Senior grants programme manager jobs

As Senior New Business Manager, you will lead the new business function of our high-performing and ambitious Corporate Partnerships team. You will be responsible for driving new corporate income by identifying, cultivating and securing major partnerships. You will lead all new business activity with the New Business Manager, from proactive outreach and developing compelling propositions to successfully negotiating and onboarding new partners. 

Working closely with teams across the Charity and The Royal Marsden, you will create partnership proposals that align corporate objectives with those of the Charity. You will also lead long‑term strategic planning of the function, support the development of our Corporate Partnerships Board, and ensure the highest standards of reporting, forecasting and data management. 

This is a highly visible and impactful role, ideal for someone who combines creativity, commercial insight and strategic thinking with a passion for building relationships that create meaningful impact. 

Key responsibilities 

• Lead the New Business function, building a strong pipeline and securing high‑value, multi‑year corporate partnerships. 

• Drive income growth, meeting ambitious six‑ and seven‑figure annual and multi‑year targets while managing financial performance, budgets and forecasts. 

• Develop and deliver compelling, tailored corporate propositions, collaborating across the Charity and hospital to create standout proposals and pitches. 

• Support senior leadership, including maximising the value of the Corporate Partnerships Board and strengthening key internal stakeholder relationships. 

• Oversee new partner onboarding, negotiating partnership agreements and ensuring a smooth transition to the Partnership Management team. 

• Lead and develop the New Business Manager, providing clear direction and supporting their growth. 

About you

You will be an experienced and driven partnerships specialist, with a strong track record of securing high‑value relationships in the charity or commercial sector. Confident, creative, highly proactive and a natural leader, you will bring a blend of strategic thinking and hands‑on delivery.
 

You will bring:
 

• Proven success in corporate fundraising or business development, ideally within the charity sector. 

• Excellent communication and relationship‑building skills, with the ability to engage confidently with senior stakeholders. 

• Strong negotiation and influencing ability, with experience delivering high‑impact pitches and presentations. 

• Creative and strategic thinking, with a flair for writing compelling proposals. 

• Strong organisational, analytical and planning skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities. 

• A collaborative, solution‑focused approach and the confidence to work both independently and as part of a high‑performing team. 

What we offer: 

• Competitive salary of £45,000-£50,000 

• Hybrid working between home and Chelsea with occasional travel to Sutton 

• Flexible working around our core hours of 10am to 4pm 

• 27 days annual leave rising with length of service 

• Training, support and development opportunities 

• Access to the Blue Light discount scheme and other discounts opportunities 

• Range of wellbeing initiatives including access to an employee assistance programme designed to save money and improve your physical, financial and mental health and wellbeing, access to free online GP appointments and free eye tests and contribution towards any glasses required for work purposes 

• Opportunities for training and career development. 

Inclusion matters 

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and walks of life. 

If this sounds like the opportunity for you, we’d love to hear from you. 

The Trusts and Foundations Manager will lead the development of a new income stream that supports the organisation’s future growth and strategic ambitions. With no current active grants or established project portfolio, the postholder will build the foundations of a strong trusts and foundations programme, developing a robust pipeline, shaping emerging ideas into fundable opportunities, and securing long-term income to enable new services.

Working collaboratively across the organisation, they will help colleagues understand funder expectations, develop compelling cases for support, and build the systems required for sustainable, high-quality grant fundraising. This role is central to diversifying income and ensuring the organisation is well positioned to secure future investment as new projects are developed.

ROLE OVERVIEW

The Trusts and Foundations Manager will develop and grow a new trusts and foundations income stream from the ground up. They will build a pipeline of prospective funders, shape emerging ideas into fundable opportunities, and lead on high quality applications that support the organisation’s future projects. Working collaboratively across directorates, they will cultivate strong funder relationships and establish the systems needed for sustainable, long‑term income growth.

KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Planning and Strategy

• Lead the development of a new trusts and foundations income stream, building a sustainable portfolio of prospective, warm, and active funders.
• Create and maintain a structured pipeline that clearly maps cultivation, application, and stewardship stages.
• Establish effective systems, processes, and tools for researching, tracking, and managing all funding opportunities.
• Work with colleagues across the organisation to identify future fundable projects and shape them into compelling propositions.
• Develop annual trusts and foundations workplans and income forecasts aligned to organisational priorities.

Prospecting and Research

• Identify and research new trust, foundation, and statutory funders, prioritising those with the strongest alignment to RLSS UK’s mission and strategic framework.
• Identify creative ways to engage new funders and build early relationships, even before projects are fully developed.
• Stay informed about new trust and foundation funding opportunities and broader sector developments and funder priorities, to strengthen the fundraising strategy.

Bid Writing and Proposal Development

• Develop high quality, persuasive, and tailored funding applications that clearly articulate the need and potential impact.
• Ensure all proposals clearly articulate the need, planned impact, and align with funder requirements and priorities.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across Education, Commercial Services, Finance and the wider Income Generation and Engagement team to develop credible cases for support, project budgets and clear anticipated impact.
• Identify the most appropriate approach for each funder, including opportunities for multi‑year grants and strategic partnerships.

Relationship Management and Stewardship

• Cultivate strong, positive relationships with funders, ensuring personalised, timely and impact focused stewardship for all supporters.
• Provide excellent donor care, responding promptly to enquiries and ensuring funders feel informed, valued, and connected to RLSS UK’s mission.
• Represent RLSS UK confidently in funder meetings, presentations, and networking events to strengthen long term support.

Reporting and Evaluation

• Monitor and report on trusts and foundations fundraising performance against KPIs and targets, reporting on performance to the Director of Income Generation and Engagement, Senior Leadership Team and the Board of Trustees. 
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date information in the CRM.
• Support the development of monitoring and evaluation frameworks to ensure future projects can deliver strong, funder‑ready impact reporting.
• Collaborate with internal teams to collect evidence of impact and evaluate programme performance.
• Support audit processes related to restricted funding alongside the Finance team.
• Use data-driven insights and KPIs to evaluate and refine strategies for maximum impact and return on investment.

Other Duties & Responsibilities

• All other duties reasonably associated with your role, as directed by the Line Manager.
• Act as an ambassador for the Income Generation & Engagement directorate, supporting a culture of collaboration, learning and innovation.
• Ensure compliance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 by complying with internal information governance policies and maintaining up-to-date documentation as part of RLSS UK’s compliance programme.
• Demonstrate and uphold the Society’s values and behavioural standards at all times.
• Create an inclusive working environment where diversity is valued, everyone can contribute, and everyday actions ensure we meet our duty to uphold and promote equality.

This job description is not to be regarded as exclusive or exhaustive. It is intended as an outline indication of areas of activity and responsibility and will be amended in light of the changing needs of the organisation.

PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential Relevant Experience, Skills and/or Aptitudes

• Proven experience in securing and managing trusts, foundations, or similar institutional funding.
• Comfortable working in an environment where systems, processes, and programmes are being built from the ground up.
• Strong understanding of CRM systems.
• Strong strategic thinking coupled with hands on delivery.
• Excellent written communication skills with the ability to craft persuasive proposals, cases for support and impact reports.
• Strong organisational and project management skills.
• Strong understanding of return on investment (ROI) and the ability to evaluate the effectiveness, sustainability, and value of fundraising activity.
• Strong relationship-building and stakeholder management abilities.
• A collaborative approach to working across teams and engaging stakeholders.
• Experience of developing or significantly growing a trusts and foundations pipeline.
• Ability to work confidently with financial information, including project budgets and restricted funding.
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly and concisely to a range of audiences.
• Understanding of fundraising regulation, GDPR, and ethical fundraising practices.

Desirable Relevant Experience, Skills and/or Aptitudes

• Knowledge and understanding of RLSS UK’s mission, values and strategic priorities.
• Experience securing multi-year or six-figure grants from trusts, foundations, or statutory bodies.
• Experience of establishing monitoring, evaluation, or impact frameworks that meet funder requirements.
• Understanding of water safety, education, youth engagement, community development or related fields.
• Experience working in a small team or start‑up environment or programme development.

ABOUT RLSS UK

The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) is the leading charity for water safety and drowning prevention in the UK and Ireland. Our mission is to save lives by being the leader in lifesaving, lifeguarding, and water safety education so that everyone can enjoy water safely. We share our expertise, skills, and knowledge to empower people enjoy water safely and achieve our vision; communities free from drowning.

WHAT RLSS UK CAN OFFER YOU

RLSS UK is a national Charity based in Worcester, and we offer great staff benefits including -

• Annual Leave based on 27 days + Bank Holidays + a discretionary day off for your birthday
• Private Medical Scheme*
• Enhanced Society Sick Pay*
• Eye Care*
• Employee Assistance Programme via Health Assured
• Life Assurance Scheme
• Howdens Sports Benefits/Perks at Work
• Free RLSS UK Membership
• Free tea and coffee when working from HQ, including access to our wonderful Coffee Machine
• Free on-site parking when working from HQ
• Company Events and more!

*Subject to eligibility criteria

YOUR APPLICATION

Please send your CV along with a Cover Letter outlining why you should join our Income Generation and Engagement Team 

Closing Date – 5.00pm, Tuesday 17th March 2026

Interview Date – Wednesday 25th March 2026 at our Worcester Head Office (subject to change)

Should you wish to discuss the role, any reasonable adjustments you may require throughout the recruitment process, or have any questions, please get in touch where a member of the RLSS UK HR Department will be happy to help.

RLSS UK are a Disability Confident Committed Employer and an INclusive Worcestershire Leader.

The Stuart Low Trust (SLT) is a well-respected and award-winning charity based in Islington supporting people who experience mental health issues and socially isolated.SLT was created to be radically different from other local charities – uniquely accessible, inclusive and community-embedded. We create safe, inclusive and welcoming spaces to build confidence, connection and hope.  You will be joining a small friendly team, where we care about staff wellbeing. 

Founded in memory of Stuart Low, who tragically took his own life aged only 27 when he couldn’t find the right support, SLT has been embedded in Islington’s community since 1997.Today we support over 500 adults per year through social groups -creative arts, nature-based activities, wellbeing workshops and peer support.90% of participants report improved mental health and wellbeing. 

Why Join Us?  
This is an opportunity to play a transformative role in a small but impactful charity. Your work will directly enable adults experiencing isolation to access safe, creative and life-affirming activities. You will help shape the next stage of SLT’s growth — strengthening financial resilience while being rooted in compassion, inclusion and community.  We believe in trusting the expertise of our staff and giving them the freedom to thrive with regular support on hand when needed. 

Why this Role is Different 
You will be stepping into an organisation in a strong position to build on: 

• Multi-year funding security (63% of next year’s income already secured through multi-year grants, 4 months’ free reserves, annual income circa £250k). 
• Trusted funders include City Bridge Foundation, Garfield Weston, Sport England and leading City Livery Companies. 
• Strategic Plan 2024–28 with clear goals. 
• An expert consultant designed fundraising growth roadmap for the exciting opportunities in and around Islington (tech companies, creative industries, City of London including livery companies). 
• Excellent impact measurement systems. 
• A highly experienced Chief Executive with 30 years in the sector. 
• A collaborative and supportive team, who understand fundraising is everyone’s responsibility. 

We are small, respected, financially stable — and ready for our next phase of development.This is a strategic role, but very hands-on. Perfect for someone who thrives in a small charity where you can see the impact of your work every week. 

Who we are seeking 
We are seeking an ambitious and strategic Fundraising Manager. This is a hands-on role for an experienced fundraiser who enjoys writing high-quality grant applications and building strong relationships with supporters. Reporting to the Chief Executive, you will have a primary focus on strengthening our trusts and foundations pipeline, while building on our existing corporate, community and individual giving to diversify income, particularly among local supporters and City-based businesses.  

We are seeking a fundraiser who combines: 

• A strong track record securing trust and foundation income 
• Experience growing income beyond trusts (corporate, community or individual) 
• Excellent storytelling and bid-writing skills 
• Confidence engaging senior stakeholders 
• Emotional intelligence and relationship-building strength 
• Comfort working autonomously in a small team 
• Experience in a mental health organisation or small charity is desirable but not essential.

Summary role description 

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, you will: 

Lead & Strengthen Trusts and Foundations Income 

• Own and develop a strong pipeline. 
• Write compelling, high-quality applications. 
• Deepen funder relationships to secure renewals and uplifts. 

Diversify Income (Strategic Growth Area) 

• Develop corporate partnerships in Islington, King’s Cross tech, creative industries and the City. 
• Build community and individual giving, especially among affluent local residents. 
• Shape meaningful long-term partnerships, not transactional asks. 

Build Sustainable Systems 

• Strengthen stewardship journeys. 
• Improve unrestricted income streams. 
• Use donor tracking systems and explore AI tools intelligently and ethically. 
• Contribute to fundraising communications and our profile-building. 

What You’ll Gain 

• Real autonomy and ownership 
• 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays
• Occupational pension scheme 
• Hybrid and flexible working arrangements
• Access to training and development opportunities 
• Supportive management culture, line-managed by the Chief Executive, who has 30 years' experience in the charity sector 
• Opportunity to shape a three-year diversification journey 
• Direct strategic influence in a respected charity 
• A genuinely collaborative, values-led culture 

Location 
Based at Jean Stokes Community Centre, Islington (5 minutes by bus from King’s Cross) 

Application instructions 
Please note, while we appreciate the value of AI tools, we strongly prefer that applicants prepare their supporting statements with minimal use of AI.This helps us to better understand your authentic voice, skills and motivation for this role.Thank you. 

This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS check and two satisfactory references. 

We are embrace diversity, equality of opportunity and inclusion. We are committed to building a team that represents are variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills.The more inclusive we are, the more we can achieve. 

Deadline for applications: Sunday, 5th April 2026 at 11.30pm
Interviews: Monday, 20th April 2026 
Estimated Start:June/July 2026 

Overview of Role:

Church Army is looking for an experienced ‘Apprenticeship Programme Lead’ to implement, support and develop our Youth Ministry Apprenticeship Programme, focusing on developing practitioners to inhabit the qualities outlined in the Ministerial Formation Framework.

