Senior direct marketing manager jobs in Milton keynes

Team: Research & Engagement (Philanthropy & Partnerships)

Location: Homebased with ad-hoc travel throughout the year 

Work pattern: 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Salary: Up to £45,999.12 per annum 

Contract: Permanent

We are the UK’s largest cat welfare charity. All over the country, our enthusiastic employees, volunteers, and supporters are using their kindness and expertise to make life better for millions of cats and the people who care for them.

Will you join us and make life better for cats?

Responsibilities of our Stewardship & Communications Manager: 

• The Philanthropy & Partnerships Communications and Stewardship Manager plays a key role in building strong, lasting relationships between Cats Protection and its most valued supporters.

• Sitting within the Philanthropy and Partnership’s Research and Engagement team, you will lead a small team of specialist roles and shape how we communicate, steward and inspire corporate partners, major donors, and trusts and foundations, helping them feel genuinely connected to the difference their support makes for cats.

About the Research and Engagement team:

• We sit within the Marketing & Income Generation directorate.

• The Research and Engagement team sits within Philanthropy and Partnerships and brings together prospect research, communications and events to ensure a coordinated, insight-led and supporter-centred approach supporting fundraisers to grow pipelines, build meaningful relationships, and maximise long-term income for Cats Protection. 

What we are looking for in our Stewardship & Communications Manager: 

• Significant experience in high-value fundraising communications and/or stewardship, including working with corporate partners, major donors, trusts and foundations.

• Experience of leading or managing specialist communications or stewardship activity, with direct line-management responsibility and/or clear functional leadership.

• Proven experience of overseeing the development of high-quality donor communications, propositions or cases for support.

• Experience of working collaboratively with fundraisers and senior stakeholders in a complex, multi-disciplinary organisation.

• Experience of balancing strategic oversight with hands-on support, quality assurance and delivery under pressure.

What we can offer you:

• range of health benefits

• 26 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing with length of service.

• Salary Finance, which empowers you to take control of your financial wellbeing.

• and much more, which you can learn about

Interested? Here’s how to apply:

Application closing date: 19th July 2026 

Virtual interview date: 29th & 30th July 2026 

Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to avoid disappointment. Please note, applications received after the closing date may not be responded to.

If successful, your recruitment journey will include:

1. Anonymised application form

2. Virtual interview via Microsoft Teams (will include a task) 

3. Final stage interview 

Please note, the process may change slightly dependent on application numbers. We will inform you of any relevant changes.

Lead on the development of fundraising support to our 42 cathedrals. A test-and-learn role, with a discovery phase, pilot delivery and the strategic development of programmes, resources and training that are proven to grow fundraised income.

Description

This role is to develop the fundraising support we offer our 42 cathedrals. Church of England cathedrals play a uniquely significant role in national, civic and spiritual life, serving first and foremost as centres of Christian worship and the seat of the bishop, but also as some of the country's most important cultural and community institutions. They act as focal points for diocesan life and as places where people gather for major moments of public celebration and grief, while also contributing extensively to education, music, heritage, tourism and local economies. Their scale, history and openness mean they attract millions of visitors, many of whom are not regular churchgoers, offering space for reflection, creativity and engagement with the Christian story.

However, this breadth of purpose brings significant challenges: cathedrals must balance worship with growing expectations as civic and cultural venues, operate in an increasingly secular and diverse society, and maintain complex historic buildings with limited and often uncertain funding. With many facing structural financial deficits and high costs for maintenance and staffing, alongside reliance on fundraising, grants and visitor income, their long-term sustainability depends on improving and expanding their fundraising activity and successfully developing new income streams while safeguarding their core mission and heritage.

This role is deliberately designed as a test-and-learn function. Its future scope and resourcing will be shaped by the evidence generated through its work. There is a clear expectation that, subject to demonstrated impact, this role will contribute to the development of a sustainable and appropriately resourced model of fundraising support for cathedrals across the Church of England.

This role is a three year fixed term contract.

Closing Date - 19th July 2026

Interviews will take place in Church House, London, on Wednesday, 29 July 2026.

Responsibilities

The Head of Cathedral Fundraising Development is a newly established role within the Giving Directorate and working alongside the B&C team, responsible for strengthening and developing fundraising capacity across the 42 mainland cathedrals of the Church of England. This role is funded for an initial 3-year period, and there is an expectation this work will grow and develop during this period should the audit and piloting of support in the first twelve months identify the need for ongoing support.

