Research development officer jobs in Birmingham

Funders In Good is looking for a Programme Officer to join our programmes team and help deliver initiatives that support and grow social ventures.

Funders In Good provides capacity-building support, including training, diagnostics, tailored grants, and strategic support, to help social ventures enhance their growth and impact. By 2035, our goal is to help build 10 best-in-class community organisations serving Islam and Muslims in the UK. We back ventures and leaders who are contributing to our vision of a society in which commitment to God is flourishing.

As a Programme Officer, you will work closely with the existing team to develop and deliver high-quality interventions. You will support key areas of work within our programme framework, contribute to the delivery of ongoing projects, and assist in other important areas of the organisation, such as our Funder Community and core operations.

We are looking for an organised, experienced, and confident Programme Officer who is committed to our vision.

To apply for the role, please submit your CV and prepare a supporting statement (maximum 200 words per question), answering the following questions:

1. What resonates with you about Funders In Good’s God-centred mission and long-term approach?

2. How you would plan, deliver, and evaluate a cohort-based capacity-building programme.

3. How you would handle a disengaged venture leader while managing competing programme priorities.

Please read the Job Description for full details or to arrange an informal chat with the team.

Community Fundraiser – South East (Kent, Surrey or Sussex)​​

​​We are really excited to have welcomed our new Director of Income Generation and Development to Brain Tumour Research this month, a great new start for the new year!​

This is a fantastic time to be joining our ambitious and growing charity and we are keen to share this with likeminded and talented individuals. We currently have an opening for a Community Fundraiser, to be based in the South East region.​

As the Community Fundraiser covering the South East you will play a crucial role in helping the charity meet its strategic plans and objectives, which include campaigning to increase the national investment in brain tumour research to £35 million per year, while fundraising to create a network of seven sustainable Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence across the UK.  Your role will be to generate and grow our income through community fundraising activities, contributing to a regional team target of more than £1.5 million.

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• Do you want to make a difference in one of the most innovative and exciting medical research fundraising charities in the UK?
• Do you live in Kent, Surrey or Sussex?
• Do you have at least one years' experience of working in a professional Community Fundraising position?​

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Have you answered Yes to these questions?

Does this sound like the opportunity to really get 2026 off to an amazing start? ​​

If you have the skills and ambition that we are looking for we welcome your application.  We are really looking forward to welcoming a new member to our team!​

​​​We reserve the right to close the application window early and advise candidates to apply in good time to avoid disappointment.

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We are looking for people who share our passion for finding a cure for brain tumours and who have the skills and experience to make a difference. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and ages. We believe that diversity enriches our organisation and helps us achieve our mission. We are committed to providing an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can be themselves and contribute to our vision.

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We are looking for a dynamic Senior Research & Analysis Officer to manage and deliver information, data, and analysis to help Youth Futures build evidence for impact.

This is an opportunity for a researcher with excellent data analysis, trial design and data skills to work widely across a busy and ambitious directorate, helping us understand and address youth unemployment in England.

Working with two teams in the Impact and Evidence Directorate, you will gain experience and contribute meaningfully across a range of research and evaluation activities.

• You will work with the Head of Evaluation and Principal Economist to support the design, delivery and management of data systems; scope, commission and manage high-quality evaluations; and conduct data analysis and quantitative social and economic research.
• You will also use your analytical expertise to extract insights from data, identify trends, and liaise with policy and communication teams to prepare outputs for external use.
• You will support the work of YFF’s evaluation team in generating new evidence for employment support programmes and Employer Practice through impact evaluations, including Randomised Controlled Trials.
• The role also offers opportunities to work on data visualisations for effective communication of data and research insights.

This role can be based at our Birmingham, Leeds or London hub. We currently operate a hybrid model of two-days per week in the office and three-days from home.

For more information on this role, please download our recruitment pack.

Due to receiving high volumes of interest in our opportunities, this vacancy may close earlier than the advertised deadline. To ensure your application is considered, please submit it as soon as possible.