Church Army has been awarded funding by the Church of England’s Resourcing Ministerial Formation Innovation Fund and the 30K Project to develop a three-year pilot project to develop Level 3 Apprenticeship Training for Church Based Youth Workers. This is part of the Church of England’s 30K Project, to raise up 30,000 new children and youth ministers (both voluntary and employed) by 2030.

The postholder will manage programme delivery, resources, quality assurance, assessment, and reporting, and will act as the main liaison with dioceses, training providers, and National Church Institutions, including using the Church of England grant management system. You will contribute to the design and review of training pathways, teach and assess apprentices, and oversee Ministerial Formation Tutors. You will ensure that training is aligned with emerging practice and national strategy.

Salary: £46,085 per annum

Hours:37.5  per week

Pension: Church Army is an auto enrolment pension employer. You will be assessed under pension auto enrolment criteria.

Annual Leave: 25 days, plus Bank Holidays (total 33 days)

Contract:Fixed-Term, 3 years.

DBS: A DBS check is not required for this post. However, all staff are expected to read and comply with Church Army’s Safer Ministry Policy.

Everyone in Church Army is responsible for making sure that Church Army has a safe and healthy safeguarding culture. We are committed to protecting the vulnerable and ensuring the highest possible safeguarding standards. We expect everyone in Church Army to be familiar and comply with our Safer Ministry Policy, undergo any safer recruitment processes, and report any concerns or behaviours they don’t think are right to a member of the safeguarding team or someone they trust.

Occupational Requirement:  This post is subject to an Occupational Requirement under the provisions made in the Equality Act 2010 that the post holder has an active faith in Jesus. The successful candidate must be in agreement with the vision and values of Church Army.

Application Deadline:31st March 2026

Interview Date:   17th April 2026

Next Steps:

For more information on the role, you can find the job description and person specification for the post here.

To apply, please download and complete a Faith Based Application Form  for this post. When you are ready to submit your application, please email your completed application form, in word format. 

PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT ACCEPT CVs

This is an exciting opportunity for a Project Manager to join the Sister Circle team and lead our contribution to a newly formed partnership to deliver integrated, trauma-informed, culturally attuned support to minoritised women survivors of domestic abuse who are accessing or have accessed safe accommodation across London.

Sister Circle is a women-led charity with 45 years' experience of advancing health equity and justice for women from diverse communities. Rooted in our local communities, we work to ensure women and families receive compassionate, accessible and culturally informed support.

We are grounded in lived experience with the shared belief that every woman deserves to feel safe, heard and supported.

The Role

As the Project Manager, you will lead Sister Circle’s Healing Conversations Programme contribution to the SafeRoots DASA Partnership. The role has three deliverables: Providing trauma counselling, peer support for pregnancy/baby loss and birth trauma and our Women’s Conversation Cafe sessions, as part of a wider support offer through our SafeRoots Partnership (funded by MOPAC/DASA). 

We would love to hear from you if:

• you bring proven project management experience and a deep understanding of gender‑based violence and trauma recovery.  
• can contribute confidently and compassionately to our trauma‑informed and survivor‑centred practice.
• you will ensure women experiencing domestic abuse and other forms of trauma, are met with dignity, understanding and culturally attuned care throughout their healing journey whilst living in safe accommodations.

Key Competencies

Project and Performance Management: Proven ability to successfully project manage complex projects within time, budget, and quality specifications while meeting key performance indicators (KPIs).

Stakeholder Collaboration: Experience working with strategic partners, and internal colleagues to strengthen referral and support pathways. Ability to advocate for equitable healthcare in senior management settings.

Problem-Solving: Ability to identify and refine solutions that remove barriers to support for beneficiaries.

Analytical Thinking: Analysing current and new data generated from the programme, interpreting findings, and presenting reports within agreed timelines. Ability to use data insights to drive support improvements and demonstrate impact to stakeholders.

How to Apply

CV (maximum of 2 sides of A4) and Cover Letter (maximum 1 side A4).

Your covering letter will tell us why you would like this role, how your experience meets the role requirements and why you would like to join Sister Circle.

Applications without a covering letter and received after the deadline will not be considered.

Deadline: 18.03.2026 (Midday)

This post is open to female applicants only as this is deemed a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) for this role under Schedule 9, Paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010.

Job Title: Gifting Manager
Reporting to: Head of Marketing & Fundraising
Location: Petty Pool Trust, Cheshire (hybrid)
Contract: Part-time – 3 days a week.
Salary: £23,631.23 – £26,597.16 pro rata (£39,385.38 – £44,328.59 FTE)

Job Purpose

The Gifting Manager will lead the development and delivery of Petty Pool Trust’s legacy giving and alumni programmes. This is a new and strategically important role, responsible for creating and embedding a sustainable legacy pipeline that will generate long-term income to support young people with learning disabilities to thrive.

The postholder will design and implement a comprehensive legacy strategy, build awareness among supporters, cultivate future legacy pledgers, and establish systems and processes to steward legacy gifts effectively and sensitively. They’ll oversee development of an alumni programme for learners and their families for medium term major gifts and donations to ensure sustainable incomes streams for the charity, towards both restricted and unrestricted funding requirements. W

This is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful impact within a values-led charity dedicated to improving life chances for young people with learning disabilities. Petty Pool is proud to have been recognised as Outstanding to Work For 2025 by Best Companies, a reflection of our strong culture, clear values, and deep commitment to our people.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Programme Development

• Develop and implement a multi-year legacy strategy aligned with Petty Pool’s wider fundraising and organisational goals.
• Establish clear income projections, KPIs and reporting mechanisms for legacy fundraising. Identify and segment target audiences for legacy giving.
• Develop the case for support for legacy giving in collaboration with senior leadership and communications teams.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation and best practice, including the Fundraising Regulator and GDPR.
• Design and promote a Free Wills programme, working with local law firms and partners. Create an Alumni Strategy for engaging learners and their families, creating support that lasts into the future and a medium-term giving pipeline.

Marketing & Awareness

• Work collaboratively with fundraising, marketing, and comms teams to develop legacy and alumni marketing materials (print, digital, web, events), integrated campaigns, and engage with volunteers.
• Ensure legacy messaging is embedded across supporter communications and fundraising activities.
• Work with the Communications team to share impact stories that demonstrate long-term transformational outcomes.

Supporter Engagement & Stewardship

• Build and manage relationships with legacy pledgers, alumni families, and high-potential supporters.
• Develop a stewardship programme for legacy/alumni supporters and prospects, face to face, via email, telephone and post, to proactively keep supporters inspired and engaged.
• Organise cultivation events and engagement opportunities.
• Work closely with fundraising colleagues to identify legacy prospects. Handle sensitive conversations about gifts in wills with professionalism and empathy.
• Contribute to our Annual Impact Statement, working closely with Fundraising, Marketing and Communications Teams.

Pipeline & Data Management

• Establish systems to track legacy and alumni prospects, pledges and realised gifts.
• Develop processes for recording and forecasting legacy income.
• Analyse data to inform targeting and strategy development.
• Ensure legacy administration processes are robust and legally compliant.

