Senior executive assistant jobs in belfast

JOB TITLE: Director of Fundraising, Marketing & Communications

LOCATION: Flexible, with regular travel to London

RESPONSIBLE TO: Chief Executive

DIRECT REPORTS: Senior Trusts & Grants Manager, Marketing Manager, Fundraising Manager

HOURS OF WORK: Full time, 35 hours per week

DURATION: SALARY / GRADE: £65,000 to £75,000 (dependent on experience) plus benefits

TEAM SIZE: 6 FTE (with growth plans of up to 12 fte by 2030)

JOB PROFILE

ABOUT ADOPTION UK

Adoption UK is the leading national voice for adoptive families. We exist to ensure that every child and young person who cannot grow up with their birth parents gets the right support at the right time – from childhood into adulthood.

Every year, thousands of children in the UK are adopted – most having experienced trauma, loss, or neglect. Adoption transforms their futures, but it is rarely the end of the story. Adoptive families face unique challenges: children struggling to trust, thrive in school, or feel safe; parents battling to secure the right support; young people navigating identity and belonging. Without the right help, too many families reach breaking point. Adoption UK is there to change this. We are a lifeline for families – offering community, advice, advocacy, and practical support. We champion their voices with government and professionals, driving changes in policy and practice so that no adoptive family feels they are facing the journey alone.

With over 6,000 members, strong credibility with policymakers, and a powerful lived experience community, we are uniquely placed to influence change. Our mission is urgent and nationally significant: to ensure that every adoptive family can thrive, and every adopted child has the chance to fulfil their potential.

DIRECTORATE PURPOSE

The Fundraising, Marketing and Communications directorate is responsible for:

• Income generation across trusts and foundations, corporates, major donors, community fundraising, public donations, and legacies, alongside relationships with commissioners and public sector funders.

• Partnership development, engaging businesses, philanthropists, trusts, and volunteers.

• Marketing of services and membership to families, adoptees, commissioners, and professionals in health, education, and social care.

• Awareness raising and thought leadership, ensuring adoption and permanence issues have a strong voice nationally.

Currently a team of six, the directorate has strong ambitions to grow in size and scope, with scope to re-imagine its structure to meet future needs.

THE ROLE

This is a career-defining opportunity to shape the future of fundraising, marketing and communications at a charity of national importance.

As Director of Fundraising, Marketing & Communications you will:

• Build unrestricted income in a competitive funding environment

• Lead the transformation of Adoption UK’s income model, scaling from £500k to £2m+ contribution (by 2030) to organisational income growth from a £4.2m baseline.

• Develop and deliver a bold, integrated fundraising, marketing, and communications strategy.

• Build Adoption UK’s brand and profile with families, adoptees, commissioners, policymakers, funders, and the wider public.

• Inspire, coach, and grow a talented team, embedding a culture of confidence, creativity, and innovation.

• Personally cultivate and steward high-value donor, corporate, and foundation relationships, working with the CEO, Board of Trustees, and ambassadors.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership

• Lead the design and delivery of a multi-year fundraising, marketing, and communications strategy aligned to organisational priorities.

• Act as a cultural change leader, shifting from risk-averse to confident, outward-facing engagement.

• Contribute fully to the Senior Leadership Team, influencing strategy, governance, and financial planning.

Income Growth & Diversification

• Oversee all voluntary income streams – trusts, major donors, corporates, community/public fundraising, legacies – while also strengthening public sector and commissioning relationships.

• Oversee marketing and growth of membership as a core element of income and impact.

• Deliver long-term growth targets.

• Use and promote data-driven decision-making, supporter journeys, and digital fundraising/marketing effectively.

• Design and deliver a signature annual Showcase event, alongside new products such as a Giving Circle and Corporate Club, ensuring clear ROI and upgrade potential.

• Personally lead cultivation of transformational donor and partner relationships, supported by trustees, ambassadors, and patrons.

• Identify and test new funding streams and partnerships to diversify income and reduce risk.

Marketing & Communications

• Oversee a comprehensive marketing and communications strategy covering fundraising, membership, services, training, campaigns, and advocacy.