PMRGCAuk is a small national charity dedicated to supporting people affected by polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and giant cell arteritis (GCA). We have a big impact, supporting patients with our small staff team and with the help of a proactive team of volunteers and working closely with leading rheumatologists and researchers to improve diagnosis and treatment of these conditions. As we continue to grow, we are looking for a passionate and dynamic Fundraising Officer.

Key focus of the role

This is a newly created role designed to develop and support our fundraising activities, particularly in the areas of legacy fundraising and grants and trusts, as well as increasing our membership, working alongside our small team. We are a small charity with big ambitions and this role is designed to help us grow and become sustainable in the future.

Key Responsibilities

Legacies:

· To develop a comprehensive legacy fundraising strategy and workflow, in collaboration with the Director and the Fundraising Committee.

· To work with colleagues to raise the profile of legacy fundraising, including production of materials, social media content, website development, etc.

· Work across the charity to ensure legacies are integrated across relevant channels to reach key audiences

· Build a portfolio of case studies in conjunction with the Deputy Director to showcase how legacy giving has impacted the community

Trust and Grants

· Identify and research a pipeline of potential Trust and Grant funders to secure financial support for the charity

· Work with the Director, trustees and other colleagues to develop fundraising applications for new and existing projects

· Develop compelling funding applications with service-user insight to Trust and Grant funders

· Manage and track existing funding received and complete appropriate reporting protocols to the relevant funders

· Produce timely and engaging project reports to inspire future funders and clearly measure impact of any funding received.

Membership

· To develop a strategy to increase membership, including professional membership

· To increase membership, including professional membership in conjunction with the wider PMRGCA team of staff and volunteers

General

· To lead on the development and establishment of a ‘shop’ on our website to generate additional funds.

· Support with other fundraising initiatives within the organisation, for example, Marathon in a Month, Big Give.

· Achieve agreed income targets, with a focus on securing funding from Trusts and Grants, as well as an increase in legacy donations and increased membership

Who We're Looking For:

• A proactive self-starter with experience of legacy and trusts and grants fundraising
• Someone with experience of working in a small voluntary organisation who recognises the needs to be flexible and adaptable
• Someone with knowledge of the UK voluntary sector and a passion for improving health outcomes.
• A strong communicator with excellent writing, project management, and financial skills.
• Someone who is confident with IT systems

Part time – 22.5 hours per week (equivalent to 3 days)

Salary range £27,000-£30,000 FTE (pro-rata 0.6 £16,200- £18,000)

Fixed term contract – 2 years

Location: Home based with occasional travel to meetings in London

This is a fixed-term contract for a period of two years. The fixed-term nature of the post reflects the charity’s current operational and financial planning cycle. Any extension beyond this date will be at the charity’s discretion based on organisational need and affordability.

Closing date: 5th March 2026

Please apply by sending a copy of your CV and a cover letter (no more than 2 sides) outlining why you feel you would be the perfect fit for this role and what you could bring to the organization.

Potential applicants are sometimes put off if they don’t meet 100% of the requirements. We think individual experience, skills and passion make all the difference, so if you meet the majority of the criteria, we’d love to hear from you.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy earlier if we receive sufficient applications so, please submit your application as soon as possible.

Ataxia UK is in an exciting phase of expansion in its Fundraising activity, specifically regarding investment in a Philanthropy function with a dedicated member of staff. In the past, High Net Worth Individuals (HNWI) have been managed reactively by the CEO and other Fundraising staff as opportunities have arisen. Ataxia UK (AUK) now wants to make a step change, in response to identified potential within the current fundraising landscape, towards strategic management of a pipeline of HNWI. As part of this, AUK is looking to engage a consultant on a fixed term contract, to work closely with the Senior Philanthropy Manager to undertake comprehensive research & scoping, in order to populate a HNWI pipeline for AUK. 

Please note, due to the large number of applications we receive, you will only be contacted should we wish to invite you to interview.

