Senior special events manager jobs in birmingham

The Vacancy

At Help for Heroes, we help the Armed Forces community live well after service.

Life can be tough when a military career comes to an end, especially if it has been cut short by illness or injury. Overnight, people lose not only their job, but also a support network that is like family. There are many ways we help veterans, their relatives, serving personnel, and people who worked alongside the UK military. We help people with their physical and mental health needs, and a range of welfare issues. Our support gives people the skills, confidence, and knowledge to make a success of life after service.

And who are we you’re wondering? We are experts and beginners. Generalists and specialists. Ordinary people with an extraordinary passion towards making a positive change to the lives of our veterans (and having fun while doing it).

As One Team we share a philosophy – I.C.A.R.E. It’s the way we walk and talk, the way we interact with others and how we approach everything we do. We are:

Innovative – Collaborative – Authentic – Resourceful – Energetic. 

We have an incredible opportunity for a TRUSTS AND GRANTS MANAGER to join our team.

Please see below for more information on what just might be your future role.

About You

Are you an experienced and confident fundraiser with a trusts and statutory background with the motivation to drive real change for the Armed Forces community? If you have experience in inspiring donor support through persuasive and creative proposals and building positive relationships, and have a can-do attitude, it would be great to have you join our team.

• Experience in a high value fundraising role, raising money from trusts and foundations and/or statutory funders.
• Experience of developing compelling funding proposals, including budgets with programme managers and other stakeholders
• Experience of building relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Excellent communication skills, organisational skills, and attention to detail
• Excellent writing skills to produce compelling funding proposals and reports for funders.
• Ability to work on your own initiative to manage projects, plan, and set priorities.
• A good understanding of the trust fundraising and/or statutory fundraising environment including key compliance considerations and trends in the sector.

About the Role

In this role you will form a vital part of our High Value Partnerships team; achieving or exceeding agreed income targets through tailored and compelling fundraising proposals to existing and new funders; and matching donor interests with Help for Heroes’ programmes.

You will deliver excellent stewardship managing a portfolio of high value donors, delivering against donor objectives, and seeking opportunities to develop and broaden support. Whilst also contributing to the wider Trusts and Foundations, and Partnerships strategies, including taking on management of special projects as and when required.

About the Team

The Trusts and Foundations Team is made up of the Trusts and Foundations Senior Partnership Manager, the Trusts and Grants Manager, and the Trusts and Foundations Executive, part of the wider High Value Partnerships Team, Commercial Directorate.

This is an exciting time for growth within this highly motivated team, and this role will play an integral part in our strategy building on our existing pipeline, working collaboratively to make a big impact. You will be working remotely but with regular opportunities for face-to-face meetings with the team, partners, and beneficiaries, usually held in London, Birmingham, Salisbury, or Swindon.

The detail:

• Hours: 35 hours per week
• Contract: Permanent contract 
• Closing Date: 28th October 2025 

Please Note: This vacancy may close early if a high volume of applications is received or a suitable candidate is found, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Job title: Employer Engagement Manager

Reports to:   Head of Programmes

Line reports: None

Location: Flexible, hybrid, with some travel required to our offices (London, Manchester or Birmingham)

Salary:          £38,000-£41,000 (£39,000-£42,000 in London)

Hours:           Full-time, 37.5 hours per week, with occasional evening or weekend work (TOIL provided). Open to flexible working.

Contract: FTC 12-months, with intention to convert to permanent position subject to funding and organisational requirements.

Overall purpose

The Employer Engagement Manager (EEM) will play a critical role in ensuring refugees supported by Breaking Barriers access meaningful, opportunities that align with client needs and labour market demand. The postholder will lead employer outreach and partnership building in priority sectors and embed consistent systems and processes that make employer engagement coordinated and impactful across the organisation. The EEM will support pathways, work placements, recruitment pipelines and workshops by ensuring employer input is actively embedded where relevant.

This is a strategic, hands-on role, the successful candidate will map and cultivate employer relationships, secure employer input into sector pathways, workshops and recruitment initiatives, translate labour market intelligence into programme improvements, and design the operational processes that enable Programmes and Corporate Partnerships to work together effectively. You will operate in a matrix environment, collaborating closely with the Programmes, Corporate Partnerships and Client Services teams but will not hold direct line-management of delivery staff.

The role is set up to be ambitious but achievable within 12 months. The priority is to build tested, repeatable employer engagement practice (relationships, processes, insight-sharing and measurable impact) that can form the foundations of a permanent employer engagement function if/when funding allows.

To view the full job description and person specification, as well as details on our accessible recuitment process, please view the attached recruitment pack.

Other considerations

• This is a fixed-term contract for 12 months. Toward the end of the term, a review will be conducted to assess the impact and scope of the role, with the intention to adapt into a permanent position subject to funding and organisational need.
• This role may require occasional travel for employer meetings, events, and networking opportunities.
• Some evening or weekend work may be required to attend employer engagement activities (TOIL provided).

