Project support officer role jobs

Community Operations Manager

Luton Town FC Community Trust

Luton (On-site)

£34,000 - £36,000 per year

Full-time

Permanent

Actively Interviewing

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Job description

Luton Town FC Community Trust is seeking to recruit a Community Operations Manager to play a key role in the coordination, delivery and development of its community programmes. This is a senior operational role, working closely with the Head of Community Trust to ensure programmes are well managed, aligned to organisational priorities and delivered to a high standard.

The role will combine operational leadership with a proportion of direct programme delivery, enabling the postholder to remain connected to communities, delivery teams and participant needs. The Community Operations Manager will also contribute to the development of new programmes and associated funding opportunities, support partnership working and act as a key decision maker for day-to-day operational matters.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced community or sport for development professional who is motivated to make meaningful impact, strengthen organisational capacity and help reduce health inequalities across Luton and Bedfordshire.

Job Purpose

Reporting to the Head of Community Trust, the Community Operations Manager will provide operational leadership across the organisation, while maintaining a proportion of direct programme delivery to remain connected to communities, delivery teams and participant needs.

The role will coordinate and strengthen programme delivery; line manage designated staff and support the development of new programmes and associated funding opportunities aligned to organisational priorities.

The postholder will embed organisational strategy into effective day to day operations, acting as a key decision maker for operational matters and supporting senior leadership capacity.

Key Responsibilities

1. Community Engagement & Relationship Building

Build strong relationships with funders, local authorities, key stakeholders, local schools, charities, grassroots clubs and other community organisations.
Act as a liaison between the football club and the local community.
Promote inclusion and diversity through outreach to underrepresented groups.

2. Programme Development & Delivery

Contribute to and support funding applications, programme design, delivery and evaluation across community programmes within each department including, but not limited to:
- Education
- Health
- Inclusion
- Football Development

3. Staff and Volunteer Management

Recruit, train and manage staff employees and volunteers who represent the Trust.
Provide leadership and mentoring for delivery coaches, project workers, media team and match day staff.

4. Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

Track the impact of community programmes using required and appropriate metrics and key performance indicators.
Prepare reports for stakeholders, funders (e.g. EFL in the Community, Premier League Foundation, local authorities), and Luton Town Community Trust Board of Trustees.
Ensure compliance and governance with safeguarding, health and safety and data protection policies.

5. Marketing & Promotion

Raise awareness of the Trust’s work through managing the organisations media output across various platforms e.g. web site, newsletters, social media and local media outlets.
Represent the Trust at community events, matchdays, and public forums.

6. Fundraising & Grant Management

Collaborate with the Head of Trust and Programme Managers to identify and apply for grants and funding opportunities.
Build partnerships with sponsors, local businesses and charitable foundations.

7. Club Integration

Work cosely with all football club departments, including first team players and staff, media and marketing, facilities and catering, and Academy to ensure alignment between Community Trust and Club.
Manage the efficient coordination of player appearances and community involvement on behalf of the Club

MAIN JOB REQUIREMENTS AND PERSON SPECIFICATION

Education/Qualifications/Training:

Essentials

Strong experience in community development, sport development and youth engagement.
Strong project and operational management skills, with the ability to plan, deliver and evaluate initiatives – prioritising and managing multiple priorities
Experience with grant funding processes
Experience of developing organisational strategy within the sporting or charity sector
Experience in partnership working with schools, councils, charities
Leadership and staff supervision experience – managing coaches, volunteers or delivery staff
Monitoring & evaluation skills – ability to track KPIs and write impact reports
Budget management experience
Confident IT skills, including use of Microsoft Office and database software
Valid First Aid and Safeguarding qualifications (or willingness to obtain)
Experience delivering health, inclusion, educational or behaviour-change programmesAbility to work to deadlines and meet project targets
Understanding of health inequalities and barriers faced by children and families
Understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion within community delivery
A strong working knowledge of safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance and best practice within education and community settings.
Strong commitment to high-quality, values led delivery
A full valid driving licence and access to car to travel between sites throughout Bedfordshire.
Willingness to work flexibly, including evenings and weekends
Enhanced DBS clearance
Degree or equivalent qualification, or demonstrable relevant professional experience.

Desirables

Experience working in a football foundation or Trust
Knowledge of EFL Trust or Premier League Foundation community programmes including Capability Code of Practice
Valid First Aid and Safeguarding qualifications (or willingness to obtain)
Event planning or matchday coordination experience
Recognised sports coaching qualifications
Youth Mental Health First Aid
Leadership skills within a community or education setting

Abilities/Skills/Knowledge:

Committed, enthusiastic and passionate about Luton Town Football Club.
Must be pro-active, motivated, organised, responsible and able to work independently as well as in a team.
Highly developed problem-solving skills, resilience, and the ability to perform well under pressure.
Demonstrate good listening skills and have the ability to resolve issues where appropriate.
Ability to multi-task whilst maintaining priority efficiencies.
Focused on achieving Club, departmental and individual success.
Willing to follow and promote the philosophy of the football club.
Be an ambassador for the Club presenting the Club in a positive image at all times.

SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT

The Club is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

The Club has systems in place to ensure that the welfare of vulnerable groups is dealt with appropriately and sensitively. Everyone working at the Club has a duty of care to safeguard the welfare of children and young people by creating an environment that protects them from harm. Our standards of practice ensure all staff are fully aware and understand their responsibilities under safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance.

The Club ensures that all staff that have a direct responsibility for children, young people or vulnerable adults, have been subject to the most stringent of recruitment practices which include Criminal Record Checks and reference checks. These staff are alert to signs of abuse or maltreatment and will refer concerns to the relevant Designated Safeguarding Officers using the agreed safeguarding procedures.

EQUALITY STATEMENT

The individual must at all times, carry out their duties with due regard to the Clubs policies and procedures and in particular the Club’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy.

The individual must ensure a positive commitment towards equality and diversity by treating others fairly and not committing any form of direct or indirect discrimination, victimisation, or harassment of any description and to promote positive working relationships between all internal and external stakeholders. The individual must contribute to encouraging equality and respecting diversity by embedding such values in the workplace and challenging inappropriate behaviour and processes.

Organisation

Luton Town FC Community Trust View profile

Registered Charity

View profile

Posted on: 24 February 2026

Closing date: 24 March 2026 at 23:30

Tags: Operations, Public Health, Community Fundraising

The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.

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Partnerships Manager

Start Network

London, Greater London (Hybrid)

£50,919 - £52,259 per year

Full-time

Permanent

Actively Interviewing

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Job description

The Vacancy

We are looking for an entrepreneurial and proactive Partnerships Manager with a strong instinct for business development and a track record of turning opportunities into significant funding partnerships. You will be energised by identifying new prospects, opening doors and building relationships with trusts, foundations and corporate partners. Creative and strategic in your approach, you will be comfortable shaping compelling propositions and developing confident high seven figure funding asks that resonate with large philanthropic donors.

You will also be a mature, thoughtful and kind manager who can lead and develop a high performing team. We are looking for someone who can set ambitious targets, encourage initiative and create an environment where colleagues feel trusted, motivated and able to grow, while playing a central role in expanding and diversifying a major global funding portfolio.

JOB PURPOSE

The Partnerships Manager will be a key position within the fundraising team, managing key private donors and co-leading on developing and implementing a new business strategy focused on significantly increasing trust and foundation and corporate funders.

They will also be working with SLT members to put together strategic seven and eight figure grants and strategic plans to engage large global donors to support Start Network programming.

The Resource Mobilisation team works collaboratively with those in programmes to manage internal and external relationships, adopting a coordinated approach when it comes to donor management and reporting.

The Partnerships Manager, together with the Head of Resource Mobilisation, will set and deliver a strategy that maximises trust and foundation and corporate funding and set a clear path to bring in new donors and increase income substantially over the coming three years. Currently the funding portfolio you will be managing is over £30million from 13+ global donors. This means this role is personally responsible for engaging and retaining 60% of our donors. This role will set a strategy to increase income according to targets, maximise donors plus retain all key strategic donors through robust engagement plans. Beyond this, the person in post will line manage three with scope for growth in 2026.

Additionally, across 2026-2028 and beyond they will lead on the development of an employee engagement offering with our corporates and corporate foundations in order to create a new avenue of unrestricted funding.

Beyond this, we expect this role, to lead on behalf of the resource mobilization team key global events, particularly Skoll / Marmalade and Shift the Power. In collaboration with the Institutional Funding Manager they will also plan our activities London and NY Climate Weeks. They will set the plans and strategy for the organization to engage with these events and work with Directors, CEO, Heads of, and coordinate cross organisational plans for this together with our Head of Advocacy and Influence.

Finally, this role will act as a key point of contact for the communications and advocacy teams and will need to make sure donor requirement and visibility will be taken into account across teams projects and strategies.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Increase new business from trusts and foundations and corporate funders

Lead on the development of an innovative strategy together with the Head of Resource Mobilisation and Director of Business Development to identify and drive new business from trusts and foundations and corporates.
Responsible for growing our funding from new geographical areas (focus on US and Asia) and sectors (Insurance) – and set a plan that will enable the diversification of our funding portfolio.
Oversee the development and implementation of an employee engagement offer in order to create a new avenue of unrestricted income and boost the interest of corporate donors.
Drive high quality prospecting of new potential funders across the organisation by working with and guiding heads of teams and the CEO strategically to engage with this task.
Oversee how the organisation engages strategically with large trusts and foundations and corporates (potential giving 7 and 8 figures).
Co-lead on the planning of key global events with our external affairs team such as Climate Week (New York and London) and make sure we have a cross organisational strategic approach to these events.
Oversee the strategy to catalyse new relationships with middle sized trusts and foundations and corporates with a potential giving of 6 figures.
Set a plan to attract more flexibility funding that can enable the organisation to catalyse key strategic projects that fall out of our programmes.
Lead on developing positioning for corporate partnerships (insurance, finance, and tech industries), new areas of business for Start Network.
Lead on the business planning process for the Trust and Foundations and Corporates Team.
Manage large event budgets and make sure resources are used effectively.
Work with programmes teams and colleagues to understand funding needs and develop creative ways to position and pitch areas of Start Network such as hubs, innovation etc.
Work with programmes teams and finance team to drive and support the development of robust budgets and narrative proposals for large and medium sized asks.
Attend and speak at key advocacy events, representing the resource mobilisation team as required, in order to meet donors and advocate for Start Network’s mission