The International Prader-Willi Syndrome Organisation (IPWSO) is seeking a talented and motivated CEO who will deliver our organisational strategy which aims to improve the lives of all those affected by a rare genetically determined disorder called Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). 

The role of CEO at IPWSO is both challenging and rewarding. You can help deliver change for people affected by PWS from across the globe by helping us build solidarity, promoting scientific reasoning and research, helping to foster new relationships, supporting our members, and striving for equality for everyone affected by the syndrome.

You will work alongside passionate volunteers and experts in PWS from across all continents and with a skilled and small staff team based in the UK. We are all dedicated to making a tangible difference!

For the full person specification and the JD, please refer to the attachment below.

#CEO #Chief Executive #Chief Executive Officer 

Purpose of the post

The Finance Business Partner plays a crucial role within HDR UK, as the key point of contact and financial support for the Institute Office teams. The Finance Business Partner supports key non- finance stakeholders to provide timely and insightful analysis and reporting and supports with the alignment of financial plans to operational and strategic priorities. The role will support the Institute Office as well as some of our separately funded programmes. The Finance Business Partner is responsible for the management of the Institute’s support costs and recharges, and therefore plays a pivotal role in the long-term financial sustainability of HDR UK. The role is responsible for maintaining clear and effective communication between the Finance team and the wider business and for ensuring that financial concepts and priorities are understood by the Institute Office and programme teams.

Main responsibilities

• Work with Budget Holders to manage financial performance, forecasts, and budgeting including understanding financial opportunities and risk for the area of business partnership.

• Lead on monthly reporting to the Institute Office and Programme teams, including posting month end journals, meeting with Budget Holders to discuss performance and budget variance and providing commentary and analysis on reports.

• Provide donor reporting and analysis as required to funders of specific programmes.

• Work with the Head of Financial Planning and Analysis to plan, deliver, and review the annual budget and quarterly forecasts.

• Support the Associate Director of Finance and Head of FP&A to continuously review and update the 5-year financial plan.

• Support with projects and new process development to continuously improve and evolve our approach to internal financial reporting and modern finance business partnering.

• Support the Finance Business Partnering function with ad hoc reports and grant management and reporting.

• Provide training and advice to individuals internal and external to the Finance department.

• Support the Finance Officer with ad hoc queries and helpdesk needs.

• Support the Head of FP&A in utilising JET Reports to generate monthly management accounts for our Senior Leadership Team and Budget Holders, ensuring their accuracy and timely delivery.

Campaigns and Public Affairs Officer

We’re looking for a Campaigns and Public Affairs Officer to help turn insight, lived experience and evidence into powerful public campaigns that drive change for people affected by bowel cancer. You’ll play a hands-on role in delivering creative, inclusive campaigns that mobilise supporters, grow engagement and help people take meaningful action across the UK. Working closely with colleagues across policy, communications and fundraising, you’ll support the design and delivery of campaign actions, digital activity and events, while also contributing to our wider influencing work with decision-makers. This is a UK-wide role, with an initial focus on devolved nations, ideal for someone who’s passionate about campaigning, motivated by impact and excited to be part of a team pushing for earlier diagnosis and better care.

About Us

We’re the UK’s leading bowel cancer charity. We’re determined to save lives and improve the quality of life of everyone affected by bowel cancer. We support and fund targeted research, provide expert information and support to patients and their families, educate the public and professionals about the disease and campaign for early diagnosis and access to best treatment and care.  

We currently have around 95 staff based in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Thanks to the generosity of our community, we’re in a privileged position to be able to grow our staff team to deliver our ambitious strategy, On a mission. There are huge challenges facing bowel cancer patients across the UK and our community needs us now more than ever. We’re building a strong and united team to bring us closer to a future where nobody dies of bowel cancer. 

Safeguarding

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and at Bowel Cancer UK we are committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults and we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Successful candidates may be subject to either a satisfactory basic, standard or enhanced DBS check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) dependent upon the role.

