Senior programme developer jobs

We are partnering with a leading educational charity that believes every young person deserves access to high-quality education and career support, regardless of their background. 

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, and as a member of the Senior Management Team, you will lead the organisation's fundraising strategy and team to secure significant, multi-year income from major donors, trusts and foundations and corporates. You’ll be responsible for expanding their funding base, deepening key relationships, and ensuring the organisation has the partnerships and resources to achieve its mission.

Fundraising has developed rapidly in recent years, with investment, board-level commitment and a growing team driving success. With strong foundations in place and a portfolio of high-value partnerships, there is an exciting opportunity to scale their strategic influence and deepen their impact.

We’re looking for a relationship-driven leader who will take an entrepreneurial approach to identifying opportunities for new funds and develop long-term, high-impact partnerships.

This is a mostly home-based role, with monthly team meetings and occasional overnight stays at the N.England headquarters, and fortnightly attendance at the London office. Travel costs covered.

As Head of Fundraising, you will:

• Lead on fundraising strategy with major donors, trusts and foundations and corporates, focusing on driving  new funder engagement and developing long-term, high-impact partnerships
• Secure high-value, multi-year funding partnerships with major donors, trusts and foundations and corporates, achieving six-figure and above income targets
• Manage, develop and inspire a team of five, fostering a proactive, collaborative, innovative and high-performing culture
• Build and maintain a strong, diversified pipeline of new and repeat funders aligned to organisational priorities and ethical fundraising principles
• Engage senior stakeholders including the CEO, Chair, Trustees and senior partners to unlock networks and open opportunities
• Work closely with programme and delivery teams to create compelling funding propositions and ensure excellent stewardship and impactful reporting
• Represent the organisation at senior-level networking events, conferences and sector forums, influencing decision-makers and strengthening brand positioning

Essential skills and experience:

• Success in securing and growing income from a range of sources, including HNWIs and trusts and foundations — delivering six-figure and multi-year partnerships
• Skilled relationship builder with experience developing and stewarding complex, multifaceted partnerships that deliver mutual value and long-term impact
• Strong managerial skills to empower teams and support their professional development and enjoyment in their role
• Strategic business developer with the ability to build and maintain a strong pipeline of funding opportunities, identifying, cultivating, and converting prospects to meet fundraising targets
• Entrepreneurial and proactive, with a strong sense of ownership and the confidence to identify, shape, and present compelling cases for support
• Collaborative and influential, experienced in working across matrix structures and with remote or cross-functional teams to achieve shared goals, ensuring alignment and effective delivery
• Highly skilled communicator, comfortable presenting to diverse audiences and tailoring messages to inspire and engage at all levels
• Strong networker, eager to represent the organisation at events and conferences, identifying new opportunities, and staying informed on market trends and developments in the philanthropic and corporate partnership landscape

Desirable, but not essential:

• An understanding and general knowledge of the education landscape in the UK
• Experience of establishing or maintaining a Fellowship programme

Employee benefits include:

• 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Up to 15% employer pension contributions 
• Private health care via Benenden Health plus Healthcare Cash Plan and Dental Plan
• Annual salary review
• Electric Car Benefit Scheme

Do you have proven experience of designing end-to-end services that meet user needs and intended organisational outcomes? Then join Shelter as a Service Designer and you could soon be playing an important role within our Design team.

About the role

As a service designer, you will contribute to all stages of the design process. You will be part of one or multiple cross-functional product teams to create and improve services across our many different channels. You will work independently and in close collaboration with other roles, such as Interaction Designers, User Researchers and Product Managers to deliver tangible and measurable outcomes to our wide range of users. You will report to the Senior Service Designer.

Role specifics

We’re looking for someone with experience designing and improving services in complex environments, with a strong focus on user needs and inclusive design. You’ll work collaboratively with researchers, designers, developers and stakeholders to identify opportunities, generate ideas and shape services that support Shelter’s digital purpose. You’ll be confident facilitating workshops and conversations, communicating insights clearly and turning complex information into accessible, actionable outputs such as service maps and user journeys. With experience of prototyping, agile working and service design methods, you’ll help teams navigate challenges, support delivery and contribute to the ongoing development of inclusive, user-centred design practices across the organisation.

Apply to be part of our team and be the change you want to see in society.

Benefits 

We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.

We are happy to talk about flexible working, personal growth, and to promote a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.