Internal Collaboration

• Work collaboratively with senior leadership to embed legacy thinking across the organisation.
• Support trustees and senior volunteers to act as ambassadors for legacy giving where appropriate.
• Provide internal training and awareness sessions to staff about legacy fundraising.

Income Management & Reporting

• Monitor and report on pipeline growth, pledges and realised legacy income.
• Provide regular updates to senior leadership and trustees.
• Contribute to annual budgeting and long-term financial forecasting.

Key Outcomes

• Fully developed and embedded legacy giving and alumni programmes within 12 months.
• A measurable and growing pipeline of both legacy pledgers and alumni supporters.
• Increased awareness of legacy giving among Petty Pool supporters and stakeholders.
• Sustainable, forecastable long-term income generation

Staff Benefits

• 28 days annual leave, plus 8 public bank holidays
• On-site parking
• Company Sick Pay (after passing probationary period)
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Free meals when commuting by car sharing, walking or cycling
• Bike rack facilities
• Company pension scheme
• Smart casual dress

Essential Experience

• Proven experience in legacy fundraising, in memory fundraising, or major donor fundraising.
• Experience developing and implementing fundraising strategies.
• Track record of building and managing supporter relationships.
• Experience of managing fundraising campaigns or marketing initiatives. Knowledge of legacy administration, probate law and UK charity fundraising regulations.

Essential Skills & Knowledge

• Strong understanding of legacy fundraising best practice.
• Ability to develop compelling cases for support and donor communications, and to work collaboratively with marketing and fundraising teams.
• Excellent relationship-building and interpersonal skills.
• High level of sensitivity and emotional intelligence when discussing gifts in wills, and empathy and compassion when dealing with bereaved families and supporters.
• Strong analytical skills with experience using CRM/database systems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work strategically while delivering operationally.

Desirable Experience

• Experience working in disability, education, or youth charities.
• Experience launching a new legacy programme.
• Knowledge of probate processes and estate administration.
• Experience working with solicitors and funeral directors.
• Experience working with trustees or senior stakeholders.

Personal Attributes

• Passion for Petty Pool’s mission and values.
• Strategic thinker with a long-term perspective.
• Self-motivated and able to build a programme from the ground up.
• Collaborative and able to influence across teams.
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail.

About You. 

You will be a self-motivated and proactive senior trust fundraiser, excited about this new role and achieving our ambitious fundraising goals – approaching it with good humour, resilience and resourcefulness, and confident in your skills and abilities. 

Professional, reliable and highly organised, you will enjoy working collaboratively, able to inspire and support colleagues, and have a strong team ethos.Outgoing and engaging, you will be able to convey a passion for nature and wildlife to different audiences and feel confident when sharing our vision and impact with others. You will be able to nurture and develop relationships with key stakeholders, including those we do not already have a relationship with.

You will have a strong knowledge of Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent and be able to work/travel throughout the county.

We welcome applications from senior trust fundraisers, bid writers from the commercial sector and senior fundraisers from major donors or corporate partnerships who can demonstrate transferable skills and knowledge, and success at the income levels required. 

About the Role.  

We are investing in our Fundraising and Development team to deliver an ambitious 5-year fundraising strategy. The Trusts and Philanthropy Manager is pivotal in securing philanthropic support from trusts and foundations, legacies, major donors, and corporate partners.

 
Over the strategy period you will be responsible for developing annual trust and grant income to £500,000+, by securing grants of five figures and above and gaining multi-year donations.Using your experience in creating strong cases for support, including unrestricted costs, and pipeline development, you will work with two part-time colleagues to increase annual income from major donors, legacies and corporate partners to £250,000+ (excluding exceptional legacy gifts). 

With curiosity, you will identify funding opportunities and reach new audiences. You will thrive on building strong, long-lasting relationships, cultivating donors through verbal and written communications, and managing stewardship events.

As a senior manager, you will have budget responsibility, report regularly, and mitigate under performance.You will ensure joined-up planning and delivery, developing fundraising relationships across income streams, and you will enjoy line management, collaborating with others, and leading project groups to deliver targets on deadlines. 

A typical week is expected to include at least 2 days from our Wolseley Head Office, 1-2days in Staffordshire to secure new support and meet donors, the remaining time worked remotely, with flexibility as required. 

About Us. 

“Staffordshire Wildlife Trust protects and enhances the wildlife and wild places of Staffordshire and promotes understanding, enjoyment and involvement in the natural world.” 

A registered charity established in 1969, we are one of 46 county Wildlife Trusts throughout the UK and are supported by over 18,000 members. 

The Trust owns or manages 45 nature reserves covering an area of over 1900 hectares. We have around 140 staff, based in six locations around the county including our Headquarters at Wolseley Bridge, Stafford, with our work divided into four departments: Conservation Delivery & Engagement, Fundraising and Development, HR & Support Services, and Resources. The Trust has a diverse workforce including site wardens, wildlife surveyors, community and education officers, catering, retail and administration. 

In addition, we have a trading company which looks after the trading side of our business. This includes a café at The Wolseley Centre, charity shops in Leek, Penkridge and Codsall, and a retail shop in the Wolseley Centre. 

We’re Wild About Inclusion! To us, this means inspiring, empowering and engaging people from all backgrounds, cultures, identities and abilities, to change the natural world for the better. It means creating workspaces where difference is celebrated, everyone can be themselves and flourish, just like nature. 

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust is committed to keeping children and young people safe, you can see our policy on our website.Safeguarding and protecting our visitors, customers, members, staff and volunteers is the responsibility of every trustee, employee, and volunteer at Staffordshire Wildlife Trust. For applicable roles, applicants must be willing to undergo checks with past employers and Disclosure and Barring Service checks at the eligible level. 

Disability Confident Employer. As a Disability Confident accredited employer, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for vacancies. We particularly encourage applications from people who are underrepresented within our sector, including people from minority backgrounds and people with disabilities. We are committed to creating a movement that recognises and truly values individual differences and identities. 

At SWT, we are committed to creating a safe environment where discrimination, bullying, and harassment are not tolerated. We expect everyone to uphold, respect, and support our zero-tolerance policy.

Please be aware we may not accept applications if we have reason to believe they have been wholly produced using generative AI tools 

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust is a registered charity.Charity No: 259558.

Closing Date:  9am on Monday 30th March 2026 

Interviews: 1st stage - MS Teams call during the recruitment period 
2nd stage -Wed 8 April or Fri 10 April 2026

Research Grants Manager
Contract type: Fixed Term Contract (24 months) 
Full time: 34.5 hours, we are open to a conversation about how you work these hours
Location: Hybrid between home and our London office (expected to be in the office at least quarterly). Additional travel required to events, conferences and workshops in London and nationally (approximately once per month).
Salary range: £62,500 - £68,500

Are you an experienced research funding professional who thrives on building programmes from the ground up? Do you want to shape a brand‑new Research Institute to improve the lives of people living with cancer?

We are looking for a Research Grants Manager to play a central role in establishing a new Research Institute to deliver world-leading, actionable research. The Institute will build Macmillan’s position as a national leader in applied cancer research, focusing on unmet needs, service improvement, inequalities, patient experience, and the wider non-clinical impact of cancer. This is an exciting opportunity to join us at a pivotal moment and help build a research programme with real‑world impact.