At Bipolar UK, our mission is simple yet life‑changing: to empower everyone affected by bipolar to live well and thrive.
We work to reduce stigma, improve understanding, and ensure no one faces the condition alone. Our vision is a world where every person affected by bipolar has access to the right treatment and support, an understanding community, and the tools to live well.

About Bipolar UK

We are the only national charity dedicated to supporting people affected by bipolar. Through our peer support line, peer support groups, eCommunity, digital tools, workplace training, research collaborations and awareness‑raising campaigns, we reach tens of thousands of people each year.

Our work improves understanding, reduces isolation and empowers people to stay well. We are a small, ambitious, and fast‑growing team driven by purpose, compassion and innovation. Our culture is collaborative, supportive and rooted in lived experience.

Job Summary

The Senior Partnership Officer will play a pivotal role in building, strengthening and diversifying Bipolar UK’s high‑value relationships, with a particular emphasis on corporate fundraising and identifying strategic, mutually beneficial collaborations that support the charity’s long‑term needs.

Working closely with the Strategic Partnership Manager, you will manage and grow our portfolio of major donors, corporate supporters, and strategic partners. You will provide exceptional stewardship, ensuring partners feel valued, engaged, and inspired to deepen their relationship with us.

A key part of the role will involve proactively identifying and cultivating new corporate prospects, developing compelling propositions, crafting funding proposals, and pitching confidently to decision‑makers at all levels. You will help implement robust cultivation plans and ensure effective monitoring and evaluation across all partnership activity.

You will also work collaboratively across the wider Fundraising Team - including with the Fundraising Officer - supporting campaigns, events, and individual giving where needed.

This is a home‑based position with travel required for meetings and events across the UK. Some evening or weekend work may be required.

Key Responsibilities

1. Growing Corporate and Strategic Partnerships

• Drive the growth of corporate fundraising through proactive identification, research and cultivation of new corporate prospects.
• Develop innovative, mutually beneficial partnership opportunities, including Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Charity of the Year, sponsorships, staff fundraising, corporate challenge events, payroll giving and cause‑related marketing.
• Create compelling propositions tailored to corporate audiences.
• Lead and support pitches to secure long‑term, strategic and income‑generating partnerships.
• Collaborate with internal teams (e.g. Services, Communications) to co‑design new partnership concepts, projects or services that align with charity priorities.
• Support the development of partnership agreements and ensure expectations, deliverables and benefits are clearly defined.
• Work to a mutually agreed financial target and use the CRM to track and record relevant data to grow our donor pipeline.

2. Strengthening High‑Value Donor & Partner Stewardship

• Deliver excellent relationship management to major donors, corporate partners and strategic allies.
• Provide regular updates on impact and organisational achievements to deepen engagement.
• Organise meetings, briefings, events and engagement opportunities to showcase our work.
• Maintain accurate and comprehensive records of all interactions on Salesforce.
• Create tailored materials, proposals and events to support ongoing partnership activity.
• Represent Bipolar UK through presentations at corporate and partner events.
• Track performance and impact of partnerships, supporting continuous improvement.

3. Supporting Wider Fundraising

• Work collaboratively with the Fundraising Officer, SPM and wider team to maximise fundraising opportunities across all income streams.
• Provide hands‑on support for individual giving campaigns, events and community fundraising when needed.
• Contribute to team planning, cross‑team projects, and organisational initiatives.

Strengths

You will thrive in this role if:

• You are an exceptional relationship‑builder with the confidence to engage senior stakeholders and corporate leaders.
• You bring creativity, energy and ambition to developing powerful partnership ideas.
• You are an excellent communicator - skilled in writing compelling copy and delivering persuasive pitches.
• You are a proficient user of professional social media platforms such as LinkedIn to support your work.
• You are an engaging public speaker, confident at events, in meetings and online.
• You are methodical, analytical and data‑driven, with strong record‑keeping and reporting discipline.
• You are adaptable, organised and calm under pressure - thriving in a small, fast‑paced organisation.
• You enjoy autonomy, value professional development, and proactively shape your own work.
• You are reliable, detail‑focused, deadline‑driven and comfortable working remotely with minimal supervision.
• You have a keen understanding of the charitable sector in the UK.

