Senior innovation executive jobs in edinburgh

Over the last four years, the current Head of Funding & Partnerships has secured over £10m from trusts, foundations and housing associations to help HACT deliver its charitable purpose. In the next three years, our objective is to increase this amount. We want to hear from you if you believe you can support HACT deliver on our ambition. 

ROLE DESCRIPTION

The Head of Funding and Partnershipsis a key member of HACT’s Leadership Team and leads the organisation’s business development, tendering and fundraising function. As part of the management tier, the role is responsible for scaling HACT’s impact across and beyond the housing sector through innovative commercial approaches, strategic fundraising, and exceptional customer relationships.

This position combines fundraising expertise, partnership building, developing and maintaining high-value relationships with funders, partners, and clients, as well as market intelligence. It identifies new opportunities for R&D development, pipeline growth, product sales and tender submissions while managing core business development activities that support HACT’s strategy.

The Head of Funding and Partnerships creates and executes annual fundraising and commercial plans, fosters collaborative relationships across the organisation, and embodies HACT’s values through transparent, supportive leadership. From time to time, the role presents to the Trustee Board and provides strategic advice and leadership to the executive team.

JOB PURPOSE

To lead HACT's fundraising, tendering and business development function, delivering ambitious fundraising targets while providing strategic market insights that drive organisational growth and innovation.

Responsibilities

Strategic fundraising leadership

• Create and deliver a fundraising strategy aligned with HACT's business strategy and ambitious growth target, with annual and multi-year targets
• ·Identify new funding opportunities through market research, relationship building, and strategic intelligence
• Lead the development of high-quality tender responses and proposals
• Maintain a register of frameworks and procurement opportunities aligned to HACT’s strategic priorities
• Oversee the production of high-quality client proposals within agreed deadlines, ensuring compelling cases for support

Partnership building:

• Develop and maintain relationships with corporate sponsors, foundations, and other organisations to create mutually beneficial partnerships.
• Manage existing funder relationships to ensure satisfaction, retention, and growth of funding commitments
• Support cross-sector collaborations, innovation pilots and consortium funding bids.

Market intelligence & business development

• Contribute to organisational strategy development through participation in Leadership Team activities
• Proactively identify collaboration and innovation opportunities, supporting business growth and diversification
• Provide market insights that enable R&D development, supporting innovation and new service creation and market analysis to support pipeline growth in new markets and enhance existing product sales
• Collaborate with colleagues to identify emerging trends and opportunities in the housing and social value sectors
• Contribute to strategic decision-making through robust market intelligence and competitive analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

• Work closely with the Head of Communities and Projects to ensure project delivery meets funder expectations, leading on managing key grant funding relationships
• Work closely with the Head of Marketing to align fundraising and marketing strategies for maximum impact
• Work closely with the Head of Services to create proposals that maximise income opportunities
• Work closely with Head of Customer to identify commercial opportunities and enhance service delivery, using insights form Social Value Insight to strengthen funding propositions.
• Work with the Head of Business Functions to develop commercial pricing and funding models and ensure compliance with due diligence and funder requests.
• Support colleagues across the organisation by providing proposal support, market insights and funding intelligence

Team leadership & operational excellence

• Line manage and develop the Funding and Insights Officer, providing coaching, guidance, and performance management
• Develop and implement Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for proposals and grant applications to ensure consistency and quality
• Establish accessible, reliable management information systems to track performance and inform decision-making
• Ensure efficient processes and systems that support high-quality proposal development, tender submissions and relationship management
• Leverage AI tools and platforms to enhance business development processes
• Champion the adoption of AI-enabled solutions to improve productivity, personalise engagement strategies, and uncover new opportunities for innovation and collaboration.

Strategic leadership & culture

• Actively model HACT's values and behaviours by consistently demonstrating supportive, transparent and collaborative leadership
• Contribute to an inclusive and respectful organisational culture through positive leadership and team engagement
• Lead by example as a key member of HACT's Leadership Team, embodying our values across all internal and external relationships
• Champion cross-functional collaboration and knowledge sharing to maximise organisational effectiveness

REQUIRED SKILLS

Experience & skills

• Proven track record in senior fundraising roles, with demonstrated success in securing and managing significant grants from charitable foundations, government, and other funding bodies
• Demonstrated success in proposal writing, developing tenders and commercial bids
• Strong background in business development and market research, ideally within the charitable or public sector
• Experience in relationship management with high-value stakeholders and complex funding organisations
• Strong communication, influencing and project management capabilities
• Demonstrated ability to create and deliver strategic fundraising plans aligned with organisational objectives
• Strategic thinking ability combined with practical execution and attention to detail
• Resilience and adaptability in a dynamic funding environment.
• Knowledge of the social housing sector (desirable).
• Ability to identify and apply AI-driven tools to enhance business development activities and using AI to streamline workflows, personalise engagement strategies and uncover new growth opportunities.