• As part of our safeguarding commitment to our clients, we carry out pre-employment checks to ensure that successful applicants are suitable to work with adults at risk. These include basic DBS checks, obtaining references and verifying a candidate’s identity and right to work in the UK.   

• We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity status, race, religion or belief.

  Breaking Barriers is committed to protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect and for their views, wishes and beliefs to be fully considered when deciding action.

How to apply 

If you are looking for a role where you can make a real difference, we want to hear from you. To apply, please submit a statement of interest (up to approximately 500 words/1 A4 page) outlining:

• Why you are interested in the role
• What skills you would bring to be successful in this role
• Any experience you would like to highlight
• Any reasonable adjustments you require for the interview process
• Disclosure of disabilities if you wish to do so (as a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role)

Closing date for applications is 11:30pm on Tuesday 28 October. Please note that interviews will be held on a rolling basis and we reserve the right to close the advert early if a suitable shortlist is found.

We belong to the Experts by Experience Employment Initiative, which advocates and supports organisations to emply more people from a refugee background. With this in mind, we particularly welcome applicants with experience with of seeking asylum and / or a refugee background.

If you are an expert by experience (a refugee or a migrant with direct, first-hand experince of issues and challenges of the UK asylum or immigration system), you can ask for independent and confidential support for your job application from the Experts by Experience Employment Network. Please reasch out to HR Manager, Caroline Meechan for further details (we are unable to include email addresses in this advert, but you can find contact details on the final page of the attached recruitment pack).

About the opportunity
As Head of Impact & Quality, you’ll lead the department that covers impact measurement, evaluation of our programmes, data management, curriculum development, training and quality of tutors and other initiatives that drive the evidence-based culture of Action Tutoring. With a strong understanding of the charity's theory of change, you’ll strengthen existing impact and quality processes and make strategic recommendations that develop these further. You’ll play a vital role in helping the Senior Management Team balance quality and quantity with sustainable business decisions. As well as leading the department, you’ll build external networks and represent the charity externally at relevant events, in person and online. As Action Tutoring begins planning for a new strategic cycle, you’ll design, evaluate and advise on the scale up of pilots in new ways of achieving our mission.

Closing date: Monday, 27th October 2025 at 9am
Interviews:Monday, 3 and Tuesday, 4 November 2025.  There may be a second round of interviews.
Start date: Ideally Monday, 1st December 2025
Contract and hours: Permanent. Full time. We offer flexible hours with 9.30-4 as core hours. A full working week is 37.5 hours.  We are open to 0.8 or 0.9 FTE for the right candidate.
Place of work:This role can be remote, with occasional travel required. Our London office address is: 8-10, Fivefields, Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1W 0DH

Duties and responsibilities
 
People and Cultural Leadership 

• You’ll manage the workload distribution across the Impact & Quality department functions and teams, ensuring that projects are delivered according to strategic priorities. 
• You’ll line-manage a small team of managers who have responsibilities for curriculum, training, quality, insights and data management activities across the department.

 
Strategic and Senior Management 

• You’ll contribute to Senior Management Team discussions and decisions, representing the impact and quality functions, ensuring all decisions consider the implications on our evidence base, protecting the drivers of impact and maintaining our reputation as a sector-leading impact organisation.

Impact and quality oversight

• Leadership and oversight to ensure continued smooth implementation of a Randomised Control Trial lasting the first 6-9 months of this role. 
• You’ll be accountable for the development and implementation of the Impact Strategy of the organisation.

A full list of duties and responsibilities can be found in the job description attached to the BreatheHR advert. 

Person specification
 
Qualifications criteria: 

• The right to work in the UK.
•  University degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field of quantitative or social research. 

We are looking for some of the following attributes, though you might be more experienced in some areas than others:

• Excellent project management and project sponsor skills and experience, able to juggle multiple complex projects that are cross-organisational and manage external stakeholders. 
• Able to manage other experts and get the best from them drawing from an interdisciplinary approach to your work.
• Enjoys leading a team, supporting development of manager skills and capabilities. 
• Understands how a theory of change drives the development of delivery and is able to apply this to new modes of operations. 
• Strong logical reasoning, able to break processes into logical steps and understands how to maintain excellent data management practices. 
• A confident user of databases able to utilise the data it holds to generate insights for the SMT. Champion good data governance in collaboration with the Data Manager. 
• Experience of Salesforce CRM would be desirable but not essential. 
• Very familiar with the principles of evaluation and how to design evaluations to produce meaningful and reliable insights. This includes qualitative and quantitative activities. 
• Experience of working with external partners to evaluate work. Experience of developing pilots or start-up scale organisations would be desirable but is not essential. 
• Strong numerical skills, able to conduct diagnostic and predictive analysis of quantitative data sets. 
• Strong written communication and research skills, able to produce clear and jargon-free reports and summaries that synthesise qualitative trends. 
• Strong change management skills and experience, ensuring innovations are launched and embedded successfully. 
• Able to plan at a strategic level, factoring in external environment trends, financial limitations and scalable solutions. 
• In addition, the job holder is expected to substantially demonstrate the four competencies in our competencies framework at the ‘Head of ‘Level. 