About us

At Macmillan you'll find talented people working together to do whatever it takes to support people living with cancer. We're going all out to find even better ways to help even more people who need our support. Our values are at the heart of who we are and everything we do, inspiring our thinking and guiding our actions.

Our new organisational strategy sets out how we’ll fight even harder to make every pound raised count for even more. With your help, we’ll transform cancer care for good.
 

About the role

As Research Grants Manager, you will establish and manage Macmillan’s research funding activities. You’ll help develop our research strategy, build a programme of grant funding, and ensure robust, equitable and transparent processes across the full research funding cycle.

You will work closely with senior clinical leaders, academic partners and research funders to establish Macmillan’s identity within the UK cancer research ecosystem and deliver high‑quality, strategically aligned research grants.
 

Key responsibilities:

• Develop and deliver a research strategy and priority themes aligned with Macmillan’s strategy, in collaboration with the Chief Medical Officer and Research & Health Data Lead.
• Establish Macmillan’s research funding programme to enable the award of high quality, strategically aligned research grants to build national research capacity centred on people living with cancer.
• Design and implement application, peer review and award processes across the research funding cycle.
• Lead the planning, logistics and documentation for all research funding calls.
• Convene and facilitate expert review panels, including lived experience representatives.
• Oversee the management of the research grants portfolio, ensuring accurate records, reporting, auditing and impact monitoring.
• Build and maintain relationships with academic institutions, research funders and charities.
• Manage and develop a small team responsible for overseeing the administration of awards.

About you

The successful candidate will bring:

• An advanced degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., health policy or health services research, public health, social science, implementation science) or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience of establishing and managing research funding programmes, including application, peer review and post‑award processes within a research funder, charity or equivalent.
• Experience of convening and facilitating expert panels, including lived experience representatives.
• Experience in managing and developing a small team, fostering a collaborative and high‑performing culture
• Strong understanding of research governance, ethics, compliance and impact assessment frameworks.
• Knowledge of the UK research funding landscape and cancer research ecosystem.
• Excellent project management, analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly to a range of audiences.
   

In return, we offer a range of benefits including:

• 25 days holiday plus flexible bank holiday options, increasing by 1 day every year of service up to 30 days
• Pension matched up to 7.5%
• 120+ learning and development offers, with access to external professional qualifications
• Flexible working patterns, such as compressed hours, flexibility to work earlier or later around our core working hours of 10am-4pm
• Holiday buying and selling scheme, life insurance, free wills, retail discounts and much more

Recruitment process

Application deadline: 23:59 on Thursday 12th March
1st stage interview dates: 23rd and 24th March
2nd stage interview date: 2nd April

To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for this role, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed.

So that we can support you to be at your best during the application or interview process, please contact Macmillan TA Team for advice and reasonable adjustments.

Starting Date: ASAP

Contract type: Full-time and open-ended

Salary: If based in London - £62,707, Delhi - INR 3,350,997, Lahore - PKR 8,697,613

Location: London, Lahore, Delhi, Côte d'Ivoire

Application closing date: 25th March 2026

About the Job 

The Grant Programme Manager is responsible for overseeing a portfolio of grant-funded projects across multiple sub-funds and geographies. Working closely with programme partners, this role ensures that funded projects not only produce certified Better Cotton but also deliver measurable impact aligned with BCI’s strategic targets. The role includes stewardship and oversight of significant donor funding and accountability for strong financial, performance and compliance standards across the portfolio.

Are you purpose-led and ready to embark on a journey to shape the future of sustainable cotton? Join us at Better Cotton Initiative as Grant Programme Manager and play a key role in delivering high-impact funding programmes for the world’s largest cotton sustainability initiative. We support more sustainable farming practices and farm livelihoods for nearly 1.6 million farmers across 15 countries.

The Challenge

Looking ahead to 2030, BCI is targeting a 50 percent reduction in GHG emissions from cotton production, significant reductions in synthetic pesticide use, improved soil health across our network, increased farm income and stronger support for women’s empowerment among farmers and farm workers.

As a Grant Programme Manager, you will oversee a multi-country grant portfolio, ensure strong financial stewardship, drive performance against strategic targets and strengthen partnerships with programme partners and donors.

Responsibilities

We are seeking a motivated Grant Programme Manager to join our Global Programmes team within GIF. In this role, you will be responsible for managing a complex grant portfolio and ensuring effective delivery, financial oversight and strategic alignment.

1. Oversee and manage a portfolio of Small Farm Fund projects across multiple countries, ensuring delivery against BCI strategy and BCSS targets.
2. Lead grant application and assessment processes, including reviewing proposals, analysing organisational viability and contributing to funding recommendations.
3. Ensure effective financial stewardship of donor funds, reviewing budgets, tracking expenditure and identifying risks or corrective actions where required.
4. Monitor and evaluate portfolio performance, ensuring robust data quality, learning integration and continuous improvement.
5. Represent GIF in internal governance forums, including the Field Investment and Innovation Committee, contributing to funding decisions and strategic discussions.
6. Engage with donors and external stakeholders, supporting reporting, relationship management and future funding opportunities.
7. Support Large Farm Fund and Knowledge Partner Fund rounds, including assessment, monitoring and stakeholder engagement.
8. Strengthen grant management systems and processes, identifying and implementing improvements to enhance efficiency, compliance and transparency.
9. Collaborate closely with country programme teams, MEL colleagues and finance teams to ensure coordinated delivery and alignment across functions.
10. Contribute to annual reporting, portfolio analysis and strategic planning for the GIF and wider Global Programmes function.

Experience

We are looking for candidates with the following skills, knowledge and experience:

1. Degree in Agronomy, International Development, Anthropology or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
2. Demonstrated experience managing complex grant or project portfolios within rural development or sustainability contexts.
3. Experience working with commercial and institutional donors, including proposal development and reporting.
4. Strong financial oversight experience, including reviewing budgets and financial performance.
5. Experience using MEL frameworks, logframes and performance monitoring tools.
6. Willingness to travel domestically within programme countries up to 20% of the time, and internationally on average four times per year, with each trip lasting approximately 7 to 10 days.

Desirable

1. Expertise in smallholder agriculture.
2. Experience supporting organisational development of partners.
3. Experience communicating with donors and representing programmes externally.
4. Experience working in Sub-Saharan Africa or South Asia.
5. Additional language skills relevant to programme geographies.

What we offer

- Hybrid working – 2-3 days per week in our London, Delhi, or Lahore offices. Fully Remote in Côte d'Ivoire

- The opportunity to work from anywhere in the world for up to one month per year

- Flexible working, with core hours from 10 am to 4 pm local time

- Continuous learning and development

- Pension scheme

- A generous annual leave package, including paid holiday, public holidays, additional paid days off during the festive season, study and exam days, and extra discretionary leave for life events such as family weddings or moving home

- Enhanced parental benefits

- The opportunity to make your mark and make a difference.

