Senior programme developer jobs

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced and motivated Senior Project Officer, working predominantly in the South London area, to lead the development and delivery of river and catchment restoration projects. You will oversee work from early concept and design stages through to physical implementation, ensuring projects are delivered on time, on budget and to a high standard. As part of our Restoring Rivers and Catchments Team, you’ll help shape ambitious, meaningful projects that benefit local rivers, wildlife and communities. Whilst you will be predominantly working on projects for the Hogsmill, Wandle, Beverley Brook and Cray rivers, you may be required to work on other projects within the wider SERT region.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and design restoration and enhancement projects using best practice and sound science.

• Lead feasibility work, secure all necessary permissions and manage stakeholder relationships.

• Oversee on-site delivery, managing contractors, volunteers and project partners.

• Ensure robust Health & Safety compliance across all project activities.

• Manage project budgets, timelines and reporting to funders.

• Mentor and manage junior colleagues, supporting their development and project delivery skills.

• Contribute to the Trust’s communications, fundraising and wider organisational goals.

What We Are Looking For

We are seeking someone with strong project management experience, confidence in leading multidisciplinary work and the ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of partners. Experience delivering physical works on site—especially with power tools or plant—is desirable but not essential. You will bring creativity, initiative and a collaborative mindset to help develop impactful environmental solutions.

About You

You are a proactive problem-solver with a passion for improving rivers and catchments. You enjoy working with others, building relationships and finding innovative ways to deliver high-quality environmental projects. You take pride in maintaining high standards, supporting colleagues and seeing projects through from concept to completion.

 Interested? Apply now and help us create a healthier, more resilient catchment, see the full job description for more information.

Application process

• Closing date for applications: Sunday 8th March 2026 at 11:59pm.

•   Interviews:  w/c Monday 16th March 2026

The Head of Operations is responsible for the effective and efficient delivery of all operational functions of the Foundation to enable achievement of its global mission and strategic objectives.  The Head of Operations ensures that systems, people, processes and resources are aligned to support programmes across multiple countries while maintiaing high standardds of governance, risk management and financial stewardship.

This is a senior leadership role, working closely with the CEO and Members of the Foundation around the world, acting as the key bridge between strategy and delivery.

This is an exciting and challenging opportunity for a senior fundraiser / income-generation specialist with the ambition to grow and diversify our income streams sustainably. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will bring strategic planning and action to the income generation work needed to ensure that the charity can continue delivering, and increase the reach of, its life-changing support to Asylum Seeker and Refugee communities in and around Derby.

Key Skills and Attributes we’re looking for: 

• Demonstrable experience of significant income growth in a large charity through grants, tenders and/or major donors with pipeline development.
• Experience of motivating and inspiring team members to achieve high, sustainable performance in fundraising and communications.  
• Collaborative and skilled at working cross organisationally and building strong internal relationships.
• A proactive networker with the ability to work in true partnership with local organisations, including faith groups, corporate, local government and national funding partners, inclusive of major donors.
• Provides strategic leadership across the organisation, working jointly with the Chief Executive and Trustees to embed the charity’s ethos and values.

Operational responsibilities:

Income generation and external partnerships

• Hold overall accountability for income generation across trusts and foundations, statutory funding, corporate partnerships, major donors and community fundraising.
• Developer and deliver a statutory fundraising strategy to maximise income from government, NHS, lottery and public sector funders.
• Lead and write high-quality funding bids, working closely with the Senior Leadership Team and operational teams to shape compelling programme proposals.
• Oversee the management of the charity's current grant portfolio; ensuring grant applications and reports are delivered on time and in accordance with internal processes.
• Ensure that the voice, experience and dignity of refugees are meaningfully and ethically reflected in all fundraising and communication activity.

Leadership

• Provide inclusive, ambitious and supportive leadership to the Fundraising team, encouraging a culture of high performance, collaboration and learning.
• Champion strong collaboration between fundraising and other areas of the charity.
• Model Upbeat Communities values at all times, contributing to a welcoming, mission-led and entrepreneurial organisational culture.
• Actively contribute as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, supporting organisational leadership and decision-making beyond fundraising.

· Provide clear, accurate and timely reporting to the CEO, and Board of Trustees, attending meetings as required.

Strategy & Development

• Working closely with the CEO, lead the development and delivery of an integrated Fundraising Strategy that supports organisational priorities, financial sustainability and long-term partnerships.
• Contribute income generation expertise to support the execution of the charity’s strategic plan.
• Translate strategy into clear priorities, plans and performance expectations across the fundraising portfolio.
• Ensure fundraising propositions are compelling, evidence-led and clearly connected to Upbeat Communities impact, working closely with the Head of Delivery to reflect operational reality and participant need.
• Strengthen pipeline management, forecasting and scenario planning to support financial resilience and informed decision-making.