You will be likely be more successful in this role if you have: 

• Experience working in the charity sector. 

Who we’re looking for 

We’re looking for an exceptional Director of Fundraising and Communication who will lead our fundraising and communications with vision and purpose, helping us grow our reach, deepen our impact and amplify our voice. You’ll be joining a people-centred, mission-driven team, united by a shared commitment to making a meaningful difference. At a time when vulnerable young people face increasing challenges, our work has never been more urgent. If you’re motivated by impact and driven by purpose, this is a good opportunity to contribute to lasting change. 

You will be stepping into a well-established and highly effective organisation, but one that remains energised by innovation and continuous improvement. We actively welcome fresh thinking and new approaches that help us evolve and enhance our work. 

What will you do? 

This is a pivotal moment to join JET as we build on fourteen years of impact and enter a new chapter in our journey. We have ambitious plans to expand our reach and influence, and we’re seeking someone who can help us strengthen our funding base and sharpen our message. 

Reporting directly to the CEO, you will lead and develop our fundraising team, shaping a cross-stream strategy and an integrated communications plan. You’ll be responsible for setting the strategic direction for fundraising, communications and events across the organisation. By doing so you will raise JET’s national profile, grow our supporter base and significantly increase income to support programme expansion. 

You’ll bring strong experience across multiple fundraising streams, with a proven track record of securing significant multi-year funding and building lasting relationships with funders—both individuals and organisations. Alongside leading our fundraising efforts, you’ll take ownership of our brand, ensuring clarity and consistency in our messaging, helping partners tell our story, and securing positive media coverage. 

You’ll lead the development of campaigns, fundraising and marketing activities, and digital engagement that not only enhance our national profile but also drive supporter engagement and income growth.

This is a home-based role, with travel required to and within the regions where we operate, including attendance at key events. 

About you 

You will provide strategic leadership across fundraising, communications, marketing and events. Your work will be closely aligned with JET’s five-year strategy, enabling continued growth in funding and programme delivery. 

You’ll bring a wealth of experience in leading fundraising and communications at a strategic level, with a strong understanding of the sector and a track record of securing and sustaining major gifts and partnerships. You’ll be adept at managing integrated campaigns across multiple channels and growing income through sustainable funding models. 

Your leadership style will be collaborative and empowering, with the ability to build high-performing teams and foster a culture of accountability and innovation. You’ll be a confident communicator, able to inspire and influence, with excellent relationship-building skills and a strategic mindset. 

Above all, you’ll be passionate about JET’s mission to empower young people facing adversity. You’ll be a credible ambassador, committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and driven by the desire to make a meaningful difference. 

Across the JET team we cultivate a culture of inclusion that respects individual strengths, views, and experiences. We believe that our differences enable us to be a better team – one that makes better decisions, drives innovation, and delivers better outcomes for our young people. We welcome applicants whatever your background and whatever your stage in life, so if you are returning to the workforce after a period away, or even seeking a change of pace, please get in touch.  

About the Jon Egging Trust (JET)

At JET, we support vulnerable young people to get back on track and realise their potential; more than 45,000 young people right across the UK to date, and there’s so much more we can do. We’re an organisation that really values its people and we’re immensely proud that our team culture is based on caring and raising each other up.

Our benefits package includes:

• Flexible working

• Enhanced annual leave

• Homeworking allowance 

• Occupational pension scheme

• Occupational sickness scheme

• Special paid leave provision

• Enhanced family leave 

Download the Candidate Information Pack

Read our Applicant Privacy Notice 

Child and adult at risk protection policy statement 

The Jon Egging Trust is committed to providing a safe and positive environment for everyone involved in its services and activities. The Trust takes its extended moral and legal duty of care very seriously in relation to children, young people, staff and volunteers. We seek to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children and to protect them from harm or abuse when they engage in any of our activities. JET expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. The suitability of all prospective employees or volunteers will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment. 

To apply 

Please complete our online application form.

The closing date is 16th November 2025 at [23:30].

Interview Process 

• First-round interviews: Monday 24th November (online) 

• Meet the team task and fireside chat: Thursday 27th November 

• Final interview (in person, London): Monday 1st December 

Questions? 

Contact us through our website. 

Please note:

Due to our anonymised recruitment process, if your application is not shortlisted, we are unable to provide personalised feedback. 

To become an employee at JET, you must be able to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK and a satisfactory DBS check – enhanced with children's barred is required for this role. As part of our recruitment process, we want to make clear that we are not able to offer visa sponsorship for this position. 

As part of our safer recruitment process, all candidates invited to a final interview will also be required to complete a confidential self-disclosure form, which allows any relevant information to be discussed in line with our safeguarding policy. 

We also reserve the right to cancel the final stage of interview on 1st December if candidate does not meet expectations at this stage.