Senior direct marketing executive appeal jobs

Fundraising and Marketing Executive

Location:

Hybrid role with at least 3 days working in the office, of these 3 days Tuesdays and Fridays must be within the office. Based at Cosmic HQ near St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, and at Queen Charlotte’s Hospital, Hammersmith

Reports to:

Senior Fundraising Executive

Salary:

£27,000 per annum

Hours:

Full time – 35 hours per week

Job Type:

Permanent

Annual Leave:

27 days’ annual leave (pro rata for part-time staff) plus public Bank Holidays and office shutdown between Christmas & New Year

About Cosmic

Cosmic is a small but mighty children’s charity dedicated to supporting the incredible work of the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, and Queen Charlotte’s Hospital, Hammersmith. We provide vital funding for life-saving equipment, specialist staff training, and pioneering research. We also deliver our own emotional and practical family support services - making a real difference for children and families when they need it most.

As part of our close partnership with our NHS colleagues, you will join a team working at the heart of world-class children’s and neonatal services, helping Cosmic to make a real difference for families during their most difficult moments.

The Role

This role will play a crucial part in supporting a wide range of fundraising, marketing, and communications activities for Cosmic. As a key member of the Income Generation team, the individual will help raise vital funds and awareness that enable and enhance the charity’s work, whilst also contributing to the delivery of effective marketing and communications that promote our impact and engage our audiences.

This role requires someone with a genuine interest in working across multiple fundraising areas — from corporate partnerships and community fundraising to individual giving, events and challenges, trusts and foundations, event support for Cosmic led events, and in-memory and legacy giving. You will bring strong organisational, communication, and creative skills to support activity across these streams. In addition, you will collaborate with the Marketing and Communications Manager to develop engaging social media content, enhance brand visibility, and contribute to impactful digital and supporter communications across all of Cosmic’s channels.

This varied and dynamic role will include research, administration, planning, content creation, and creative thinking. You will support the delivery of fundraising activities, events, initiatives, and campaigns, as well as contribute to marketing efforts such as social media, email newsletters, website updates, and storytelling. A key part of the role will be ensuring our supporters, donors, and online audiences receive high-quality, consistent, and engaging communications. With the wider team’s support, the role will also aid the growth of new corporate partnerships.

The role requires someone who is confident, organised, and articulate, with ideas, energy, and enthusiasm to promote the work, need, relevance, and impact of the charity. With such a diverse remit and working within a fast-paced environment, the ideal candidate will be comfortable multitasking and willing to get involved in a broad range of tasks.

We are looking for an enthusiastic individual who is keen to learn, has a “can do” attitude, and will be a passionate ambassador for the charity. The individual will have skills in marketing and/or fundraising, which will be transferable. Reporting to the Senior Fundraising Executive and working closely with the wider Income Generation team and the Marketing and Communications Manager, the role has scope for development and growth in this small, but impactful charity.

Key Responsibilities

1. Fundraising and income generation support

• Working alongside and supporting members of the Income Generation team, gaining a better understanding of the various fundraising and income generation activities.
• Be a key contact for fundraising enquiries.
• Collation and sending of information, including fundraising materials, to potential and current supporters and advising on queries relating to fundraising.
• Support the organisation, planning, promotion, and delivery of fundraising, stewardship and other events.
• Ensure that all fundraising activity operates with the Fundraising Regulator’s guidelines, code of practice and GDPR practices.
• Identify and support opportunities to raise awareness of the charity including giving presentations, attending meetings and local events.
• Aid the growth of individual giving programmes, including regular giving, one-off donations, and donor stewardship journeys.
• Assist in researching, writing, and submitting grant applications to trusts, foundations, and statutory funders.
• Maintain accurate donor records using the charity’s CRM system, Donorfy, and ensure data is up to date, accurate, compliant, relevant and reportable.
• Support the planning and delivery of fundraising campaigns, appeals, and community events.
• Assist with event set-up and pack-down, ensuring all materials and equipment are in place.
• Provide excellent donor care and stewardship, including timely thank-you communications and proactive engagement with supporters.
• Help identify new fundraising opportunities and potential partners through research and networking.
• Meet with supporters in person and provide a first-class experience for them by providing tours of the units and any tailored information they require.
• Support the administration and logistics for fundraising events, including volunteer coordination and post-event evaluation.

