Senior network development manager jobs
Age UK is seeking a Senior Statutory Funding Manager to play a pivotal role in shaping and growing our statutory income-fuelling our mission to improve the lives of older people across the country.
In this exciting role, you'll take the lead on securing and managing national contracts and grants from central government, national lottery funders, and public sector bodies. You'll collaborate with a range of stakeholders to transform a funding stream that has been underperforming through a lack of resourcing and a challenging market but one that is now a strategic priority and has the potential to become a major source of income for the organisation.
We operate a hybrid-working model, a blend of home and office working. This role will include regular days working from our London office - currently once a week on a Thursday and may involve occasional travel for meetings and cultivation events. Travel costs to the London office are the responsibility of the postholder and are not covered by the charity.
Age UK internal grade: 4L
Last date for applications Monday 9th March 2026.
Must haves:
The below competencies will be assessed at the indicated stage of the recruitment process:
Application = A, Interview = I, Test = T, Presentation = P
Experience
- Experience in securing six and seven figure statutory contracts or grants for charities. (A, I)
- Experience of managing relationships with key individuals from public sector bodies. (A, I)
- Experience managing individuals or teams, providing excellent leadership and people management skills. (A, I)
Skills and knowledge
- Strong understanding of statutory funding processes, including commissioning and procurement. (A, I)
- Outstanding communication skills, both written and oral - with the social skills and presence to communicate complex issues to a variety of audiences. (I, T)
- High levels of gravitas and influencing skills: credible and confident with senior level contacts internally and externally. (I)
- Excellent levels of financial management and numeracy with significant experience of putting together, managing and monitoring budgets. (A, I)
- Ability to distil complex information and convey it powerfully to a variety of different people, including distilling complex issues to understandable and actionable items. (I, T)
- Ability to manage multiple priorities within a fast-paced environment, ensuring our prospects and donors are at the heart of our fundraising (A,I)
- Sound administration skills, including a good working knowledge of MS Office products and databases. (I)
Personal attributes
- A passion to join Age UK in supporting older people and a belief the support from statutory fundraising is critical to achieving our strategic goals. (A, I)
- Takes ownership of responsibility - able to identify and deliver the key activities - whilst collaborating and challenging others - that ultimately provide the best pathway for the organisation to realise statutory funding opportunities. (I)
- Has an entrepreneurial approach - makes things happen, links with others, thinks outside the box, spots where new opportunities can be created, and then delivers at pace (I)
- Thrives on collaboration - linking with others with a friendly and engaging approach that enables close working cross-organisationally, two-way challenging conversations and the ability to work confidently and effectively with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders. (A, I)
- Is resilient to change -flexible, pragmatic, and able to quickly adapt plans in alignment with organisational priorities. (I)
- Excited by the challenge of developing and growing statutory fundraising - currently an underdeveloped fundraising steam for Age UK. (I)
Great to haves:
The below competencies will be assessed at the indicated stage of the recruitment process:
Application = A, Interview = I, Test = T, Presentation = P
Experience
- Experience of working with local statutory commissioners. (A, I)
- Experience in project management, reporting and analysing results. (I)
Skills and knowledge:
- Knowledge of new digital tools, including AI, that can support efficient and effective statutory fundraising (I)
What we offer in return
- Competitive salary, 26 days annual leave + bank holidays + annual leave purchase scheme
- Excellent pension scheme, life assurance, Health cashback plan and EAP
- Car Benefit Scheme, Cycle to Work Scheme and Season Ticket Loan
- Techscheme - buy any tech from Apple or Currys, up to £1000, and spread the cost over 12 months, interest free
- Blue Light Card Scheme
- You Did It Awards - recognition awards from £100-250
- Many additional benefits
Additional Information
Supporting statements and anonymisation
Candidates are expected to provide a supporting statement that explains how they meet the competencies annotated with an 'A' in the job description, to assess suitability for the position. Age UK acknowledges and accepts that AI may be used to support the application; we do expect candidates to personalise experience, knowledge and skills and failure to do so, may result in your application being rejected.
Please submit a Word version of your CV as it will be anonymised by our recruitment system when you apply for a role. Our system is unable to anonymise supporting statements and heavily formatted CVs. Please could you remove any personal information including your name before you upload to support our inclusive recruitment process. All equalities monitoring information is also anonymised and not shared with the hiring panel. Your name and address will only be known to us if invited for interview.
Equal opportunities & Disability Confident Scheme
Age UK is an Equal Opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates, regardless of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital/civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity. Age UK is a Disability Confident Scheme employer. Due to high numbers of applications received, Age UK reserves the right to limit the overall number of interviews offered, and therefore, it may not always be practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled people that meet the minimum criteria for the job.
Reasonable adjustments
Disabled job seekers can access reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. All requests for reasonable adjustments are considered on a case-by-case basis, in collaboration with the disabled job seeker to best meet their needs, by contacting the Recruitment Team. Disability disclosures will be kept confidential and only shared on a need-to-know basis to support the implementation of adjustments. Disclosures will not be used to inform hiring decisions.
Age UK is committed to safeguarding adults at risk, and children, from abuse and neglect. We expect everyone who works with us to share this commitment.
Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert at any time.
Age UK politely requests no contact from recruitment agencies or media sales. We do not accept speculative CVs from recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.
For a full list of benefits please visit our website.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Hybrid / Homebased - London, Edinburgh, Belfast, or Cardiff
£49,943 (London based salary) or £45,310 (non-London based salary) FTE + excellent benefits
Part-time, 21 hours per week
The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) is seeking an experienced Senior Policy Manager (Workforce) to lead on the development and management of influencing and advocacy in national policy, legislation, funding and health and education decisions related to workforce across government sectors, providing strategic oversight and expert guidance.
Who we are
The RCSLT is the professional body for speech and language therapists across the UK. The RCSLT has over 24,000 members and employs around 70 staff predominately based in a London office. The RCSLT also has offices in Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff.
Our mission is to improve the lives of people with communication and swallowing needs by facilitating and promoting research, producing guidance, holding events, and influencing government. We aim to promote better education and training for speech and language therapists and provide information to our members and the public about speech and language therapy.
The role
We are seeking a dynamic advocate to advance and promote the speech and language therapy profession by shaping and implementing policy, monitoring national developments and responding to changes in the external environment. You will lead RCSLT’s policy agenda on workforce matters, providing strategic advice on risks and opportunities to the CEO, Executive Team, Board, Committees and senior stakeholders.
As the policy lead on workforce-related initiatives, you will influence legislation, national funding and guidance across health, social care, education, and justice sectors. You will represent RCSLT at ministerial, government, parliamentary and external stakeholder meetings, as well as on national working groups and advisory boards, ensuring the profession’s voice is prominent in policy and decision-making.
You will build and maintain strong relationships with senior stakeholders, providing leadership to drive policy initiatives that promote the profession, influence government decisions, and enhance RCSLT’s national reputation. You will also develop strategic external partnerships to support RCSLT’s influencing priorities and serve as a resource for our members. Working collaboratively within the wider team, you will help increase RCSLT’s impact across all relevant sectors.
