Paid internship jobs

Background

The University of Birmingham is a global institution working within a diverse and vibrant City, offering an inspiring education to our students, and undertaking critically important research. We are a place of open, critical thinking, and the creation, sharing and dissemination of knowledge. Professional Services put students at the heart of all they do and enable an exceptional educational experience. They provide outstanding support to our researchers and help the University to grow its influence regionally, nationally, and globally. They ensure the University’s resources are used wisely, manage and improve the infrastructure which sits at the heart of the institution, and support decisions to be made quickly and based on sound evidence. Our Birmingham Professional programme operates across the University, supporting colleagues to network and collaborate, offering opportunities to learn and develop, contributing to the delivery of the University’s objectives, and helping everyone to understand the broader context within which we work. 

Department Overview

Our University has a proud history of philanthropy stretching back to its foundation in 1900. With a clear vision to change the lives of the people of Birmingham, Joseph Chamberlain raised the funds required to build the University from citizens and corporations based locally and around the globe. Since then philanthropy has continued to play an important role in shaping the University. There have been a number of fundraising campaigns, including a £1m urgent capital appeal after the Second World War and a £1.4m campaign to fund the Vale ‘student village’ in the 1960s. In 2015 we closed the Circles of Influence Campaign, raising £193 million, making it the largest HE fundraising campaign outside Oxbridge and London.

The University has global reach, including several partnerships with other leading universities around the world, and is grounded in its local community, having opened the first fully comprehensive University secondary school in the country in 2015. We are an ambitious and successful research-intensive University (one of the top 100 research-led universities globally) and have produced 10 Nobel Prize winners, including three who received their awards in 2016. Academics here are exploring the impact of climate change, helping to address global health epidemics, and changing our understanding of Shakespeare. Our students come from nearly 150 countries and our flagship outreach programmes mean that almost 25% of our student population come from disadvantaged backgrounds: one of the highest proportions in the UK. 

DARO exists to support this academic and student community by engaging, inspiring, and celebrating alumni, individuals, and charitable funders who give their money, time, and networks to support the University’s strategic priorities. The Office, which is comprised of five teams, is focused on fundraising and volunteering from alumni, organisations and individuals who are passionate about changing lives, through funding various research trials, supporting student bursaries, mentoring students, and providing internships.

Role summary

Are you looking for a corporate partnerships role that contributes to a better society? Are you passionate about supporting the future pipeline of talent to fulfil their potential, regardless of their circumstances? Would you like to work with inspiring academics who tackle some of the world’s most pressing global challenges such as the impact of climate change on our woodlands and forests, issues caused by migration and displacement, the rise in youth mental health issues, and the prevention of needless maternal deaths in the developing world.

The University of Birmingham is recruiting a Corporate Philanthropy Manager, an exciting role that will join us in our ambitious ‘Birmingham in Action’ campaign and help us to grow our philanthropic income. You will manage a portfolio of corporate partners and prospects and will work with colleagues across the University to develop a pipeline of significant philanthropic gifts across priority themes and projects, with the opportunity to shape these based on your fundraising experience. This role is a great opportunity to further develop your skills and will play a vital role in delivering projects to change lives locally, nationally and internationally.

A key member of the Development and Alumni Relations Office’s (DARO) Charitable Partnerships team, you will identify, create and manage corporate philanthropic partnerships with local, national and global businesses. You will have an enthusiasm for building relationships, the skill to interact with high-level corporate professionals and academics, along with the ability to translate complex information into a compelling case for support.

The Corporate Philanthropy Manager will be responsible for:

• Developing and strengthening relationships with key current corporate funders to the University to grow philanthropic income.
• Identifying and building relationships with new corporate funders with the opportunity to raise five and six figure gifts.
• Managing a pipeline of short, medium and long-term funding applications and relationships to enable year-on-year corporate philanthropy income growth.
• Oversight of key campaign programmes.
• Building close working relationships with academics, alongside other University colleagues, to find information needed to write clear and compelling proposals on existing and new areas of research, that aligns with the strategic priorities of corporate funders.
• Build effective, co-ordinated, working relationships with a range of external stakeholders.
• Managing the whole donor journey of a corporate funder, from identification to acknowledgement and stewardship.
• Meeting reporting objectives of funders and ensuring an excellent experience for funders.
• Efficiently use the Customer Relationship Management system to record and report on activity.
• Be responsible for adhering to relevant fundraising regulation and current data legislation in the UK and in target markets whilst ensuring fundraising is ethical and that due diligence is undertaken as necessary.
• Understanding the breadth of the University and appreciating the differences of each College.
• Understanding the context of our work in relation to the wider operations of the University.
• Fosters a fair and equitable workplace for all staff. 
• Identify and respond to equality and diversity issues in line with relevant university policies and procedures.
• Supports the University’s sustainability agenda through resource efficient working.
• Any other duties commensurate with the grade.

 Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

• Educated to Degree level (or equivalent qualifications). Where no equivalent qualification is held, significant practical relevant experience and expertise in a similar role will be required.
• Evidence of writing motivational and persuasive reports or proposals – this could be demonstrated through performance in full time, part time or voluntary roles.
• The ability to understand and communicate complex expressions of academic vision to non-academic philanthropic supporters.
• Outstanding 
• Understanding of and ability to represent the vision and mission of the University of Birmingham.
• Experience of working to a minimum of five figure gifts and exceeding targets.
• Ability to prioritise own workload under pressure and balance a range of competing deadlines.
• Passion for and knowledge of Higher Education, particularly research and the role of philanthropy.
• Ability to build strong relationships and engage with individuals and organisations, internally and externally.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a wide audience internally including academics and Professional Services staff.
• Personal confidence, independence and determination to succeed as an individual and as part of a team.
• The desire to support colleagues in the achievement of their individual and the collective goals and to celebrate others’ success as positively as your own.
• The ability to represent the University internally and externally through excellent interpersonal skills: diplomacy, discretion, tact, persuasiveness, the confidence to deal with a wide range of audiences, along with the ability to deploy negotiation skills when required.
• Good all-round IT skills including competence with all aspects of MS Office.
• The flexibility and willingness to work unsociable hours (evenings and weekends) occasionally, when required.
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics and duties under the Equality Act 2010. Including fostering good relations and advancing the universities Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED).
• communication and to present confidently to audiences of all sizes.

Job Coach

Term time only

Permanent

£32,623 salary.

Do you light up when helping people grow in confidence?
Are you naturally encouraging, the kind of person who can turn a nervous first day into an “I've got this!” moment?

We're looking for an encouraging energetic, proactive and people-focused Job Coach to join our Supported Internship Programme at the incredible Chessington World of Adventures. Every day is different — one moment you could be helping an intern master a new workplace skill, the next you could be celebrating a huge confidence win with the team.

This role is all about empowering autistic young people to thrive in the workplace, build independence and move towards meaningful paid employment in a fun, fast-paced and supportive environment.

What you'll be doing

You'll be a mentor, cheerleader, coach and problem-solver all rolled into one. Working closely with interns and the teams at Chessington World of Adventures, you'll help create positive and inclusive workplace experiences where young people can really shine.

You'll:

• Provide tailored, on-the-job coaching and support to interns
• Help build confidence, independence and workplace skills
• Work alongside managers and staff to champion inclusive employment
• Celebrate progress and support interns through challenges
• Build strong relationships with parents, carers and colleagues
• Track progress and contribute to reviews and reports
• Encourage professionalism, wellbeing and positive workplace habits
• Support interns towards sustainable paid employment opportunities

Who we're looking for

We'd love to hear from someone who is:

• Warm, upbeat and encouraging
• Great at building relationships with all kinds of people
• Calm and adaptable in busy environments
• Passionate about inclusion and helping young people succeed
• A natural motivator who brings positive energy to a team
• You don't need to know everything already — if you're eager to learn and genuinely care about supporting autistic young people, we'd love to hear from you.

Ideally, you'll also have:

• Experience supporting young people or adults with additional needs, disabilities or barriers to employment
• An understanding of autism and inclusive employment practices (or a strong willingness to learn!)
• Excellent communication skills
• A flexible, solution-focused mindset
• The ability to work independently and as part of a supportive team

Why join us?

Because this isn't just another job.

You'll have the chance to make a genuine difference every single day while working in one of the UK's most exciting and unique environments.

You'll get:

• A rewarding role where you can see the impact you make
• The chance to work at Chessington World of Adventures
• A supportive and values-led team culture
• Ongoing training, development and encouragement
• Lots of meaningful moments, proud milestones and reasons to smile

If you're energetic, compassionate and ready to help young people discover what they're capable of, we'd love to hear from you.

Closing Date: Sunday 14 June 2026

Shortlisting Date: Monday 15 June 2026

Interview date: Friday 19 June 2026

Start Date: September 2026

Ambitious about Autism is committed to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion at every level of our organisation. We warmly welcome applications from all qualified candidates, valuing the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives they bring. We encourage applications from individuals regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or parental status, disability, or age.

Our recruitment process promotes equal opportunities, and we are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities or additional needs throughout the recruitment process. Please contact our Recruitment Team for accommodations. We recognise disability as a physical or mental impairment that significantly and long-term affects a person's ability to perform day-to-day activities, as defined by the UK Equality Act 2010. All applications will be considered solely on merit, aligned with our mission to support autistic children and young people.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. As part of our Safer Recruitment checks, an online search maybe carried out in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.

The Safeguarding responsibilities of the post as per the job description and personal specification.
Whether the post is exempt from the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendment to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2021. This means that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected', so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS Filter Guidance.