· Identify opportunities to deepen funder engagement beyond income, including learning partnerships, influence and profile-raising where appropriate.

Networking & Partnerships

• Build and maintain strong strategic partnerships across statutory, community and private sectors, strengthening the profile and reach of the charity.
• Represent the organisation at networking events, conferences generating leads and expanding income opportunities
• Support the development of a joined-up Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) offer, positioning Upbeat Communities as a key partner for corporate engagement.

Foundational Values

• Excels in emotional intelligence, building deep connections and mentoring others in emotional awareness.
• Embodies compassion in action, inspiring others to create a culture of care and community impact.
• Drives a culture of learning and excellence, mentoring others and integrating innovative ideas into practice.
• Leads with empowerment, creating opportunities and mentoring others to take ownership of their actions.

Person Specification:

Role Specific Competencies

• Significant experience leading high-value fundraising across multiple income streams, with a strong track record of income growth in a large charity.
• Demonstrable success securing and stewarding 6- and 7-figure partnerships or donations from corporate partners, trusts/foundations, statutory funders and/or major donors.
• Proven ability to operate at both strategic and delivery levels, balancing leadership with selective frontline fundraising.
• Experience managing senior fundraisers or managers with responsibility for discrete income streams.
• Strong strategic, financial and analytical skills, including budgeting, forecasting, performance management and risk assessment.
• Excellent relationship-building, influencing and negotiation skills, with credibility at senior levels internally and externally.
• Ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and compellingly to a range of audiences, including trustees.
• Experience working effectively across an organisation and with senior leadership teams.
• Strong project management skills and ability to prioritise in a fast-paced environment.
• Sound knowledge of GDPR and the Charity Code of Fundraising Practice.

About the role

We are looking for a Head of Communications, someone with ambition and commitment to shape our approach to communications, internally and externally, and to help us understand how we talk about and demonstrate our impact as a funder. You will be part of a small team that helps to communicate the work of the Foundation externally, drives internal communication, and promotes the work of those we support.

The Head of Communications is a critical post, drawing together our shared story across the different areas of our work and communicating this to key audiences in support of our mission and vision. The communications team plays a crucial role in advancing our commitment to being an anti-racist funder and working towards greater diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, and you will lead on how this is embedded into all of our internal and external communications activity. You will act as a crucial bridge between the Foundation and our various audiences, in particular those people and organisations we are seeking to support through our funding.

Main areas of responsibility 

• Strategic oversight of internal and external corporate communications, ensuring alignment with the Foundation’s mission, values and impact
• Leadership of diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racist communications across all platforms and activities
• Reputation, risk and issues management, including navigating complex or sensitive public positions
• Development and delivery of proactive communications campaigns, stakeholder engagement and influencing activity
• Team leadership and cross organisational collaboration, contributing to management culture and organisational priorities

Our ideal candidate will have senior-level communications experience, including developing and delivering external communications strategies, providing sound communications and media advice to senior leadership, and proactively engaging with journalists and key external stakeholders.

About us

Paul Hamlyn Foundation was established by Paul Hamlyn in 1987. Upon his death in 2001, he left most of his estate to the Foundation, creating one of the largest grant-making foundations in the UK.

We use our resources to support social change, working towards a just and equitable society in which everyone, especially young people, can realise their full potential and enjoy fulfilling and creative lives.

Our vision is for a just society in which everyone, especially young people, can realise their full potential and enjoy fulfilling and creative lives.

Our mission is to be an effective and independent funder, using all our resources to create opportunities and support social change. We partner with inspiring organisations and individuals to put them at the heart of leading change and designing solutions to overcome inequality.

We are committed to being an anti-racist organisation. This commitment drives how we work, who we work with and how we make decisions.

We have five funding priorities where we wish to see change for our work in the UK:

• Investing in young people
• Migration
• Arts
• Arts Education
• Nurturing ideas and people

Our values are important to us and we work to and carry them through all our activity.

Benefits

The Foundation is based in light and recently refurbished offices near Kings Cross in London and we currently work to a hybrid working model with 40% of time worked in the office and the rest a combination of external grantee visits and homeworking. We offer fantastic benefits including

• 25 days annual leave,
• 10% non-contributory pension contributions with optional additional 2.5% matched employer contributions
• Enhanced maternity and paternity policies
• Complimentary lunch when in the office.

For further information about the role, including the full responsibilities and person specification, please see the full Job Description via the link provided.

