Senior media and public relations officer jobs

Join us at the Foundling Museum at a pivotal moment in its story. We are seeking an experienced, conscientious and collaborative Director of Development to lead our fundraising and strategic growth. 

With passion, creativity and realism, you will drive philanthropic support, nurture key relationships and be a key contributor to shaping the Museum’s future as we build on its unique heritage and national profile.

You will bring proven leadership, deep understanding of cultural fundraising and the ability to inspire colleagues, supporters and stakeholders to achieve income targets. This is a rare opportunity to make a dynamic impact on a museum with history, relevance and ambition.

Role Overview 

The Director of Development at the Foundling Museum will lead the Museum’s fundraising strategy, driving income generation to support its mission and programmes. This senior leadership role oversees all aspects of fundraising, including corporate sponsorship, individual giving, trusts and foundations, membership schemes, philanthropic campaigns and communications.  

The Director of Development works closely with the Museum's Director (CEO & Artistic Director), Trustees and key stakeholders to cultivate relationships with high-value donors, build strategic partnerships and secure sustainable financial support. As part of the Senior Management Team, this new role will work in collaboration with the Director of Finance (PT) and Director of Commercial and Operations (FT). 

Reporting directly to the Museum Director, the role involves managing a small development team (2FTE) and communications team, setting ambitious targets and achieving actual income goals, ensuring alignment with the Museum’s values and strategic priorities.

The Director of Development will play a critical role in shaping the Museum’s long-term financial resilience, leveraging the Museum’s reputation and impact to inspire and engage supporters from diverse sectors.  

Key duties 

Strategic Leadership 

• Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising, membership and partnership strategy to support the Museum’s short and long-term goals 
• Work closely with senior leadership and the Board to align fundraising priorities with the Museum’s mission and strategic objectives
• Fundraising 
• Lead efforts to secure major gifts and corporate sponsorships, with a particular focus on individuals, trust and foundations, and corporates 
• Oversee the development of compelling proposals, pitches, and presentations to corporate and individual supporters, including negotiation of corporate and philanthropic agreements   
• Work with trusts, foundations, and statutory funding bodies to secure grants that support the Museum’s exhibitions, programmes and capital projects, ensuring timely and accurate reporting on all grant-funded activities
• Ensure that proper due diligence around potential donors is conducted in line with the organisation’s policies and compliant with the Fundraising Code of Practice of the Fundraising Regulator and other national bodies with which the Museum is registered
• Donor and Partnership Development 
• Identify, cultivate and secure new high-value donors of all types, including individuals, corporate partners, trusts and foundations and statutory funders
• Develop strong professional relationships with the Museum’s existing donors in a warm and personal atmosphere and in alignment with the Museum’s values
• Strengthen existing relationships with key stakeholders, including internal colleagues and board and committee members, to harness their relationships and foster a culture of philanthropy and understanding of fundraising across the organisation
• With the Director of Commercial and Operations, plan and deliver all major Museum events for key stakeholders 
• Lead the team to cultivate the membership base of the Museum
• Leadership & Team Management 
• Manage the fundraising team, providing guidance and support to ensure success in meeting income targets
• Manage the communications team to oversee the brand, marketing, media communications and related budgets
• Oversee digital communications, including website and social media, to increase income generation, philanthropy and partnerships
• Foster a collaborative and results-driven culture within the team, and with SMT across the staff
• Financial & Administrative Oversight 
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of fundraising activities, ensuring that targets are met and that funds are raised in line with the Museum's mission
• Oversee the fundraising budget and ensure efficient use of resources
• Liaise with the Director of Finance to ensure fundraising revenues are accurately tracked and accounted for 
• Ensure complete, accurate and timely processes are conducted around all fundraising activity, including gift administration and acknowledgement, Gift Aid, GDPR compliance, etc.
• Provide regular reports to the Museum Director and Board of Trustees on the Museum’s progress on key projects and targets as articulated in the Museum’s strategic plan
• Public Relations & Advocacy 
• Serve as a key ambassador for the Museum, deputising for the Director where appropriate regarding income generation, enhancing its public profile and strengthening its reputation in the philanthropic and corporate sectors 
• Represent the Foundling Museum at events, donor meetings and public forums 
• Keep up to date on best practice in cultural fundraising and charity sector fundraising and communications, and bring this knowledge back for institutional benefit 
   

Person Specification  

Experience (required) 