Knowledge & understanding

• Deep understanding of the UK funding landscape, including charitable foundations, government funding streams, public procurement frameworks and social investment
• Knowledge of the housing sector, social value, or community development preferred
• Understanding of R&D funding mechanisms and innovation support programmes
• Familiarity with grant management processes and funder compliance requirements
• Knowledge of market research methodologies and competitive intelligence gathering

Personal qualities

• Exceptional relationship-building and networking skills with ability to engage stakeholders at all levels
• Strategic mindset with ability to identify opportunities and translate them into actionable plans
• Strong communication and influencing skills, both written and verbal
• Collaborative leadership style that embodies transparency, respect, and inclusivity
• Excellent project management and prioritisation skills with ability to manage multiple complex workstreams
• Resilience and adaptability in a dynamic funding environment
• Passion for HACT's mission and commitment to social impact in the housing sector

Technical competencies

• Proficiency in CRM systems and database management for relationship tracking (ideally HubSpot or Salesforce)
• Advanced skills in proposal writing, bid development, and presentation creation
• Experience with project management tools and budget management systems
• Understanding of due diligence processes and compliance requirements
• Knowledge of social impact measurement and evaluation frameworks

Desirable requirements

• Professional qualifications in fundraising (IoF membership) or business development
• Experience working in or with housing associations, local authorities, or social housing sector
• Knowledge of social value frameworks and impact investment principles
• Experience in managing EU or international funding programmes
• Understanding of research and development processes in policy or practice areas

JOB ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Leads the successful delivery of strategic fundraising and business development projects, ensuring high-quality outputs, stakeholder engagement, and funder satisfaction.
• Secures project funding through strategic relationship-building, proposal development, and targeted fundraising activities.
• Develops and maintains accessible management information systems to support .
• Implements service level agreements (SLAs) for proposals to ensure consistent quality and timely delivery across grant applications and business development outputs.
• Builds new relationships with charitable funders while sustaining and growing existing partnerships to diversify income streams.
• Embeds HACT’s values through inclusive leadership, fostering a collaborative culture and modelling best practice across the organisation.

Employees are also expected to be flexible in undertaking the duties and responsibilities attached to their post and may be asked to perform other duties that are consistent with the grade, responsibilities, and typical scope of the role. Any additional tasks should remain appropriate to the nature of the post and not extend into unrelated functions or specialisms.

All employees are expected to work in accordance with the organisation’s values and behavioural standards, which include being supportive, transparent, respectful, kind, honest, and collaborative. This means fostering a culture of empathy, openness, integrity, and teamwork in all interactions, and contributing positively to the organisation’s mission and strategic objectives.

ABOUT HACT

Innovation. Collaboration. Insights.

It’s what we’ve always done.

As the charity of the social housing sector, these are the core values that have driven the transformation and development of housing providers for over 60 years.

We believe the provision of housing is about more than just bricks and mortar – it’s about enhancing peoples’ lives.

By partnering with organisations across the housing sector, we drive value for residents and communities through insight-led products and services which encourage innovation and foster collaboration.

This position is currently based remotely with the occasional day in the London office and travel to UK based events as required.

To apply for this role, please share your CV with a one-page cover letter setting out why this role appeals to you and how your skills and experiences meet the key skills points in the job description.

Interviews expected to take place on week commencing the 15th December. 

Buglife

Director of Transformation

Location: Flexible within the UK

Salary: c£78,000

Contract: 2-year fixed term

Are you a bold, strategic leader ready to drive transformational change for one of the UK’s most impactful conservation charities?

Buglife is the only organisation in Europe dedicated to the conservation of all invertebrates. As they enter a pivotal phase of growth and innovation, Buglife is seeking a Director of Transformation to co-lead their organisation into a new era of impact, influence, and operational excellence.

About the Role

In a dual-leadership model alongside the Director of Conservation, you will define and deliver a Transformational Change Programme that amplifies Buglife’s mission: securing a thriving future for invertebrates as part of nature’s recovery.

You’ll lead strategic initiatives across systems, people, and processes, shaping a roadmap for sustainable growth and innovation. From organisational design to digital transformation, you’ll be the catalyst for change — building capability, cohesion, and resilience across Buglife.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead discovery and strategic direction, assessing internal operations and external opportunities.
• Develop and deliver a transformation roadmap with measurable impact.
• Inspire and manage cross-functional teams including Finance, HR, Communications, Fundraising and Engagement.
• Champion inclusive leadership, emotional intelligence, and organisational cohesion.
• Shape Buglife’s global growth strategy and explore new funding models.
• Overhaul systems and processes to create a more agile, integrated organisation.