• Ensure a compelling and consistent case for support and brand identity across all channels.

• Raise Adoption UK’s national profile with media, commissioners, professionals, and the public.

• Lead digital transformation: CRM upgrade, supporter journeys, analytics, social media, and digital marketing.

• Manage media relations and reputation, including crisis communications alongside the CEO.

Team Leadership & Culture

• Lead, inspire, and grow a team of talented and motivated individuals.

• Model authentic, adaptive, and inclusive leadership – balancing ambition with staff wellbeing.

• Act as a coach and mentor, supporting professional growth and building the next generation of leaders.

• Champion Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and embed values-led behaviours across the team and all external engagement.

• Foster cross-organisational collaboration so fundraising and marketing are understood and supported across Adoption UK.

Financial & Governance

• Lead financial planning, budgeting, and ROI analysis for the directorate.

• Report regularly to CEO and Board of Trustees on progress, opportunities, and risks.

• Lead fundraising due-diligence and reputational risk processes, with regular reporting to Trustee-led committees (e.g. Finance & Risk).

• Ensure compliance with the Fundraising Code, GDPR, charity law, and safeguarding standards.

• Embed robust CRM, data, and analytics to support continuous improvement.

External Engagement

• Act as a visible ambassador for Adoption UK with donors, corporates, trusts and foundations, policymakers, and media.

• In collaboration with the CEO and Chair, direct ambassadors and patrons to open doors, advocate, and steward transformational relationships.

• Represent Adoption UK externally at events, forums, and national platforms.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

• Significant experience leading multi-stream fundraising, with success in at least two of: trusts, corporates, major donors, public fundraising.

• Experience developing marketing and communications strategies beyond fundraising – including brand, service promotion, membership, campaigns, and digital engagement.

• Track record of delivering growth, innovation, or transformation in income and/or organisational profile.

• Strong people leadership skills: ability to coach, inspire, and develop staff, including senior managers.

• Exceptional relationship-builder – credible with philanthropists, corporates, trustees, commissioners, and media.

• Strategic thinker with financial acumen (budgets, ROI, investment planning).

• Authentic communicator with excellent storytelling ability.

• Commitment to Adoption UK’s mission and values, with an inclusive and collaborative leadership style.

• Demonstrates commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of role at all times.

• Contributes to an open and honest culture

• Supports, encourages, and motivates colleagues.

• Encourages challenge, creativity and innovation.

• Leads by example.

• Values transparency and consistency.

• Understands the role of individual and collective accountability.

• Actively contributes to Adoption UK’s mission.

• Has a clear understanding of other colleagues’ roles and responsibilities

• Shares skills and knowledge.

• Promotes Cross Functional team working.

• Offers outstanding service to members.

• Takes pride in Adoption UK and promotes its values in all interactions with external stakeholders.

• Identifies and uses the most appropriate form of communication.

• Communicates clearly, seeking clarity when unclear and valuing the opinion of others.

• Treats colleagues and other stakeholders with respect, honesty, fairness and courtesy

• Is responsive to colleagues, third party professionals and service users.

• Takes pride in own development.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

• Enthusiastic and committed to achieving high standards and meeting agreed objectives.

• Takes an active interest in recognising professional and personal development needs and priorities within Adoption UK.

Desirable

• Experience in child welfare, family support, education, or adoption.

• Evidence of leading digital transformation in fundraising, marketing, or CRM.

• Existing networks in philanthropy, corporate CSR/ESG, or foundations relevant to Adoption UK’s mission.

This role profile is a guide to the nature of the work required and may involve other such duties as deemed necessary by the Organisation. It is not wholly comprehensive or restrictive. The role profile will be reviewed with the post-holder at significant points for the Organisation.

Postholder is expected to abide by all organisational policies, codes of conduct and practice, and to work within a framework of equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice.

The Opportunity

This is more than a fundraising role — it is an opportunity to lead transformational change for a cause of national importance. You will:

• Shape and lead a directorate spanning fundraising, marketing, and communications.

• Deliver transformational income growth and secure Adoption UK’s sustainability.

• Build Adoption UK’s brand and reputation as the national champion for adoptive families.