Skills and Experience

Essential:

• Minimum 2 years’ experience in major donor fundraising, corporate fundraising or partnership development.
• Proven track record of generating new business at 5 and 6 figure levels - from prospecting through to securing partnerships.
• Experience working to, and achieving, income targets.
• Strong understanding of the corporate sector, CSR and corporate fundraising mechanisms.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience delivering pitches and proposals.
• Excellent project and time‑management skills.
• Understanding of ethical fundraising and GDPR compliance.
• Experience using Salesforce or a similar CRM.
• Confident user of Microsoft Office and quick to adopt new technologies.

Desirable:

• Experience within a mental health or health‑related charity.
• Understanding of bipolar gained through lived experience or supporting a friend or family member.

Other Information

The main tasks may be amended from time to time to reflect evolving organisational needs. Changes will be made in consultation with the post holder.

The post holder must comply with Data Protection, Health & Safety, and Equality & Diversity legislation, and follow all organisational policies and best practice.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your application by 5pm 20th February  through Charity Job including your CV and a covering letter. If we receive a high volume of applications we may close applications early.

Your covering letter (max two A4 pages) should outline:

• how your experience matches the person specification
• what you would bring to the role
• why you want to work for Bipolar UK

Interviews will be held w/c 2nd March, either online or in person.

Please note the final appointment is subject to satisfactory references and an enhanced DBS check.

Good luck and thank you for your interest in supporting Bipolar UK’s vital work.

We are seeking a leader with a hands-on approach to lead our small team of administrative staff and support our Board of Trustees and members to help shape and implement our strategy for the future. You will manage the day-to-day operations of the organisation, translating the strategy into practice to help the organisation grow and deliver real value to our members.

About Us
ACAT is a charity dedicated to advancing Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) through training, accreditation and the provision of continuous professional development to CAT Therapists. Also, through research and promotion of CAT as a valuable and valued talking therapy.

About you
We are looking for someone who is an experienced leader with a knowledge of and understanding of CAT who is:
A strategic thinker
Able to set, manage and report on budgets
An excellent communicator with a proven track record of implementing change

Why Join ACAT
The opportunity to work with dedicated professionals to develop CAT training and the governance of CAT therapists
30 days annual leave for FTE (Pro Rata)
Flexible working arrangements with both home working and some team-based hours each month at the office in Dorchester, Dorset, and attendance at ad hoc meetings and events in person within the UK from time to time.

This is a permanent contract; part-time flexible 14 hours per week subject to successful completion of a 6-month probationary period.

Closing date: Wednesday 11th February 2026

The Relationship Fundraising team at Alzheimer’s Research UK (ARUK) is responsible for securing income from individuals, regional businesses and groups fundraising in the community, effectively managing relationships to maximise income.

The Relationship Fundraising role will play a significant part in contributing to a high-performing fundraising team. The role will cover the country of Northern Ireland.

You will report to the Relationship Fundraising Manager and support the Head of Relationship Fundraising & Volunteering to drive the continued growth of the charity’s fundraising income in your area. You will also be required to show excellent relationship-building skills to support community partnerships and volunteer groups, driving towards agreed targets.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategy, finance, and reporting

· Responsibility for stewardship and relationship building with supporters within the region.

· Identify and apply for ‘Charity of the Year’ partnerships with corporates in the region, account manage these relationships up to a value of £50,000 per annum and support the Partnership Development Team with national partnerships in your region.

· Support existing volunteer fundraisers to encourage continued loyalty to the charity and to maximise funds raised, in accordance with fundraising legislation and good practice.

· Recruit new fundraising supporters in line with strategy.

· Support the Relationship Fundraising Manager (RFM) and Head of Relationship Fundraising (HORF) in developing the Relationship Fundraising strategy for ARUK to increase income within this stream.