Reporting to the Director of Giving (who will line manage you, agree your work plans and development, and who you will be responsible to for the successful delivery of the agreed work plans) and also accountable to the Director of Bishoprics & Cathedrals (to ensure the work meets the needs of the Bishoprics & Cathedrals department, and aligns with their various work streams), this role will lead a programme of discovery, pilot delivery, and strategic development to determine the most effective models of fundraising support for cathedrals. The postholder will work closely with cathedral leaders, development teams, and national colleagues to build confidence, test approaches, and develop scalable solutions grounded in demonstrable impact. This testing of approaches will involve engaging with, and supporting, cathedrals in their fundraising approaches to high net worth individuals, grant making trusts and others, so that tangible evidence of impact can be seen.

Strategic Development

• Lead a structured audit of fundraising capacity, resources, and opportunities across the cathedral network
• Analyse findings to identify strategic priorities, gaps, and opportunities for development
• Develop a compelling vision and roadmap for national cathedral fundraising support

Pilot Design and Delivery

• Assimilate existing data from cathedrals, the NCIs and others to help shape fundraising pilots so they align business needs with the wider mission of cathedrals
• Design and implement a range of pilot initiatives to test different models of fundraising support (e.g. advisory, shared services, training, or targeted interventions) and to work with a small number of cathedrals to seize immediate opportunities
• Evaluate the effectiveness and impact of pilots, using both qualitative and quantitative measures
• Iterate and refine approaches based on evidence and learning

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build strong, trusted relationships with cathedral Deans, Development Directors, Chapters, and senior lay leaders
• Work collaboratively to understand local context and tailor support accordingly
• Act as a credible and influential ambassador for fundraising development across the cathedral network
• Ensure regular visits to cathedrals to develop relationships and build credibility
• Liaise with other Cathedral stakeholders (such as the AEC) to ensure strong alignment of outcomes
• Ensure effective co-ordination with national marketing initiatives of the AEC and others to ensure maximisation of impact

Cross-Directorate Collaboration

• Work closely with colleagues across the Giving Directorate to maximise opportunities for cathedrals to benefit from national initiatives, tools, and resources
• Ensure alignment between cathedral fundraising development and wider giving strategy

Partnership with Bishoprics & Cathedrals

• Work in close partnership with the Bishoprics & Cathedrals Department
• Provide regular progress updates to the Director of Bishoprics & Cathedrals
• Contribute to the development of future funding proposals and bids

Impact, Business Case, and Growth

• Develop a robust evidence base to demonstrate impact and value, including evidence of money raised for cathedrals because of this role, as well as evidencing greater awareness of funding opportunities within the cathedral network and documenting new opportunities for funding that this role has established
• Produce clear recommendations for future investment and resourcing
• Shape proposals for scaling successful approaches across the cathedral network

About You

Essential Experience

• Significant experience in senior fundraising roles (philanthropy, trusts, or institutional fundraising)
• Track record of developing or scaling fundraising capability within organisations
• Experience working with senior stakeholders and influencing without direct authority
• Experience operating in complex, multi-stakeholder environments
• Experience designing and evaluating programmes or pilots

Desirable Experience

• Experience working with cathedrals, heritage organisations, or within the Church of England
• Experience of national or network-wide programme development
• Experience contributing to funding bids or strategic investment cases

Skills and Abilities

• Strategic thinking: Ability to translate insight into practical, scalable solutions
• Influencing and relationship-building: Able to quickly build credibility and trust with senior leaders
• Analytical capability: Strong ability to assess capacity, diagnose issues, and evaluate impact
• Programme design: Experience creating and managing pilots or innovation programmes
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication, including reporting to senior stakeholders
• Collaboration: Ability to work across teams, departments, and organisational boundaries
• Adaptability: Comfortable working in a new, evolving role with high levels of ambiguity

Personal Attributes

• Credible, confident, and able to operate at senior levels
• Curious and insight-driven, with a strong learning mindset
• Resilient and self-starting, able to shape work in an emerging area
• Work effectively remotely as part of a wider dispersed team
• Committed to the mission and values of the Church of England

Qualifications

• Degree level qualification or equivalent
• Relevant professional qualification (e.g. Chartered Institute of Fundraising) or equivalent experience

Philanthropy Manager

·£45,000 plus benefits 

·Remote with occasional travel to regional offices in Burgess Hill or York offices

·Closing midnight Friday 17th July 2026

·Annual leave allowance / any other stand out benefits

Role 

Brainkind is the UK’s leading charity that supports people that have been affected by brain injury. The charity provides a range of services that includes innovative rehabilitation and ongoing support to ensure that there is life after brain injury. 

The organisation provides support to individuals at all stages of their rehabilitation. This includes

·Supported living

·Neurological Centres

·Residential homes

·Hospitals

The Philanthropy Manager is responsible for leading the leadership and development of Brainkinds philanthropy fundraising activities. This role will focus on the delivery of Brainkind’s capital fundraising initiatives, cultivation and stewardship of high-net-worth individuals and grow strategic corporate partnerships. This is a newly created role that will play an integral part of the Brainkind fundraising strategy.