What we are looking for
You’ll bring experience of influencing health, education or social care at a national level and carry experience of policy research, consultation, development and analysis. The ideal candidate will have experience of building external professional networks as well as be able to effectively campaign and influence. The successful candidate will be able to research, analyse, interpret and present complex and detailed information for a variety of audiences with strong written and oral communication skills.
What we can offer you
A competitive starting salary
Generous annual leave entitlement
Excellent staff training and development opportunities
Supportive and flexible working environment including, hybrid working arrangements
Generous Pension scheme
Life insurance cover
Season Ticket Loan scheme
Eye care voucher scheme
Family friendly employer including enhanced maternity and paternity leave
Cycle to Work scheme
Access to an Employee Assistance Programme and more!
How to apply
Should you wish to discuss the role in strict confidence, or for more details about the role, please contact the HR Team.
For more information and to apply, please visit our careers page.
Closing date: Monday, 9 March 2026.
Interview dates: 19 and 20 March 2026 (at our London Bridge office).
Please note, there will be a task as part of the interview process.
We are committed to a fair, transparent, and inclusive recruitment process. All applications are handled with strict confidentiality to protect your privacy and encourage openness throughout the process.
The RCSLT is committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. We aim to embed equity, diversity, and belonging practices throughout our recruitment and selection procedures. We strive to ensure everyone is valued equally for their contribution, experience, knowledge, and skills. We welcome applications from candidates of all different backgrounds.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Join us at Community Integrated Care and help shape the future of social impact.
We’re looking for a Senior Communications and Marketing Manager to lead the marketing and communications of our specialist Partnerships and Communities function.
In this strategic position, you’ll join a specialist team that designs programmes that transform lives and challenge inequality, collaborating with iconic brands, innovators, and influential public figures. This is a unique opportunity to drive campaigns, projects and partnerships that create societal change.
This is a full-time permanent role with national travel and regular / weekly presence required in our head office in Widnes, so the ideal candidate will be based within an hour’s commute of Widnes.
What is "The Deal" for you?
- Transformative work: You’ll work with our portfolio of exceptional partners, including British Cycling, Rugby Football League, Lawn Tennis Association and RSPB, and high-profile brands and public figures, in a team that have been named ‘Care Innovators Of The Year’.
- Flexibility: Work your 37.5 hours over 4 days and enjoy a long weekend, or split the hours over 5 days to accommodate your other commitments. You can work from home, or from our head office in Widnes, or a flex between the two (there is a requirement to travel to our head office at least once a week).
- Development: We'll work with you to develop your career, in an incredible role where you’ll build skills and experience working with exceptional people and brands.
- Pension and benefits: contributory pension scheme, retail discounts, holiday discounts, cycle to work scheme and travel discounts through our benefits app.
- Best Lives Possible: You'll be working for an award-winning charity that is dedicated to ensuring that people who draw on social care can live the Best Life Possible.
You’ll take ownership of the communications and marketing requirements for our Partnerships and Communities portfolio, ensuring every project has a clear, impactful marketing strategy. From developing inclusive campaigns and activations, to building new relationships, products and partnerships, you’ll be at the heart of promoting our work and growing our influence.
You’ll work in close collaboration with our award-winning Communications and Marketing function to ensure your strategies align with, and complement, our overarching communications strategy, vision and corporate brand. By coordinating with our PR, Social Media, and Marketing teams, you’ll drive consistency and cohesion through the Partnerships and Communities programmes, helping us amplify our message and strengthen our impact.
Key Focus Areas
- Supporting partnership, funding and supporter growth and retention by working with the Partnerships Development Manager to develop partnership strategies and materials (e.g., pitches, proposals, content, impact reporting), and track/evaluate partnership activity to evidence impact and attract new support.
- Commissioning and managing the creation of accessible and effective assets (e.g. presentations, toolkits, social content, video) that are used in the delivery and implementation of a wide variety of programmes and campaigns, across diverse themes. This will involve close collaboration with the Senior Programmes Design Manager and our partners.
- Developing and overseeing integrated marketing and communications plans for the programmes and campaigns – considering objectives, audiences, channels, timelines and KPIs - in close collaboration with Community Integrated Care’s in-house internal and external Marketing and Communications team and operational colleagues, and our partners, to ensure that we reach and empower our target audiences.
- Identifying, delivering and collaborating on profile-raising activations with partners (e.g., events, co-branded campaigns, ambassador activity, PR opportunities) that celebrate the charity, extend reach, and support a more inclusive society, working with Community Integrated Care’s external communications team – including PR and Media, Social Media, Policy & Public Affairs and Design specialists.
Our Ideal candidate:
- Degree-qualified in Marketing, Communications, or related field.
- Proven experience in content creation, media relations, and digital marketing.
- Strong track record in strategy design, project management, and inclusive marketing.
- Skilled in copywriting, data analysis, and creating engaging presentations.
- A creative, detail-focused professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment.
- Passionate about social inclusion, community development, and making a positive impact.
Why join us?
- Be part of a charity that’s changing lives through innovative social impact programmes.
- Work on high-profile campaigns with partners, ambassadors, and influencers.
- Enjoy opportunities for professional growth, coaching, and development.
- Make a tangible difference in communities across England and Scotland.
Ready to lead impactful campaigns and help us create a better world?
Apply today and be part of something extraordinary.
Please note, if you are interested in this role, we welcome your application as soon as possible! Depending on the volume of applications received, the vacancy may be closed before the expected advertising end date.
We’re really proud to be a Hive HR Employee Voice Certified organisation, a recognition that confirms our commitment to creating a culture where our colleagues are not only encouraged to share their thoughts, but where this feedback is actively sought and acted upon to drive positive change at every level.
In our 2025 Colleague Engagement Survey, 59% (nearly 3,800) of our people shared their feedback and insights, giving us an incredible Employee Net Promoter Score of +34.
The Employee Net Promoter Score is a measure of how willing our colleagues are to recommend us as a good place to work to their loved ones – and a score of +34 is considered a Very Good score when compared to global benchmarks set by hundreds of other organisations.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Join the Fire Fighters Charity as our Volunteering Manager and lead the development of a dynamic, inclusive volunteering programme that supports the wellbeing of the UK’s fire services community.
You’ll shape and deliver our national volunteering strategy, design an exceptional volunteer journey, build strong relationships, and ensure volunteers feel supported, valued and inspired. Working across teams, you’ll embed volunteering into our services, champion best practice and use insight to drive continuous improvement.
We’re looking for someone who:
· Has strong experience in volunteer management and volunteer strategy implementation
· Brings strategic thinking with hands‑on delivery
· Builds great relationships and influences at all levels
· Understands safeguarding, data protection and inclusive practice
· Is passionate about creating positive, impactful volunteer experiences
If you want a role with purpose and the chance to make a genuine difference, we’d love to hear from you.
Apply now and help us grow a thriving volunteer community.