Working arrangements

The position is full-time (40 hours per week) and will be based either in London, Delhi, Lahore or Côte d'Ivoire. Better Cotton Initiative offers flexible working, with core hours being 10 am – 4 pm.  The position will require limited travel.

Send us your CV (2 pages maximum) and a brief cover letter (1-page maximum) by or before 25/03/2026 via the application link. 

In your cover letter, please include an explanation of why your experience is specifically relevant to this role at Better Cotton Initiative. We want to see your personal style – what makes you tick and why you think your next opportunity is here with us.

Better Cotton Initiative does not use artificial intelligence or automated screening tools in its hiring process. Every application is reviewed by our Talent Acquisition team and relevant hiring managers to ensure a fair and human-led assessment experience.

Our hiring process

Initial Screening:

Applicant screening is a crucial step in our recruitment process. This stage may involve a brief phone interview or video call to evaluate your suitability for the position. During this screening, we review resumes and cover letters, and may conduct initial background checks to narrow down the pool of applicant. Internal candidates are encouraged to inform their line manager about their application to promote transparency and help facilitate a smooth transition if selected.

Interviews:

If you successfully pass the initial screening, you will be invited for interviews. The interview process at Better Cotton Initiative may include one or more rounds of interviews with various stakeholders, such as the hiring manager, team members, and potentially senior management. As an internal candidate, you may have discussions regarding your current responsibilities and how they will transition to the new position.

Assessment and Testing: 

Depending on the role, you might be required to complete assessments, technical tests, or skills evaluations to gauge your competency and suitability for the position. Internal candidates may have the option to demonstrate their existing skills through current job performance or past project outcomes.

Reference Checks: 

Once you progress further in the process, reference checks are conducted to validate your work history, skills, and qualifications, and for some roles, your education and criminal history. Internal candidates may be asked for references from current or previous supervisors within Better Cotton Initiative to provide insights into their performance and capabilities.

Offer stage:

After completing interviews, assessments, and reference checks, the hiring team evaluates your performance and fit for the role. If you are selected and your references are relevant and satisfactory, you will receive a formal job offer letter outlining the terms of employment, compensation, benefits, and any other relevant details. For internal candidates, the offer process may include a discussion about how your transition to the new role will be managed and any support needed for a smooth handover.

About Better Cotton Initiative

Better Cotton Initiative is a global not-for-profit organisation supporting the production of more equitable and sustainable cotton at farm level. We exist to catalyse the cotton farming community with partners, governments and others to continuously drive positive impact by setting standards and facilitating the supply and demand of more sustainable cotton from farm to brand. In just 15 years we have aligned more than a fifth of the world’s cotton with our standard and helped farmers and farming communities thrive. Join us in building a better, more sustainable future for cotton worldwide.

About our Values

The post holder will be expected to operate in line with our workplace values which are:  

• Trustworthy (including honest, transparent, credible) 
• As having Integrity (including responsible, authentic) 
• Positive (including problem-solving, pragmatic) 
• Engaging (including adaptable, inclusive, holistic) 
• Daring (including courageous, innovative, game-changing)  

Being you @ Better Cotton Initiative

Better Cotton Initiative is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to good practice and transparency in the management of natural, human, and financial resources.

We have a zero-tolerance approach to any attitudes or behaviours that put children or adults at risk of harm. Safeguarding incidents are acts of serious misconduct and are grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including, dismissal and referral to relevant authorities for criminal prosecution. Therefore, all offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks.

A new role, the Finance Manager is responsible for leading all aspects of the charity's day-to-day finances, contracts and risk management. As a member of the senior leadership team, they will support the CEO with strategic planning. A key part of the role will include financial planning and administrative support for the charity’s fundraising efforts as part of a £6.5m conservation and renovation programme. They will lead the preparation for, and presentations at the charity’s Board and related finance committees.

The postholder will ensure that the charity’s budget and out turn are closely monitored and that established financial controls, spanning the procurement to payments cycle, are firmly adhered to. They will lead budget setting, forecasting, and financial reporting (including management of the external audit and production of the annual report and accounts) and will support wider work programme-planning for the charity, setting the foundations for financial success and sustainability. In addition, the postholder will act as the central finance liaison with the Inns of Court of Inner and Middle Temple – TCT’s principal funders – as well as with other stakeholders, donors and cross-departmentally.

Candidates should meet the following essential criteria:

CIMA, ACCA or ACA qualified accountant

Experience in a senior/ management financial position in a charity/ not for profit

Experience of managing cash and investments.

Effective communications skills both written and oral

Excellent IT skills including MS Office and Finance Systems

About us

Temple Church is located in the Temple, City of London. Known as the “Mother Church of the Common Law”, and birthplace of Magna Carta, the Church serves the legal colleges of Inner and Middle Temple, two of the four Inns of Court responsible for calling barristers to the Bar of England and Wales.

How to apply:

Please email your CV and a covering letter of not more than two A4 pages (demonstrating how you meet the role’s essential criteria) by 15th March 2026.

All appointments are subject to acceptable background checks including a basic DBS Disclosure.

The Programmes and Projects Executive will play a key role in supporting our community of primary and secondary schools throughout the school year. You will help design and deliver Bite Back in Schools, ensuring a positive and engaging experience for young people, their teachers and their schools — and making sure the programme achieves meaningful impact.

Alongside day-to-day programme delivery, you will contribute a range of projects across the organisation, including supporting an exciting new collaboration with other school food charity partners and helping to coordinate and support wider organisational initiatives.

This role would suit someone who enjoys working with young people, is proactive and adaptable, and is ready to learn and grow at a leading youth-led health charity. You’ll be motivated by helping young people turn their ideas into action and seeing the difference that makes in schools and beyond.

The Programmes and Projects Executive will join a friendly and ambitious Programmes team to support schools and local authorities to deliver high-quality programmes and maximise impact, making canteens and high streets healthier, happier places.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Relationship management 

• Provide ongoing support to both primary and secondary schools throughout their time on the programme, building strong working relationships with participating schools. 

• Support communication with all primary schools, providing a point of contact for the coordinator and lead teacher in each school. 

• Support monitoring and evaluation through creation of surveys, ensuring completion of baseline and end of year surveys, and analysis of data submitted (working with our Impact & Evaluation Manager).

• Provide timely responses to school queries and alert the Programmes Manager of any potential risks.

• Proactively seek feedback from teachers and young people on our programmes.

• Ensure opportunities for schools to engage in at least two one-on-one meetings with our team during the school year. 

• Build productive relationships with programme partners, including Chefs in Schools and School Food Matters. 

Community management 

• Celebrate and share examples of best practice and impactful social action projects amongst our community of schools. 

• Deliver training and webinars for schools.

• Grow our movement - supporting the recruitment of future cohorts by promoting the Bite Back in Schools programme, distributing recruitment comms, holding set up calls with interested schools, and guiding schools through the application and enrolment process, working closely with the Programmes Manager on the design of these processes.

Programme delivery 

• Schedule and organise visits to schools, agreeing agendas with the schools in advance to include elements including meeting pupils and teachers, leading feedback sessions and focus groups and supporting the development of their social action campaigns. 

• Schedule and deliver assemblies with primary and secondary schools partaking in the programme.