2. Marketing and communications responsibilities

• Create engaging content for social media, newsletters, the website, and campaign materials to raise awareness of the charity’s work.
• Social media content capture and uploading of activities at all Cosmic led events onto all relevant channels.
• Coordinate social media channels, scheduling posts, monitoring engagement, and identifying opportunities for growth.
• Support marketing campaigns for fundraising events, appeals, and awareness initiatives.
• Work with the Marketing and Communications Manager to ensure brand consistency across all supporter-facing materials.
• Gather stories, quotes and visuals from beneficiaries, supporters, and partner organisations (with appropriate permissions) to promote activities and support to Cosmic.
• Update and maintain website content, ensuring information is accurate, compelling, and user-friendly.
• Assist in producing digital assets, such as graphics, short videos, and email campaigns.
• Conduct basic analytics reporting for digital platforms, tracking engagement, reach, and campaign impact.
• Help coordinate Public Relations activities, including drafting press releases and maintaining media contact lists, in liaison with the Marketing and Communications Manager.

3. Cross-team and administrative responsibilities

• Work closely with the Senior Fundraising Executive, and wider Income Generation team to ensure smooth coordination between fundraising and marketing activities.
• Liaise with clinical partners, hospital staff, and external stakeholders to gather information that supports fundraising and communications content.
• Support the implementation of internal processes for campaign planning, supporter stewardship, and content production.
• Attend events, meetings, and training sessions as needed to represent the charity.
• Provide general administrative support to the fundraising and marketing functions including processing donations, handling enquiries, and maintaining shared resources.
• Contribute ideas and feedback to help refine and develop the charity’s fundraising and marketing approach.
• Audit the inventory of all materials necessary for both events and volunteering.
• Sending thank you letters to supporters in a timely manner.
• Spending time meeting with families and staff on the units, using this time as an opportunity to build positive relationships. Supporting the Service Delivery team with massage days for the clinical staff and other key events such as World Prematurity Day and other ad hoc and seasonal activities.
• The role is incredibly varied, and no two days are the same.

Key Skills and Qualifications

Essential skills

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Confident using social media platforms for organisational promotion (e.g., Instagram, LinkedIn)
• Good organisational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to build and maintain positive relationships with supporters, colleagues, and external partners
• Creative thinker with the ability to contribute ideas for campaigns, content, and events
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and comfortable learning new systems
• A proactive “can-do” attitude with willingness to learn and take initiative
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a small team
• Commitment to the mission and values of Cosmic

Desirable skills

• Experience working in a charity, events, fundraising, or marketing role
• Familiarity with fundraising income streams (corporate, events/challenges, community, trusts, individual giving)
• Experience creating social media content or using scheduling tools
• Basic design or video editing skills (e.g., Canva)
• Experience using a CRM or donor database
• Understanding of digital marketing metrics and analytics
• Experience writing fundraising applications, impact stories, or marketing copy
• Knowledge of charity branding principles and supporter journeys
• Event support or volunteer coordination experience
• Understanding of child health, paediatric care, or NHS charity environments

Why You’ll Love Working with Us

At Cosmic, we’re a small team with a big heart. Every day, we’re privileged to support families and NHS staff when they need it most - often during the most difficult and vulnerable moments of their lives. This role offers the opportunity to be a vital part of that support, making a tangible difference where it truly matters.

• 27 days’ annual leave (pro rata for part-time staff) plus public Bank Holidays. Time off between Christmas and New Year with the office shutting down during this time.
• £200 professional development budget annually
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Flexible hours with hybrid working arrangements. Core office hours 10am – 4pm

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your CV and responses to the screening questions. You are welcome to include a covering letter if you wish, but this is optional. 

Cosmic is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. If you have any accessibility requirements then please do highlight this to us in your application.

Job Profile

Reporting to the Managing Director, you will lead on the recruitment, retention, and value growth of Afghanaid’s supporter base by directing and implementing communications, fundraising and engagement strategies, aligned with broader organisation goals. Designing and managing a tight budget, you will direct the Communication and Giving unit to maximise their success.

You will provide strategic and supervisory oversight of fundraising income from individual giving, regular giving, major donors, trusts and foundations, corporates, community and student fundraising and events, managing annual fundraising appeals and driving organisational unrestricted income growth. 

You will lead on communications for Afghanaid, overseeing print, digital, and paid marketing activities and the growth of communications channels. You will execute Afghanaid’s organisational brand strategy which ensures the integrity of the brand and maximises awareness. You will manage all public relations including crisis communications, as well as the growth of strategic media placements and high profile relationships. You will drive the success of organisational impact storytelling and communications for both internal and external stakeholders. As a member of the executive department, you will collaborate and synergise with other departments to promote organisational success.