We offer specialist, lifelong support for members of the UK fire services community, empowering individuals to live happier and healthier lives



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
This role sits at the heart of Operation Smile UK’s five-year strategy to deliver transformational growth across all income streams. As Senior Lead - Acquisition and Digital Fundraising, you will be instrumental in delivering on three of our four core strategic priorities:
- Build Regular Giving – laying the foundation for higher long-term value and stronger ROI across acquisition channels.
- Drive All Donors to Legacy – recruiting quality donors who have the potential value to feed into legacy and long-term giving goals.
- Maximise Growth Through Digital Fundraising Integration – leading the expansion and optimisation of digital acquisition within a cohesive fundraising strategy
The Senior Lead - Acquisition & Digital Fundraising role is responsible for delivering Operation Smile UK’s strategic individual giving acquisition programme. This role is key to driving income growth and expanding our supporter base across multiple channels, including digital, DRTV, dialogue fundraising and print.
You will lead the strategy, planning, delivery and evaluation of acquisition campaigns, including the onboarding process, with full accountability for managing significant budgets, agency partnerships and performance metrics. This is a senior, hands-on role suited to an experienced acquisition fundraiser with strong commercial acumen and a data-driven mindset.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Campaign Leadership
- Develop and implement the multi-channel acquisition strategy, aligned with income targets and supporter growth objectives.
- Lead on the planning and delivery of campaigns across direct dialogue, digital, DRTV, and print channels.
- Lead on the planning and delivery of the onboarding process for all new recruits.
- Monitor and report on campaign performance, providing insight-driven recommendations to optimise results.
- Drive testing and innovation to expand existing channels and introduce new ones within acceptable risk and return parameters.
Budget Ownership & Performance Monitoring
- Take full responsibility for acquisition budget management, income forecasting and cost control.
- Set, monitor, and evaluate key performance indicators (KPIs), reporting against ROI, CPA, and long-term value across all acquisition channels.
- Collaborate with the Senior Database Manager and the Director of Data and Technology to develop and maintain performance dashboards (e.g., Power BI) and support strategic data analysis, including both short-term and long-term channel performance evaluation.
Agency & Partner Management
- Manage day-to-day relationships with external fundraising and creative partners.
- Lead briefings, content sourcing, agent training, stakeholder approvals, and quality assurance processes.
- Negotiate contracts and hold suppliers accountable for delivery and performance.
Cross-Team and Market Integration
- Represent the acquisition programme in cross-functional planning meetings and contribute to a unified team culture focused on strategic delivery.
- Deliver and optimise the onboarding and conversion programme for new donors.
- Develop CRO strategies and implement with support from the Communications team, whilst supporting the enhancement of web development
- Ensure consistent campaign integration across touchpoints and maximise thematic/creative cohesion, working in collaboration with the Senior Communications Manager to lead and develop the creative and content strategy for acquisition.
- Act as a key liaison with colleagues across Operation Smile global markets, sharing insights and exploring opportunities to align strategy, co-develop creative, or pilot cross-market initiatives.
Compliance, Risk & Best Practice
- Ensure all campaigns meet legal, ethical and data protection requirements (e.g., GDPR, Fundraising Regulator).
- Act as a key contributor to organisational risk assessments relating to income performance and supplier performance.
- Keep up to date with sector trends, innovations and benchmarks to maintain best practice.
Person Specification
Essential Experience
- Extensive experience (ideally 5+ years) in Individual Giving or fundraising acquisition roles.
- Proven success delivering multi-channel acquisition campaigns with strong ROI.
- Experience managing external agencies and suppliers to high-performance standards.
- Strong background in digital fundraising and paid media.
- Demonstrated experience managing and reporting on substantial acquisition budgets.
Skills & Attributes
- Strategic thinker with excellent campaign planning and execution skills.
- Highly numerate and confident using data for decision-making and optimisation.
- Strong project and stakeholder management abilities.
- Proactive, self-starting approach with high levels of ownership and accountability.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, able to represent the organisation externally.
Desirable
- Understanding of retention and supporter journey optimisation.
- Familiarity with CRM and data system Donorfy.
- Experience with Power BI or other reporting tools.
First-round interviews are set for the week of 23rd March 2026. We strongly encourage early applications.
Disability Confident Committed Employer
We're a Disability Confident Committed employer, so we guarantee an interview to any disabled applicant who meets the minimum requirements for the job.
At Operation Smile UK, we value individuals based on their performance and potential. We're dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace that supports everyone's needs. We're happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the application and employment process, and we particularly welcome applications from diverse backgrounds.
If you need this document in a different format, require any adjustments, or need help with your application, please contact us (further details contained within the job description).
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Operation Smile UK knows fundraising could better reflect the diverse backgrounds and experiences of the people the charity sector supports. If you don’t meet every requirement but believe your transferable skills align with the role, we encourage you to contact us for a conversation.
We want our team to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve, offering equal opportunities to everyone, regardless of, age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
We celebrate diversity and encourage you to bring your authentic self to Operation Smile UK. We are committed to supporting all applicants and ensuring a fair hiring process. All appointments will be made solely on merit, and we are happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
About Us
Inspire is a charity based in East London. We inspire children and young people across London and beyond, using data to understand the barriers they face and connecting them with a range of employers and opportunities to open doors to their success.
We have over 30 years of experience in delivering high quality services and programmes to children, young people, schools, local authorities and employers. Working alongside our large network of employer volunteers, we design and deliver programmes that inspire and support children and young people to create a positive future for themselves in their journey from the classroom to workplace. We provide them with independent careers guidance, high aspirations and strong employability skills.
The Opportunity
Are you passionate and enthusiastic about advancing social mobility and ensuring all young people have access to the opportunities and inspiration they need to achieve their full potential? If so, this role is for you.
We are seeking a Senior Business Development and Partnerships Manager to join us in a pivotal role in our Business Development Team. This is a new role for our charity that will make a significant contribution to delivery of our high quality services to children and young people, providing them with opportunities and inspiration to enable them to create a positive future for themselves and open doors to their success.
If you are self-motivated, enthusiastic and confident, with experience and a proven track record in successfully securing, managing and developing long term, five figure levels and above partnerships from initial prospect research through to contracting and ongoing management, then this role is for you. Working alongside our Director of Business Development and Partnerships, you will pro-actively manage business development activity, steward partnerships and raise funds for Inspire from a range of sources including corporate partnerships, community fundraising, trusts and foundations.
Key responsibilities of the role include:
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Identifying and securing new business development opportunities in the corporate, trust and foundations sectors that align with our mission and objectives.
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Developing and maintaining a pipeline of prospects for new business opportunities, targeting five-figure level and above partnerships to deliver high-value, long-term partnerships and achieve financial targets and KPIs.
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Supporting creation and submission of funding applications to corporates, statutory bodies, trusts and foundations.
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Management and growth of Inspire's entry to mid-level corporate partnerships.
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Collaborate with colleagues to scale up existing, funded programmes and develop creative, dynamic and winning proposals.