Ensure high quality stewardship of current philanthropic donors

Responsible for the overall stewardship of several high giving trusts and foundations (6, 7 & 8 figures).
Oversee the development of quality reporting and updates for donors and make sure we have clear processes and systems for this to happen
Responsible for making sure the resource mobilization team is creating informative and engaging updates across programmes for T&F and corporate donors.
Work across teams to implement the insurance advisory group and make sure this group links back to resource mobilization strategies.
Work with heads of teams to develop an engaging agenda for the insurance advisory group, taking into account the function and work with finance team to ensure appropriate expenditure of grant. Oversee the development of complex donor budgets and make sure they are ready for CFOO and Director approval.
Support grant management function and work with finance team to ensure appropriate expenditure of grants.
Work closely with the communications team in order to set up a strategic comms plan that will enable the organisation to position itself as a trend setter in the humanitarian sector, particularly around our core areas of work.

Influence externally

Work with the Head of Resource Mobilisation and Director of Business Development to position Start Network strategically in global funding discussions.
Engage key donors at strategic events and meetings.
Work with the Head of Advocacy and External Affairs to coordinate advocacy messages for donors.
Represent the organisation in key donor events globally, as required.
Build knowledge and capacity within the organisation
To carry out the responsibilities of the role in line with the Start Network Code of Conduct and with a commitment to safeguarding adults and children.
A commitment to the Start Network vision, principles, values, and approach.
The Start Network team is an agile group of individuals who use their experience and skills across the network, so flexibility to work in and with different teams and functions is a part of our culture.

Line Management

To carry out effective line management of a team, including recruiting and training direct reports and having an active role in building an inclusive team culture in line with our values
Oversee and manage high performing team.
Coach and mentor team members, as appropriate, enabling them to fulfil their potential.
Mentor hubs and in country fundraising manager, sharing and catalysing foundation and corporate opportunities for hubs.
Ensure the organisation builds its capacity around donors’ compliance and policies.
Deputise for the Head of Resource Mobilisation where required.
Ensure all staff members in the Trust and Foundation and Corporate team have relevant objectives, targets and other KPI’s.
Lead by example, building the team’s confidence, supporting them as appropriate and being a positive influence across the organisation.
Drive a positive culture of fundraising within the Resource Mobilisation team and across Start Network.

Start Network Culture

To carry out the responsibilities of the role in line with the Start Network Code of Conduct and with a commitment to safeguarding adults and children
A commitment to the Start Network vision, principles, values, and approach
The Start Network team is an agile group of individuals who use their experience and skills across the network, so flexibility to work in and with different teams and functions is a part of our culture.

This role description is non-exhaustive and includes any other duties that may reasonably be required for the role.

PERSON PROFILE

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

Essential

A well stablished fundraiser, with experience of developing relationships with a wide range of private funders (including 7-8 figure multi-year grants).
A leader with management experience who can grow a team effectively.
Good understanding the humanitarian sector and key stakeholders and can represent Start Network accordingly in global external event.
An experienced bid writer who can oversee the process of bids creation and can write them when required.
A person who is experienced in putting together multi million pound budgets, working across teams.
An experience fundraiser who has managed large donors such as Gates, Hilton, IKEA.
Experience in managing a £10m annual plus portfolio.
Experience negotiating complex multi-million pound contracts.
A confident speaker who can pitch and convince technical donors to fund our cause.
A leader with experience in setting funding strategies and executing them
Proactive and strong skills in business development, with experience of taking the lead on identifying and securing new funding opportunities.
A creative eye, with skills and experience supporting and leading on the development and implementation of communications strategies for fundraising.
An individual who is keen to be part of a smaller organisation, playing a significant role in furthering a collaborative fundraising culture, with the autonomy to try new approaches and build on existing relationships.
A person who is target and output driven and is looking to set ambitious goals for themselves and the team and not afraid to try, fail and improve
A fundraiser who enjoys working across complex proposals and donors requirements and is solutions focused

Desirable

Experience in impact investment, insurance or blended finance
Masters in relevant subject such as international development, international relations, etc.
Fluency in Spanish or French and other languages

The Company

Start Network is made up of more than 90 non-governmental organisations across five continents, ranging from large international organisations to local and national NGOs. Our programmes allow members to deliver humanitarian action around the world.

Our mission is to create a new era of humanitarian action that will save even more lives. We aren’t driven by media headlines or political will, we’re here for the communities affected by and at risk of crises.

We are an organisation committed to doing things differently. For some roles, we need more technical humanitarian expertise, but for other roles, we are looking for relevant transferable skills, the right attitude, and a passion to bring change.

Organisation