The primary duties for the role will include

·Develop and deliver capital fundraising strategies to support major infrastructure and service development projects

• Identify and secure major gifts (£25k+) to support capital appeals.
• Develop and manage a portfolio of high-net-worth individuals and prospective major donors.
• Identify, research, and cultivate new prospects through networking, events, and relationship mapping.
• Develop and implement a corporate fundraising strategy aligned to Brainkind’s mission and values.
• Secure new corporate partnerships including strategic, multi-year, and employee engagement partnerships.

Experience and skills required for the role will include

·Previous experience of working in a philanthropy focused role with understanding of engaging with high-net-worth individuals, potential major donors and corporate partners.

·Strong organizational and planning skills

·Excellent relationship management and donor stewardship skills 

·Strong verbal and written communication skills 

·IT literate with the ability to use Microsoft Office and an in-house CRM system

Please download the Candidate Info Pack provided for further information about the role, timelines and next steps. 

Please note, we cannot shortlist candidates who have not had a screening call so please allow enough time to have a call before the closing date. 

Closing date for applications: Midnight Friday 17th July 2026 

Interviews are expected to be held on the week commencing Monday 27thJuly 2026via Teams. 

Salary: £45,000–£47,000 FTE (depending on experience)
Hours: 30–35 hours per week
Location: Hybrid/home-based. Ideally within easy reach of Chelmsford and London. Regular travel to meet colleagues, funders and visit programmes across England.
Reporting to: CEO

Be part of a mission that's transforming children's futures through food, farming and the countryside

For more than 45 years, The Country Trust has been connecting children from the UK's most disadvantaged communities with the land that sustains us all. Through inspiring farm visits, food education and countryside experiences, we've already reached more than 600,000 children, and we're just getting started.

We're entering an exciting new chapter as we develop our next organisational strategy, and we're looking for an experienced fundraising leader to help shape our future.

This is an outstanding opportunity for an ambitious and strategic fundraiser to join our Senior Leadership Team and lead the next phase of our income growth, enabling even more children to benefit from our life-changing programmes.

About the role

As Head of Fundraising, you'll provide strategic leadership across all fundraising activity while remaining hands-on in securing major income and developing key relationships.

You'll lead a dedicated fundraising team, drive innovation, strengthen fundraising systems and processes, and develop a sustainable fundraising strategy that diversifies income across:

• Trusts and foundations
• Corporate partnerships
• Major donors
• Individual giving
• Legacies
• Gaming and Streaming for Good
• Emerging fundraising opportunities

Working closely with the CEO, Senior Leadership Team, Digital and IT colleagues, you'll help embed new fundraising systems, champion data-driven decision making and ensure fundraising excellence across the organisation.

About you

We're looking for an inspiring fundraising leader who combines strategic thinking with practical delivery.

You'll bring:

• Significant senior-level fundraising leadership experience
• A proven track record of securing substantial income across multiple fundraising streams
• Experience developing and delivering fundraising strategies that drive sustainable growth
• Strong leadership skills with experience developing high-performing teams
• Excellent relationship-building, communication and influencing skills
• Financial and commercial awareness, including budgeting and forecasting
• Knowledge of fundraising regulation, GDPR and fundraising best practice
• A passion for improving opportunities for disadvantaged children

Experience developing new income streams, digital fundraising and CRM systems would be particularly valuable.

Why join us?

At The Country Trust, you'll be joining an ambitious charity where collaboration, learning and innovation are at the heart of everything we do.

We offer:

• Hybrid and flexible working
• 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays (FTE)
• Workplace pension
• Homeworking allowance
• Mileage and agreed travel expenses
• A supportive, values-led culture
• The opportunity to shape our future strategy and make a lasting difference to children's lives

We're committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that reflects the communities we serve and welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds.

Key dates

Closing date: 12pm, 3 August
Shortlisting: 6 August
Interviews: Week commencing 24 August

The Country Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful candidate will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check.

This role offers a unique opportunity to make this role your own and take the charity to the next level, with the full support of a dedicated, experienced team.

The successful candidate will ensure that the charity remains resilient and able to deliver on its commitment to grow and evolve to meet the needs of the people we serve.

The role is a mix of operational activity, day to day management and strategic thinking; with the continuous building and nurturing of external relationships with our NHS, public sector and not-for-profit stakeholders.

Working alongside a committed trustee board, skilled staff and volunteers, you will bring drive, experience and passion to the team. You’ll get terrific support from the outgoing postholder as needed, with the space to act and bring your own ideas to the forefront.