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Supporting marketing and communications to promote Inspire and its programmes including development of marketing and social media materials.
Benefits
29 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays
3 volunteering days per year
Family friendly policies
Hybrid working arrangements.
If you have the skills and desire to join our team, please see our job description for further details.
Inspire is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.The successful candidate will be required to apply for an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Application process
If you wish to apply for this role please provide your CV, a covering letter to demonstrate your skills and experience, and your answers to the following questions. Please keep your answers to a maximum of 250 words each:
1. Strategic Partnerships:
Describe a partnership you identified and secured that had a significant impact on your organisation’s growth. What was your strategy for engaging the partner and what measurable outcomes were achieved?
2. Pipeline Strategy & Prioritisation:
Highlight your experience in building a high performing pipeline that drives measurable income, how do you identify, evaluate, and prioritise new opportunities, markets, or partners? Please explain your decision making process — including the frameworks, criteria, and tools you use to qualify leads, assess commercial potential, and determine where to focus your efforts.
Use of AI
We use anonymised recruitment methods for shortlisting and do not use AI when reviewing applications or making hiring decisions. We understand some people may use AI when creating their application, however we value authenticity. Please ensure your application is an accurate, honest reflection of your own experience and skills - we want to get to know you during our recruitment process.
Closing date
While this application process has a closing date, we will review applications as we receive them and invite shortlisted applicants to interview on a rolling basis. We would therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as you are able.
Unfortunately, due to the number of applications we receive we are unable to contact unsuccessful applications.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Do you have demonstrable experience of new business development? Have you personally secured six figure partnerships in previous roles?
We're recruiting a New Partnerships Manager to be responsible for proactively identifying, prospecting, and cultivating leads in key sectors to secure new 5-6 figure, multi-year corporate partnerships with local and national businesses.
What does this role do?
As New Partnerships Manager, you'll:
- develop a prospect pipeline to raise a personal income target which contributes to an overall team target,
- support the Senior New Partnerships Manager in the identification and cultivation of new corporate partnerships, accessing a range of income streams and budget holders,
- support senior team members in attending meetings with potential corporate partners, including preparing relevant briefs in advance,
- prepare relevant and creative applications and proposals for pitches for potential corporate partners,
- work closely with the Corporate Partnerships Team to ensure the transition between new business and account management is seamless for both Dogs Trust and the new partner.
First stage interviews for this role are provisionally scheduled for 16th and 17th March 2026, and will take place on Teams. Please note, this role is based at our London office, with office attendance at least one day per week and sometimes at short notice.
Could this be you?
To be successful in this role you'll have demonstrable experience of new business development, ideally in a charity setting, with a track record of securing six-figure partnerships. You'll be organised, articulate and credible, with a real appreciation of different budget holders within companies who may be interested in supporting Dogs Trust, and an understanding of different types of corporate partnerships. In addition, you'll have demonstrable experience of senior stakeholder management and negotiation skills, and you'll have the ability to write clearly and concisely, and to tailor written style to the needs of different audiences.
About Dogs Trust
We love dogs. That’s why we do whatever we can to make sure every four-legged friend gets the love they deserve. We’ll never put a healthy dog down, so our work is focused on helping dogs in need, supporting owners every step of the walk, and creating a better world for dogs in the future. It’s what we’ve been doing since 1891 and how we’ve grown to become the UK’s leading dog charity, helping 12,000 loyal friends find their forever homes every year.
To apply for this position please click the APPLY NOW button. Our application process requires you submit a personal statement explaining your interest and suitability for the role.
Dogs are incredibly diverse, much like the humans that love them! At Dogs Trust we value diversity, and we're committed to fostering an inclusive culture. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, abilities, and cultures and believe that a diverse workforce helps us to achieve our mission. Our colleague networks give our people a voice, acting as vehicles for real and meaningful change within Dogs Trust. We truly want to see every candidate shine throughout the entire job application process, interview stages, and during their time with us. If there's anything on your mind or any adjustments you may need, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We're here to support you every step of the way.
This is an exciting opportunity to establish RLSS UK’s first-ever corporate fundraising function. The Corporate Partnerships Manager will build, lead, and deliver a new programme that maximises income from corporate supporters and aligns partners with our mission to save lives. You will be responsible for developing the strategy, creating the tools and foundations, proactively generating new business, and delivering excellent stewardship as partnerships are secured.
This role requires a commercially aware, results-driven individual who understands how to position partnerships in a way that delivers mutual value and translate opportunity into income through focused action, strong relationship building, and a clear understanding of corporate priorities.
This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a build from scratch environment, combining strategic thinking, creativity, and hands on delivery.
ROLE OVERVIEW
As the Corporate Partnerships Manager, you will lead the development and delivery of RLSS UK’s new corporate fundraising function, create a sustainable strategy, and build a strong pipeline from the ground up.
You will identify, secure, and grow high-value partnerships that align with corporate priorities, producing compelling and commercially compelling propositions that demonstrate clear mutual benefit. Working collaboratively across the organisation, you will ensure partnerships support RLSS UK’s mission and contribute to long term income growth.
KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategy and Planning
- Develop and deliver RLSS UK’s first corporate partnerships strategy, setting clear priorities and income targets for year one and beyond.
- Lead the development of a corporate partnerships income stream, building a sustainable portfolio of partnerships and relationships.
- Create the foundations for growth including a case for support, stewardship framework, pitch decks and templates and KPI and reporting tools.
- Establish systems and internal processes required for a corporate fundraising function.
- Use sector insights, benchmarking, and data to inform strategy and identify opportunities for growth.
Partnership Development
- Build and actively manage a new business pipeline from scratch, ensuring consistent prospecting and follow up.
- Conduct in-depth prospect research to identify target companies, align commercial priorities, and map key decision makers.
- Develop compelling, tailored proposals, pitches, and partnership packages that clearly articulate impact and mutual value.
- Secure a diverse portfolio of partnerships including multi-year strategic, six-figure, Charity of the Year, cause-related marketing, and sponsorship agreements.
- Create cultivation journeys for high-value prospects, maintaining momentum from first contact to close.
- Represent RLSS UK externally at meetings, events, and networking opportunities, confidently positioning the organisation with senior stakeholders.
- Work closely with commercial colleagues to ensure alignment and avoid overlap with existing commercial contracts.
Account Management
- Provide effective day-to-day relationship management to ensure partners feel supported, informed, and engaged with RLSS UK’s mission.
- Deliver clear partnership growth plans that maximise income, engagement, impact, and mutual benefit.
- Identify and activate opportunities to expand partnerships across corporate philanthropy, payroll giving, strategic volunteering, sponsorship, cause-related marketing, and employee engagement.
- Build and maintain positive relationships with senior stakeholders, acting as a trusted and credible partner.
- Monitor partnership delivery against agreed KPIs and use insight to refine and strengthen activity over time.
- Produce high-quality written communications, proposals, and impact reports tailored to individual partners.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues across Fundraising, Marketing and Communications, Education, and Commercial teams to ensure consistent and high-quality delivery.