· Support and extend volunteer networks within geographical area in line with strategy.

· To ensure that fundraising activity is implemented and managed to deliver budgets, targets and income in line with strategy. To achieve this by supporting and facilitating the development of groups and volunteers across geographical area.

· Work across a diverse geographical area and within a geographically dispersed team, whilst managing own workload in a cost-effective and proactive way.

Supporter management

· Provide excellent customer service to fundraising supporters, with prompt responses to enquiries, to acknowledge support and increase long-term loyalty.

· Provide high-quality account management to volunteer groups in geographical area.

· Effective management of volunteer relationships within geographical area.

· Support, motivate and develop local fundraising volunteers, ensuring they have a clear understanding of ARUK to enable them to represent the charity’s work effectively.

· In liaison with the Partnership Development Managers and Partnership Officers, provide high quality account management to corporate supporters within specified geographical area and/or of relevant value.

· Keep up to date with fundraising legislation and codes of practice to be able to provide relevant advice to fundraisers.

· Ensure volunteers and fundraisers have all necessary materials for fundraising initiatives.

Increasing Community Support within geographical area

· Use own initiative to extend volunteer networks, develop new groups and supporters, and respond to fundraising opportunities within geographical area, in line with strategy.

· Manage recruitment process of new ARUK volunteers in geographical area, providing relevant support and training.

· Liaise with local community organisations (predominantly golf clubs) – both previous and new potential supporters – to extend income and activity in line with strategy.

· Provide face-to-face talks and presentations to community organisations for recruitment/ cultivation purposes.

· Arrange appropriate volunteer representation at events in the community, spreading the charity’s reach cost-effectively.

· Identify, research and target prospective community organisations, in liaison with RFM.

· Identify, research and target prospective local corporates in liaison with RFM / HORF and ARUK’s Partnership Development Managers and Partnership Development Officers, in line with strategy.

· Accurately track and record contact with both community and corporate prospects for planning and reporting purposes.

Monitoring and Reporting

· Ensure that your activity is monitored and evaluated, clearly communicating progress to your Relationship Fundraising Manager.

· Manage relevant information on the charity’s database, keeping detailed, up-to-date records of activity and income.

What we are looking for:

· Experience in partnership fundraising and/or relationship building

· Experience and confidence in public-speaking, such as giving presentations and talking at events

· Knowledge of recruiting key volunteers and fundraising supporters

· Experience and a keen interest in building long term relationships with supporters

· Proven ability of providing excellent stewardship

· An ability to manage a busy and varied workload

· Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written

· Excellent organisational skills

· Full driver’s license with access to own vehicle. 

· Flexibility to work some unsocial hours and willingness to travel independently

· Live within defined region

Additional Information:

Ways of working:

As part of our Remote ways of working you will be home based. You will only need to attend the office for specific requirements of the role and the business needs.

Roles that are classed as part of the Remote ways of working are able to claim any costs for Mileage/Travel on Public Transport, Accommodation and/or Meals.  This includes when attending the office for various meetings/events.

Our Office: Our office is at 3 Riverside, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AD. 

Salary: Circa £33,500 per annum, plus benefits car allowance of £3,500 and associated expenses (if applicable).

Please download the Vacancy Pack on our website for more information.

The closing date for applications is the 15th February 2026, with interviews being arrange once shortlisting has been completed. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date. We would encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity, as on occasion we may have to bring forward the interview date and/or the closing date based on the needs of the business. Although a possibility, this will only happen in exceptional circumstances. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date.

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential.  We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented.  Any offer of employment is however subject to you having the right to work in the UK.

As part of our commitment to being an inclusive employer and ensuring fairness and consistency in our selection process, we will handle your CV and application with the utmost confidentiality. While we strive to anonymise your CV where possible, there are certain sections, such as the application question, that cannot be fully anonymised. We kindly ask that you remove any personal information, including your name, when answering the application question. The hiring panel will not have access to your personal details, such as your name and address, until you are invited for an interview. Should you require any adjustments at either the application or interview stage, please contact us via our website. 

