Job Description

Job title: Head of Fundraising and Communications

Salary: £45,000–£52,000 per year (starting salary typically at £45,000 with progression based on performance and experience.)

Location: Hybrid between home and our exhibition locations in London (Your attendance in the office will vary flexibly between 1-5 days per week, depending on business need. We cannot offer fixed days at home).

Contract: Permanent

Hours: 35 hours per week

Reporting to: CEO

Direct Reports: Fundraising Manager, Senior Campaigns Manager

Indirect Reports: Communications Officer

Job Description

About the role

The Head of Fundraising and Communications will lead the development and delivery of a systematic, data-driven, and project-managed approach to fundraising and communications — driving sustainable income growth and raising the charity’s profile and influence.

As the charity’s strategic lead for fundraising, they will shape and expand our income streams, strengthen systems and processes, and build a high-performing team to help us reach more young people with our vital work. They will also lead on external communications and storytelling, ensuring our narrative is compelling, consistent, and rooted in the powerful impact of our programmes.

While this role will oversee a team of three, the postholder will be hands-on and deeply involved in the systems and practices they implement, ensuring excellence in both strategy and delivery.

This newly created role is a key position on the Senior Leadership Team, working closely with the CEO, Deputy CEO, and Head of Programmes to deliver The Ben Kinsella Trust’s vision and strategy.

As part of a small charity making a big impact, you will play a central role in ensuring Ben’s legacy continues to educate, empower, and inspire thousands more young people across London and beyond.

Key Responsibilities

  Fundraising

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for all fundraising activity, ensuring a systematic and dependable approach to income generation.
• Develop and deliver a long-term fundraising strategy that supports sustainable growth and diversification across grants & trusts, corporate donors, major donors, individual giving and community fundraising.
• Build and manage relationships with key funders and donors, working with the CEO and Fundraising Manager to cultivate and steward major partnerships.
• Maintain oversight and final sign-off of major and high-value funding applications to grants & trusts, corporate donors and major donors, ensuring they are well-structured, hold a compelling narrative, and are of the highest quality.
• Implement systems, processes, and KPIs to monitor performance, track pipelines, and drive continuous improvement.
• Provide strategic fundraising insight and reporting to the Senior Leadership Team and Board.

  Senior Leadership Team

• Play a full and active role as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to organisational strategy, decision-making, and culture.
• Introduce and refine systems, processes, and workflows to improve efficiency and collaboration across departments.
• Support strategic planning and financial forecasting, particularly in relation to income generation and communications activity.

  Communications and Marketing

• Develop and implement a comprehensive external communications strategy, providing strategic leadership communications and campaigns and ensuring alignment with the charity’s mission and priorities.
• Shape and oversee the charity’s external narrative, ensuring our storytelling is compelling, consistent, and rooted in impact.
• Manage the charity’s media, PR, and brand activity, ensuring all communications uphold high standards and strengthen the charity’s reputation.
• Lead the charity’s digital presence, including website, social media, paid advertising and online campaigns, to grow awareness and engagement.
• Lead the creation of high-quality marketing materials and publications to support fundraising, advocacy, and service delivery.
• Use data and insight to evaluate effectiveness and inform future strategy.

  Finance

• Responsible for the Fundraising and Communications budget and any related contracted services budgets, and any relevant restricted funds.

Person Specification

We actively encourage people from a variety of backgrounds with different experiences, skills and stories to join us and influence and develop our working practice. We recognise the value a diverse workforce brings to a small charity, and we are especially keen for people currently underrepresented in our charity and the wider sector to apply.

While we’re looking for candidates with the skills and experience listed, we know no one is perfect in every area. If you meet some of the criteria, we’d still really love to hear from you. Please feel free to reach out for a friendly chat about the role and your application.

Experience 

• Experience in a senior fundraising role, with a track record of developing and delivering successful income generation strategies.
• Demonstrable experience in managing and overseeing complex fundraising applications across a variety of funders or for a broad and diverse funder base
• Leadership and team management experience, with the ability to motivate and develop others.
• Experience managing budgets and working closely with finance colleagues on planning and forecasting.
• Experience in leading or collaborating on communications and PR activity within a charity or campaigning organisation.
• Experience of working with a Board of Trustees or senior leadership team on organisational growth and strategy.

Skills and Knowledge

• Written communication and editing skills, with the ability to create clear and accessible content across fundraising, communications, and public statements
• A storyteller who can translate data and impact into emotionally compelling narratives that inspire support.
• Organised, systematic, and process-oriented; able to design and manage effective systems, project management, pipeline tracking, and reporting.
• Project management skills, ability to balance multiple priorities and deadlines with a calm and methodical approach.
• Confident in the use of a variety of digital and cloud systems to track performance and inform strategy.
• Familiarity with issues relating to youth violence, education, or social justice.
• An understanding of knife crime, youth violence, and other key current issues affecting young people.
• Ability to work independently, with initiative, and manage multiple priorities and projects effectively.

Key Attributes and Values

• Passionate about making a difference – committed to preventing knife crime and improving outcomes for young people
• Committed to equity and inclusion – values and actively promotes diversity, inclusion, and fairness in all aspects of work
• Reflective and open to learning – committed to personal growth, welcomes feedback, and continuously seeks to improve practice
• Strategic thinker with leadership presence – able to set direction, make informed decisions, and inspire confidence across the organisation.
• Collaborative and influential – builds effective working relationships internally and externally, fostering teamwork and partnerships.
• Resilient and adaptable – able to navigate challenges, manage multiple priorities, and maintain focus under pressure.

Benefits

• Flexible working opportunities where possible
• 27 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays (rising to 30 days and 33 days after 5 and 10 years’ service, respectively)
• Contributory pension scheme
• Cycle to work scheme with the Green Commute Initiative
• Personal development opportunities