Reporting and Evaluation
- Use data-driven insights and KPIs to evaluate and refine strategies for maximum impact, income growth, and return on investment.
- Ensure compliance with fundraising regulations, UK GDPR, and RLSS UK policies.
- Maintain accurate pipeline and forecasting information within the CRM system.
- Deliver annual reviews for partnerships to demonstrate impact and ensure all partnerships are meeting agreed KPIS.
- Identify emerging trends and opportunities to diversify income streams and enhance brand visibility.
Other Duties & Responsibilities
- All other duties reasonably associated with your role, as directed by the Line Manager.
- Line management responsibility for the Supporter Engagement Executive, including performance and development, assigning day-to-day tasks and projects, and providing guidance and support.
- 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.
- Help 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
- Experience in business development, fundraising, partnerships, or relevant commercial roles.
- Ability to build strong relationships with senior internal and external stakeholders.
- Experience securing and managing partnerships across at least two of:
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- Charity of the Year
- Strategic partnerships
- Sponsorship
- Cause related marketing/ brand licensing
- Confident pitching and negotiating with senior corporate leaders.
- Strong strategic thinking coupled with hands‑on delivery.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to create persuasive proposals and cases for support.
- 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 understanding of CRM systems and fundraising technologies, and how these support effective partnership programmes.
- Understanding of fundraising regulation, GDPR, and ethical fundraising practices.
- Experience managing budgets and ensuring effective allocation of resources.
- Comfortable working in an environment where systems, processes, and programmes are being built from the ground up.
Desirable Relevant Experience, Skills and/or Aptitudes
- Knowledge and understanding of RLSS UK.
- Previous experience of line management.
- Experience of working in a charity or organisation where corporate fundraising or partnerships have been developed from the ground up, including building systems, processes, and pipeline momentum.
- Experience working in a small team or start-up environment.
- Commercially minded, with a strong understanding of the corporate landscape and the ability to shape compelling, mutually beneficial partnership opportunities that align business priorities with charitable impact.
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 to enjoy water safely and achieve our vision; communities free from drowning.
With increasing corporate focus on ESG, community safety, and employee wellbeing, RLSS UK is uniquely positioned to build strategic partnerships that help companies keep their people and communities safe around water.
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 – Tuesday 31st 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.
It is our vision to have nations without drowning where everyone can safely enjoy being in, on or near water.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
About the role
UnLtd is a vibrant, ambitious organisation at the heart of the UK’s social enterprise sector. As a key stakeholder and leading funder and supporter of social entrepreneurs, we continuously learn and adapt to better meet their needs and maximise their impact.
We are seeking an Events Manager to lead UnLtd’s event portfolio while our current Events Manager is on maternity leave. This person will be responsible for leading, coordinating and delivering the event plan in line with the organisational strategy. We are looking for a confident event specialist who will be able to support our frontline team to deliver a schedule of events for social entrepreneurs and UnLtd’s wider network.
You will be flexible in your approach and confident managing the whole process from planning through to delivery and event evaluation. The role is primarily hands-on and often involves working as part of, and at times leading, a cross-functional team. This role will suit you if you are patient and keep calm when things don’t go to plan, or when you don’t have all the answers you need. You’ll fall back on your meticulous organisation skills to ensure that UnLtd events are produced efficiently, fulfil their purpose, and are executed to the highest level.
This role may include some travel within the UK and evening work; however, we operate a TOIL system.
We find social entrepreneurs with bold solutions to today's challenges.
Acorns Children’s Hospice provides specialist care and support for babies, children and young people who are life limited or life threatened. Supporting over 750 children and nearly 1,000 families annually, Acorns is a vital lifeline for families across the West Midlands and Gloucestershire during unimaginably difficult times.
Over the past three years, Acorns’ leadership has enhanced collaboration and innovation across the charity and embedded an organisation-wide fundraising culture. With a newly integrated Partnerships Team and an ambitious £5m appeal ahead, Acorns is now seeking a Senior Business Development Manager to drive high-value corporate new business and secure strategic partnerships that deliver long-term income growth.
Reporting to the Head of Partnerships, this is a senior corporate new business role focused on identifying, cultivating and converting strategic prospects into multi-year partners. You will own and drive a c.£1m new business pipeline, lead senior-level engagement including C-suite conversations, and secure six-figure+ partnerships aligned to Acorns’ strategic priorities.
If you thrive on making things happen, enjoy research and relationship-building, and want to make a big difference quickly, this is the role for you. We’re looking for a proactive, confident fundraiser with a strong conversion rate and the energy to lead Acorns’ new business push.
As Senior Business Development Manager, you will:
- Identify and engage companies for multi-year strategic partnerships, Charity of the Year agreements, sponsorship and cause-related marketing
- Own and manage a robust new business pipeline of circa £1m, ensuring accurate forecasting, progression and conversion
- Secure high-value corporate partnerships, including stock generation and innovative fundraising initiatives
- Build and influence relationships at senior level, including C-suite stakeholders
- Work closely with the Partnerships and Community teams to ensure smooth transition of new partners into account management
- Line manage the Business Development Manager and drive performance against agreed targets
Essential skills and experience:
- Proven corporate fundraising or business development experience within a charity or commercial setting
- Track record of securing six-figure+ corporate partnerships
- Strong negotiation and influencing skills, with experience engaging senior stakeholders and C-suite leaders
- Experience operating in a targeted, commercially focused environment
- Commercial awareness, including experience of budgets, forecasting and ROI analysis
- Experience managing contractual agreements and working within GDPR and fundraising compliance frameworks
- Experience using CRM systems to manage pipeline and reporting
- Line management experience
Desirable:
- Knowledge of the CSR and ESG landscape and corporate partnership trends
- Experience of cause-related marketing and sponsorship activation
- Familiarity with regional corporate networks and fundraising landscape
- Experience supporting major appeals or high-profile campaign activity
Employee benefits include:
- 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- 5 days holiday buyback scheme starting from April 2026
- 5% employer pension contribution
- Life assurance scheme (2 x annual salary)
- Retail discounts (including the Blue Light card)
- Cycle to work scheme
- Discounted gym membership
- Access to expert financial health and wellbeing support
To apply, please upload your CV, making sure it reflects the essential skills and experience outlined above. You can use the notes/cover letter section to share any additional relevant information. Suitable applicants will be contacted and given full support with formal application process.
Round 1 interviews – w/c 30 March (TBC)
Round 2 interviews – Thursday 9 April
Acorns Children’s Hospice provides specialist care and support for babies, children and young people who are life limited or life threatened. Supporting over 750 children and nearly 1,000 families annually, Acorns is a vital lifeline for families across the West Midlands and Gloucestershire during unimaginably difficult times.
Over the past three years, Acorns’ leadership has enhanced collaboration and innovation across the charity and embedded an organisation-wide fundraising culture.
