guide our approach to community engagement and education, shaping and delivering our Engagement Strategy while supporting the team through a period of consultation, pilots, and organisational change. The role includes leading the Working with Communities Team in the first year, with a shift towards broader strategic coordination as the team evolves. You’ll collaborate across the Trust to ensure engagement is embedded in our work on the ground and contributes meaningfully to our wider environmental goals.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone with a deep understanding of environmental engagement and a strong track record in delivering impactful outdoor education and community programmes.

Please see the full Engagement and Learning Manager job description for more information.

If you are interested in applying for this role please visit our website for more information, a full job description and application form.

The deadline for application is 11:59pm on Monday 25th August 2025.  We reserve the right to close the recruitment early.

Please note: All applicants must have the right to work in the UK.  .

Bookings Administrator - Carroty Wood, Tonbridge, Kent

Hours: Full-time or Part-time considered
Salary:   £24,283+ £3,000 South East Weighting per annum (pro rata for part-time hours)

Contract: Permanent, 37.5 hours per week, Monday-Friday.

As our Bookings Administrator, you are the vibrant first voice and friendly face that welcomes groups to the incredible world of Rock UK! This fulfilling role is all about igniting the spark of outdoor adventure for our guests, ensuring their journey from initial enquiry to an unforgettable stay is seamless and joyful.

You'll play a pivotal part in crafting bespoke experiences, expertly guiding group leaders through our diverse activity offerings – including thrilling high ropes, climbing, water sports and archery sessions.  You will ensure every detail of a groups stay is perfectly aligned to their requirements and potential learning objectives.  Displaying a warm and professional approach, you'll not only administer bookings with precision but also enthusiastically share the heart of Rock UK by representing our Christian ethos.

Beyond the bookings, you'll be a vital hub, liaising with groups on site, keeping our office running smoothly and supporting the wider centre team to deliver memory-making, fun-filled stays. Your passion for exceptional customer service, combined with your organisational flair, will ensure that everyone that visits Carroty Wood will leave having made lifelong memories.  You’ll be inspiring all our guests through a positive reflection of Rock UK's Christian ethos and our commitment to inspiring adventures.

This role is subject to an Occupational Requirement (OR) that the successful applicant is a Christian who is committed to the values, beliefs and behaviours set out in our Statement of Christian Beliefs and Ethos.

Closing Date: Applications will be reviewed upon receipt

About you

You’re entrepreneurial, independent, and driven. You treat your work like it’s your own business - spotting opportunities, testing ideas, and chasing results.

If you’re a traditional charity fundraiser, this probably isn’t for you. But if you’re excited by risk, growth, and pace - keep reading.

Over the past three years, we’ve bought and scaled swim events, turned others down, failed fast, and doubled our unrestricted income. We want someone who’s up for that kind of journey over the next three years too.

You’re as comfortable pitching to a corporate partner as you are writing fundraising copy, tweaking button text, or building a forecast. You can move between detail and vision, instinct and data, phone calls and spreadsheets.

You know how to deepen supporter journeys, grow fundraising per head, and develop new income streams. Bonus points if you like outdoor swimming.

About us

We’re a Founder-led charity working to solve learn-to-swim for disabled children - and we aim to do that in the next ten years.

We’ve grown our impact 5x in the past three years and now raise over £1m in unrestricted income annually through our swim events. Our events attract 5,000 swimmers and 3,000 fundraisers, and we own and operate some of the UK’s most iconic outdoor swims - including the Dart10k and Bantham Swoosh - alongside a growing series of 24-hour relays in lakes and lidos.

We’re small, ambitious, and fast-moving. Strategy and delivery happen side by side. We work on multiple projects, test constantly, and keep things flexible and responsive. You’ll need to thrive in that environment to enjoy the role.

The role

We’re all driven, and you’ll need to be too - this is a fast-paced, ambitious environment with lots of learning and change.

We’re looking for a strategic, creative Head of Fundraising to lead our next phase of growth.

Your first focus will be stewarding our 3,000 fundraisers - overseeing segmented email journeys, managing a £40k prizing fund, and improving supporter care through deeper, more personal touchpoints. That might mean calls, events, or just finding ways to help people feel more connected to their impact.

Beyond that, you'll help us develop and test new income streams - from matched giving and regular giving, to sponsorships, repeat fundraising, and post-event conversion. You'll also play a key role in evolving our Challenge Events portfolio across in-person, virtual, and blended formats.

This role requires someone with a strong track record in fundraising growth, a test-and-learn mindset, and the ambition to build something big.

Core Responsibilities

• Strategy Development and Implementation
• Develop and execute a fundraising strategy aligned with the charity's objectives.
• Identify and cultivate new fundraising opportunities to diversify income streams.
• Defining our fundraising growth strategies, specifically around our event series.

Community and Events Fundraising

• Oversee the planning and execution of community fundraising initiatives, specifically with our event fundraisers.
• Engage and mobilise volunteers and supporters for fundraising activities.

Fundraiser Care

• Customer Lifetime value / retention / regular giving.
• Build and maintain relationships with donors, ensuring effective stewardship.
• Develop and implement donor retention strategies to increase long-term support and regular giving.

Trusts and Foundations

• Working closely with our Head of Programmes to oversee our bids process, working with specialists and utilising learnings from previous years.
• Deepen strong relationships with grant-making bodies and ensure compliance with grant requirements.

Corporate Partnerships

• Manage and develop corporate partnerships and event sponsorships. 
• Develop tailored proposals and pitches to attract corporate support.

Team Leadership

• Lead, inspire, and manage a small fundraising team, fostering a culture of high performance and collaboration.
• Provide mentorship and professional development opportunities for team members for both fundraising and marketing.

Monitoring and Reporting

• Track and report on fundraising performance against targets.
• Provide regular updates to the Senior Leadership Team. 

Qualifications and Experience

• Proven experience in a senior fundraising role.
• Proven experience working on fundraising events and event fundraising.
• Demonstrable success in developing and implementing successful fundraising strategies.
• Strong track record of securing major gifts, grant funding and/or corporate partnerships.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage and inspire a wide range of stakeholders.
• Experience in digital fundraising and leveraging social media platforms.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.

Optional / Ideal Responsibilities

Marketing & Comms

• Developing Level Water’s marketing and communications strategy
• Leading strategy implementation and ensuring that we’re representing our Programmes work and impact work in the best possible way to our different groups of stakeholders. 

Digital Fundraising

• Leverage digital platforms, advertising and social media to enhance fundraising.
• Implement innovative online fundraising campaigns and initiatives.

Event growth and innovation

• Understanding the mass participation event landscape and its opportunities, ideally within the swimming sector but other sports experience very welcome.

Personal Attributes

• Passionate about the mission and values of Level Water.
• Strategic thinker with a results-oriented approach.
• Creative and innovative mindset.
• Resilient and adaptable, with a positive attitude.
• High level of integrity and commitment to ethical fundraising practices.

Please send a CV and Cover Letter (which can be a 2-3 minute video) to apply.