• Market services, membership, and campaigns so more families and professionals engage with our work.

• Lead cultural change, inspiring a confident, outward-facing, and innovative fundraising and marketing function.

Few roles offer such scope to combine fundraising growth, brand leadership, and culture change in a mission of such national importance. This is your chance to make a lasting impact – on Adoption UK, on your career, and on thousands of children and families across the UK.

Timetable:

The closing date for this role is 20th October 2025. However, Adoption UK reserves the right to end the application period sooner so we would recommend you complete the application form as soon as possible.

Shortlisting will be carried out on 22 to 24 October 2025 and you should be notified of an outcome within fifteen working days of the closing date.

The panel will shortlist based on those applicants who best meet the criteria for the role.

The date(s) scheduled for first interviews will be 3rd November 2025. These dates may be subject to change and applications will be advised in advance should this happen.

Head of Income Generation and Marketing

• FTE £37- £42k dependant on experience.

• 35 hours a week (flexible for right candidate).

• Home based with travel for events and meetings.

The PDA Society is looking to recruit its first ever Head of role and we believe the right person could be transformative for our organisation. We are a small charity that makes a big impact – and we are excited to recruit someone who is hands on, pragmatic and experienced in raising income onto our team.

We are looking for a goal oriented, entrepreneurial individual who can help us maximise our fundraised and earned income through effective relationships and online communications. Over the next three years, we must significantly expand our free services and support offers for the people who most need them – and this role will be entrusted with ensuring we can afford to do that.

You will be part of a fast moving, high performing team who are determined to make a difference. This is a small organisation where senior team members do as well as plan. So while you’ll be setting direction and leading strategy, you’ll also be rolling your sleeves up and delivering directly alongside colleagues. You’ll be supported by a small communications team and a small budget to commission trust applications, and you’ll hold responsibility for maintaining trust funder relationships and ensuring reporting is timely and accurate.

If you have provable experience in growing income in a small charity or training organisation, are excited by growth, and want to make a difference to some of the most underserved disabled people in the UK this could be the job for you.

Finance Business Partner 

Salary £46,000 - £51,000 per annum (dependant upon skills and experience) 

Location Remote - Travel to Whitby, Croft, Malton and Middlesbrough will be required on a monthly basis 

Purpose: 

As a Finance Business Partner, you will work closely with the directorates, department heads and regional budget holders (supporting multiple sites), ensuring the delivery of full and effective financial service. 

 The role is one of decision support: providing, analysing and interpreting management information to influence decision making and to deliver service improvements and efficiencies 

Partner with the directors and regional budget holders providing insight and understanding to ensure the Trust meets its financial objectives. 

Regularly spend time in our communities, working with our budget holders to understand and drive performance. 

Location & Travel: 

Remote. 

The role is mainly remote (home-based); however, you will be expected to regularly attend our Northern communities – Botton Village near Whitby, Croft in Malton and Larchfield in Middlesbrough. 

Duties & Responsibilities: 

Key responsibilities include: 

• Ownership of budget and forecasting process for your community/ directorate /depts operations. 

• Working as a team with the other Finance Business Partners, ensure a timely process and a high level of accuracy and engagement. 

• Compilation of the monthly management accounts, including KPI’s and explanations for major variances to budget. 

• Build and manage relationships and network productively. 

• Working with budget holders to provide insight and challenge the performance of operations identifying trends and opportunities for improved financial performance. 

• Responsible for all journal entries into the accounting system for the directorates, and departments they support e.g., accruals, prepayments etc. 

• Ensuring best practices is adhered at the communities and with budget holders so that they are compliant with organisation financial procedures. 

• Provision of support and guidance to operational staff to assist them in effective use of the Trust financial systems. 

• Monthly review of rotas, payroll, and commissioned income to identify any issues of overstaffing or commissioned rates. 

• Responsible for the Annual income review for any uplifts including annual housing rental review. 

• Ensuring sales invoicing is undertaken on a timely basis by the Assistant Finance Business Partner (as and when required). 

• Reconciliation of the Income proof in totals. 

• Effective credit control, to ensure receipts are received on a timely basis. 