• Ensure schools submit invoices on time as part of their grant funding, providing support where needed and coordinating with the finance team to ensure prompt processing.

• Book and arrange assemblies, coordinating between schools and our Bite Back Ambassadors.

• Support the School Ambassadors with travel logistics as they deliver assemblies in schools across England and Scotland.

• Maintain and regularly update programme management software and associated data to ensure accurate and up to date information for all participating primary schools.

• Ensure successful end-to-end support for the 10+ primary schools participating in the programme throughout the next school year.

Project support 

• Provide support to Programme Manager in the delivery of projects, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget and scope.

• Coordinate our relationship with our partners in The School Food Project, including Chefs in Schools, School Food Matters, Food Foundation & Jamie Oliver’s Group.

• Support the national rollout of the Bite Back in Schools Primary programme by contributing to the design, development, and refinement of engaging, age-appropriate resources for primary settings, building on insights and proven impact from two successful pilot programmes.

• Assist with the organisation and delivery of Bite Back events throughout the year, including travelling as needed to support the Youth teams' operational requirements. 

• Provide ad hoc input to evolving organisational requirements as directed by senior team members.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE 

What we will be looking for as we evaluate applications is demonstrable experience in at least some of these areas, and evidence of capacity to build skills in other areas. Please don’t be put off applying for one of our jobs because you can’t demonstrate every skill. If you're passionate and excited about working for us, and possess the main skills and experience we are looking for, go ahead and apply. You could be just what we are looking for!

The ideal candidate would have the following experience and qualities:

Essential

• Ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with a broad range of stakeholders at the individual level and in representation of the organisation.

• Strong organisational and project management skills, with excellent time management, ability to manage competing priorities and attention to detail.

• Excellent writing and communication skills, with the ability to adapt messages and language to resonate with different audiences.

• Ability to travel across England and Scotland when required (occasional).

• A willingness to build relationships across sectors, with young people and adults.

• Experience of creating resources which are engaging for young people.

• Experience of youth facilitation and/or delivering training.

• Experience in presenting and delivering content, ideally to young people such as an educational, heritage or other  setting, for example such as leading assemblies and workshops.

• Demonstrated experience planning and coordinating events, including logistics, stakeholder communication, and on-the-day delivery.

• Confident public speaker or willingness to learn.

Desirable

• Proven experience coordinating programmes in partnership with external stakeholders, fostering strong collaborative relationships to ensure successful delivery and shared outcomes.

• Experience of working with CRM systems.

• Strong understanding of the education sector and experience of working with schools and teachers.

• Experience in drafting compelling copy and uploading content to digital platforms.

• Understanding of youth social action and extracurricular programmes.

• Interest in campaigning, social justice, food, and child health.

• Experience with design tools like Canva.

Are you an experienced and committed Project Manager? Have you worked in programme delivery for young people in schools or youth settings? Can you communicate confidently to a wide audience and range of stakeholders?

We are seeking a full-time Project Manager to support delivery of our new programme, Reading Reboot, funded by the Charlotte Aitken Trust, and to support the SLA to grow its reach and impact. Reading Reboot is being developed to address the reading crisis and restore a love of reading for young people in Year 8, in communities facing the greatest disadvantage. This is an opportunity to lead a flagship national programme with the potential to shape future investment in school libraries, in a supportive, mission-driven team culture within a small but influential charity. 

The Reading Reboot programme will establish librarian-led social book clubs in over 100 under-funded secondary school libraries across the UK and reach more than 6,000 young people directly, alongside librarians, senior leaders and wider school communities. Reading Reboot places school librarians at the heart of delivery, combining new book stock, inspiring author engagement, appealing library spaces, and a robust evaluation to evidence impact and inform future national roll-out.   

The Project Manager will lead on development and delivery, working closely with the CEO, a Project Board and external evaluation team to ensure the programme meets its objectives on time, within budget and to a high quality. They will recruit and coordinate schools and librarians, work with partners and funders, and ensure that learning and impact are captured and shared across the sector. Building strong relationships with all stakeholders, the Project Manager will be the main point of contact for the programme and will support the CEO and Project Board with timely updates, papers and participation in meetings. Successful candidates will have extensive and demonstrable experience of project management in schools or youth settings. Experience of training development and delivery will be an advantage.

The salary for this position is £30,000 per year for 37 hours per week on a one year contract, with potential for extension. Find out more about this role and how to apply by downloading the job application pack.

Application deadline: Thursday 26th March, 5pm

Interviews will take place online the week commencing 7th April 2026.

Applications without a covering letter will not be considered. No agencies please. Due to the volume of applications we cannot provide individual feedback. We really appreciate your interest. If you haven’t heard from us within one week of the deadline, it means we’ve moved forward with other candidates on this occasion. We encourage you to apply again in the future. Please note we may close recruitment early should the right candidate be identified.

Martingale Postgraduate Foundation (Martingale) exists to fund and support the next generation of talented researchers. We believe that family income should not be a barrier to the pursuit of excellence, and our mission is to enable and nurture talented individuals from low-socioeconomic backgrounds to thrive within world-leading postgraduate research.

Martingale’s flagship programme is the Martingale Postgraduate Scholarship, which supports students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds to pursue and excel in postgraduate degrees, by providing:

• A fully-funded Living Wage Scholarship to pursue a one-year Masters degree or a four-year PhD.
• All tuition fees and research expenses, including a tax-free stipend for living costs.
• Tailored support to apply for Martingale courses at our partner universities.
• Access to Martingale programmes, including leadership training and connections with top academic and industry professionals.
• Membership of a pioneering community of talented researchers.

In the three years since Martingale launched, we are now supporting over 100 Scholars to undertake postgraduate degrees across our ten partner universities and have committed over £7.7m in Scholarships. We are continuing to expand our offer, bringing on new partners each year.

We are seeking an experienced, strategic and collaborative Head of Programmes to join our Senior Leadership Team and play a pivotal role in shaping our fast-growing Martingale Scholarship Programme.

As Head of Programmes, you will join our senior management team, overseeing the growing programmes team. Working closely with the CEO, you will oversee all aspects of Martingale’s Scholarship Programme from application to alumni, ensuring that the programme maintains a strong reputation for being both supportive and prestigious.

You will set the strategic direction of Martingale’s Scholarship Programme, working closely with the CEO on a day-to-day basis to ensure that as we expand across STEM the programme remains of a high quality and meeting Martingale’s mission. You will ensure that Martingale’s programmes are impactful, data informed and meet the needs of the scholars we are supporting. You will also be responsible for managing relationships with various external stakeholders including universities, funders and evaluation partners.

We are looking for a strong strategic leader with extensive programme experience including line management, partnership management and external relations. You will bring excellent organisational skills, strong attention to detail, a proactive mindset, and a strong alignment with Martingale’s mission. We welcome applicants from a range of career paths who are excited to be part of a growing, fast-paced charity delivering meaningful impact.

Martingale Foundation is incubated by Purposeful Ventures who provide operational and strategic support. The Head of Programmes will be employed by Purposeful Ventures.

About Purposeful Ventures

Our vision is for a fairer society where all young people thrive. We work with social entrepreneurs, organisations and philanthropists that share our vision. Through our work with these partners, young people are given opportunities in education and beyond, helping them reach their true potential.