With a newly integrated Partnerships Team spanning corporate partnerships and community fundraising, and an ambitious £5m appeal ahead, Acorns is now seeking a Senior Community Partnerships Manager to oversee and deliver the charity’s community fundraising strategy, driving c.£1m of income. The strategic focus will be on building more commercially productive relationships with SMEs, community groups, and associations across the West Midlands.
Reporting to the Head of Partnerships, you will personally manage a portfolio of key community partnerships while leading and developing a team of three Community Partnerships Managers. While the team operates on a patch basis (Birmingham/Black Country and Worcester), you will take a lead on integration across Acorns, working closely with Retail and Care colleagues.
This is a superb opportunity for someone who has evolved from traditional community fundraising into more commercially-focused, regional partnerships.
About the role
As Senior Community Partnerships Manager, you will:
- Report to the Head of Partnerships and line manage three Community Partnerships Managers, ensuring plans are focused, targets/KPIs are set and met and ROI is prioritised
- Oversee key accounts worth circa £1m across the team, seeking opportunities to uplift/evolve, whilst delivering exceptional donor experience for SME, community group, and association partners
- Be the key account manager for a range of partnerships that have the potential for growth, are higher profile or have a wider geography than one patch alone
- Work closely with the Corporate Team to ensure smooth handover of partners with higher value potential or commercial complexity or in reverse for those that focus more on staff fundraising alone
- Network map and build relationships across key sectors, utilising Acorns senior leaders to open doors
- Contribute to the development of fundraising products and campaigns that appeal to community audiences
- Collaborate with Retail, Care and other fundraising teams to maximise referrals and cross-team opportunities
About you
Essential skills and experience:
- Proven experience of growing income through regional community engagement, ideally within a charity setting
- Either line management or substantial coaching/mentoring experience
- Experience of working with community leaders
- Experience and evidence of first-class relationship management techniques and donor care
- Experience of organising events, managing volunteers, risk assessments and health and safety requirements
- Track record of cross-team working with examples of impact, ideally this will include collaborating with corporate partnerships teams
Desirable:
- A blend of regional corporate relationship management and community fundraising experience, reflecting the strategic direction of the role
Employee benefits include:
- 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- 5 days holiday buyback scheme starting from April 2026
- 5% employer pension contribution
- Life assurance scheme (2 x annual salary)
- Retail discounts (including the Blue Light card)
- Cycle to work scheme
- Discounted gym membership
- Access to expert financial health and wellbeing support
To apply, please upload your CV, making sure it reflects the essential skills and experience outlined above. You can use the notes/cover letter section to share any additional relevant information. Suitable applicants will be contacted and given full support with the formal application process.
Round 1 interviews – w/c 30 March (TBC)
Round 2 interviews – Thursday 9 April
Location: Hybrid (London-based)
Contract: Full-time
Salary: up to £38,000 per annum (dependent on experience)
We’re seeking an experienced, motivated Programme Manager with a passion for music and culture, and the confidence to drive projects forward in a small, collaborative team.
This is an exciting time to join CDR as we grow nationally and you will play a pivotal role in shaping and scaling three of our core programmes at a time of real momentum.
The ideal candidate will have 5+ years experience in delivering music education programmes, be highly organised, and proactive.
CDR is an organisation committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in everything we do, from our programmes to our hiring practices. We particularly welcome and encourage applications from Black people and others who are currently underrepresented in the music and cultural industry.
About CDR
CDR is a community-first music organisation working towards an equitable music industry for producers and artists. Founded in 2002, we have a 20-year track record of nurturing independent music makers and pushing UK electronic music forward.
We connect education with modern music culture, empowering people to create new music, define their sound, and release music on their own terms. Our programmes span schools, youth centres, grassroots venues and international collaborations — from Newham to Nairobi.
As a Black-led, London-based National Portfolio Organisation (Arts Council England), we are building the CDR Pathway: a cohesive journey that unlocks creativity in people at a young age and supports them to develop their creative practice throughout their lives.
This is an exciting time to join CDR: after recently becoming an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation, we are rapidly growing our projects around the country. Building on 20 years of heritage in the UK underground music scene, there is a significant opportunity to push on further and grow CDR’s profile to establish ourselves as a leading music and education organisation nationally.
The Programmes You’ll Lead
Music Producer Club (MPC) – digital music-making for young people aged 12–18, delivered in schools, youth centres and online. Taught by ‘producer educators’ - working music producers we train to educate the next generation -, MPC builds creativity, skills and confidence while connecting participants with electronic music culture and the national curriculum.
Process – a development programme for women, non-binary and trans+ music makers. Structured across three strands for different abilities (Create, Define, Release), Process combines workshops, mentoring and masterclasses to build skills, confidence and community for underrepresented producers.
Out The Box (OTB) – hands-on analogue mixing workshops in leading London studios, giving emerging producers practical experience with desks, outboard gear and professional engineers while bridging digital and analogue production techniques.
Key Responsibilities
Programme Management
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Lead planning, scheduling and delivery of MPC, Process and Out The Box programmes and events.
Quality Monitoring & Evaluation
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Collect and analyse participant data, case studies and feedback, and drive solutions in response to pain points.
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Support continuous improvement by feeding programme insights into CDR’s evolving evaluation framework, learning outputs, and communications strategy.
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Ensure safeguarding, risk assessments and health and safety are adhered to across all programmes. Implementing training, good practice and further planning where necessary.
Strategic Development
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Work with senior management to scale and embed programmes nationally.
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Ensure programmes align with and contribute to the CDR Pathway, supporting participants to progress from entry-level engagement to sustained creative practice and professional development.
Person Specification
Essential
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Track record of managing and growing programmes in education, youth, or the arts.
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Strong organisational and time-management skills.
Terms & Benefits
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Full-time, hybrid working with a London office base.
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25 days annual leave + bank holidays + office closure (Christmas week).
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Pension scheme.
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Training and professional development opportunities.
Reports to: CEO
In your cover letter and CV please detail your relevant experience and why you are interested in this role. Include examples of past projects you have managed the delivery and growth of, highlighting your contributions to their success.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at CDR
CDR is committed to equity and inclusion in everything we do, from our programmes to our hiring practices. We believe a diverse team is essential to a thriving music and cultural industry.
We particularly welcome and encourage applications from Black people and others who are currently underrepresented in the music and cultural industry. In line with the Equality Act 2010, we guarantee equal opportunity regardless of any protected characteristic.
CDR (Create Define Release) is a community-first music organisation working towards an equitable music industry for producers and artists.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Be the spark that turns creativity into impact.
Help Age Exchange grow arts & heritage programmes that change lives in social care.
Age Exchange—embedded in social care and powered by the arts—is hiring a Business Development Manager to ignite partnerships and funding that deliver innovative programmes across the UK. If you come from museums, galleries, archives or cultural organisations and can spot opportunities, craft compelling bids and open doors fast, this is your stage. Lead the growth of projects that boost health, wellbeing, learning and social connection—so creativity reaches the people who need it most.
The role will require someone who can work from our head office in Blackheath and the role will include some national travel as and when required so the ideal candidate will be based within an hours commute of the Community Hub in Blackheath, London.