How to apply: Please create an online account using our Online Recruitment Platform which can be accessed through our Job Vacancies page. You will be able to attach your CV to your application and track the status of your application.

About Alzheimer’s Research UK: Alzheimer's Research UK is the UK's leading dementia research charity. Our mission is to accelerate progress towards a cure.  Today 1 in 2 people will be impacted by dementia, either through caring for a loved one, developing it themselves or tragically both. But there is hope. 

Are you looking to develop a career in Regular Giving at a prestigious organisation?

The Regular & Digital Giving Officer role is your opportunity to be a part of a dynamic and innovative team and to take our programme to the next level. We are keen to explore ways to grow our programme via crowdfunding, giving days, and by developing a mid-level/leadership giving programme. Our Regular and Digital Giving Officer will play an important role in scoping, piloting, evaluating, and establishing these new strands of income generation. 

DARO (University of Birmingham's Development and Alumni Office) exists to support our 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 projects, supporting student bursaries, mentoring students, and providing internships, as well as providing a versatile programme of engagement opportunities for our global alumni community. 

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. As an office, we are committed to sustainability and value green working practices. The environment is an integral part of our campaign, and we encourage eco-friendly ways of working in order to have a positive impact on our campus and global surroundings. 

About Chapter One

Chapter One is a small but growing charity, working to ensure that every child has 1:1 reading support at the time they need it most.

Our unique Online Reading Volunteer programme currently supports about 3,500 children a year. It pairs disadvantaged, struggling five to eight-year old (KS1) readers with reading support volunteers who come from over 180 local and national businesses. The volunteer task is very focused: readers commit 30 minutes a week to read with a child using a bespoke digital platform for an entire academic year. The results are transformative, boosting children's reading confidence and ability.

We have set ourselves ambitious targets and want to support 3,900 children by 2026/27, so this role, with responsibility for building new corporate partnerships, will be crucial to ensuring that we have sufficient volunteers to achieve this target. 2026 has been designated by the Government as the National Year of Reading, so we have a great opportunity to capitalise on this and secure business commitment for our work!

For more information about our programmes please visit our website. Please also take some time to visit our social media channels and watch our videos.

About the role

Chapter One is seeking a proactive, energetic and enthusiastic Business Development Officer to be an integral part of a team which aims to both maximise corporate income and take Chapter One into new regions across the UK.

Reporting to our Business Development Manager (BDM), but also working closely with our Corporate Partnerships Team, you’ll help them to deliver our annual volunteer targets. This will involve prospect research and engagement, presentations, networking, pipeline management and lead conversion.

This role within Chapter One is an opportunity for an early career professional or someone looking for a career change to hone their business development and sales skills in a dynamic, fast-growing charity which is flexible and agile. 

Key Responsibilities

Corporate Partner Recruitment

• With support from the BDM, proactively ‘sell’ Chapter One programmes to potential new corporate partners to achieve annual new partner/volunteer targets

• Use LinkedIn Sales Navigator and other relevant platforms to identify, research and contact potential new corporate partners

• Prepare and tailor communications for prospective new partners, including research on their CSR/social value strategy and its alignment with Chapter One’s mission and regional presence

• Ensure the prospective new partner pipeline is proactively managed on our Salesforce CRM and work with the BDM to automate the pipeline process where appropriate.

• Identify opportunities for regional expansion and support the BDM to secure commitments in line with launch timetables

• Identify opportunities for expansion in specific sectors or in relation to specific initiatives.

• Post on LinkedIn and develop a network of CSR and Social Value managers and relevant organisations

• Research relevant intermediaries, local authorities and groups with which Chapter One could build ‘broker’ relationships

• Keep up to date with developments in CSR/ESG/Social Value and employer-led volunteering

• Research relevant events and conferences that Chapter One team could attend to network and/or speak

• Ensure Chapter One information on external volunteering and matchmaking platforms is kept up-to-date

Account Management

• Lead the account management of a portfolio of corporate partners (approx. 10–15), delivering against retention, growth, and income targets through regular reviews and proactive relationship building.