About the team

The Design team plays a key role within Shelter by producing engaging user experiences for advice services, campaigns, fundraising and cross cutting journeys. We are user centred design leaders that collaborate across the organisation to develop digital solutions that meet user needs and organisational goals. Disciplines in the team include Service Design and Interaction Design.  They work closely with other teams – particularly the Content team, Product and Delivery team, Insight and BI team and business owners in Services and Income Generation. Collectively, they set the example for Shelter in digital best practice, discovery and innovation.

About Shelter

Home is a human right. It’s our foundation and where we thrive. Yet everyday millions of people are being devastated by the housing emergency.

We exist to defend the right to a safe home. Because home is everything.

We need ambitious, passionate people to join us. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. To win this fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, equitable and transparent. We are committed to combating racism both within and outside Shelter. We welcome you on our journey to becoming truly anti-racist.

Safeguarding statement

Safeguarding is everyone's business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies. 

Shelter does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.

Make a real impact in South Kilburn!  The OK Club is hiring a CEO to manage and lead the organisation as we continue to develop our presence and impact in our neighbourhood.

Thanks to funding from John Lyon’s Charity, we’re looking for a visionary leader, who is motivated by their Christian faith and who can inspire and equip our team and work with us to develop and deliver our strategic development plan.  If you’re someone who loves young people and community, and is passionate about seeing people flourish, we want to hear from you! 

Started by students and graduates of Oxford University (hence the OK in our name - Oxford Kilburn) The OK Club has been providing activities for children and young people for the past 60 years and we have exciting plans for our next phase of development.

As well as continuing our programme of youth and children’s activities, over the last couple of years we have also expanded our provision to make the club building available to the wider community.  Taking an asset based approach, our Community Animator enabled us to open our doors and connect in a new way with our neighbours.

As CEO you will be responsible for overseeing three key areas -

1. our youth & children’s work,
2. our community engagement, and
3. our building.

Applicants will have proven experience of leadership in a charity or community context.  The ability to work positively with young people is essential, and experience of managing a building and budgets is also important.

Our funding from John Lyon is initially for three years but we anticipate that, with a brilliant new CEO our funding will grow to make the post sustainable.

The OK Club is located in South Kilburn, North West London.  We currently find ourselves in the middle of a building site (quite literally) and that our neighbourhood is changing drastically. Brent Council are continuing their massive regeneration project - demolishing all existing tower blocks and replacing them with new ones, with a greater number of housing units.  While much around us is changing, our desire to support children and young people with play and development opportunities is as strong as ever.

The OK Club currently has:

• A part time Youth Work Development Officer who oversees our youth work programme.

• A part time Building Manager.

• A part time Community Animator.

• A part time Children's Worker.

• Four interns (two full time and two  part time, shared with churches), usually from abroad on gap year schemes.

• Christian Holt House which can accommodate up to five further individuals who live as part of the missional community and are required as part of their tenancy to contribute to Club activities.

• A small but important number of volunteers are recruited from among parents and the community generally.  We are keen to grow this team, particularly with older young people and other members of the local community.

Our site contains the following facilities:

• A sports hall

• 3 x activity spaces

• A kitchen

• Garden

• Two upper floors which are currently rented out to other organisations.

We have been funded by Brent Council to renovate our Sports Hall and have ambitious plans for our whole site development in the coming years.

The work of the OK Club is overseen by a Management Committee (Trustees) who meet every two months, and the post will be Line Managed by one of the Trustees.

Inclusion & Diversity:

The OK Club strives to be a diverse and inclusive place where we can ALL be ourselves. We particularly encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background. 

Safer Recruitment:

The OK Club is a Safe Recruiter and will require all applicants to undergo a DBS disclosure as well as taking three references. A criminal record is not necessarily a bar to working for us but must be declared on application.

Timetable: (subject to amendment)

• Post advertised - 18th May 2026

• Closing Date - 7th June 2026

• Shortlisting will take place in the following week and interviews will take place, week commencing 15th June.

The successful candidate may start as soon as they are available and appropriate checks have been carried out.

Application Process:

• Applications must be received by the deadline on our approved application form.

• Any expressions of interest received through Indeed, Charity Job or other online platforms will be sent the application form to complete and an application won’t be considered until a fully completed form is received.

• All applications will be acknowledged and considered in our shortlisting.

• Applicants who are shortlisted will be invited for an interview which will likely consist of a presentation, a task, and standard panel interview. 

• The recruiting panel reserves the right to request a second interview if they feel this is appropriate.

When you are completing the application form, please pay particular attention to the essay section which is where you can tell us how you fit the criteria listed in the person specification.