What is The Deal for you?
- Flexibility! You will be working 35 hours per week over 5 days with some weekend work.
- Location: You need to be based within a commutable distance to our Community Hub in Blackheath, London.
- Benefits: retail discounts, holiday discounts, cycle to work scheme and travel discounts through our benefits app
- Best Lives Possible: You'll be working for an award winning charity who is passionate about ensuring our colleagues and the people we support lead the best lives possible
- Development: We'll work with you to develop your career or to learn and experience new things. We're passionate about developing our people!
- Support: From our Employee Assistance Programme (available 24/7), financial support options, and wellbeing fund you'll have the support available to lead an easier (financial) life
This role will design and secure a portfolio of national and local strategically aligned, market-relevant and impactful programmes which use arts, culture and creativity to achieve a positive impact on our target audiences. These programmes will empower the health, wellbeing, learning, social mobility and social connection of people supported by Age Exchange and Community Integrated Care. The role holder will play an essential role in leading the growth, reach and sustainability of Age Exchange by generating funding and commercial revenue and new partnerships.
What You'll do (list not exhaustive):
- Win funding & partnerships that fuel our programmes and core costs—trusts & foundations, corporates/sponsorships, individual giving, and earned income.
- Build and manage a high-quality pipeline—prospect, cultivate, write compelling bids/proposals, negotiate, and steward partners.
- Collaborate across the delivery team—aligning with colleagues so proposed projects and tenders are fundable, impactful, and on-brand.
- Report outcomes & learn—own quarterly KPI reporting and iterate approaches to hit clear income and partnership targets.
Our ideal Candidate:
- Degree-level education or equivalent experience.
- Proven success in bid writing and securing projects/tenders of £250k+.
- Strong experience in fundraising, commercial development, and project management within a funded environment.
- Creative thinker with the ability to design innovative programmes aligned to strategic objectives.
- Excellent relationship-building and influencing skills, with experience engaging stakeholders at senior levels.
- Skilled communicator and presenter, able to craft compelling proposals and pitches.
- Proficiency in MS Office and project management tools (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet).
- Bring proven success in the arts or heritage sector (e.g., museums, galleries, performing arts, creative health, community arts) with a track record of securing grants and/or sponsorships.
- Are a confident storyteller and bid writer who can turn creative ideas into fundable, strategically aligned propositions.
Why join us ?
- Be part of a nationally recognised charity making a real difference in people’s lives.
- Lead ground-breaking projects that combine creativity and social impact.
- Work in a collaborative, values-driven environment with opportunities for professional growth.
Success in this role means:
- Meeting funding and growth targets.
- Delivering a diverse portfolio of innovative programmes.
- Enhancing the charity’s profile through impactful projects and partnerships.
Ready to make a difference ?
Apply now and help us shape a future where arts and creativity empower communities across the UK.
Please note, if you are interested in this role, we welcome your application as soon as possible! Depending on the volume of applications received, the vacancy may be closed before the expected advertising end date.
We’re really proud to be a Hive HR Employee Voice Certified organisation, a recognition that confirms our commitment to creating a culture where our colleagues are not only encouraged to share their thoughts, but where this feedback is actively sought and acted upon to drive positive change at every level.
In our 2025 Colleague Engagement Survey, 59% (nearly 3,800) of our people shared their feedback and insights, giving us an incredible Employee Net Promoter Score of +34.
The Employee Net Promoter Score is a measure of how willing our colleagues are to recommend us as a good place to work to their loved ones – and a score of +34 is considered a Very Good score when compared to global benchmarks set by hundreds of other organisations.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
About Starlight
No one enjoys medical procedures, least of all children. From facing everyday vaccinations to the most serious of surgeries and chronic conditions, all children experience varying degrees of apprehension and fear. Feeling scared, powerless, or anxious in healthcare settings doesn’t just trigger a child’s emotions; it can create traumas that impact treatment success and that can have a life-long impact. Starlight’s aim is to transform children’s health through better experiences, by putting play at the heart of every child’s healthcare.
Evidence shows that play in healthcare can reduce anxiety, fear and even pain; it helps children engage and prepare for their treatment and cope better with procedures; it minimises trauma and contributes to a better experience; and supports children to have some sense of agency and control in an environment where these opportunities are limited. Play can also reduce the number of attempts to deliver treatment, the need for sedation and the need for repeat appointments. Prioritising children’s right to play in healthcare results in healthier, happier children who are involved in their own healing and recovery as well as more efficient treatment and care.
We work in over 900 healthcare settings across the UK with an ultimate vision to ensure that no child endures trauma in healthcare.
Our Strategy and the Professional Training & Development Manager role
Over recent years, we have been re-positioning Starlight from a wish-granting charity to a charity that supports children to experience the power of play in healthcare settings to improve their mental health and wellbeing. These changes have made an exponential difference to the immediate impact that we can achieve for children, as well as the opportunity to create real social value in the efficiency of treatment; and to our ability to advocate for long-term systemic change in the way children experience healthcare.
Central to improving children’s experience is having access to experienced and properly equipped play professionals. Through our Champions network and collaborative working across the healthcare sector, we have developed strong networks; shared best practice, offered opportunities for training and connection and raised awareness of the importance of play professionals and a culture of play in healthcare settings. Our Taskforce work with NHS England has also clearly outlined the need for workforce accreditation and development.
While we continue to advocate at a systemic level for the recognition of the play workforce and their need for a strategy for their development, this role is vital in providing more immediate and tangible support to the professionals who make our work possible. 3 The Professional Training & Development Manager will be integral in sharing Starlight’s knowledge of Play by training and developing key roles within health play settings to ensure Play becomes a foundation of every child’s health care journey. They will support wider understanding of the importance of a culture of play in paediatric healthcare.
Main purpose of the role
The main purpose of this role is to develop and maintain effective and mutually supportive relationships with health professionals, creating communities of practice and resourcing knowledge exchange across the sector. Through these relationships, you will deepen our understanding of the training and workforce development needs of play professionals and identify and develop opportunities for training and sharing of best practice, Working closely across the Children’s Services your work will contribute to raising awareness of the importance of a culture of play for children’s mental health and wellbeing and for the health and efficiency of the NHS.
You will report directly to the Head of Professional Training & Development and will line manage a coordinator.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
The Youth Endowment Fund
Programme Manager
Reports to: Programme and Impact Lead
Salary: £44,200
Contract: 12-month fixed term (Full-Time), dependent on co-funding being secured.
Location: Central London or Hybrid*(see below)
Closing date for applications: 12pm Friday 13th March 2026
Interview dates: Week commencing 23rd March 2026
About the Youth Endowment Fund
We’re here to prevent children and young people becoming involved in violence. We do this by finding out what works and building a movement to put this knowledge into practice.
Every child should grow up safe from harm. Yet far too many are drawn into violence or live with the fear of it. This robs them of opportunity and damages whole communities. Even when violence doesn’t strike directly, we know that the fear of violence has a terrible effect on children’s lives.