• Proven leadership, ideally at least 5 years, in a similar role where philanthropic and grant income is central to the success of the organisation
• Extensive experience of shaping and implementing fundraising strategies that have delivered a step change increase in actual income
• A substantial fundraising track record in securing income from diverse constituencies and across funding types, including personal experience in securing major gifts and managing teams to do the same
• A demonstrable history of innovation and entrepreneurial approaches to identifying income generation opportunities and pushing organisations forward to increase income
• Proven experience of nurturing long and short-term funding opportunities and being the key point of contact for both
• Significant team leadership experience of creating, leading, inspiring and motivating a high performing team and collaborating with a wide range of colleagues and stakeholders
• Strong performance management skills with a proven ability to develop, articulate and champion funding opportunities and gain buy-in among staff and key stakeholders, including board and committee members
• In-depth understanding of relevant UK charity and tax legislation, due diligence processes and policies relating to fundraising

Experience (desirable) 

• Extensive experience of fundraising in arts and / or heritage, preferably in the UK
• Knowledge of effective fundraising in Europe and the US, including tax-effective giving
• Thorough understanding of Data Protection legislation as it relates to fundraising, marketing and communications
• Experience of effective endowment and legacy fundraising strategies
• Personal characteristics and skills (required) 
• Ability to lead, motivate and inspire a fundraising and communications team 
• Excellent written and oral communication skills 
• Highly developed negotiation, influencing and persuasion skills  
• A natural networker who builds confidence and trust and can represent the Foundling Museum at the highest levels and garner respect within peer networks 
• Project management skills and ability to remove any organisational roadblocks that exist in relation to development 
• Resilient, diplomatic and resourceful in solving problems 
• Ability to prioritise and focus on the areas of greatest impact 
• Commitment to the highest professional and ethical standards  
• Strongly numerate with the ability to be entrepreneurial and take measured risks 
• Alignment to the Foundling Museum’s values, communicating clearly, transparently and consistently; having accountability and working as part of a collaborative team towards a common purpose 
• Enthusiasm and passion for the mission of the Foundling Museum and for the importance of increasing engagement with and access to the arts 

Conditions of Work and Benefits 

• £65,000-70,000 full-time salary, depending on experience. We are open to 0.8 FTE at a pro-rata salary.  
• Probation period of 6 months, and notice period of 3 months (1 month during probation)  
• This job will be based onsite at the Foundling Museum. For all our employees, there are opportunities for partial hybrid working if desired; we have an agreed minimum of 60% of working hours that must be onsite at the Museum. 
• Normal working hours are 9.30am to 5.30pm. This role requires some flexibility, including some mornings, evenings and weekends. 
• 25 days annual leave per year (pro rata) + bank holidays (pro rata) + Birthday leave (one day) 
• You will be eligible to join a group contributory pension scheme (3 months after your start date) 
• Free access to our fully-funded Employee Assistance Programme for wellbeing – WISDOM 
• Training support from our online learning platform 
• Discount from the Foundling Museum Shop and local partner businesses 
• Free or reduced-price access to partner museums 
• Access to season ticket, rental deposit and cycle to work scheme loans (3 months from your start date) 
• Please also note that this job description will not form part of your contract or your terms and conditions of employment. Duties and requirements of the role may vary from time to time in accordance with the needs of Foundling Museum, its strategy and the directions from the Museum Director. 

  Application timetable   

• Closing date for applications: 12 noon on Monday 20th October 2025 
• First interview date:  Tuesday 4th and Wednesday 5th November 2025 
• Second interview date for shortlisted candidates: Monday 10th November 2025 
   

How to apply  

To apply please follow the link to our application portal where you will be asked to upload a completed copy of our standard application form you may also attach your CV if you wish. Please note that the job is being advertsised via CharityJob until the 10th October and after this date you will need to go directly to our website to apply where you will have until the 20th October to submit your application.

PLEASE NOTE: On the application portal, where it requests a CV, please ensure to upload your completed Application Form (required), your CV (optional) the Equal Opportunities Form (optional).  

Please get in touch with us if you have any access requirements or queries related to the application process details of how to do this are in the Job description.

If you wish to book a time to have a short informal conversation (phone or video) prior to application with the Museum Director her contact details are in the job description.

Please also note that any offer of employment will be subject to receipt of satisfactory references and  proof of right to work in the UK and also may be subject to a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check. 

About you

We are looking for a proactive and visible finance professional who is able to engage and build relationships across the organisation as a pivotal member within a values led high performing organisation. You will be a qualified accountant with proven track record of financial management awareness and a solid understanding of charity audits and statutory accounts preparation. You will have the ability to work with staff across the organisation in supporting good financial governance and oversight of financial operational matters. You will have the ability to analyse financial information and present this in a suitable format for the audience. You will have good ability to meet deadlines, be IT literate with an emphasis on financial systems, spreadsheets, Quickbooks and Excel. You will be highly organised with excellent attention to detail and be able to work with minimum supervision.