Key Responsibilities:

• Drive organisational strategy, culture and cross-department collaboration to advance Afghanaid’s mission and objectives.

• Lead development and delivery of Communications, Engagement and Fundraising strategies and work plans.

• Line manage and develop a high-performing team, including staff, volunteers and interns.

• Build and maintain relationships with consultants, agencies and pro bono partners.

• Oversee budgets, reporting and data-driven performance management to ensure efficiency and impact.

• Promote a positive and cohesive London team environment, coordinating hybrid working, inductions and HR support.

• Oversee public fundraising strategy across multiple income streams.

• Lead design and delivery of internal and external appeals, campaigns and donor stewardship.

• Identify new funding opportunities, partnerships and innovation in engagement.

• Oversee the full range of Afghanaid’s event portfolio, and attend relevant events to represent Afghanaid;

• Ensure effective CRM management, data integrity and financial reconciliation.

• Serve as brand guardian, ensuring consistency and evolution of Afghanaid’s identity.

• Oversee creation and execution of integrated communications and marketing plans.

• Direct production of engaging digital and print content, including newsletters, social media, and fundraising collateral.

• Manage website optimisation, SEO and analytics to drive engagement and conversions.

• Lead innovation in digital marketing, email campaigns and supporter journeys.

• Advise leadership on reputation management and crisis communications.

• Develop media policies and act as spokesperson when required.

• Manage proactive and reactive media relations, building relationships with journalists, influencers and advocates.

• Promote Afghanaid’s thought leadership through strategic storytelling and public commentary.

• Commission and direct multimedia content to strengthen organisational storytelling.

• Lead content planning, production and performance analysis.

• Champion participatory storytelling approaches and creative innovation.

Undertake any other duties as and when required by the line director.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

You will be an experienced and dynamic communicator with significant demonstrable experience in fundraising and/or communications at a senior level, coupled with an awareness and up to date knowledge and experience of the tools that would maximise the success of our communications and fundraising activities. In addition, you will have excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to confidently build and maintain strong relationships with a diverse group of stakeholders. Possessing strong management skills, you will have experience of managing small multi-disciplinary teams, providing direction and leadership to enable development and high performance, and the ability to role-model a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion.

Education/ Training

Master’s Degree in communications, marketing, public fundraising or another relevant field (or at least 5-years’ experience).

Work Experience

• At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, supporter engagement or communications, with at least 2 years’ experience directly managing staff.

• Experience developing and leading integrated multi-channel and multi-stakeholder communications, engagement and/or fundraising strategies.

• Experience in growing audiences, engagement and/or income streams.

• Experience communicating about and/or fundraising for and/or maintaining engagement with Afghanistan or a similar context.

• Experience using KPIs and data to make data-driven decisions to improve efficacy and efficiency.

• Experience managing and monitoring a tight budget.

• Experience conceptualising, producing and commissioning multimedia content, from marketing and fundraising collateral to audiovisual content.

• Experience running full-funnel, multi-channel marketing strategies including paid advertising.

• Understanding of risks associated with communications, public fundraising, and NGO operating contexts, and experience in mitigating those risks.

• Experience supervising, organising, motivating and developing staff.

• In depth knowledge of trends in storytelling, brand, PR, marketing and fundraising.

Professional Skills, Competencies, Values and Attitudes

Afghanaid’s core values are creativity, fairness and honesty. Our staff is passionate about and proud of Afghanaid. Teamwork is fundamental to our standards and demonstrated by taking initiative, assisting others and taking on additional responsibilities and tasks if necessary. We are results driven, committed and motivated to achieve targets and take accountability for our own actions.

Specifically, the holder of this position should also demonstrate the following:

Essential

• Fluent in spoken and written English. 

• Track record of increasing audiences, fundraising totals and engagement metrics from multiple different sources, with a strong business development mindset.

• Experience securing five or six figure gifts from funders;

• Solutions and results orientated; energised by thinking outside the box, and by finding and pursuing novel or innovative approaches and solutions.

• Experience using Salesforce CRM and Marketing Cloud

• Skilled at spotting and prioritising opportunities and synergies, and effective in securing wide-ranging forms of engagement and partnership.

• Excellent listening, speaking and writing skills; strong capabilities of persuasion and a proven track record of uniting people around a common goal.

• Multimedia skills, with knowledge, experience and enthusiasm in driving digital innovation.

• Highly organised with strong leadership and project management skills, able to collaboratively manage competing priorities with senior and junior colleagues.

• Demonstrably skilled brand custodian, able to mitigate risks, anticipate and capitalise upon opportunities, and strengthen reputation.