What You’ll Bring

• Proven expertise in transformational leadership, business model innovation, and strategic planning.
• Experience engaging Boards and senior stakeholders with clarity and influence.
• Deep understanding of change management methodologies and programme delivery.
• Commercial acumen and entrepreneurial mindset.
• Strong emotional intelligence and collaborative leadership style.

Desirable: Experience in conservation, environmental or science-led sectors; familiarity with digital transformation and international experience or perspective on scaling impact globally.

Why Buglife?

Buglife is a passionate, science-led charity making a real difference for biodiversity. You’ll be joining at a time of exciting change, with the opportunity to shape the organisation’s future and scale its impact globally. Buglife offers a collaborative culture, flexible working, and a chance to lead with purpose.

Ready to lead transformational change for nature’s smallest heroes?
Apply now and help Buglife build a future where invertebrates thrive. 

We are partnering with GatenbySanderson on this recruitment. For more information and how to apply, please click on the button below.

Closing date:  28 November 2025

GatenbySanderson Interviews:  8 – 12 December 2025

Buglife Interviews: 6 – 15 January 2026

Buglife is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We particularly welcome applications from underrepresented groups in the environmental sector, including people from global majority backgrounds, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ communities.

About Planet Patrol

Our vision is a world where all beings can enjoy our waterways, free from pollution. We are a global community dedicated to placing people-powered environmental data at the heart of decision-making. Through our unique anywhere, anytime, anybody approach to citizen science, we gather critical evidence of water and litter pollution to drive solutions that protect both environmental and human health. Our data and citizen science methods have been featured in academic journals (Stanton, et al., 2022) and media investigations (Channel 4 and ITV), enhancing public and scientific knowledge of litter pollution.

About the role

As Director, you will oversee daily operations, including forecasting and budgeting for the entire organisation (currently c£300K per annum). As such, you will lead on developing a sustainable funding stream for our mission-driven work, ensuring we maintain a 6-month runway at all times. You will build and maintain strong external relationships to help grow and develop the organisation. The Director will provide leadership to a small, remote team (4 x PAYE) and create a happy, sustainable and productive work environment. Most importantly, the Director will ensure objectives are being met - both personal and organisational - to deliver impactful, positive change for our waterways in the UK, and abroad. 

About you

The successful candidate will be a strong leader who excels at strategic thinking, with the natural ability to analyse situations and relationships to maximise impact and return on investment. They will have experience in line management, fundraising and financial management. We are seeking candidates who have experience in senior management in a non-profit setting, ideally within the environmental sector but not essential. Critically, you must thrive in a start-up environment and have a can-do attitude to problem solving. You’ll be one of only a handful of employees and a team of excellent freelancers, so being a team player is a must! This is a great opportunity to really shape the organisation and our impact, so if you like having agency and being innovative, Planet Patrol would be a great fit.

Your top qualities as a leader

• Ambitious
• Collaborative
• Agile
• Resilient
• Resourceful

Key Responsibilities

Funding Development + Stakeholder Relationships (40%): 

• Significant responsibility for successful contractual negotiations and maintaining a healthy new funding pipeline. Secure six-to-seven figure funding opportunities to provide a sustainable revenue stream for 3+ years. 
• Strategic understanding and experience of competitive and fast changing charitable financial landscape. 
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with funders and other voluntary sector organisations.
• Ensure we are suitably represented at appropriate meetings, events, conferences, management groups etc. and that issues that impact our work are raised appropriately. 

Operational Leadership including Compliance + Budgetary Control (30%): 

• Effective leadership driving business operations and strategic targets. Inspire teams to deliver high-quality programmes and foster a culture of creativity and innovation. 
• Draw up and monitor budgets, with support from the Founder and Team Leaders, and ensure effective management and use of all resources. Ensure maximum operational efficiency and maintain a six-month runway at all times.
• Work collaboratively with the Founder and Team Leaders to build annual Business Plans and long term strategies for the organisation.
• Ensure compliance across product / project delivery, finance, human resources, IT, legal, health and safety, customer services and facilities management. Ensure that all data is collated and managed in line with data protection requirements.
• Maintain and develop effective human resource systems for the recruitment, management, support, training, and appraisal of staff and volunteers. Ensure systems are in place to monitor and evaluate the work. 

Team + Performance Management (30%): 

• Build high-performing, committed teams. This includes line managing, coaching, and supporting team members to create a positive, productive work environment. 
• Oversee the team to deliver comprehensive planning and reporting.
• Set benchmarks, monitor performance, and develop a culture of continuous improvement. 
• Proactively manage the performance of Team Leaders by carrying out inductions, regular accountability meetings, supervisions, and probation reviews, while also setting clear work and development objectives.