About the role

The role will involve the management of the day-to-day financial activities, VAT, gift aid, payroll and the monthly, quarterly and annual reconciliations and statutory accounts preparation. The job holder will work closely with the Chief Operating Officer, Finance Officer and volunteers within the team. There will be a requirement to work closely with the income generating staff, budget holders, auditors, banks and credit card providers on a regular basis.  The Finance Manager will be responsible for managing the Finance Officer and Finance volunteer.

About us

Carers UK is the leading national charity for unpaid carers. Our support, advice, information and campaigning work are now needed more than ever, as unpaid carers are providing more and more care, adversely impacting on their own health and wellbeing. We exist to make life better for carers and bring about lasting change.

Diversity and inclusion

Carers UK is committed to becoming a diverse and truly inclusive organisation. We strive to create a workplace where our colleagues and volunteers can truly be themselves and feel like they belong and constantly seek to ensure all voices are heard.

To embrace this culture of diversity, our employee and volunteer recruitment should reflect our stakeholders and the society that we serve and support, regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, physical abilities, disabilities or religious practices. We value individual diversity and are actively building diverse teams here at Carers UK and value our colleagues from a wide range of backgrounds.

As a membership charity for carers, we particularly seek employees and volunteers with a real understanding of the issues faced by carers. Reasonable adjustments can be made to the process and role dependent on the needs of the applicant.

At Carers UK we want our application process to be as accessible as possible. If you need any adjustments to apply please email the recruitment team to discuss.

The closing date for applications is 2 October 2025

Personal statement (no more than one side of A4), CV - ideally in Word format - and completed monitoring form should be emailed to recruitment. The information on the diversity monitoring form will be treated as confidential and used for statistical purposes only.

Please send in your application as soon as possible. 

Please also ensure you have also completed and submitted the diversity monitoring form provided on this site. The information on the form will be treated as confidential and used for statistical purposes only. These forms will not be treated as part of your application. 

Carers UK reserves the right to appoint at any stage, should an outstanding candidate emerge.

Carers UK may carry out online and social media checks before a formal offer is made.

We look forward to receiving your application. 

About Unfold

We are a bold, growing local charity powered by volunteers and dedicated staff who support young people and families to set and achieve goals that matter most to them. Through mentoring, peer groups, and specialist programmes for people seeking asylum and refugees, we are creating opportunities for growth, belonging, and brighter futures. Last year, we supported over 350 people, and we’re growing.

The Role

We are seeking a Funding and Impact Manager to help us achieve our ambitious growth plans. This is a pivotal role where you’ll blend strategic fundraising with impact storytelling, ensuring our programmes remain high-quality, sustainable, and far-reaching.

You’ll be working closely with our CEO, Deputy CEO, and Programme Managers to:

• Secure sustainable income streams through grants, trusts, corporate partnerships, and individual giving.
• Strengthen our impact measurement, analysing programme data to tell powerful stories of change.
• Support our fundraising strategy, from opportunity spotting to proposal writing and reporting.
• Build and maintain relationships with funders, partners, and supporters.
• Use and improve our CRM (Beacon) to manage funding pipelines and track programme outcomes.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who is proactive, innovative, and passionate about making a measurable difference.

About You

To be successful in this role, you'll be:

• Experienced in third-sector fundraising and income generation.
• Skilled in monitoring and evaluation with the ability to turn data into insights and impact stories.
• A strong communicator with the ability to write compelling bids and reports.
• Collaborative, yet confident working independently.
• Aligned with our values of trust, compassion, and empowerment.

Experience with CRM systems and/or data visualisation (e.g. Power BI) would be an advantage.

Why Join Us?

• Holidays: 25 working days (along with additional Christmas closedown days)
• Pension: We offer a generous pension provision. New staff are automatically enrolled for a pension after three months, and after six months, we will match your contribution up to a maximum of 8%.
• Team working: We are a small but brilliant team: we're supportive, diverse, and we help each other out. There are always opportunities to get involved in different aspects of the organisation, or lead on new initiatives.
• Training opportunities: We want to ensure that our team is continuously learning and building expertise in their field. For this reason, we offer each team member two days per year dedicated to professional development and training opportunities.
• Wellbeing - How we feel matters: Staff have access to a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, and our staff Wellbeing Champions are leading on the design and delivery of our wellbeing strategy, including the review of our quarterly wellbeing survey. Staff have regular supervision sessions to encourage reflection and discussion on our work and wellbeing. Additionally, we’re excited to introduce three days a year dedicated to team-building activities. These days are an opportunity to build skills, foster connections, and recharge as a team!
• Flexible working: We're happy to consider flexible working arrangements in line with the requirements of the role.
• Working Environment: We work in a beautiful, accessible, eco-friendly co-working space with a number of other charities, with plants, a leafy roof terrace and free hot and cold drinks. With comfortable spaces to read quietly or talk in a group, our workspace is somewhere you'll want to be.