• Capable of working independently as well as collaboratively, both in leading a team and as part of the team.

• Passionate about driving change, and inspiring individuals and groups to support a cause to deliver that change.

Desirable

• Experience working within an international development or humanitarian context, particularly with causes related to Afghanistan

• Strategic understanding of UK and global fundraising landscapes and emerging giving trends.

• Proven ability to represent an organisation publicly with confidence, professionalism and credibility.

• Experience guiding senior leaders or trustees on media, communications and reputational matters.

• Skilled in crisis communications and reputation management.

• Understanding of inclusive and ethical storytelling practices, with sensitivity to safeguarding considerations.

• Experience developing high-value corporate or media partnerships.

• Comfortable working in a fast-moving, resource-limited environment and adapting to changing external circumstances.

The Organisation

Afghanaid is a British humanitarian and development organisation. For over forty years, our dedicated personnel have worked with millions of families in some of the poorest and most remote communities in Afghanistan. We build basic services, improve livelihoods, strengthen the rights of women and children, help communities protect against natural disasters and adapt to climate change, and respond to humanitarian emergencies. We are headquartered in Kabul, and operate provincial and district offices across Afghanistan, as well as a Marketing and Fundraising office in London. We employ around 500 personnel, 97% of whom are Afghans.

Other Information

Afghanaid’s core values are creativity, fairness and honesty. Our staff are passionate about and proud to work at Afghanaid. Teamwork is fundamental to our standards and demonstrated by taking initiative, assisting others and taking on additional responsibilities and tasks if necessary. We are results driven, committed and motivated to achieve targets and take accountability for our own actions.

Our remuneration and benefits package is competitive with other similar organisations. 

This position presents an excellent opportunity for someone who has the ambition and determination to move up in their career.

Join Shaftesbury – Where every role adds up to a life well lived

We’re looking for a Head of Individual Giving to join our dynamic Fundraising and Communications team — a passionate group of people who want to make a difference. If you’re strategic, creative and driven, this is your opportunity to play a key role in Shaftesbury’s work.

At Shaftesbury, we’re more than a disability charity — we’re a team dedicated to helping children, young people and adults live full, flourishing lives. Guided by our values of being Open, Enabling, Inclusive and Courageous, we deliver personalised care and support that changes lives every day.

Please note this role does not qualify for visa sponsorship.

About the role

We have an exciting opportunity to join our team to provide administrative and event delivery support across all event and fundraising activities. This will include a wide range of admin and support tasks pre-event, onsite and post-event for the BOA’s flagship event, BOA Annual Congress, and other educational, social and fundraising events, both face to face and virtual, delivered by the team. In addition, the postholder will be responsible for maintaining comprehensive administration systems across the events and fundraising team, corresponding with members, Stakeholders, delegates, fundraisers etc, using the CRM database, updating event and fundraising content on the BOA website, and supporting content creation for social media.

If you are a proactive individual with drive and enthusiasm looking for a new challenge, have an interest in events and fundraising and would be keen to work for a membership organisation involved in supporting trauma and orthopaedic surgeons and care for orthopaedic patients we would love to hear from you.

About you

• Able to establish good relationships with people at varying levels of seniority, including clinicians, expert advisors from the Council and subcommittees, and external stakeholders and organisations.
• Ready to get stuck in and capable of undertaking multiple tasks or projects at any one time
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to deal with people diplomatically and appropriately
• Comfortable with handling multiple issues and flexibility to adapt if priorities change or opportunities emerge at short notice.
• Proactive and keen to make a difference while appreciating the importance of sound project management and an eye for detail
• Good organisational skills and time management with ability to prioritise and independently work to deadlines
• Strong attention to detail and ability to achieve high standards of work with little supervision.
• Confident learning and using IT and online systems, including CRMs

What we can offer you

• Good team working environment
• 25 days paid holiday + bank holidays and up to 4 Association closure days.
• Enhanced contributory pension scheme & other leave entitlements.
• Employee Assistance Scheme
• Benefits platform.

We are fully committed to equality and diversity and will assess your application based on your experience, skills and suitability to the position only

About us

Around 10 million adults and 12,000 children, have a musculoskeletal condition in the UK today. We are a professional membership organisation and registered charity with the mission of ‘Caring for Patients, Supporting Surgeons’ working with our members to deliver excellence in surgical care and restore pain free mobility.

Our activities include influencing and engagement, professional practice, research and training and education. We have over 5,000 members worldwide, the majority based in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Membership is made up of consultants (active or retired), surgeons in training and staff and associate specialist grades (SAS).