Person Specification 

The role is for up to 30 hours a week over 4 days - for the right person we would consider fewer hours. If you think you could do the role but do not meet all of the specification points below, we would still like to hear from you. 

Essential Experience and Ability

• Senior management experience working within a small charity or Community Interest Company (CIC).
• Track record of driving operational excellence, including organisational finances and resources.
• Experience of line management, team development and performance management.
• Experience of securing sustainable and diverse revenue streams; including  multi-year, strategic deals worth six-and-seven figures. 
• Proactive approach to risk management and maintaining compliance.
• Experience in a strategic role, including developing organisational strategy and/or developing and overseeing monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
• Experience of working with a range of stakeholders and managing stakeholder relationships.
• Ability to effectively prioritise, manage and oversee programmes of work across the organisation and lead through change. 
• Ability to work under own initiative, delegate where appropriate, prioritise work and meet strict deadlines. 
• Good general IT skills and appreciation of new platforms that can increase efficiency and effectiveness (Slack, Trello, Canva, Dext, Xero, HubSpot, SenseHR).
• Broad understanding of GDPR and other essential legislation and organisational policies, including use of AI.
• Passionate about the environment and the importance of citizen science.
• A commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion.
• Legal right to work in the UK without visa sponsorship.

What we offer

Planet Patrol values collaboration, innovation, and agility. That’s why we’re proud to be a 4-day week employer. We offer a flexible, remote working environment, paired with regular opportunities to connect as a team. We’re a vibrant, mission-driven non-profit that supports professional growth, alongside wellbeing. We offer a generous annual leave package, your birthdays off and encourage you to get out into nature whenever possible.

Application details

If you believe in the work we’re doing and think you could add something to it then we would love to hear from you.

Please submit your CV, LinkedIn profile and answers to the four questions listed on the application page. We are unable to process applications which are not complete.

Applications close midnight Sunday 23 November. 

First stage interviews will be held virtually on Wednesday 26 November.

Second stage interviews will be held in person on Wednesday 3 December.

Job title: Fundraising and Grants Manager
Location: Remote/ Home-based in the UK within 90 minutes travel of Central London with occasional national and international travel.
Salary: £42-45k. Contract: Full-time, 1-year contract (with possibility of extension dependent on continuation of funding). You should be available to start in February 2026

The Fundraising and Grants Manager will play a pivotal role in supporting the implementation of WeProtect Global Alliance’s 2026–2029 Investment Strategy. You will lead the day-to-day management of our multi-donor grants portfolio, ensuring that donor obligations are met and that grant and financial management systems are robust, efficient, and compliant.

Working closely with the Head of Development and colleagues across the Secretariat, you will contribute to donor stewardship, ensure timely and accurate reporting, and support the development of new and renewed funding opportunities with governments, multilateral institutions, foundations, and private donors.

We are seeking a highly organised and values-driven professional with proven experience managing complex donor-funded grants. You will bring financial and operational acumen, excellent communication skills, and the ability to manage competing priorities in a small, fast-paced, remote-working team. Above all, you will demonstrate a genuine commitment to child protection and to WeProtect Global Alliance’s 

Deadline: 19:00 (GMT), Monday 24 November 2025 

First Interviews: Week commencing 8th December 2025

Second Interviews: Week commencing 15th December 2025.

Please note that we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role. Applicants must have the existing right to work in the UK at the time of application.

We’re excited to recruit our first Major Donors and Partnerships Coordinator to lead on securing and managing key relationships with corporate partners and major donors. This is a brilliant opportunity for someone with proven experience in corporate fundraising and major donor engagement to help shape CLAPA’s high value fundraising strategy from the ground up. If you're passionate about building meaningful partnerships and making a lasting impact, we’d love to hear from you.

You will play an active part in shaping and delivering corporate fundraising campaigns and stewardship activities, with a good level of ownership balanced by the support of an experienced income generation team. 

As Major Donors and Partnerships Coordinator, you will contribute significantly to diversifying and sustaining CLAPA’s income. With an ambitious Income Generation Strategy in place, this is a timely opportunity to help strengthen CLAPA’s profile in corporate fundraising and partnerships. Building and maintaining strong, long-term relationships with donors and partners will be a core part of your role.

Working in a small and collaborative income generation team, you will need to be organised, proactive, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. This position offers a supportive environment where you can grow your skills while making a meaningful contribution.

The Link to apply is listed in the attached Recruitment Pack or can be accessed via the Redirect to recruiter button.