Purposeful Ventures offers philanthropists and funders bespoke advice, using an evidence-based approach to help them to identify high-impact opportunities to fund. We then partner with visionary individuals and mission-driven organisations with strong theories of change. We help them turn great ideas into sustainable and successful ventures by offering fully individualised and very hands-on support, access to funding and a ‘high-challenge, high-support’ home. We do the minimum necessary and whatever it takes to succeed.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership of the Scholarship Programme

• Provide strategic oversight of the end-to-end Martingale Scholarship lifecycle, from selection and admissions through to scholar progression and alumni outcomes.
• Develop and deliver a multi-year operational strategy for Martingale’s Development Programme (MDP), ensuring scalability, academic excellence, and alignment with organisational growth plans.
• Continuously refine the scholar journey to ensure it is sector-leading, prestigious, and tailored to the needs of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Build deep expertise in postgraduate education, research culture, and enabling access to inform programme evolution and innovation.

Admissions & Selection Strategy

• Lead the design, governance, and continuous improvement of a rigorous, fair, and high-quality admissions and assessment process across subject areas.
• Oversee shortlisting, interview frameworks, assessment centres, and final scholarship recommendations to the Selection Committee.
• Ensure alignment between Martingale’s selection processes and university partner requirements.
• Maintain oversight of scholar allocation, including place management, deferrals, intermissions, withdrawals, and reallocations.

Scholar Experience & Case Management

• Ensure effective advocacy for Scholars including maximising progression and retention across cohorts.
• Oversee complex scholar casework, including deferrals, intermissions, safeguarding concerns, funding queries, disciplinary action and university liaison.
• Ensure consistent, professional, and high-touch support across the scholar lifecycle.
• Strengthen cohort cohesion and long-term alumni engagement.

Safeguarding & Compliance

• Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) for Martingale, ensuring safeguarding policy implementation and record keeping in line with best practice in relation to vulnerable adults.
• Oversee data protection compliance relating to scholar and applicant data, in partnership with the organisation’s Data Protection Officer.
• Ensure programme delivery complies with charity, funding, and regulatory requirements.

Budget, Contracting & Financial Oversight

• Hold responsibility for programme budgets, ensuring effective resource allocation, cost control, and value for money.
• Oversee scholarship programme financial management, and work with Head of Strategy and Operations on onwards grants including deferrals, funding adjustments, and invoicing.
• Work with the Head of Strategy and Operations on university contracting, scholarship agreements, and financial reconciliation with partners.
• Ensure timely and accurate invoicing and reporting processes across programme operations.

University & Sector Partnerships (Programme-Focused)

• Lead programme-level relationships with university partners, including Heads of Departments, Graduate Tutors, CDT leads, and admissions teams.
• Ensure universities meet partnership commitments and that Scholars are appropriately supported institutionally.
• Contribute to partnership negotiations where programme design or operational delivery is concerned.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen university research culture and scholar support mechanisms.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Impact

• Lead development and oversight of Martingale’s Theory of Change and evaluation framework, working with our external independent evaluators.
• Develop robust systems to track scholar progression, outcomes, and programme effectiveness.
• Provide high-quality reporting to the CEO, Board, funders, and partners, evidencing impact and continuous improvement.

New Programme Development & Innovation

• Work with the CEO to design new subject expansions, pilots, or initiatives aligned to Martingale’s mission.
• Assess operational, financial, and reputational implications of programme growth.
• Develop business cases, delivery models, and implementation plans for expansion.

Team Leadership & Culture

• Provide senior leadership to the Programmes team, including line management of programme staff.
• Build a high-performing, mission-driven team with clear accountability and ownership.
• Develop succession planning and team capability as Martingale scales.
• Model Martingale’s values of excellence, professionalism, and thoughtful support.

Organisational Leadership

• Serve as a member of the Senior Management Team, contributing to organisational strategy and governance.
• Represent Martingale externally in academic, sector, and policy contexts where appropriate.
• Support Board and Committee reporting related to programme performance and scholar outcomes.

Key Requirements:

Essential Criteria

• Right to work in the UK

Experience and skills

Essential

• Significant experience leading and delivering high-quality programmes, ideally in higher education, research, scholarships, or a mission-driven organisation.
• Strong stakeholder management experience, with evidence of working effectively with universities, academics, funders, or equivalent partners.
• Proven line management experience, with the ability to develop and lead a high-performing team.
• Experience managing complex operational delivery, including planning, timelines, and coordinating multiple moving parts.
• Strong experience handling sensitive casework and providing professional support to individuals.
• Budget management experience, including planning and overseeing programme delivery costs.
• Excellent written communication skills, including producing clear reports and briefings for senior audiences.
• Commitment to safeguarding, wellbeing and compliance, with willingness to act as safeguarding lead.

Desirable

• Experience working directly with postgraduate research, PhD programmes, or doctoral training environments.
• Experience designing or overseeing selection and assessment processes (e.g. interviews, admissions, recruitment pipelines).
• Experience managing programme evaluation frameworks, including Theory of Change and external evaluators.
• Familiarity with contracting, invoicing, and operational finance processes.
• Knowledge of UK higher education systems and research culture.
• Experience working in a start-up, scale-up, or fast-growing charity.

Personal Characteristics

• Highly organised, proactive, and able to prioritise effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills: able to build rapport and trusting relationships, able to work co-operatively in a multidisciplinary setting.
• Strong judgement, discretion and professionalism, including ability to handle confidential information appropriately.
• A commitment to Martingale’s mission to support postgraduate students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Comfortable working in a rapidly growing and changing organisation with a degree of ambiguity – confident to create processes and ways forward where they might not yet exist.
• Creative and innovative: willing to think outside the box to maximise reach.
• Resourceful, able to act on initiative, hardworking, detail-oriented, and systematic.

Since 1960 we have invested more than £500 million in blood cancer research in the UK. Where we’ve invested, survival rates and quality of life have improved. We’ve been working to beat blood cancer for over 50 years, and we won’t stop until we do. Be a part of our story and help us change the world.

We’re looking for a Senior Research Grants Officer to play a key role in delivering and strengthening our research portfolio spanning translational and clinical research. You’ll lead on the coordination and delivery of the Transformational Research Awards Scheme, support clinical trial review processes, and oversee a portfolio of active grants to ensure funding decisions and post-award management are rigorous, transparent and strategically aligned.

You’ll also play an important part in strengthening how we fund and manage research. From supporting the implementation of a new Grants Management System to refining processes and providing expert guidance to researchers, committee members and senior stakeholders, you’ll help ensure our investment delivers maximum impact. If you bring strong biomedical knowledge, grant administration experience and a passion for driving progress for people affected by blood cancer, we’d love to hear from you.

This is a hybrid role with regular anchor days in our London office, alongside attendance at key meetings, conferences and team events throughout the year.

We are committed to actively promoting equality, diversity, and inclusivity. In line with our strategy we welcome approaches from individuals from underrepresented groups, including minority communities, and applicants with a disability, to better reflect the community we serve and help broaden our perspectives.