• Plan and deliver partnership meetings, volunteer recruitment sessions, and tailored communications aligned to each partner’s CSR strategy and Chapter One’s mission.

• Collaborate with the Corporate Partnerships Team and internal teams to produce high-quality reports, pitches, onboarding experiences, and promotional materials for partners and volunteers.

• Ensure accurate partner administration, including CRM record-keeping (Salesforce), invoicing coordination, and general account management processes.

General

• Oversee, maintain and develop business development processes, including use of Salesforce CRM and exchange of information with the Corporate Partnerships Team

• Conduct administrative duties as required to support the Business Development Manager

• Attend online and in person meetings, conferences and events to represent Chapter One, talk about its work and recruit partners.

We are looking for some of the following attributes, though you might be more experienced in some areas than others:

• A commitment to Chapter One’s mission and values.

• Experience of business development of Corporate Partnerships in a charity or B-2-B environment

• An ability to create compelling written pitches, ensuring messaging and brand are consistent

• Outstanding presentation skills, with the ability to excite and inspire an audience

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships with business professionals at all levels

• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail

• An understanding of CSR/social value and employee engagement/volunteering and/or a commitment to learning more about social value and how it’s interpreted by businesses

• An understanding of social media platforms, particularly LinkedIn.

• Able to take personal accountability for own workload and for delivery of targets

• A ‘can do’ and flexible approach with an ability adapt to changing priorities

• Awareness of the importance of data security best practice and GDPR regulations when processing a range of stakeholder data

• Highly computer literate, particularly in Excel, with hands-on experience of using Google suite and platforms and tools such as Salesforce CRM, Mailchimp, PowerPoint and more.

You’ll be more successful in the role if you have:

• Experience of using social media to develop business relationships

• Experience of achieving annual sales targets

• A background in CSR or social value

Interview Dates

First Round: Week commencing 9th March

Second Round: Week commencing 16th March

We are really excited to have welcomed our new Director of Income Generation and Development to Brain Tumour Research this month, a great new start for the new year!​

​​This is a fantastic time to be joining our ambitious and growing charity and we are keen to share this with likeminded and talented individuals.​

We currently have an opening for a Community Fundraiser, to be based in the Mid-North Wales and West Midlands region.​​

​As the Community Fundraiser covering Mid-North Wales and West Midlands, you will play a crucial role in helping the charity meet its strategic plans and objectives, which include campaigning to increase the national investment in brain tumour research to £35 million per year, while fundraising to create a network of seven sustainable Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence across the UK.​

​​Your role will be to generate and grow our income through community fundraising activities, contributing to a regional team target of more than £1 million.​​

• Do you want to make a difference in one of the most innovative and exciting medical research fundraising charities in the UK?
• ​​Do you live in Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire,​Warwickshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire or Mid-North Wales?​
• Do you have at least one years' experience of working in a professional Community Fundraising position?​​Have you answered Yes to these questions?​
• Does this sound like the opportunity to really get 2026 off to an amazing start? ​​​

If you are excited to learn more about this position, please take a read through our recruitment pack provided with this advert.​​

If you have the skills and ambition that we are looking for we welcome your application.  We are really looking forward to welcoming a new member to our team!

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We are asking for a CV as the first step but applicants may be asked to provide a targeted covering letter as part of the selection process.  Interviews will be conducted during the application window as appropriate, and will consist of a first interview via MS Teams, progressing, if successful to a face to face second interview, held at our offices in Milton Keynes.​

​We reserve the right to close the application window early and advise candidates to apply in good time to avoid disappointment.​

We are looking for people who share our passion for finding a cure for brain tumours and who have the skills and experience to make a difference. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and ages. We believe that diversity enriches our organisation and helps us achieve our mission. We are committed to providing an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can be themselves and contribute to our vision.