• Work closely with the Financial Controller to ensure all financial returns are completed and submitted Centrally on a timely basis e.g. weekly banking’s, year-end accounts etc. 

• Maintain a regular stock take and stock valuation process. 

• Responsible for review of relevant community expense (nominal) codes, ensuring income and expenditure is coded appropriately. 

• Line management of Assistant Finance Business Partner. 

General: 

• To comply with the Trust’s Policies and Procedures, including Safeguarding, Equality & Diversity and Data Protection. 

• To comply with the statutory provisions of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. 

• Employees must look after their own health, safety and welfare and be mindful of other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions. Employees must co-operate and comply with management instructions regarding Health and Safety issues and report all accidents, incidents and problems as soon as practicable to their manager or other senior members of staff where necessary. 

• To ensure that confidentiality is respected and maintained at all times. 

• To attend and participate in Team Meetings, 1-2-1 Supervision sessions and other meetings as required in line with the post. 

• To undertake any other duties which are consistent with this post, as directed by line management. 

This job description is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of the department. 

Person Specification: 

Essential: 

• A recognised accountancy qualification - ACA /ACCA/CIMA qualified, finalist or part qualified, or QBE. 

• Minimum 2 years in a similar senior finance role with a strong background in financial analysis, budgeting, and forecasting within the charity sector. 

• Strategic knowledge and experience of finance and business planning 

• Proven experience of supporting business performance management and reporting processes. 

• Proven experience of business partnering and/or working closely with non-financial colleagues at varying levels of seniority. 

• Experience of preparation of management accounts and multi operational reporting. 

• Knowledge & understanding of internal controls& core accounting systems and processes. 

• Ability to interact with non-financial business partners is key i.e. Operations, interpreting complex financial information, positions/ situations articulately. 

Desirable: 

• Degree in finance or accounting. 

• Previous experience in an accounting role in the Charity or Housing Sectors. 

• Iplicit accounting system in a multi cost centre environment. 

• Experience/understanding of VAT partial exemption. 

• Knowledge of Fixed Assets and Accounting for Capital expenditure projects. 

Our client is an equal opportunity employer. 

The Organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all adults who use our services and as such expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be required to complete the relevant pre-employment checks including a DBS check. 

They reserve the right to close this advert early if we receive a sufficient number of applications. 

At Viva, we want children everywhere to have life in all its fullness. Viva inspires, supports and connects networks of churches and community-based organisations to work together to make a bigger, better and longer-lasting impact in the lives of children.

We do this by providing coaching, supporting programme implementation, helping them access funding, creating tools to measure impact, and facilitating a global community of learning.

As Viva's Finance & Operations Manager, you will ensure the smooth running of the organisation’s finance and operational systems. You’ll be in a hands-on role, responsible for day-to-day bookkeeping, financial administration, and supporting core operational processes for the UK charity and overseas entities. Working alongside the COO and Finance Director, you will help ensure Viva remains financially sound, compliant and efficient. Through all this, you will play a vital role in making it possible for Viva to achieve its goal of enabling more children to live life in all its fullness.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Finance: undertaking and managing the efficient day-to-day operation of Viva’s finance function 
• Operations: ensuring the effective operation of our logistics, IT infrastructure and data

This role will suit you if:

• you have a demonstrated track record of financial management experience
• you are experienced in managing operational systems, in particular IT and data protection
• you have an accountancy qualification e.g. minimum AAT Level 3 
• you are a great problem solver with high levels of accuracy and attention to detail
• you are looking to join a welcoming, creative, supportive and international team

Location: this role can be remote, hybrid or office-based in Viva’s Oxford office with occasional travel to the office or other locations in the UK

Hours: 37.5 hours a week, Monday to Friday

Salary: £40,000 per annum

Reporting to: Finance Director

How to apply: Take a look at the full job description and person spec in the Job Information Pack and then click the CharityJob Apply button below. You’ll be asked to submit a CV and cover letter and answer a few short screening questions about your relevant skills. Please note that you will need the right to live and work in the UK to apply for this role.

Key dates: the closing date will be midnight on Sunday 26th October 2025. Interviews will be held online on Thursday 6th November 2025.