The Youth Endowment Fund exists to try and permanently change things. To succeed, we must build an exceptional body of knowledge about violence affecting young people and how we reduce it. This knowledge has to be both rigorous and highly relevant to those making decisions about how to support vulnerable young people. We need to find out what works and what doesn’t through evidence synthesis, data analysis and qualitative research into children’s lives. We need to convert this into highly accessible content on what works, how delivery organisations need to change their practice and how the systems they operate in need to be reformed. We then need to work with the right people that can make change happen, across systems, policies and practice, to have a real impact on reducing violence affecting children’s lives.
Key Responsibilities
Deciding which projects, we should fund and evaluate is key, as is making sure we deliver our funding and evaluations to the highest standards. Our Programme Managers are responsible for identifying, assessing, funding and supporting programmes designed to prevent youth violence.
Programme Managers at YEF come from all walks of life. We look for individuals who may have experience in the youth sector, children’s social care, policing, criminal justice, education or how to involve local residents in making decisions about their own neighbourhoods.
As a Programme Manager at YEF, you will work very closely with our evaluation team to make sure we learn from what’s being implemented and that the organisations we fund are prepared and excited to work with us to find what works.
To achieve this, you will:
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Make sure we choose the best organisations to work with by assessing funding applications, critically appraising delivery plans and budgets and getting to know potential grantees. These assessments will help you form recommendations to our senior leadership team about which opportunities to pursue.
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Work closely with grantees, external evaluators and our own evaluation team to ensure that the activity we are funding will be evaluable to the highest standards. This requires you to support and advise grantees on how to work in the context of an evaluation – usually, a randomised controlled trial (you don’t have to have experience working on a randomised controlled trial in the past, but it helps!).
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Build strong relationships with our grantees and provide them with ongoing management and support through the life of their funding. You will also be responsible for monitoring the performance of grantees and ensuring targets are met and any project risks are effectively mitigated.
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Think carefully about how we find the best projects to fund and evaluate, ensuring we can best find what works to keep children safe. To do this you might need to work with colleagues to spot where there has previously been a lack of evidence about what works (we will help you with this!). You would project manage these projects so they are excellently delivered – on time, within budget, and to a high standard. You will help to determine what our commissioning and management processes aim to achieve and design grant application and management processes to achieve it.
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You’ll manage our engagement with potential grantees to make sure we are attracting a diverse and promising portfolio of organisations to apply.
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Report to our team and external stakeholders regularly on how well the projects we are funding are going, spotting where grantees need support and coming up with how we can best provide that support.
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Represent the Youth Endowment Fund at external events, including reporting and presenting to our Grants and Evaluation Committee, who approve all our funding decisions.
About You
You are this sort of person:
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You don't want your days to pass without making a difference. You want to play a significant part in a charity that is making a difference.
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You want to work in a job that makes young people safer. This issue matters to you. You don’t need extensive experience in grant making, you just have to be committed to learning it. You should be keen to learn about the sectors we work with, the challenges facing young people and what organisations face when implementing programmes.
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You have experience in one or more of the following areas: policing, education, criminal justice, social care or the youth sector.
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You have a strong understanding of challenges that organisations face in delivering projects. You must also be a really good project manager, great at managing and developing people and external stakeholders, energised by tackling complex problems and really care about the YEF’s mission to build evidence of what works.
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You have incredible judgement. You are able to reach sound and considered judgements about the viability and suitability of applicants based upon our given criteria, often using detailed written and financial information, and are able to deliver constructive feedback to organisations. You can also identify when things aren’t going to plan and be proactive with sharing observations and recommendations.
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You are an optimiser. You look for solutions and think creatively to overcome challenges. You are curious, hungry to learn and always looking for ways to improve processes and increase efficiency and impact.
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You love well-designed systems. You are committed to designing and maintaining the best systems to make sure we manage our commissioning processes well. You know this is critical to effectively managing multiple, large-scale funding programmes and competing priorities.
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You are an excellent communicator. You have the ability to convey information clearly and effectively—both in writing and verbally. You understand the importance of strong communication in fast-paced decision-making and thrive in a busy, collaborative team environment.
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You win people over. People tend to warm to you and respect you. You have built good relationships with people at every level inside and outside the organisation and have managed large networks of stakeholders with different interests and priorities. You are excellent at customer service and can professionally handle issues that come up within your grant portfolio.
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You work very well in a team. You are not motivated by being the individual winner. You want the team as a whole to succeed. You don’t care who gets the credit as long as things get done.
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You are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. You believe and act in a way that celebrates and encourages a range of experiences, backgrounds and values.
While it’s not a criteria, we are especially interested to hear from applicants who have lived experience of youth violence.
We’re also keen to hear from applicants with a strong understanding of evaluation methodologies—particularly Randomised Control Trials (RCTs)—and experience either directly supporting or overseeing programme delivery within an evaluation context.
It’s important to us that the people we hire do not discriminate. We believe in being inclusive and giving everyone an equal chance to succeed. Applications are welcome from all regardless of age, sex, gender identity, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, race, sexual orientation, transgender status or social economic background.
All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.
This position will require a DBS check to be performed, but a record is not a block to performing this role.
Funding and Start Date
This role is subject to funding. We are currently in the process of securing the necessary funding for this work, which is expected to commence in April 2026. The successful candidate will need to be available to start within four weeks of receiving an offer.
Hybrid Working Details
The office is based in Central London, but you don’t have to be. Those living in London and within the 32 London Boroughs are expected to be in the office a minimum of 2 days per week. If you live outside of London and work remotely, you’ll be expected to work from the London office 2 days per month. As part of our commitment to flexible working we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant. All options can be discussed at the interview stage.
To Apply
To apply, please send a CV and a cover letter answering the specific questions below, along with the completed monitoring form, by clicking the "Apply for this" button by 12pm Friday 13th March 2026.
If you have specific expertise in any of our sectors, we want to hear about it in your examples, when answering the following questions as part of your cover letter to be considered.
Application Questions
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Tell us about your experience and understanding of the challenges organisations face in delivering projects and any experience you’ve had of this in the context of evaluations? (max 400 words).
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The Programme Manager role involves overseeing several projects at once and juggling many different tasks simultaneously. Tell us about when you’ve had several competing priorities and how you managed those? (max 400 words)
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Tell us about your experience of managing multiple partners and resolving conflicting positions? (max 400 words)
Interview Process
This is likely to be a one stage process, with interviews taking place on the week commencing 23rd March 2026
PLEASE NOTE: We do not sponsor work permits and you will be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK.
Benefits Include
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£1,000 professional development budget annually
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28 days holiday plus Bank Holidays
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Employee Assistance Programme – 24hr phone line for free confidential support
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Volunteering days - 4 half days per year
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Death in service - 4 times annual salary
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Flexible hours. Core office hours 10am – 4pm
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Financial support including travel and hardship loans
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Employer contributed pension of 5%.
Personal Data
Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful, and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area.
We exist to prevent children and young people becoming involved in violence.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.