First stage interviews are expected to take place remotely on Tuesday 17th and Wednesday 18th March. Second stage interviews are expected to take place in-person on Tuesday 24th March.

We are looking for an experienced museum and heritage professional with a curatorial and/or learning and engagement background to ensure our collection, archive and content development has relevance for diverse audiences and partners.

The role of Head of Content, Learning & Engagement offers a hugely exciting opportunity to join a young and ambitious charity at a pivotal moment in its evolution.

You will develop our work across the collection and archive, including having curatorial oversight for Crystal Palace Museum, ownership of which will be transferring to the Trust during 2026. You will also lead our learning and engagement programmes, ensuring all activity is audience-driven and rooted in our mission, values and strategic principles and taking inspiration from our rich heritage and landscape and fascinating creative, cultural, and sporting legacy.

We need the very best people to help us in our role to alleviate poverty in the East End.  We are inspired by our work and we will be looking for this in you too.

With support from the Chief Executive and an external Communication professional acting as your mentor, the Communications and Events Lead will lead on planning and delivering communications to our various audiences, including potential and existing donors (corporates, HNWIs, other charitable foundations and statutory agencies) and grant seekers as a means of raising our profile as the go-to organisation for charitable giving and philanthropy advice in the East End.

You will play a crucial role in telling the story of the Foundation and the difference our funding is making to those experiencing hardship in East London.  Your work will inspire potential supporters to help us tackle inequality locally. 

Being the sole member of the comms team in our fast paced charity, you will need to be an organised, pro-active team player able to respond willingly, flexibly and positively to unexpected changes or demands.

Specifically, you will identify, write, edit, co-ordinate and publish content across various channels, including EECF’s website, social media, newsletters and print.  In consultation with the senior management team, you will plan and implement communications to raise the organisation’s profile while progressively improving our understanding of what works for our different audiences.

Main duties and responsibilities:

Communications

Support the Chief Executive with the delivery of EECF’s communications strategy, to include:

· Developing, implementing and monitoring EECF’s communications strategy

· Being responsible for copy-writing all communications including social media, web content, annual reviews, press releases, newsletters etc

· Preparing and posting quality and engaging social media content

· Growing engagement with our channels and evaluating social media and web activities as well as Google analytics to ensure we our content remains relevant

· Ensuring EECF’s website is up to date had has engaging content

· Developing relevant video content for various platforms

· Drafting case studies on both donors and grant recipients

· Producing engaging content for EECF’s Supporter and Life Chances newsletters

· Maintaining a folder of master templates and resources and ensuring branding resources are reviewed and used correctly by the wider team

· Building our storytelling resources including quality images, case studies, video etc to enable us to demonstrate the impact of our work

· Leading on reviewing our comms platforms and providers, making suggested changes, additions and/or removals where relevant

· Attending EECF programmes to capture content in liaison with the programme lead

Events

· Work in co-ordination with our Grants Administrator in planning, co-ordinating and delivering EECF events including our annual elder Tea Dance and Winter Appeal

· Support the delivery of donor volunteering sessions where appropriate, including overseeing corporate volunteers on the day

· Supporting events relating to any in-house projects or initiatives

· Assisting at donor and community events as required

Administration

· Providing ad-hoc administrative support to the team including support with donor engagement, research and solutions that improve productivity

· Contributing to the work of the EECF and play a full and active part as a member of the larger staff team

Our offer

Salary £34,000 - £35,000 based on 35hr week

Holiday Entitlement          23 days plus bank holidays

Pension 7% (5.5% EECF contribution and 1.5% employee contribution)

Working Hybrid working arrangements based on 3 days in the office

Development                   Mentoring from an external Communications professional

Person Specification 

We are looking for a pro-active individual experienced in the field of communications, some of which will have been gained in the charity sector.  Demonstrable expertise in developing communications strategies across a range of channels, including traditional and social media is essential.

 You will also have experience of producing creative communications content for a range of audiences including business, wealthy individuals and the voluntary sector. 

Being the sole member of the comms team in our fast paced charity, you will need to be an organised, pro-active team player able to respond willingly, flexibly and positively to unexpected changes or demands.

Essential Experience

Developing and implementing communication strategies

Creating and managing social media accounts

Excellent communicator, both verbal and written 

Desirable Experience

An understanding of inequality in East London

Working for a charity

From or resident within EECF area of benefit

Personal Qualities 

A strategic and creative thinker 

Flexibility and a practical ‘can do’ approach 

Able to multi-task and manage competing priorities 

Highly motivated and commercially astute 

Positive, resilient and supportive 

Application process:CV and Covering letter to be submitted via Charity Jobs